Southampton High School - Sea Spray Yearbook (Southampton, NY)

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8 THE PARTING SHOT obliging member should bravely take upon her shoulders this great re- sponsibility. Next we discussed colors, pins and the question of gradu- ation or a trip to Washington. It is perhaps needless to say the trip to Washington was our choice. Shall we ever regret this choice? No, never. Such a trip as it was! On the Monday morning of our Easter vacation under the able and kind chaperonage of our preceptress, we took the morning train. Arriving in New York, we were cautioned to stay together lest the well known intricacies and terrors of that city claim us, and were finally settled on the train bound for Washington. The boys, ably assisted by a certain principal, amused us during the whole trip, and did away with the monot- ony which characterizes every long journey. Our stay in the capital was filled with never-to-be-forgotten sights and experiences. Philadelphia, that city of brotherly love, was hardly less in- teresting. Always we walked with eyes turned to the sky, little regard- ing the obstacles in our path. It was, however, often necessary for us to look behind us for two of our number who were continually detained either because the sights were too interesting to leave, or because our rate of speed was too great. We were in constant fear of becoming separated from them, but by waiting for a littlle time at each corner, we avoided this calamity. In spite of the many places of interest which we longed to see, duty called, and all too soon we found ourselves homeward bound. The following week we again settled down to work, and prepared in earnest for those dread regents, attended various class and committee meetings, and did those many little odds and ends which come at the last minute. Today we look back with loving thoughts and great pleasure to the days we have spent in this, our High School, and wish that our coming “school” whether it be life-work or college, may be as dear to our memory. MARCIA R. GRIFFIN. United States of America, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow The history of this country, its settlement, growth and future, is of great interest to all American people. A comparatively new country, its past is a matter of record, and is not enshrouded in mystery as are the origin and the history of the countries of a more ancient civilization. This land, we know, was settled by a colony of self-constituted exiles who left their native land to find an asylum where they might enjoy those three inalienable rights, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which they later embodied in their Dedlaration of Independence. This little band of exiles, landing on inhospitable shores, was augmented from time to time by others from the Old Country. Colonies were established further south by the Huguenots who were driven from France by religious intolerance. Our ancestors continued to spread out over the country, obtaining land

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THE PARTING SHOT The Class History of 1914 Today, as you gaze upon these sedate, self-satisfied and perfectly com- posed Seniors, it will perhaps he hard to realize that four years ago the majority of them entered the Southampton High as fearful of teachers and the coming routine as any set of freshies. The first few days were spent in disposing of money for books, learning our doom as to classes and teachers, and (last but by no means least, in falling on the floor. The following weeks were little different from those of any first year in High school, and then as always the vacations loomed up as bright spots on the horizon. As graduation day drew near, we watched with jealous and longing eyes the preparations made to honor the graduates of 1910. On the night of the exercises we sat in our humble seats, and, open mouthed drank in all, vaguely grasping the fact that we too, some day should be similar objects of envy. The next fall we assembled again, and after the usual helter-skelter first day, settled down to work. The responsibilities of our Sophomore year sat heavily upon us. We soon lost these however, and became as carefree as any freshie. This light heartedness and light headedness followed us through all—even when we awoke to find ourselves Juniors. Not until Spring burst forth and with it preparations for Commencement, were we brought suddenly to earth. This hard dot was ours through the in- strumentality of the Seniors. Much there was to be done, and some one must do it. Who should it be? Why, the Juniors, of course! Since it was impossible to refuse, although it sadly hurt our pride, to say noth- ing of our fingers, to twist stems about to form their motto, we trim- med for Glass Day. Was it not, then, most unkind, after all our loving devotion, for these same Seniors on the afternoon of Class Day, to “knock” us so hard that we scarcely recovered in time to return to school next fall. We reentered school with much the same spirit as the rest of the pupils, but we were not destined to rest in quiet and peace. Our teachers lost no time in impressing upon our minds that we were Seniors, and must conduct ourselves as such in both work and demeanor. We must have been rather hard to impress for throughout the year we have been continually reminded of this same fact both in English and history classes. One dreai-y afternoon in the middle of the year the members of the Senior Class were summoned to a small room. Here our Principal awaited us; when the last one had found a seat, he broke the news—we must or- ganize! After giving us much valuable advice, telling us of a prize of- fered for the best essay by a Senior on Colonial Architecture, and of a proposed trip to Washington, and after directing the election of a chair- man, he left us to our own devices. Such a calm! At last our chairman spoke,—a president should be elected. The nomination was prompt, and the ayes unanimous. Our trouble came when we attempted to secure a secretary. We were overwhelmed with work; we scarcely could see our way through our required duties. How then should we be able to perform these added tasks? It was no more than naturali that the sweet and

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THE PARTING SHOT 9 from the Indians and taking advantage of them, no doubt, in many cases, for the innocence and nomadic life of these people caused them to place littfle value on their inheritance. After varying struggles with the Indians and the French, the English people at last prevailed, and a peaceable and prosperous colony seemed likely to be established. But before long the struggle with the mother country broke out. The cry of “Taxation without representation” arose, and soon we were in the throes of a revolution. After years of unparalleled suffering and most heroic endurance, our ancestors were victorious, and thus was started the United States of America. From that time until the present day this country has had a most phenomenal growth. Because its geographical situation is so favorable, its climate so saiubrious, and its government so liberal, it has become the Mecca for immigrants from every clime. To-day we stand a country apparently at its zenith—a country settled from ocean to ocean, covered by a network of railroads, dotted with large cities, and peopled by nearly one hundred millions of inhabitants. Among the many industries of the country may be mentioned cotton growing in the southern states, raised in such abundance that the trade of the whole world looks to the South for a supply. Upon the western prairies are raised the wheat, corn and other cereals that supply all our inhabitants and replenish to some extent the granaries of the world. Surely the farmer is the bone and sinew of the country, and without him we could no long- er exist. Deeply buried in the earth lie stores of precious metals in such abundance as to rival the far-famed mines of King Solomon. Our natural products are second to no country, and supply every port of the nation with necessities, and luxuries. Our manufacturing industries are prosper- ous, and the hum of the factory is heard in nearly every city of the land. The problem of the future of this country depends largely on the view point of the observer. Many think there is great danger to the country from a Mongol invasion, and foresee dire disaster in the rapidly increas- ing strength and aggressiveness of the yellow race. Others think that the country is menaced by internal dissensions which sooner or later must cause an upheaval of the existing form of government. Then again we hear the intoned wail of the pessimist who says that never, since the days of Rome, drunken with the lust of conquest and debauched with appetites that demanded crimes for amusement, has the world seen a community hurried so near to the Charybdis of social and political extinction by its own prosperity as ours. So the questions arise, Can present conditions remain stable? Shall we advance or retrograde? We can call to mind the rise and fall of former civilizations. Are we destined to their fate? These are questions (hat no one can answer with certainty. They must be left to the re- vealing hand of time, and to the determination of inscrutable providence. ALAN HILDRETH. Mr. Wilson: “Here’s pi in this equation. How do you dispose of pi, Clarence?” Clarence: “If I were down at camp, I could give you a practical dem- onstration.”