Watkins Glen High School - Senecan Oracle Yearbook (Watkins Glen, NY)

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8 THE ORACLE. SENIOR. BOAST. ONE year ago a class was organized in Watkins High School, the members of which called themselves the “gay young Juniors” of 1902. There were fourteen of them then, and though during the transformation into “grave old Seniors” their numbers have shrunk to nine, this loss seems but to have increased the class spirit and strength ened the bonds of class friendship. Though perhaps not as dignified as tradition commonly requires, the Seniors of 1908 are second to none in loyalty, aspiration and honest endeavor. While the Latin motto selected by the class is translated ip the words “Step by Step.” there is also a Bible verse which well expresses the attitude taken by the members on all occasions—“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth, a stranger, and not thine own lips.” In accordance with this principle, it is not our intention to dwell with self-complacent egotism upon what must be already apparent to all the world—namely, our past glories; but, rather, upon our possibilities for the future. That the class of ’08 has outdone all previous ones, even the self satisfied “ naughty two,” in scholarship marks, is indeed something to be proud of; that it is the first ever to have chosen a Patron Saint (a choice made, moreover, with never a dissenting voice—a circumstance hitherto unheard of in class meeting) is an unmistakable mark of progress; that the majority of its members lies twofold with the genus femina is another source of superiority; but it is not in these facts themselves so much as in what they would seem to promise for the future that the true value lies. That any of our band will startle the universe with wealth of achievement we scarcely dare hope, but that each will find his own particular place and fill it better than anyone else could do. we sincerely believe and trust. And if, perchance, a single genius should bloom from among the nine members, the remaining eight will know no prouder moment than when they say to an admiring public: “I was classmate with that person, back in the old High School, in 1908.” Our Senior year is nearly over. The time to which we have been looking forward ever since the “verdant freshmen” days has come and is npidiy passing away. How the High School is to keep on its foundations after we are gone is still an unsolved riddle; but even as the United States still stood after Washington’s withdrawal from public life, so Alma Mater will not be allowed to perish even when the most steadfast of her children have left her forever. What little we have been able to do to keep her honor bright we have done; and this charge, a legacy to us from the class of 1902, we in turn pass down to our Juniors, who. however wild and irresponsible at present, will before long be obliged to assume all the care and dignity which now is ours. Before we do this and pass into the Alumni Hall of Watkins High School we give three cheers and a tiger for her Seniors—past, present and future. M. N. S . ’08.

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