Soldan High School - Scrip Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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nl v X., l . 1' 1 I vs Q b K . ' . ei 1 gf WIN As l ii William Rees Vickroy 1859-1933 igr T5 J 5 ji 5 :li .Cu Ili x f-fin V- ,ig Q ' It I A 1' 3'

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5 JH Tl-IE SCRIP The building came to be regarded as a standard of what was considered excellent in schoolfplanning in various parts of the country. When William B. Ittner, distinguished school architect, severed his connection with the St. Louis Board of Education as Build' ing Commissioner, his services in many cities and states were sought and rcquisitioned, mainly because of his fame as the architect of the Soldan High School. During those early years, it was a. frequent and favorite utterance of the principal that the srhool was not the building, however great may be our pride in the architec- tural achievement. It was our privilege to lay the foundations of an institution whose ideals and whose spirit should be a fitting counterpart to our material setting. With this thought in mind, there was proposed on the opening day that some motto, embody' ing an ideal toward which all could aspire in the building of the school, should become our watchword. The noble line from Chaucer's description of the parfait gentil knyght furnished the words, UTROUTHE, HONOUR, FREDOM, CURTEISYEQ' which many thousand Soldan boys and girls, men and women, came to love and now hold dear. A slender volume of june, 1910, made its appearance- the first Soldan Srrip. Those connected with its preparation felt the impulse and responded to the challenge to set a standard of school journalism. Its pages are replete with references to the making and maintenance of standards and to the necessity of cooperative endeavor and unity of spirit in founding the school. All Paris built, and the glory was Notre Dame! As I turn the pages of this old volume and read again its beautiful and impersonal dedication, TO THE SPIRIT OF ETERNAL YOUTH, after a quarter of a century, I feel anew that the problems now are no less- probably even greater-than they were theng that the spirit of youth is eternal, and that there is something in it that will respond to the task of maintaining high ideals. The editor alludes to the shepherd lad of Milton's Comus, who opens his leathern scrip and culls from its thousand simples the blessed Haemony of sovran charm to unlock every evil spell. He speaks of our building, strong and beautiful: of our teach' crs, devoted and inspiringg of our students, earnest and hopefulg all contributing to a history worthy to be recorded and perpetuated. And he ventures the hope thatiperhaps in farfdistant years some grey-haired shepherd may cull from its parchment treasures the blessed Haemony that makes age young. It has been a joy to live over again the incidents and associations of the early years of Soldan beginnings, and to offer these memories along with high hopes for the future as an exhortation and a challenge to carry on! fzoltfwril Principal, Soldan High School, 19094929 1 Br Assistant Superintendent, High Schools, l929' , ,' 'ii'-1 NN ,,a.g2weiL'Q x as- 55 ag .. 51' Q . f' gg 155361 ,gig rw ,gi .- t.,'g1.f3,4lgLi,.5.. 1, P. H H, -1 -:tr-ei:-Q 'fr' -lllu-L - w ...,.......:. V .., .r is-aus.-.,...., J- ,V-

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Tl-IE SCRII3 ln Memoriam William Rees Vickroy lived life graciously. His talents as a teacher were equaled only by his charms as a man. His habitual refinement of thought had marked him in person and in feature with a calm dignity, gentle poise and scholarly appearance. His ready sympathy, unfailing courtesy, and gentle counsel made his friendship a precious thing, His was a fine, upstanding, loyal, and lovable spirit. In his soul there were reserved places where he enfolded those whom he helped in time of tribulation-of these things he did not speak. His profession he regarded as a sacred trustg and to this high calling he consecrated his life's endeavor. Most worthy was he to be the mentor and guide to eager souls in their plastic youth. It is not possible to know, it is not possible to measure the far extent of his influence upon the hearts and minds of his students, but certain it is that he left upon them the lasting impress of that gentleness which was his strengthg that self' restraint which was his forcefulness. He was inflexible only in his adherence to his concept of the right. Memory is a lamp by whose light we shall often review the pages of his life, still to find lessons there to lay to our heartsg still to find strength and patience for the day's work in handg and inspiration for the years of endeavor to be. The faculty and the student body of Soldan High School are happy in having known William Rees Vickroy. Q31 ni. iii. or a