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

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6 THE PEPPER POT OUR RENDEZVOUS WITH PEACE It was during the dark ages of 1918 when we were staging our last fierce drive on the German lines. My comrades were falling fast around me, boys whom 1 had grown to love and respect. Three long years had I seen just this, until I too, longed to follow them. In the trenches that night I wondered how much longer this would go on; how much longer nations would hurl their might against each other, failing to understand the problems which they sought to solve in this fashion. As I lay thus pondering, while shells were whining over my head and bursting yonder with a dull boom. I heard the rustle of garments and a voice spoke low in my ear. “Some fair day, eleven years from now I shall call a rendezvous with Peace at your grave, when two great nations shall bow in humble reverence before your tomb, resolving to lay down their arms and guide a war stricken world to the throne of Peace.’’ That calm voice faded away amidst the din of bursting shells and I lay still, trying to imagine a peace seeking world. My reverie was halted abruptly at the sharp command of our captain. Within five minutes we wer to “go over the top”. At the end of five minutes we did “go over the top,” accompanied by the roar of artillery in the rear. Barely a second later I was conscious of p sharp pain in my chest, and then all was oblivion. Meanwhile. America laid to rest an unknown soldier in beautiful Arlington cemetery and there erected a shrine in grateful memory to all who died such a death. One bright day last fall I saw two men coming slowly with bowed heads, toward my tomb. One man, the one who carried a beautiful wreath, had gray hair, and the other lookecj a little younger but not less determined The grav-haired man placed the wreath on my tomb and the two men stood silently there for a moment. I knew then that this was the rendezvous with Peace which had been predicted back there in France, because the two men were Premier MacDonald and President Hoover My joy was complete, for I knew that there began a rendezvous with Peace in the presence of two great men; p

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THE PEPPER POT 5 tracts were let to different companies for the purpose of purchasing materials and other supplies. The first large project of the construction company was to pull down the old walls, blast out the foundations and carry away the remains of the old building. All of this took about a month to accomplish. In this task, the working machinery especially the steam shovel, created quite a bit of curiosity. After the ruins were carried away, the excavation was begun in preparation for laying the foundation of the new building. As fast as the excavating was done, the concrete was poured for the new walls. Under the direction of Mr. Oleson, the foreman, the work progressed swiftly as well as efficiently. After the foundations were laid, the granite for the base of the structure was put in place; then, the concrete for the first floor was poured and the bricklaying was begun. Thus the work has progressed until, at this writing, the three floors have been poured, with the brick walls up, the coping stones laid on top, the steel work for the gymnasium and auditorium up, with their brick walls rising rapidly. With good luck, we are assured that the roof will be on in two weeks. The work on the north wing was held up about a month due to the accident of the falling of a girder and the consequent twisting of the same. There is much to be completed before the building is ready for occupancy. Yet one can obtain a good idea of the way the whole will appear, on completion. The contracts for the inside equipment will be let sometime during the fore part of December. These will include the laboratory equipment, the cooking and sewing, drawing and music rooms equipment and the agriculture shop work tools and machines. In all this work, the students haye something very fine to which to look forward and they should all appreciate the fact that out of the ruins is rising one of the finest institutions of the land for the education of themselves and the making of our future citizens. J.T.B.’31

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THE PEPPER POT 7 rendezvous which would continue until they should make their last effort to disarm a world hardened with war debt. Those two men, as well as many others, say that it will be the youth of the world who will finally bring about World Peace. That includes high school boys and girls of to-day. It is also our rendezvous and before us lies that torch which “If ye fail, we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders Fields!” G.P.B. ’30 SUCCESS Success! is there a word more thrilling to the heart? More stirring to the soul? To know that you have done your best And knowing this rejoice and be alive, And then to see the seeds that you alone have sown Spring forth in one great glorious tree, To hear a voice so faint and yet so strong Whisper the words which make your very being rise and meet the clouds, “Well done!” No sweeter words nor louder praise could be in all the world For him who’s tried his best and won. GLEE CLUB NOTES The High School Glee Club, under the supervision of Mrs. Love, meets each Wednesday noon at twenty minutes of one in the study hall. Roll call is taken according to classes in high school. Here is a chance to show your class spirit—a chance to help your class to score! There are many students who come regularly. That is fine but we need more voices. We need boys’ voices especially. Come on, boys, don’t let those girls beat us! The Glee Club needs you and you need the Glee Club —so remember Wednesday noon at 12:40.