University of Illinois High School - U and I Yearbook (Urbana, IL)

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Hatchet Uration s-s Ladies, Gentlemen, Seniors, Friends, and last and least, Juniors: You have assembled tonight to witness the transference of this little implement from the custody of the exalted and distinguished Senior Class to the hands of the un- worthy juniors. The Seniors know that this polished object of wood and steel is a hatchet, symbol of authority, to the Juniors it is merely an axe. What does this beribboned instrument, steeped in tradition, mean to the Seniors? I shall tell you, partly for your information, but mainly for the belated education of the juniors who have existed in ignorance much too long. H stands for humility, for the freedom from pride and arrogance with which we, the Seniors, have lived and ruled our kingdom, University High School. We have brought honor and distinction to its halls. .el stands for the outstanding athletic ability which has been exhibited by our great class. All of the eleven members of this year's illustrious varsity basketball team are Seniors, three of whom were so outstanding, that they played on last year's county championship team. T is for two, the two years that this prominent class has had possession of this hatchet. In the entire history of University High School, we are the only class which has had this object for more than one year. C is for the courage which the Class of 1945 exhibited in procuring this tool just two years ago tonight. H stands for happiness sfor the happy domain in which we Seniors have lived throughout these last four years. Never has there been a moment of sadness or despair in our happy group. E stands for the efficiency that has been exhibited on many an occasion. During the basketball season, our boys worked as one, and as a result we won the county championship. Our Junior prom and our yearbook with its many problems of selling advertising, taking pictures, and compiling material, are examples of how we all worked together with great results. T stands for tact and toil. We labored diligently in the classroom. achieving successes such as no other class has ever done or ever shall do. Now, we come to the shred of a word, axe. Here, A stands for the absurdity with which these adolescent Juniors have tried to undertake impossible tasks, such as the fusf-Us. X stands for all the missing quantities which the Juniors do not possess but envy in others. E stands for total failure and for the extent to which the Juniors try to exaggerate their emotions. VVe Seniors know that E stands for the end of the Junior Class when they try, mind you I said try, to emulate our accomplishments. It is with commiseration, compassion, and condolence for our beloved Senior Hatchet, that, as the chosen representatives of the honored and esteemed Class of 1945, I now present to you this instrument. Here is your axe, my children. Guard it well. May you sometime prove worthy of it and of your predecessors. JAMES G. CARD Page Twentg two

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Farewell 1-. How far away seemed the climactic night of Commencement when we, the class of '45, wandered through the halls of University High School as Freshmen four years ago! Four years in the future was infinity. Nevertheless, the evening- the moment-has arrived. VVe must say goodbye. As a class we are meeting for the last time, and we cannot help but feel a certain sadness at the passing of scenes and actions which have comprised our high school days. lt has been an enjoyable time-this fifth-score of years-and we are reluctant to leave it behind. Only the confidence that we shall take with us, to keep forever, a part of our University High School lightens our separation. Friendships we have made, memories of little things-the ringing of a class bell- the favorite seat in the library-familiar things-these will remain. However, high school is not the end, but only one section of the path which leads to the ultimate goal that each of us has set. Therefore, while the separation from our secure and familiar surroundings will be trying, the dominant note of this evening is not sorrow at farewell, but rather the eager expectancy of the unknown something to come. VVe are determined, each one of us, to look ever forward. Many of us will go on to college or university, some will go into the armed forces, and others will turn immediately to civilian work. All of us will be glad of our high school background and will try to employ it to good advantage in the future. Before bidding farewell, we wish to take the opportunity to thank our under- standing advisers and teachers who imparted to us valuable tools of knowledge and comprehension. Their sacrifice and enduring perseverence through our eight semesters of consistant distraction we shall remember gratefully. The inescapable second is here-goodnight, and goodbye. RICHARD SAN1:oRN THOMAS ,, 4'-. f fr Page Tzvmity-one

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Response to the Hatchet Oration sf I receive this hatchet with the greatest of pleasure. l am humble because I have the honor of representing the .Iunior Class on this auspicious occasion, and I ani full of pride because I realize that this year's -lunior Class has come to the standards symbolized by the hatchet. I feel it my duty to put this symbol to use in explaining the circumstances of this year's Junior and Senior classes. As each class enters University High, it might be compared to an insignilicant ripple on the ocean of life. lt is like the slow but sure forming of a wave. As Juniors, the class has reached its crest. lt recognizes its obligations and sets forth to meet them with the vigor of youth. This is a high point in the career of a high school class. As a Senior Class the crest is passed, and it believes that it has ful- filled it duty to the school: it can feel proud of its accomplishments and watch the lower classmen work. The Class of '45 is an especially good example of the preceding statement. Two of its most industrious and intelligent members, seeing the error of their ways, found it convenient to move out of town. One of these members lzcijifvnczi to be the illustrious president of the class. Unable to find a replacement for such an indispensable personage in its own ranks, the class was forced to till the void with a post-graduate student to lead it to success. Ilut even with the excellent leadership of a post-graduate student, the class saw that its only way to avert bankruptcy of the U AND l was to enlist the aid of the Junior Class president in selling advertisements. When the Senior Class received the abbreviated axe last year, it apparently believed the latter was an instrument for rug-cutting, because, for some unexplainable reason, it managed to expend approximately twenty dol- lars more than the amount received. Luckily they, as industrious Juniors, had been able to accumulate enough money for their retirement as Seniors. On the other hand, this year's Junior Class has been able to set some notable goals for its successors. Through energetic projects the class has been able to set a record for receipts ty and expendituresl of class funds. lt set another record for donations to worthy causes, and still another for excellent entertainments given to the school. In addition, it sponsored the most successful play in the history of University I-Iigh School. The Seniors, nevertheless, unable to trust other organizations had to be affirmed and reaffirmed of plans for sponsoring the junior-Senior prom. In conclusion, I wish to SEQ' that, although these records will probably never be broken, we of the Junior Class hope that our successors will strive continually and hopefully to come up to these standards, and that they will be as eligible in the receiving of the hatchet in the following years as we have been eligible this year. VVILLIAM H. GRAHAM Page Twenty-three