South High School - Index Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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building on their own side. So great was their bashful humility and terror at the sight of the aforesaid pigtails that they turned and fled. They have outgrown this weakness. Now, at the sight of the puffs on the heads of these very same girls, the boys fly, not from them, but to them, with flattering haste. Conscientiously we applied ourselves to the task of making our- selves famous. We were the 'ffair beginners of a new time in school life, a landmark, as Mr. Delano would say. Judge this day how well we have succeeded. Never were there such Fresh- men. Every teacher sang our praises. How proud we felt at our first class meeting. We were weighed down under the responsibility of electing just the right persons for class officers. We succeeded finely when we chose Robert Benchley, President, Gertrude Darling, Vice President, Katherine Patten, Secretary, and Walter Steele, Treasurer. The important business of deciding on a class pin was taken up also, and in a short time we became the proud possessors of the most beautiful school pin that has ever been made or ever will be made. About this time there seemed to be considerable excitement in the air. Upon inquiring we found out that a club called the Dra- matic Club was going to give a play. Some of us were allowed, as a great privilege, to pay thirty-five cents for a seat behind a post, where we craned our necks to see William Weir eat some cake and an orange under a table. We were highly ediiied, in spite of the fact that our necks were stiff for about a week. We intended to act ourselves sometime and be applauded for it. Weeks rolled by, and just as we were thinking we had really become a part of the school, the class games arrived. We did not pay any attention to the advice of the Seniors that we have a game all by ourselves in some back yard, but with steadfast purpose we prepared to come out into the open. I say we, for it is the girls' part to encourage, exhort, cheer, make flags, get up songs, and twine bunting-letting the boys drive the nails of course-? When the eventful day came, then were the fruits of our labor shown, for, I say it with bated breath even now, we beat the Sophomores, the proud Sophomores, by one point. After that even the Seniors ad- mitted that our class was rather unusual. For the rest of the year we crowded over the Sophies, who were for once humbled and abashed. 17

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NIARY KATHERINE RICHARDSON

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The next fall we were Sophomores and we soon settled to work, determined to win more laurels. Early in the year occurred one of the saddest things that can happen to a class. Two of our class- mates, Gladys Spaulding and Lillian Wickman, died within a day of each other. We shall always regret that they have not been with us in our work and play of the past two years. Once more we had a class meeting for the purpose of electing class otlicers. Experienced as we were, it did not take us long to elect George Dixon, Presidentg Gertrude Darling, Vice President, Ruth Vtfoodward, Secretaryg and Alice Sawyer, Treasurer. Class games came close upon this event, but this year '07 overcame us altogether, although our boys struggled nobly. Another two months of play and rest and once more we as- seinbled, browned, happy, and expectant. We were really Juniors. Only one more year and we should be Seniors. This year we played the good Samaritan and poured oil into the wounds ofthe travellers who were just entering into South High School lile. We were so fearfully busy in this rescue work that we didu't have time for our class meeting until late. We hustled through the business of elect- ing oflicers, for we had lots to do. Robert Benchley was chosen President: Gertrude Darling, Vice Presidentg Alice Sawyer, Secre- tary, and Frank Plaisted, Treasurer. A decidedly enjoyable feature of our school life this year was the minstrel show. Of course it was a great success, for our Presi- dent was at the head of it. Never did Bob and Art act so realistically as they did in their little act with the hand-organ and the little monkeys. Bob's manipulation of the creature brought down the house.', I cannot forbear mentioning here the soul-stirring play that was given by the Dramatic Club in our junior year. Then it was that Bob's true talent was shown. But if it were possible he outdid him- self at the play, Pyramus and Thisbe, given by the club at rhetori- cals. VVho can ever forget the moving sight of him as Thisbe, in Howing white garments, whose cheese cloth folds hung gracefully from his manly shoulders, his noble head encircled by a wreath of beautious pink blossoms. This melodious voice almost convulsed the frivolous Freshmen, as he talked through the wall, alias our respected President, Dixon. 18