Waltham High School - Mirror Yearbook (Waltham, MA)

Page 25 text:

physical well-being of the school will be improved, but also the democracy which permeates the classes to-day to such a noticeable degree, will be much strengthened. As we draw away from this interesting and many-sided school-life, we ask ourselves cer- tain questions: What has it all amounted to,-this going to school? Has it given us a better chance? These questions are answered by the records of the graduates of our high school, Yet it not only the records of our predecessors that we shall try to live up to, but also the good reputation of the people of New England. Known as they are, the world over, for their integrity, progressiveness, and culture, they have given us reason to be proud that we were born here and are being educated here. We find in them an example ot sturdy, honest folk, such as we find nowhere else in the United States. The different sections of the country have their own peculiarities, but we may be thankful that the peculiarities of the people of New England are good breeding, clear speech, and a healthy mind. For this heritage and education, the foundation of which was laid hy the Pilgrims, these pleasures and opportunities, the class of nineteen hundred and nine thanks you and will en- deavor to thank you in the future by deeds, not words. 1NsTRUcToRs 1 VVILLIS L. EATON, Master ARTHUR N. BHRKE. Sub Master CHARLES W. GOonR1cH, Chemistry GEORGE L. W.kRIb, English SARA E. FROST, English and History CAROLINE E. MCNEILL, Modern Languages HARHIET J. WIl.LIAMs, Ancient History and Greek ANNIE E. BICILYENE. Commercial Subjects GRACE F. SEABURY, English and Latin HELEN OBER, English and French JOSEPHINE F. HALL, Latin and English History MAY PALMER, Mathematics ANTOINETTE MZATTOON, Mathematics HENRIETTA A. PRATT, Mathematics and Botany JENNETTE B. WILSON, French and German LUCY H. GAGE, Mathematics . SPECIAL INSTRUCTORS: GEORGE E. MORRIS, Drawing BIARTHA M. BARNES, Physical Training CHARLES E. BOYD, Music YVILLIAM C. HOUGETON, Manual Training .CARL ANDERSON, Physical Training 3

Page 24 text:

, , v.1,. ., ,.,-o , eg? 1:95 4' '.-5'o -w - v . - . f,'r. :.- . ' 4 F -4 '. .' .- A, . 1 , s .- . Y I Y : 'T 32 a li . ' , ' , ' A x , MA , A . . f . . 'a ,, , , , . ' . r - - 1: Hu , , - .. 'g.qzei- - - , v -59' f ' f . , .P . , ,. 11, I. - - --Q .oi4'f-Q ' P 1 'Q..A -..'v' w 'Q , at ,J 2 ' A , L Q N12' - ', iz 'l v . ' vs: , 1. sl J - 5 ' lu' jf 4- '5---Fu ' 'E 'Q Q ' ,T - 'fu .,' ,,,!L:'- -V , -1. ' g., 'V .I I g . :Q 74- 9:1 a ' Nr . .1 1-,S I -.- - Lg , 4 , I f -9 . VJ' ,D bf 133.4 . ' ,V 3 :if :'P i'1P s N: .51 , 9-' -. f Q1 n , M? 4 ,, -' Q wi'-M :'I:fk., A- vi' is J . Y . .,. , 1 x , .1-N -, I I 5' n ' o 1-1 .41 1 1.-.1 , . Ll,.5.. ,VL -' 1: -ful, 5' fx 1 'ilxw' 1 - A . 'f.-i :f?L+f7'w -. , - - -ig s ', ig-11 .'.jv'L' , , , ,, 1 , - J , fx - Q72-A Ofi'-,A ' Af, ,A-17.4, ' 7' ' ?f I? : .x 'jf 1 - f .N.. .J 5 .k-1 1.-fr.. ' 1. ,. ,:..f-.44 .91 -m 2-is-3' .' -, , I-,J ,,x.x- v- ,if ,,.. - 6 L'-aww , ,5,. - +1 , , gg- ,fQ .1 :1 . li., Ire. 5- Z. faryxk ,F 1- . , Rn 4. - .- ,- ' Y ' W - -- xr' , Q '-L-,aa-, .'Ai. V. - 1, U , '.-A 4, Ls! - Q,--. L 1- ' Y 'Jlufg-51'.,, . Y ..L. . v.'v- , - . ., .- D 1 Q4 - ,. ..- -l?'4 . Ak,'w 'gg Ir ,' . , , X. ...UE Lx, . ,IJ -, V J -tx.. . ff . 1 . Y , .ug, . . A A 1 af---fi .-V - - f V- ,- -p N ,. t ,T N . 'QP - JF A' , , 0 . Vi . V V. 'N - n. - f C - ' 'V ,' , 5 . ,' ' . , ' ' .y' , - -',. 1..' . - . ' v ,i , -f- , . Q. .' P' F 'nw 4 W Q . ,mi D . 5-sl. xx Q., ' - -'Ai. '.'7.J, C n...' ,.:' an ,,, -. ' v

Page 26 text:

Valedictor . HELEN WIGHT WHEELER. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :- The class of nineteen hundred and nine has been fortunate in being in school during the months when the centenaries of so many famous men were being celebrated. As a result of these celebrations, our senior year has been one of helpfulness to all. Our attention has been called frequently to the lives and characters of these great men, and in them we have found facts which should be of advantage to us in building our own characters. But it is as we apply our motto to these great lives, and perceive wherein it was, or was not, observed, that we gain the most for ourselves. Before doing this, however, we must be sure that we understand exactly what it means. U There is no difficulty to him that Wills. Of course, this is not to be taken literally as a truth, for everyone has difiicultiesthat he cannot surmount. He who wills, however, is not discouraged by obstacles or by defeat, but, in his determination, he loses sight of the difficulties, and strives to accomplish his purpose. This, I believe, is the real meaning brought out in our motto. With this in mind, let us test it by the lives of some of the men about whom we have heard so much during the past months. In December, we celebrated the tercentenary of the birth of John Milton. Was he a man of strong will ? This question hardly needs to be answered for anyone who has read of Milton's untiring efforts in behalf of the church and of his count.ry. Some may say that he was prudish and that his life was not exemplary. To be sure, this is true in some respects, but a man who gave the sight of his eyes for the good of his country, and who, in spite of blindness and other difficulties, wrote such a poem as Paradise Lost , undoubtedlyhad traits which we might profitably study. Although Milton lived in an epoch which was of a very different nature from ours, the principles of perseverance and honest effort shown in his life are worthy of everyone's admiration. , V ' About a month after Milton's birthday, we observed the hundredth anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's birth. Here, indeed, was a man who most certainly did not will, and many think that, on this account, his life does not merit our study. But, Guidance as to what we should avoid doing is, in many cases, no less useful than guidance as to what we should do.'l So we often learn as much from the mistakes of others as we do from their successes. Poe's life stands out like a beacon light, to Warn us against the dangers of indolence and recklessness of principle. This man of genius, Alger says, H could gorgeously plan like an architect, but could not patiently build like a mechanicf, That is a. description which would apply to many people today, it is for us to guard against such lack of appli- cation. By analyzing the character of the poet., we find that his genius, capable of kindling men with truth and of inspiring them to a fulfillment of their destiny, failed in its purpose be- cause of a weak power of determination. This is the lesson that Poe teaches us. Then came the commemoration of the birth of our martyr President. It was an event in which not merely his own country, but even the whole world was interested. ln this great 4