Wapakoneta High School - Retrospect Yearbook (Wapakoneta, OH)

Page 31 text:

The Sophomores, who are really the most studious class in the whole High School, are now looming into sight, and are known all over the school for their considerations and kind attentions to the Freshmen. They could not be otherwise, for just one year ago they were Freshmen themselves and knew all the persecutions and thrusts they experienced. The Freshmen, who may be called an abbreviation of the Sophomores, can learn a lesson from them, for if possible they are really more studious this year than they were last and pour over their geometry just as if they really enjoyed it. They are not quite so bashful as last year either, for they even dare to smile at a school- mate in going from morning exercises, and perchance they come across a word that is too much for their gray matter, they muster up enough courage to even walk -to the dictionary, and having gained the information desired, walk straight back to their seats, not venturing a glance either on the right or on the left. Indeed one has to stop and think whether he is at some military academy, or viewing a soldiers parade, for the stride of that ambitious Sopho- more is so straight and firm that we can almost hear the order (Forward! March!) from headquarters. Thus the poor Sophomores are compelled to study so hard that they soon sink into insignificance and are not heard of any more until the fateful day of promotion.

Page 30 text:

A SPECTATOR: EULOGY. o o o By NETTIE TAYLOR. Glowing with joy and verdant with pride the ninth grade, or what is modernly known as the “Freshman” Class, entered the Wapakoneta High School so full of ambition and hope that they determined never to let anything come between them and their studies. Who in that bright Freshman Class c.nnot remember his first trip to the High School room? How he imagined everyone’s eyes were glued upon him. But alas! his imagination proved only false, for who in that conceited Sophomore Class, or in the haughty Juniors, would stoop to such a level as to glance a second time at an insignificant Freshman. But their pride received its greatest shock at the hands of the nighty Carlyles and less important Emersonians at their first election of officers. He even had anticipated so much that the office of president would indeed seem small. Quaking in his seat, he was rehearsing over in his own mind the speech that he w'ould give when declared before all the High School, nay even before the whole World, the president of either of those high and noble societies. But what names are those I hear? Methinks they belong to a haughty Junior, or noble Senior. Can it be true? Probably they think me absent. I will sit up straight and cough to attract their attention. “Sed Ecce” the ballots are closed and my name is not written therein. What is the meaning of all of this? I am more competent than any Senior or Junior, and still they have escaped me. At last I have fathomed it; they have kept me for Secretary, which is just as important as President, or, in' my estimation, even more so. While these thoughts were occupying my mind a voice thun- dered forth in the midst of it all and called forth the officers each in their suc- cessive order, but briefly hesitating before Treasurer as if to prepare the un- fortunate one for the shock. When I came to, my head w'as lying in a basin, with the cool w'ater gently trickling down my neck and some one rubbing l.ty head as if to reduce it’s size, for indeed I must have given it an awful crack when I fell. Such indeed was a Freshman’s own opinion of himself, which in some unaccountable manner, was greatly changed on promotion day.

Page 32 text:

“Juniors—Juniors—we are wise How many in number? Thirty-five.” The Juniors, who are known everywhere as the most conceited and haughtiest class in High School, try to imitate the Seniors in everything, and have even gone so far as to buy class pins, which is really the most ridiculous thing that ever was heard of; however we cannot blame them for that, for who would not imitate such a worthy and deserving class as the SENIORS? They do not care for study any more—they have lost all ambition—and just so they manage to slide through so that they can be called Seniors is all that they really care for. They walk around the building as if they owned it all and they seem to have forgotten that they were ever Freshmen or Sopho- mores, for they look down upon them with disdain. Who is it that always says “Please Miss Conrath you will have to excuse me from this recitation, I-I-I-I did not have time to study last night—some—social function?” The Juniors—Juniors. Was a Freshman, Sophomore or Senior ever known to flunk out because he was out late last night? No! No! Juniors dissipate, Juniors keep late hours, Juniors fail in their daily recitations and Juniors do everything else that they should not do. But altho’ it pains us to say so, they have one accomplishment, and sorry to say they have neglected other things to become perfect in it, they can entertain, even if it did take them almost three years to get everything ready. At last the Juniors are about to become Seniors, and not until then will they look back and see how foolish and haughty they were as insignificant Juniors.