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

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THE ORACLE. 15 Pearl E. Wilson. About twelve years ago a very tiny girl wended her way through the city of Elmira to the near-est grammar school, where she became one of the brightest pupils. After three years of close application to her studies, the confines of the city became too limited for Pearl’s rapidly expanding mind and she came to Watkins R. F. D., where there are woods and hills and brooks and ’Mills.” Here she entered the district school, where she soon became the star pupil. Peari was always a good child, aiding the stupid, con-, „ soling the tardy and trying to pacify the teach- ers frequently ruffled disposition. The curriculum of the school was soon absorbed by her receptive mind and it was decided that her brilliancy should illuminate the dingy walls of W. H. S. Therefore, in the Autumn of 1907 she slipped demurely into a back seat in the chapel which was henceforth to be the scene of her conquests During the first year her greatest claim to distinction was being ‘‘Ethel’s little sister,” who was “awfully smart,” but by the second year all the latent mischiei within her broke out and from this time forth both faculty and students were to be aware of her presence and miss the ceaseless hum of her voice when absent. In fact this characteristic has developed so rapidly that to-day she is surpassed by few in volubility and mischief. Nevertheless she has preserved well her ’ enior dignity,” except on one memorable occasion, when she land-fd ° fl0°r a nondescr Pt heap and even this might be at-!u!biUte? t ° a1n ?the,r cause a certain dreamy sleeplessness. As a eai IS “Comme 11 faut.” having obtained the honor of fW £ reSUlt °f her diligent eff°rts as well as one of the first places on the Honor Roll. T ndoubtedly she will continue her education after leaving W H S but in whatever position the future chances to place her, we her classmates, unite in wishing her unlimited success. m. a.’o’D. George Beardsley. “Linked slowness and long drawn out” surely characterizes George Beardsley. “Dope,” for such he is popularly called, began school at the usual age and has faithfully continued his studies until now in the June of 1911, he is to receive his rewards for these long years of labor. A few years ago he was quite accustomed to fall into Brown studies for some reason or other, best known to himself. Just at present most of his time is spent in cultivating “Pansies,” and what is better he seems to be making a decided success of it. Whatever this best of fellows may wish to do in the future, it is the hearty wish of all his classmates that he may gain much success and happiness. ‘ A. Martin.

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14 THE ORACLE. Grace E. Lovell. At the age of six, one of our most industrious and persevering members, Grace Elizabeth Lovell, began her education in Burdett Union School. From there she graduated as saluta-torian in 1910 and entered W. H. S. in the Autumn of the same year. Her entire educational career has been marked by rigid concentration and untired devotion to her books. It must not be imagined, however, that she has sacrificed all else for her absorbing studies for one of her characteristicts is diversity and she has added to her extended course of music the ever interesting study of mankind. By faithful study and deep research she has found far over the beautiful hills from her home in Burdett (as she believes) a perfect specimen. As for the future, Grace has not possibly decided upon anything definite but she intends to teach school next year. We have every reason to believe the future contains much success and pleasure for her. H. C. Abigail O’Daniels. During that bleak stormy interval of the year that separates two periods of joy and happiness, and beauty, Abigail entered upon her earthly career. At the age of seven she began her eventful school life. Her remarkable brilliancy and ingenuity gratified and pleased her teachers, but she also developed a proficiency in talking and note-writing, thereby causing them much annoyance. She gloated elfishly over the horror and consternation created by her manifold and mis-chevious pranks, and, when their patience had endured to the utmost extreme, she would immediately turn the tables by surpassing all her classmates in learning. Much could be overlooked in such a brilliant student. Craftily, she eluded the examinations, winning without apparent exertion, the much sought after exemption. Quickly step by step she mounted the ladder of success and at the age of fourteen entered the High School. At her advant a new genius was added to our realm. Here her talents received wide scope. And as in Winter we wait anxiously for the sweet hopeful days of Spring, so did we await the development of her remarkable genius. Language, History, Mathematics and Science fell beneath her indom-nitable will. Nor did she confine her genius to our fortunate school. As a Junior she won honorable mention at the memorable essay contest at Smith’s College. She repeated it as a Senior, and has shown budding genius as an amateur actress in several home talent plays. As we thus review her past successes and triumphs, we, her admiring and devoted classmates, look forward to a life of brilliant success and noble achievements for her as a just reward for her labors and talents. K. M. O.

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16 THE ORACLE. Harry Peter Coats. “Peter,” as he is commonly known to his classmates and friends, first made his appearance into this cold world at the suburban hamlet known as “Saterlee Hill.” After spending his early years in the district school among the green hills, he decided to enter the Burdett Union School. Here he made rapid progress and at the end of four years, having exhausted the curriculum of the school, he graduated with honors in 1910. By much hard work and perseverance and also wishing to extend his education and get more deeply into the mysteries of science, he came to Watkins in the fall of 1910. In spite of “Peter's” perplexing questions which he has always been in the habit of asking, the teachers all like him and he has made many friends because of his quiet and dignified nature. He is very studious and spends very little time in writing notes to the fair sex. but of late we have noticed that the glances towards the east side of the school room are more frequent than they were at th'e beginning of the year. Perhaps this is due to a slight recovery of bashfulness or (by chance ?) has become better acquainted with some of the girls while taking grocery orders. We are proud to claim Harry as the President of the Senior class and he has filled the position with much credit, both to himself and to the class. We understand that he expects to teach for the next year or two and in the coming years we would not be surprised to hear that he was a professor of Science in one of our leading universities. But whatever the future may have in store for him. his classmates and friends join in wishing him the greatest possible success in all his undertakings. G. E. L.