Smithsburg High School - Leopard Yearbook (Smithsburg, MD)

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We, the Senior Class of '41 of Smithsburg High School, being of sound mind and disposing memory, on leaving this institution of higher learning, do hereby make known our last testament to fake effect after graduation. To the Junior class we leave our lofty ambition and our seats in Room 29. To the Sophomores we will our seriousness of purpose and character. To the Freshmen we leave our determination and perseverance which tided us over for the four years of high school. As individuals we wish to dispose of our personal belongings as follows: To Windy Hayes, Gerry Wade imparts her athletic abilities. Miriam Leiter bestows her studious habits to Helen Needy. Margaret Bell wills her quietness to torena Forrest. John Herbst wishes to give his blushes to Jock Hartle. Dorothy Jane Smith presents her motherly ways to La Nona Hahn. Walton Wolfe bequeaths his mustache to Billy Winders. To Betty Tressler, Dorothy Miller donates her vamping methods. Helen Baker bestows her particular temperament to Christine Olson. Betty Frazer wills her bashfulness to Betty Codori. John Benchoff leaves his tenor voice to Donald Bollinger. To Theodore Wade, Esther Benner leaves her good-natured smiles. Edwin Beard leaves his stature to Edward Bachtell and his curly hair to Robert Barrick. Julia Baker grants her giggle to Pearl Stottlemyer. Mary Sensenbaugh surrenders her attractiveness to Dorothy Smith. Betty Boswell wills her Ipana smile to Freddie Heiston. Doris Wiles confers her system of dieting to Nevin Funk. To Frank Newcomer, Thomas Werdebaugh leaves his gift of gab . Jesse Garrison bestows his chin whiskers to Albert Kretsinger and his soothing dialect to Jim Frey. Nellie Decker surrenders her sense of humor to Charles Brown. Mary Dattilio wills her artistic ability to Billy Huff. To Francis Green, Betty Harp bequeaths her freckles. Robert Burgesser wills his argumentative nature to Earnest Larrabee. To Margaret Thomas, Rachel Gearhart leaves her classic profile. Basil Brown confers his ability to play major operetta roles to Conway Flohr. Betty Jane Oiler presents her stride to Eileen Pryor. Her chief office position, Ruth Hayes leaves to Edna Leathers. His dilatory movements, Paul Shockey surrenders to Louise Wolfe. Joseph DeLauter bequeaths his bluffing ways to Sparkie Werdebaugh.

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The Night Is Ours The commencement night! The curtain is about to open. It seems as if every sense in your body is awake this evening. Someone whispers, Ready? The curtain is opening now. A thrill of emotion goes over you. There's a tremendous stillness for a second, then a mighty burst of applause. Oh-h- that makes you feel better. Out there is your Dad, with a big lump in his throat. There are tears in your Mother's eyes, but they're tears of pride. The heat is terrible. Before the exercises begin your mind drifts back and — Freshmen, second door to your left. You follow the rest of the gang. Everyone stares at you. You begin to feel panicky, and wonder what's wrong with you. Of course there isn't anything wrong, you decide. You stare back, frying to look a little tough, when you're just plain scared. ... It took you about a week to get settled, but now you feel very much at ease. You decide on your course. Athletics begin and you become interested. Gee, high school isn't so bad after all! Boy, and are you proud when you're named on the assembly committee! Then you join the orchestra. High school is even better as a Sophomore. You even laugh at the Freshmen's actions. It's wonderful to see how one year in school has lessened your self- consciousness. You've a feeling you're just as good as anybody else, if not better. You can even afford to act superior (to the Freshmen i. By your Junior year you are down to work. Life isn't as easy as you thought it was. You're a little more tolerant than you were last year. Oh! how you're overwhelmed when you're chosen a member of the staff. Oh, golly, then all that work for the Prom! But it gives you a taste of planning and of satisfaction in work well done. You begin to get an appreciation of work. You begin to value time. As a Senior, you value time even more. You wake up. You face realities. Life, you learn, gives harder knocks than you thought it did. It seems you're learn- ing more this year than you did in the three previous years put together. You're more serious—but not lofty. Then the play makes you realize how to do a job —over and over until it is done right—for practice makes perfect. You worked for weeks on the lines and practiced until you thought you'd drop. It was worth it, though, when you began to get congratulations. That sense of achievement was grand! Then the exams—they were the last hurdle. But you passed them as you knew you would. My goodness! it just occurred to you—just think what those teachers have gone through for you those four years. Time to receive your diploma. Here it is, all tied up with ribbons. It's won- derful to be graduating! Thank you, S. H. S., for all you've given us. We shall treasure this night forever in our hearts. It is ours and ours alone! Page 10

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Progressive Development at S. H. S. S. H. S. marches on! Heads up, all! Another year has ended—a bigger and better year. We've forged our way—a progressive way—for another year. The Home Economics girls of the Senior Class, for instance, will be the first graduates to receive the Vocational Home Economics diploma. Here's another score for S. H. S.! Both high and grade school topped the attendance record for the county in the latter part of the year. Quite an achieve- ment and something to be proud of! To the joy of Miss Draper, music became a subject for everyone this year. Formerly, the agriculture students were exempted from music. Then, too, the first Mixed Glee Club was organized. Under the directorship of Mr. Haynes, a junior orchestra has been organized. In the musical line, also, is our new swing band. The band was started by the group itself and is directed by one of the members. It's an entire student or- ganization in which the teachers have no hand. The swing band is characteristic of the initiative at school. In like manner the spirit of serving is aptly illustrated in our assemblies. Never has there been such a variety of programs as we have had this year. There was a new spirit of willingness and helpfulness that made these assemblies successful. Then, too, there are the homeroom periods in which every student participated. Class meetings are no longer riots—the procedure is as orderly as that of any governing body. All problems are brought up in the meetings and solved by the students. Programs are put on by various members—programs that are both educational and entertaining. The ideas are the students' own. We can really appreciate our new cafeteria. The large rooms have a seat- ing capacity of about 200, while the former cafeteria seated only about half that number. The elementary school, too, has taken great strides. There is an addition to the faculty—Mrs. Lesher—who teaches the special reading class. Our Bell-Howell movie machine is now paid for. The proceeds from movies were forwarded toward the unpaid balance. Where are the noisy, uproarious groups that used to collect in the halls at noontime? They are gone, too. They have been long banished by the Senior hall patrolmen instituted this year. S. H. S. has indeed gone ahead during the year '40-'41. She plans to go even further. Successful will be the future as S. H. S. marches on! Pape 12