South High School - Tiger Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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CI (i s s B o o k, 1904 3 members of our class, it surpassed everythin previously rendered. One morning as the mist cleared away, the Junior banner was beheld floating proudly in the breeze of South town in defiance of the whole Senior class, much to the chagrin of that honorable body. The culminating event of the year was the farewell hall that we gave to the Seniors. It was, probably, the most elaborate affair given by South High students. Our pen cannot find sufficient superlatives to justly depict the scene upon that memorable night. Let it suffice to say that the retiring dynasty resigned its prestige to the rising rulers with the best of grace and g xxl will, and harmony prevailed thruout. ot long after the hall we became Seniors. We at first found it somewhat difficult to maintain the dignity which our new and exalted position demanded, hut we soon adjusted ourselves to suit the new conditions. We went to our recitations with graver countenances and when we recited it was not with that timid, questioning look that had previously characterized 11s: hut with hold confidence in our powers we made rules in Virgil and formulated definitions and made axioms to suit exigencies in geometry. The chief event of our first term as Seniors was the winning of the foot hall championship. In spite of the greatest obstacles, lack of support and proper facilities for training our hoys succeeded in developing the strongest team in the state. The boys deserved recognition and the Senior class presented each member of the team with a handsome watch fob. Of all the classes which we attended during our Senior year the Civics class was probably the most interesting. In this class wireless telegraphy was developed to a high state of efficiency. 'The operators, however, worked under great difficulties and the messages transmitted by the feminine portion of the class were often intercepted by the boys who perused them with the greatest interest. One day for some unaccountable reason the members of the American history class were unable to recite: they seemed to he dazzled. A11 investigation was started and the cause was traced to Mr. Westerson’s new shoes which shone so resplendent-ly. In our Virgil class we experienced all the sensations to which the minds of human beings are subject. If the Aeneid of Virgil

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2 Class Book, 1904 we were given an opporunity to become distinguished. I hen we asserted ourselves, and the members of our class became prominent in the sports, and n the social and literary activities of the school. We even went so far as to organize a Sophomore class, a thing unprecedented in the history of the school, which fact shows our wonderful entu prise and progressiveness. This class was in every way a successful organization. Several meetings were held, all of which, both the president and secretary attended. ()ur class organization was, however, the least of our achievements for we beat both the Juniors and the Seniors in the patriotic essay contest. Goodsell carrying off the prize, a beautiful flag, which now adorns the stage in our auditorium. It was in our second year that we first became acquainted with the problems of geometry and learned how to prove that a straight line was not curved and numerous other self evident propositions. Some of 11s, however, took entirely too much for granted and learned to our sad discomfiture that a tangent at the P» room exit entered the office, for that was where we invariably landed. In the course of time we took up our abode in I» room, and it was while seated there that we became initiated into the mysteries of Miss Kerr’s system of exits and it was some time before we really found out which was the safest way of departure. As Juniors, we commenced the study of physics. We studied all about Matter. Energy, Force. Work and Efficiency, but the Matter with us evidently was that we lacked Energy and so did not exert enough Force to accomplish the Work with as high a decree of Efficiency' as wo should. We not only distinguished ourselves in the class room but partook in the social doings as well. Among the events worthy of commemoration was the picnic given by the girls’ sorority, the Beta Kappa Phi. Tho it rained, the merry-making was not hindered. We presented Shakespeare’s play, “Midsummer Night's Dream.” Our rehearsals were characterized by the absence of practice and the constant presence of the fudge box. Conceited by our elevation to Shakespearean actors, we ignored our routine duties and were not guilty of getting a lesson for a week or more previous to the presentation. Like all other affairs given by

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A Class Book. 1904 had never been produced, we might have survived our Senior year in full possession of our health and common sense. But alas, the whole year was marred by the study of that pagan script and at the end of it we found ourselves, like the ancient Latins, thinking backwards. One day the clock in our Virgil recitation room stopped. The suspense was simply unbearable. None of the awful places of which Virgil speaks could have caused a more intense nervous tension. Our achievements in the class room were insignificant when compared to the victories won by the members of the class in other lines. ()ur valedictorian not only secured the highest average for scholarship in the city but won second honors for the school in the “Lake Poets” essay contest. Another member of the class, a talented young lady, won third place in the State Debating League essay contest. Two members of the class were also on the school debating team which won the championship of the fifth and second congressional districts. These are but a few of the honors won by individuals and the class mav congratulate itself on having as members the stars of the championship football team, baseball team and divers other champions too numerous to mention. After a winter of study and work spring finally came around and the Beta Kappa Phi girls kindly invited the bovs to a picnic. 'I'lie boys brought eatables and naturally expected that the girls would pay expenses but they were disappointed. Leap year is not. after all, a blessing to the lx ys for they not only had to tackle the “grub” proposition but were kept in suspense as to their partners until some girl kindly condescended to ask them. The paramount issue of the year was, of course, the Senior Memorial. 'Flic means by which funds were to be raised caused considerable discussion. We finally decided upon the Journal Newsboys’ Band. At last we are readv to graduate. We have passed thru each of the successive stages, the stepping stones to seniority, supremacy and independence, and, as we stand upon the threshold of future activities, we look back and review, with pride, the career so glorious which has made us candidates for life’s battle. —Arthur Anderson.