Santa Rosa High School - Echo Yearbook (Santa Rosa, CA)

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THE ECHO THE FACULTY (Second Award) (An Essay Modeled on The Club, from De Coverly Papers) The first of our august faculty is a gentleman of Humboldt street, a man of long standing renown, a principal; his name, the Hon. De Witt Montgomery. His forefathers were those Mont- gomerys who played so large a part in old New York’s history. All the residents of our prosperous city are ac- quainted with the abilities of Mr. Montgomery. He is a gentleman with an iron hand, but the use of it is due to his good sense, and it is wielded against his charges only as he thinks their judgment is in the wrong. However, this firmness creates him no enemies, for he does nothing with dogmatism and intolerance—faults so common to high school principals—and being unconfined to Puritanic rule makes him all the readier to please his erring students. When he is within the school building, he occupies a room known as “the office.” During his leisure hours he remains strictly at home, feeling a strong sense of duty to De Witt II and littie Anne. While in this confinement he became County Superintendent of Schools, during which time he supped with all the “shining lights” of the county. Later he became one of the vestrymen of the Episcopal church. He is in his middle age, cheerful, gay and hearty ; his school grows rapidly, his pupils look satisfied, and all profess to love him. When he comes into the hall he beams down at the scholars, and gives a kindly word to all who pass him. I must not omit that Mr. Montgomery is the high court of appeal, and lills the position with great ability and for a long time in the past has gained universal admiration by the interpreta- tion of the high school constitution. One who is in authority and esteem is Miss Frances O'Meara, a teacher of great learning in the high school, a person of indefatigable industry, strong reason and great experience. Her notions of learning are noble and generous. She is acquainted with the teaching profession in all its parts, and she will give you ample proof that the quickest and most effective way of maintaining the domination of the teachers is to make use of the study hall for the ninth period. I have heard her prove that delinquency makes a poorer student than study, and that sloth has ruined more pupils than brains. She abounds in several frugal maxims, amongst which the greatest favorite is, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but all play and no work makes Jack a duller boy.” 19

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THE ECHO so that it was all I could do to open the mouth. What was inside? With a desperate effort and the assistance of Hobo I finally opened it. With nervous eyes and straining ne fell out. First one LEAD United States dollar and then another lead s we both gazed at what one, and then a whole stream of them. Each and every one was punched. They were counterfeits, and probably they had come from the City Hall where they had been collected, and punched so as not to be passed on some one. We were too dismayed and crestfallen to even start to cuss, so we remained silent. Finally Hobo’s face brightened. “Gee, I bet they make dandy ‘sailers.’ I bet I can throw the first one across the crik.” I took him up and in fifteen minutes our stock of “treasure” was gone. Thus ended a perfect (?) day and another one of our many adventures. Postscript. Don’t mention treasure to Hobo if you like to live a while yet. Francis Piazzi, ’22. CALIFORNIA Oh California, well beloved thou art! America is proud to own thy name, And call thee her own child of worth and fame; For of earth’s greatest nation thou are part. The old Pacific liest near thy heart, A friend to guard thee from all woe and shame: And through the countless ages yet to famie, Be thou her watchman till all time depart. In ’40 thy wealth did draw the East And men from all the nation flocked to thee. Thou gavest them gold for which they fought and died; Thou gavest them homes, rich fields, whose fruits increased : And mountains, forests stretching to the sea. They love thee more than all the world beside. Ruth Break, ’ro.

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tHE ECHO She knows English to such a degree that no matter what question she is asked she answers with the ability and knowledge of an en- cvclopedia. The lady I am next to speak of is another English teacher, who is a member of the imposing household of Miss ugusta Collett She is a woman of great probity, and wit and understanding. She has undertaken the study of the entire field of English and has made a specialty of the prominent figures of the past. Addison and Steeie are better understood by her than Annie Laurie and O. ITenry The boys present at every Monday night session, question her concerning the dramas such as Shakepeare’s, novels, like those of Sir Walter Scott, and the unraveling of the latest war movies at the “Cline,” all of which she answers with the wisdom of Minerva. Moreover she is studying the psychology of each individua! pupil. She knows the correct postures to suggest to each of the members of the public speaking class who are anxious to appear as the star at the Greek Theatre. Her taste ot books is abreast of the age, for she is constantly reading many, and as a result of that wide reading, is able to make good selection for her pupils Next to Miss Orral Matchette. I turn to Miss Lydia Walker, a woman of great courage, good understanding, but invincible mod- estv. Among her supreme talents is her ability to sing and her sweet voice adds greatly to the church services every Sunday morning. She was born in I’rance, where she spent a considerable part of her time, later coming to America. I have never heard her remark of any inclination to return to the land of her birth. However, she has chosen as her profession the spreading of her native tongue She is small of stature and smiles sweetly, how- ever we are inclined to believe that her mental capacity occupies the greater part of her smail figure. But that our faculty may not appear a set of “matter of fact’ people, unacquainted with the pleasures of the age, we have among us the jovial Miss Fisher, a teacher, who, on account of personal magnetism, had the duty of Student Adviser bestowed upon her. She is tall, somewhat stout, (and like all stout people, is good natured). When not teaching she resides at her country home at Penryn, but when she is correcting English papers you will be sure to find her at the abode of Mrs. Watson on Mendoci no avenue. She is ready with humorous stories, which all of us thoroughly enjoy. She can smile when one speaks to her, and laughs easily. She knows the history of every pupil and can inform you who have a tendency to study and who have acquired the habit of “bluffing.” As other women of her age can tell you what the prevailing fashions are she can tell you the latest Kolb and Dill jokes, who danced with