West High School - Senior Occident Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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 Rtintiuhtr no be folliti of our youth. SENIOR CLASS. 1906 9

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The Class Poem Wc linger at the parting of the ways. And wc arc glad to go, yet fain to stay ; Behind us four short years of sun and shade. Before us all of Life's long hidden way. Just as when sometimes on a summer’s day A little child will stand with wistful eyes. And look across the flowery fields to where The tree-crowned summits of the blue hills rise. And dream of that fair day when he will climb Until the whole broad earth lies at his feet, Until upon the topmost pinnacle He'll drink the cup of triumph [Kissing sweet. Yet while he dreams, he strives to win his dream. At length, one day, with weary feet he stands Upon the highest peak of all. But there The cup lies shattered in his eager hands. For lo. to right and left, as for away As mind can comprehend or eye can view. Far higher mountains rise in lofty tiers. Their hoary summits lost in heaven's blue. We’ve reached the promised goal and realized The hopes, ambitions, of the four years past; With plodding feet we’ve stumbled on the way. But stand upon the pinnacle at last. Here, with a broader view we could not have Save for the mounting of the smaller hill. We see about us heights that we will climb And noble aims and purposes fulfil. For this, our wider outlook. West High School. For added power to will and strength to do. For memories which live on through the years. For all that serves to make us good and true. For this and much besides, our hearts arc filled With gratitude, and love that will be true. We leave thy portals with a backward glance. The class of nineteen-six. West High—Adieu. Charlotte M. Dann.

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Class History It was in the fall of '02, when the high and mighty Seniors of the class of June '06, R. H. S.,E. H. S., W. H. S., first toddled up the steps of the old high school building and pulled and tugged at the massive oak doors, striving to turn them on their hinges to gain an entrance. We were just learning to do that difficult feat, with a certain degree of safeness to the doors, for some of us really were strong, and incidentally learning a little Latin, German and Physi- ology, and beginning to feel like “ grown ups ” with the new prefixes to our names; and then, too, bravely trying to survive the harsh, cruel usages of our ' who have you gots,” when we were summoned to a new place of learning. What a place it was! And doubly so when you stop to think of and compare the other with it. In the first place we exchanged a neighborhood of noise and dirt for one of quiet and cleanliness, dark gloomy walls for new bright ones. There was room for everybody, a place for everything and everything in its place, an equipment in every department to be proud of. and—but I am hopelessly waylaid when I attempt to give the merits of our high school, unless I make a bold dash and return again to my subject. It was here we began to ••tallow strong and develop into the mighty class we now arc. Our Freshman year came to a close, and we had been wise enough to keep quiet, observe, learn and get ready for future work. In our Sophmore year the first renowed •• Roman election took place under the leadership and guidance of Mr. Gray, and developed because of our earnest work and and attention. We were not so slow in athletics, cither. pushing hard the Juniors for second honors in the inter- class field day. It was in our Junior year that we began to do some- thing in earnest, and to show that the class is one of remarkable talent. Our farce was a most decided success from every standpoint, our ••Prom one of the most enjoyable ever given. In our little rushes with the haughty Seniors we were always on top in more ways than one. Even on •• Senior Day we were conspicuous with our red neckties, notwithstanding the efforts of •• naughty- five. We have always held our own with remarkable tenac- ity as Freshmen, Sophmores, Juniors. But as Seniors! I think no one will doubt but that we have made an extra- ordinary showing. And recall under what circumstances. We were separated at the beginning of our last year, much to our disappointment and against our wishes, some of us to stay East and some of us to go West. Here I must leave off recording the annals of our “ Oriental ” friends, and confine myself to our own efforts and successes, since the migration to the Occident. Alas, class of June '06. W. H. S.! But do not for a moment think I am driven to compassion. Far from it. Wc don't need it. My only thought was of the sad fact of our separation, that it had to come. It brought a lump in my throat then, and w hen I think of it now I cannot forget what a sad and memorable parting it was But it had to come, and we managed to dry our tears then, so let's do it again. After all. has it been a real separation ? Thanks to 20