St Johns High School - Blue Devil Yearbook (Darlington, SC)

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CLASS HISTORY To bo chosen historian of such a class as that of 1918 is a task that Thucydides might envy ; to record the history of a nation, to recount the inarch of human events for a people, this is no sinecure, but ponder if you will, what is my task—to do justice to the wonderful history of the class of 1918—it requires the intellect of a Gibbon or a Green. Hut however I may come short of my goal, it shall be my earnest endeavor to set forth the merits of the grad- uating class and my reward shall be that going down the ages will be the names destined to become household words, of Livy. Guizot, Hume, Herodotus, and the name of this humble historian. Let me begin at the beginning of our illustrious career, as our childish feet begun the toilsome ascent of the path of knowledge. No doubt every member of the class of 1918 remembers his first day and year at school. Some of us were accompanied by our mothers, while some, always remarkable for bravery, came alone. We can distinctly remember our teacher. Miss Caroline Melver. All the children loved her, and I am sure she loved us. Our second grade teacher was .Miss Richardson. We were very proud when we had reached this second year. We could at least say that our journey was well begun. That year passed very fast without any mistfortunes or accidents. We began to be recognized as one of the most remarkable grades that had ever entered the Darlington school. No doubt our marks were always 100 and behavior perfect. Good marks have always been received by 1018, and do not cause surprise, so I don't remember a little thing like that. Sep- tember found us in the third grade, with Miss Counts as our teacher. This was a great year for us. for it was really the beginning of our present class. So many, seeing what a brilliant grade was ours, came from other grades and other schools and joined us. Our teacher was really amazed at our knowledge. We even looked brilliant. Much to her distress. Miss Counts was obliged to give us up at the end of the year and Miss Peacock was so fortunate as to have the distinction of teaching us next. Fourth year goal was passed brilliantly and not a one was left behind in the race. Behold us now launched on fifth year work ! Miss Peacock, after serious deliberation, decided that it would be quite too painful to sever connection with so incomparable a grade; so she advanced with us and was our fifth grade teacher. Proud and happy, we entered sixth grade tin1 next year. Over half of our journey was accomplished. We had become the talk of the school. Miss Dar- gan, our teacher this year, kept us in oft'times at 2 o’clock to wonder at our opinion on points of interest connected with geography, history, etc. Miss Counts, regretting our hiss in third grade, joined us again in seventh grade. Sin had to do without us for three years, but she found teaching another grade than ours unendurable, so she became our seventh grade teacher. That year excited us very much, for we knew that we would soon become members of the High School. And now September again and 1918 has only four more mile stones to pass. First year High School! What bliss! We had four teachers that year, namely. Miss Agnew, Miss Coleman, Miss Colvin, and Miss Brunson. We had never had four teachers before, so naturally it was exciting. First High School work is usually difficult, but not to 1918. We studied very little and you should have seen our marks! Mr. Daniel used to come over often just to be in the room and gather

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SENIOR LIGHTS AND SHADOWS Freshman year passed long ago, And now we’ve learned to love it For we know that daylight is sublime By just the absence of it; And though it's hardships seemed all wrong And life seemed void and hollow. There was never a Freshman year so long That a Sophomore did not jolloiv. Sophomore year gave us hope at last. And banished melancholy, We learned it was best, whate’er befell To still be gay and jolly. And although we suffered griej untold We really didn’t mind it. For a Sophomore year can’t be so long. With a Junior year behind it. Junior year made us feel quite wise And filled us with ambition, For it meant to us another rise And we caught a broader vision. So bravely we strove to bear our load Oj mortal doubt and yearning. As hopefully we trod the road That led to greater learning. Senior joys cannot last all while. Old time is sure to chase them, So let the tears oj parting cease And with a smile replace them. 'Tis a sad farewell for girl and boy. But hearts now plunged in sorrow W ill be tter appreciate the joy, That comes with each to-morrow. So now good-bye to teachers all. To comrades true and loyal, W e face another life, whose call Invites to service royal, Well ne’er forget the friends we’ve met, The joys these years have brought us; We’ll strive our best and ne’er forget The lessons they have taught us. —H. Raymond Weeks, '18.

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inspiration from our outbursts of eloquence and wonderful recitations. But on the other hand we could he as bad as we were good. Of course if we wished to be naughty, we did that well too. No half way measures for us. We were like the little girl, who when she was good was very, very good, but when she was had. she was horrid. One day we decided to be bad and we went the limit. At 2 o’clock several of us streamed down to the office. Our names were written in a book and they are there to this day with the deeds beside them. The next September our grade was collected again. This time a new teacher was added to the list of teachers and a man, Mr. Farris, greatly sur- prised us. Every now and then he seemed to differ from the universal opinion held about our grade. He sometimes faintly intimated that he didn t consider us remarkably brilliant. We were stunned but we recovered, and with Hying colors entered Third High School. What joy! Several pupils, realizing what it would be to graduate with us. dropped hack a vear and joined our happy band. Our new teachers this year were Miss Ward, Miss Arrowood and Mr. Tarter. It seems to us many years since we were in Third High School, hut we shall never forget our past history. When we reached that grade we knew that we would soon start out in life in different directions. We realized this and so we decided to have a good time. Many times we gathered our happy band in the park and there we feasted in jovous revelry. In May we gave the graduating class a picnic, That was the last of our festivities that year, for examinations loomed just ahead. At last ! We have reached that grade which has long been our coveted goal. On September the twelfth our band of the faithful met once more on the grounds of old St. John’s. Five pupils entered our ranks that year. Two deserted college to graduate with such an illustrious class; two came from a far away city ; one, seeing what a distinction it would be to graduate with 1111S, left her own grade to become a member ofour class, consisting now of twenty-three members. W hen it becomes a question of patriotism, 1!US makes as noble a record as in everything else. 1’ ive boys who at one time belonged to our class have joined the colors at the call of our country. The past year has been a remarkable one even in the record of 11)18. No other class has ever before got out a school paper, no other class has ever made all ones on deportment, no other class has ever got out an Annual. What holds the future, that mysterious unknown towards which our feet are eagerly pressing? What holds the future for the members of our class. It does not take a prophet to foresee that such success as comes to the world’s favored few will crown the efforts of members of 11)18. Some have already achieved fame. We have among our ranks one Raymond Weeks, whom we con- fidently expect to become a second Kdison. Mae Sutton will some day, we feel sure, achieve world-wide fame as a pianist. If Shakespeare were living I am sure he would envy our famous poet, Emmie Kirven. She ranks today as one of the most famous rhvmsters. The world has never known a greater states- man than Oliver Kollock. Wre feel absolutely certain that he will some day become president of the Ignited States. Somestimes we feel sure that Talhoun is among us when Melver Edwards begins his debates. Rut space forbids the mention of others destined also to become enrolled in Fame’s list of the great. Such, feebly drawn and weakly expressed, is the history of our class. But with these few facts before you, you can grasp some- thing of the brilliance, power and intellect of this wonderful grade. —Margaret James, 918