Wapakoneta High School - Retrospect Yearbook (Wapakoneta, OH)

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fates. Bear the leaves with you and on May 26, 1908, there announce thy success.” Ihen all was silent, the spirit Sibyl had left, and dreamingly I gathered the leaves in their order and left the cave. fn a short time I would be home again. Home 1 never did it sound more pleasant to my ear. But would I reach it before the destined day? I must 1 Not a moment was lost that would bring me nearer home. Nearer and nearer came the day and nearer, nearer—home 1 And now one day was lacking—and now I was home with the prophetic leaves jealously stored away and now came the very moment for the interpretation of the leaves. In tiny letters traced in most delicate script: o o o “Wherever woman's rights are trampled on She shall stand their champion.” NETTIE TAYLOR. o o o “She, the gentle, the excellent shall enwrap A tall and sturdy Sidney chap.” EDITH HICK. o o o “His great and only work shall be Farming scientifically.” EUGENE STEINBAUGH. o o o “She, a host of urchins shall teach But never beyond the single life shall reach.” IDA BROWN. o o o “He, too, a teacher’s right shall win But vainly wishing something might have been.” WILSON KELLAR. o o o “In a far off heathen clime Laboring shall be called sublime.” ALMA RAMGE. o o o “He the art of drawing yet shall learn Tutored by a handsome teacher stern.” EDWIN TIMMERMEISTER. o o o “She the artist of the class shall be Excelling in portraying hair—curly.” ANNA WISS. o o o “They in modern debate shall stand As examples for the land.” URFE WHITE—LESLIE NICHOLS, o o o “Oh the wiles and praise of men so hollow She with vigor through life shall follow.” LUTIE BUTCHER. o o o “On love his theme shall be Treating its technicality.” REUBEN WISENER. o o o “Oh, blind and weak ones who could not see That the world should hear from her in the vast futurity.” PAULINE NICHOLS.

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CLASS PROPHECY O O O By BLANCH E. JACK. “Compelled to wander!” “Compelled to wander! Was ever a soul so cruelly banished? Take back that decree, oh cruel tribunal!” “Thou art banished until thou hast learned the fates of thy school- mates.” A year had passed and still I was a wanderer. Over Italy and Greece, in truth, over all southern Europe I had roamed in search of the destinies, searching ceaselessly among the old shrines, there, where the valiant ancients had received their inspirations and learned their fates. But I—Must I give up in vain? No, no, I could not go back, I had been banished. I was so weary and discouraged, almost broken hearted, the quest seemed vain : sinking to the ground I wept tears of disappointment and deep- est sorrow. Unmindful of my surroundings, when I gained courage to look up I saw a tiny thatched cottage standing near. Night coming on I coubl go no farther, I must seek shelter here. A tiny old woman welcomed me and in the sweetest and lowest voice said: “I am so glad you came, I was grow- ing weary waiting for you.” Her voice soothed me but I could not but wonder at her words. “You wonder at my words but I know all your troubles and I, and I only can aid you. But now, you must forget all until the morrow, and re- member, your trials are all over. I have been waiting long years for you. I could hardly believe the words I heard, so long and tedious had been the year 1 had wandered. I must realize my hopes before I could believe. I doubted, and the dark night coming in through the little window almost put out the faint flame of hope, but early, very early the little woman came and in the silvery voice said, “Come, this is the last day of your exile. The Sibyl has been waiting long for vou; she has already learned that you have come and she will gladly end thy pilgrimage.” It seemed only a few minutes until a dark cave was reached, shaded by lofty trees. “The shrine of my dreams!” I cried, then the horror of it all came in swift reaction. “Must I go in there?” I shuddered. “Yes,” the little woman replied, “and take head now lest at the very last moment you fail. The Sibyl has arranged nineteen oak leaves in the cave, each bearing the fate of an individual. Watch, when you open the heavy inner door lest a draught enter and and disturb the leaves; they will never be placed again. Blessings on you, now, go.” Trembling with fear and apprehension I pushed open the ponderous door with the smallest possible opening and entered. The Sibyl was not there; I began to breathe free again. Over a rock in the farthest corner shone a bright light, the source was unknown, and there placed in order lay the nineteen leaves. My hands trem- bled so that I could hardly grasp the veined leaves and sinking down beside the rock I raised one to the light. “Stay!” a voice thrilling me with an awful fear came. Horrified I turn- ed in the direction of the voice, possibly I had only imagined the voice, and again I raised the leaf. And again came the sepulchral voice. “Oh, touch not the leaves or your plan must fail: attempt not to read the leaves now. Only on your class-day will it be possible for the destinies of your classmates to be interpreted; only then will you be able to read their

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“He shall win lasting fame no doubt In asking questions, but what about ?” o o o She who never sang her own fame Shall yet win a lasting name.” o o o FRED WERTZ. MYRTLE BOWSHER. The part he shall play On the Senior’s class-day Shall be his vocation Winning the world’s admiration.” o o o HARRY DOB IE. “Oh class of '08 rejoice and sing aloud For you have a philosopher in your crowd. WALTER ANDERSON. o o o She shall teach the Latin tongue And at construction lisp “I’m stung.” MAYME BUCHANAN. o o o Had the Sibyl forgotten that I too belonged to the class? After my weary search was 1 not to know what was in store for me? Ah, yes! here was the nineteenth leaf, here was my fate. Oh, cruel Sibyl, it was blank. The Last WT1 and Testament OF The Senior Class of the Wapakoneta High School o o o By PAULINE NICHOLS. In the Name of the Benevolent Father of All: We, the said Senior Class, being of sound and disposing mind and mem- ory, considering the uncertainty of continuance in life, and desiring to make such disposition of our worldly estate as we deem best, do make, publish and declare, this to be our last will and testament: hereby revoking and annulling any and all former will or wills whatsoever by us made. FIRST: We desire all our just debts and funeral expenses to be paid, as soon as possible after our decease. SECOND: We give and bequeath to the Junior Class as a whole the enviable reputation of the Senior Class bestowed upon us and nurtured by the teachers, students, superintendent and board of education, together with all the privileges and rights granted to said Seniors. THIRD: To the same corporation do we hereby bequeath the talents, honor, beauty, and grace, natural and acquired, of the aforesaid Senior Class. FOURTH: We bequeath to you collectively an inheritance of vast proportions; some persons receive as an inheritance a magnificent farm, oth- ers, valuable business blocks and still others, investments in banks, mines, and railroads, but to you we bequeath the entire world—in which to make a living. FIFTH: We give and bequeath to Emma Heller the rare elocutionary talent possessed by Nettie Taylor, knowing full well that it will be cherished and used to the great pleasure and entertainment of all those who hear her. SIXTH: We give and bequeath Harry Dobie’s cap and gown to Harry Hanold, knowing full well that he is big enough mentally and physic- ally to fit into them almost to the bursting point. SEVENTH : The modest and unobtrusive argumentative talent of