Tarboro High School - Tar Bo Rah Yearbook (Tarboro, NC)

Page 27 text:

19 2 2 TAR-BO-RAH 19 2 1 could be heard all over the plantation and wrote in sprawling letters everywhere. Talents that shone early were manifested in the singing and yelling of Raymond Cosby and Alex Denson. After the first, the years passed quickly. Different teachers have added their mite towards helping the colonists along the way. But alas ! the climb was so steep for many that after the first round of the ladder was made, some became dizzy and fell off. Work was inter- spersed with pleasure, each boy having his own little sweetheart, al- though she gave him nothing but whooping cough. The most important stage, after the first round, came when one sec- tion of the climb had been made and the colonists were approaching the dangerous pass of seventh grade. Here the whirlpool of knowledge flows so swiftly that many of the colonists feared to breast the waves. Eighteen stood the heavy pouring of County Supt. George Howard, the process requiring a whole day-from 8:00 in the morning until 8:00 in the evening, with no thought of eating, drinking, or anything else save coming out successfull from that terrible struggle. And those who face you to-night did emerge triumphantly. The journey from the seventh-grade round, presented only four steps, each to be reached by hard work, and secure standing to be maintained by steady application. This new realm, called High School, was very different from the old lands left behind. New terrors presented them- selves and the colonists were constantly alarmed by inexplainable ob- jects, x, y z ' s. In addition, a new language had to be mastered and the strugglers found themselves sputtering and spattering as if they were crazy. The band of eighteen were much impressed with their new dignities, those that befall High School students. They went around talking in rhetorical style and disdained to notice pioneers on the path. The colonists enjoyed the second stage of the journey in High School land. Flowers and trees called to them and the botannical trips stand out prominently. The government of the province was lax, the colonists often being out of place on every occasion except at meal time. Our motto that year was, All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. The play was duly emphasized, and if our minds grew not, Wilson Crane ran up several inches, while Evelyn Worsley and Elma Brown spread out. The following regarding the social life of the colonists is clipped from the Colonial Records of 1920: Ye boys of ye colony entertained ye girls at an April fete. Ye maidens looked pretty, acted pretty, and had a good time. Ye boys were on their p ' s and q ' s and were as handsome and chilvarous as ye knights of old. When the colonists reached the tenth round of the ladder on the quest for knowledge they received a heavy jolt. The former governor PAGE TWENTY-THREE

Page 26 text:

19 2 2 TAR-BO-RAH 19 2 1 Class History FIRST EDITION Published by the Campbell Publishing Co. DEDICATION To Miss Janis Chandler and the faculty of the Tarboro High School this history is both respectively and respectfully dedicated. PREFACE N WRITING the history of the class of 1922, the author has striven to set forth the achievements and failures, the glories and conquests of the class. The object of the writing has been deemed expedient that the world know something of the brilliant record of the class ; it has also been deemed wise that Tar- boro High School know something of the life and work of their prede- cessors. If this volume in any way portrays the life and character of the class, the writer will feel a mply repaid for his labor. Chapter 1. In the fall of 1910, a new colony began its journey on the search for knowledge. The colonists were half a hundred six-years-old from all over the town, the survivors of which colony face you to-night. What an eventful day was the first one at school. And such preparations as had been made for it. Our faces had been scrubbed until one could see himself in them; our hair was almost glued back; and the girls of the colony were bedecked in starchy dresses that would stand alone. Our mothers led us by the hand and each delivered her precious bundle to the teacher with a few words of advice about her particular child. Tendencies of the colonists early began to manifest themselves. The schoolroom was different from the accustomed haunts of all outdoors; and many of us had never been with so many children before. Just as every one was drooping at the mouth and choking, the loud lusty yell of Maurice Light burst forth. I want my maw ! I want my maw ! was his cry. He was reenforced by Jack Denson, who hollered, I want something to eat! I want something to eat! For one solid week Evelyn Worsley refused to sit down, to march, or to speak. She sucked her thumb and said nothing, — the evidences of which performance her thumb bears to-day. The teacher had to use weapons to get this raw material to work in a team. Albeit the life was different, the colonists soon began to adjust themselves to their surroundings and to make pro- gress on the search for knowledge. At first we read so loud that we PAGE TWENTY-TWO

Page 28 text:

19 2 2 TAR-BO-R AH 19 2 1 of the entire province having given up the work, a new governor was installed. This new governor and his assistant, like Capt. John Smith of old, forced the colonists to give up the search for pleasure and to work, work, work. The colonists had to come under the yoke of dis- cipline and to dig for knowledge as they had never dug before. Another terror which added to the unhappiness of the colonists was a different language. They were tortured with a never-ending pano- rama of French verbs, French nouns, and French idioms. The horrors of the French Revolution were reacted before their very eyes. Plea- sures were few and work abundant that year. But one social festivity mentioned in the Colonial Records of Feb. 11, 1921, calls up happy memories. One of ye biggest social events ever given in ye province was ye Junior Senior reception last evening. Ye rulers came in ye royal equi- page, ye guests in ye holiday attire, and company manners, and ye en- tertainers in ye best of spirits. All made merry together. The last round of the ladder was finally reached in the fall of 1921. The acquisition of the long sought-for flower of knowledge seemed near but illusive. To keep their eyes ever on it, the class adopted the motto which spurred Columbus on through his sea of darkness, Sail on. A terrible giant, Mathematics, stood in their way. It so affected the number that they fed on incommensurable quantities and slept on dihedral angles. In the meantime, the colonists had developed some fine athletes, who matched their strength with that of other colonists. The Colonial Record thus speaks of some of the colonists: Ye knights of ye colony have jousted with ye knights of all neighbor- ing colonies and of distant provinces in tournaments and Olympic games. Ye colonists cannot be beaten in running fast, jumping high, and holding tight. The colonists came to the end of the journey with a mingled feeling of joy and sadness. They were joyous that the object of the climb, — the flower of kowledge was within their grasp ; they were sad to think that the colony would soon disband, each to search for a flower of his own choosing elsewhere. For eleven years, the colonists had enjoyed asso- ciation with each other and with beloved teachers. For eleven years, one building had sheltered, and nurtured them all. They saw all this fading away. Yet, with a grateful glance backward, and a hopeful glance forward, each colonist plucked the flower of knowledge and the colony disbanded. All ' s well that ends well. PAGE TWENTY-FOUR