Shields High School - Patriot Yearbook (Seymour, IN)

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THe COMMENCEMENT NUMBER Eckler and Duncan Reed. Our class also seems to be favored with mathematicians, for I understand that Walter Wonning is still win- ning his quarters for solving the problems of a household for two. Two of our boys have passed out of our hearing, but they are making a success in lie, and they are George and Marion Mc- Intyre. Irene Montgomery, Mayme Lebline, Leona Thompson, Alice Ruddick, and Martha Loertz( I have not heard from recently, but trust they are enjoying peace and happiness. And last but not least, Clarence Kasting and Mabel Barnes, who have at last decided that two can live on the same amount as one. Well I have spent more than an hour sitting here thinking of my happy school days, and I haven’t got my quilt pieces yet. i eos al Ded me sca MISS ABEL’S RECEPTION Now that spring is here and “that time” is drawing nigh, the popularity of after school parties and receptions seems to be ever upon the increase. Possibly the most popular of these social events, and the one to which invitations are most eagerly sought, are Miss Able’s after-school receptions and class parties. The writer will at- tempt to describe one of these events which he had the very good fortune to attend. The affair was announced by Miss Able at the close of the third hour in the morning session, to the ever hopeful Freshmen Latin class. The Latin “students” did not greet the announcement with any demonstration as might have been expected, but received the news with apparent indifference. Probably they had attended too many of these events to become unduly excited about them. When at last the leaden hours of the day had slowly dragged past, (apparently on crutches rather than feet) the momentous moment arrived and the Freshmen (and some others) trooped to a certain room in the building. Miss Able was there with her usual bright smile of welcome. The formalities usually observed at par- ties were dispensed with and the real pleasures of the afternoon began. First, a number of strange books containing stranger reading matter were produced. Then ensued a very bewildering guessing contest, which no doubt would have been very amazing to a P°A T RiPOrT Page Bight stranger, were he present. Luckily no stranger was there, so no explanations were necessary. Apparently Miss Able forgot the refreshments, but the guests freely forgave her as the cares incurred by entertaining so much, no doubt tend to make one very forgetiul. Then too, the guessing contest was so amusing and diverting that the absence of the re- freshments was not noticed at ail. In what seemed an astonishingly short time the growing gloom in the room warned us that the afternoon was drawing to a close. Miss Able very reluctantly let us go. All those present appreciated her hospitality to the fullest extent, and from the joyous air of the departing guests it was to be surmised that they had all enjoyed themselves very much indeed. VAUGHN JOHNSON, ’11. WHY THE FRESHMEN ARE GREEN We will now let our thoughts wander back to the warm days of September, when a group of merry students first entered the High School as Freshmen. Although we were not acquainted with the different rooms, rules and teachers, we were not slow in learning them. It is usually the custom of the higher students to “look down” upon the Fresh- men and sometimes call them “green.” This act sometimes dis- courages the Freshmen, but one day a good speaker came and spoke to the High School. One thing he said was, “The farmer usually has more pride in a green ear of corn than in a ripe one, for as long as it is green it can keep on growing, but when it gets ripe its growth stops.” Compare the ear of corn to the Freshman class. As long as we are “green” we have room to learn more and will, but if we were not “green” we would have no more room to learn. The Freshman always keeps “green” through his course in High School, even when he is a senior, for he yet has some things to learn and desires to go farther and get more knowledge. There- for, when you speak of a “green” class, remember that all the classes contain a certain amount of greenness, for they are “never too old to learn.” K. SHEPARD, 7138. Mr. E. says they are trying to improve the telephone so that you can see who is talking. Won’t that be nice? But we wonder why he cares.

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THE Page Seven conclusion however, you have failed to estimate the frail little teacher, Aunt Mary, at her full value. In her mild, modest way she reigned supreme. By her culture and refinement, her example and her precepts she gave many a boy and girl the basic elements of character and the inspiration which brought to them success and nonor in after years. But of that little school room in a poor “back-woods” settlement, largely as a direct result of Aunt Mary’s influence, has come more than a score of college graduates. Among them are lawyers, judges, physicians, ministers, educators and bus- iness men who have a.ained high places. Who can fully estimate the influence for good of one noble character even under every un- favorable opportunities. While this is the brief story of one little school and one little woman teacher of forty years ago, it is by no means an exceptional story. The man of the world today, those at the head of large bus- iness enterprises, those eminent in professional life, inventors, statesmen, in fact the men who largely direct and control the af- fairs of the world at this time, can each tell you of some obscure little teacher of forty years ago whose influence is largely respon- sible for their success in life. Fortunate indeed is the boy or girl of today who comes under the influence of such a teacher as Aunt Mary. FERN RITTER, ’10 -FROM A DIARY “Oh, dear, what shall I do this rainy afternoon. Oh, yes! I'll run up to the attic and get those quilt pieces that I promised aunt ‘about a week ago. “Why! what on earth is this? Well, if it isn’t my old school diary from the year 1910 when I was a Soph, and here are all the names of my schoolmates. I just must stop and see if I can remem- ber them. First, there’s Joe McDonald. Oh, yes, I remember Joe. I read in the morning paper that he is a famous doctor in New York. And here’s his chum George Laupus—little George has now become a great inventor and married a society belle. Ah, here is a name that I will never forget, Hattie R., how we teased her, but that is past and to think that she married Leland Hadley, a travel- ing salesman. Well who is this?—ah! now I remember, it was Rea Gilbert, who joined the navy before finishing school; and then there is Hazel Henderson, that popular little ‘Miss’ who is now one PATRIOT COMMENCEMENT NUMBER of the best stenographers in the city. Then there is the name of Lora Reynolds,—what was it she wanted to do, oh yes—go to Hurope and study music; but alas her wish was never fulfilled. Then there’s that dear little Linton B. who has won fame by his latest edition of “Brewer’s Unabridged Dictionary.” And here’s our: infant ‘Ray F.,’ who is now making a sensation as pitcher for the ‘National League Baseball Team.’ And here’s a name that is rever- enced by all, that of Ethel R., who is now a primary teacher in one of the city schools. Then here’s a name loved by the many poor in Hast New York, Clarence Craig, the generous millionaire, And here’s Jewel of our class, now a leader in the chorus of the ‘Gingerbread Man.’ Then ther’s the name of Russel P. and Ruth A. who shortly after their graduation went west. Then there was the ‘David and Jonathan’ of our class, Ruth B. and Ruth Lebline, who are now nurses in alarge hospital in Indianapolis; Bessie Bol- linger, now noted English teacher. “And here’s a name that used to cause a smile of amusement to flash over the faces of those who heard it, Roy Hughes, who is who are now nurses in a large hospital in Indianapolis; Bessie Bol- ‘Luella Louis,’ oh yes, she is now an able Latin teacher, I have forgotten just where, but I know it is in some large city. And the class sport, Francis Bunton, is.the proud possessor of a large farm, where he resides in peace and happiness with his wife, who was formerly Miss Elizabeth Hoffman, also a member of our class. And here is the name of another one of our number( Willard Everhart, who has become lost in the whirl of some large city, but who is probably making a large fortune in the way in which he should. Then here’s the name of one I saw only yesterday, Frances Switzer, now librarian at the Public Library. Next is the name of a famous lawyer, Carl Fox. ‘Nellie Fenton,’ she is the member of our class, that is now winning fame and money as a vocal soloist. And Hazel Heintz, I am sorry to say, is still enjoying the blessing of single maidenhood, in company with her cats and numerous pets. And Edna Schwab, much to our regret, has gone to some distant city, and we have lost all trace of her. I have also lost track of my schoolmate, Alice Stanfield. Alas! how many of our number have stolen beyond the reach of friendly eyes and ears. Roy Schafer is now owner of a department store in the enter- prising and flourishing city of Freetown. And our class seems to be a lover of lawyers, for here are two more renowned ones, John Pes

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4 eed Page Nine COMMENCEMENT The long looked for day had arrived; the day when Letitia Mel- vina Perkins should graduate from the High School up at Waring. The occupants of the little white farm house were astir early. Mrs. Perkins was busily preparing the breakfast of ham and eggs. Mr. Perkins was feeding and watering the stock. Maria Matilda was tying up Letitia’s dress, while Martha Lucy was combing Beatrice Margaret’s hair. Samuel Henry was extremely busy outside the house kicking up pebbles with the brand new shoes that hurt. Occasionally Mrs. Perkins might be heard calling in her wistful voice to Sammy, “Now Samniy Henry I do wish ye’d stop that. Ye’r awful hard on ye’r shoes anyway. You’ll have them wored out afore ye leave this yere place.” Then going back to her work she would mumble to herself, “Tm turrible sorry we couldn’t get Melviny what she wanted when she gradoo-ated. Land knows she’d a looked mighty purty standin’ up there with a white dress on. She ain’t never had no white dress cause I ain’t strong enough ter an’ ain’t got no time ter wash fancy white dresses. But reckon she’ll look as good as the rest on em standin’ up there in their purty blue swiss. I paid a quarter a yard fer it. It would a cost fifty but it was reduced. It seemed a lot to pay fer a dress; but then it made up mighty purty with that old lace from my ma’s weddin’ dress. I hope she’ll like it.” Soon it was time to start. The whole family resplendent in their best Sunday clothes piled into the old surrey and father drove toem to town. “Oh there’s Letitia Melviny. Father, drive right over there. I wonder who that nice looking young man sh’s talkin’ to be,” said Mrs. Perkins as they drove along a quiet street of the little vil- lage. “Oh,” she continued, “I wonder if that young man she’s talkin’ to is that Arthur McKinsey she talks so much about. “Melviny! oh Melviny!” she called. -A pretty, greetish looking girl turned. “Excuse me a moment,” she said to her companion, “that’s some of my old neighbors. They insisted that I be named Melvina and so when I wasn’t, they still held the name.” “Oh what a fib,” cried Beatrice Margaret in an audible whisper from the carriage. Letitia came up to the carriage with a disagreeable air. Her mother handed her the package that held the dress and said sim- POA ST RY O° T COMMENCEMENT NUMBER ply, “Miss Perkins here’s your dress. Your folks couldn’t come.” By this time Beatrice Margaret was out of the surrey into her sister’s arms. She looked very pretty in her pale pink frock with a large pink bow on her dark hair. Her great brown eyes were sparkling with various emotions. “Oh sister,” she said, ‘how could you tell such a story?” “Keep still Bee’ and I’ll introduce you to Mr. McKinsey,” her sister replied, her face flushing. That day Letitia met her father and mother and the children on the street repeatedly but they only said, “How do you do Miss Perkins.” Beatrice stayed with her all day but she was strangely silent except a few times when they were alone said, turning her great sor- rowful dark eyes to Letitia’s dry blue ones, “Why did you tell that awful story?” At last Bee’ joined her father and mother while Letitia went to don her graduating dress and join her fellow graduates. As she opened the package she gave a cry of distress. Blue! her graduating dress blue! But when she looked at the dress and saw the rich old lace her distress gave way to remorse for she realized what it must have meant to her mother to sacrifice the lace from Letitia’s grandmother’s wedding gown for the graduating dress. And to think she, Letitia Melvina, had denied her name and her mother. That night in the big opera house among all the happy faces one, only, looked disturbed and sad. This was the face of Letitia. Her large blue eyes occasionally filled with tears and if one had listened closely, he could have heard her say over and over, “Oh, k wish I hadn’t done it! I wish I hadn’t done it. If I could only undo, It. It was with drooping spirits that she stepped forward to re- ceive her diploma, little guessing what a pretty picture she made in her blue dress trimmed in the old lace, yellowed with age, her golden hair rippling back from her forehead, and her eyes cast modestly on the floor. A thought came into her mind as she stepped back into her place, of how she might atone for her words. Her father and mother would surely come up on the stage to slip on her finger the little diamond ring that had always been given to the first girl to graduate in her mother’s family.