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

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Class History , ls June again—June of the year 1914, and the last year of our high school life is drawing to a close. The four years have been filled to the brim with the activities of a busy, happy life. We look back upon them with pleasure and with something of regret in leaving them behind. It was only four short years ago that we were Freshmen, as timid, little and insignificant, or as big, fat and mischievous children as the Freshmen who wander about our halls to-day. How our Senior brothers and sisters smiled when the girls became lost in the boys’ study-rooms; and how they laughed when we rushed into recitations and tried to save seats for our friends in the last row of study room desks instead of marching into our places on the recitation benches! However, we soon became accustomed to the life of the school, and began to enter into its activities. In baseball, our newly formed team took the class championship. At our first class meeting, in the second term of our Freshman year, nearly all the class was present to elect its officers, and in their enthusiasm all wanted to talk at once. In our second year we had an informal dance and “get acquainted” party in the girls’ gy mnasium. Later in the year we gave our Sophomore Dance in the corridors of the building. This, our first real undertaking, was a great success. Next we were called upon to exert our dramatic ability. We were Juniors now, respected Upper Classmen, and we were determined to keep up the same high standard in dramatics, which the classes before us had raised. Under the direc- tion of Mrs. Ellis we presented a play called, “Two Strings to Her Bow.” The parts were well taken by everyone in the cast and the play was thoroughly en- joyable. During our Junior year, too, we held our Junior Prom in Sibley Hall. Everyone who was there remembers the evening with pleasure, and can testify to its success. The first three years of High School life passed quickly, and almost before we realized it, we were stepping into our places as Seniors. The short dresses and “pigtails” of the girls had vanished, and the boys had grown a foot or two. Since our Junior play had proved such a success, we entered with confidence into plans for the Senior play, George Eliot’s Silas Marner, dramatized by Mrs. Ellis. Walter Folnier as Silas proved to everyone his genius as an actor, and the play was declared one of the finest ever presented in the school. Our Senior Dance was held in Teall’s Hall, in co-operation with the January Class. The music was excellent, the hall beautifully decorated, and although the proportion of the class present was rather small, those who were there had a delightful time. Aside from its social life and its dramatics, the class of June, 1914, has always been well known in athletics, debating, chess, in the musical clubs and in all the activities of the school. With Wallace MacKelvey in basketball, Carl Allen in soccer, Harold Anderson in baseball, and George Taylor in track, as well as other strong and reliable men, our class has put forth its best efforts and has shown itself strong in athletics. In debating many of the class have been prominent, and to their concentrated - effort much of the school’s success in this line is due. Under the competent management of Sheldon Howell the musical clubs have flourished this year, and have given several enjoyable entertainments. Although the class is large, its average in scholarship is high. We have kept faithfully at our tasks through all the four years, and now we are nearing the end of our Senior year, the time when we shall leave our dear Alma Mater and part, to go in different directions. We shall be remembered in the High School by the memorial we are leaving it, but may we be remembered also for what we are—is the wish of the class of June, 1914. 5 ALICE MARION PADDOCK.

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Class Poem Love, Honor, Duty, Alma Mater dear, Have held us here within thy halls four years. Tis four long years, but ah, how short they seem; For midst our joys and sorrows, yea our fears, The time thus spent seems but a fading dream. With eagerness and joy you’ve watched the light Of knowledge, as it dawned upon our sight. And now, dear Mother, gratefully we bring, For thou hast surely guided us aright. Our best to thee, a modest offering. Within our hearts no other holds such sway; For when despairing we would fain giv’n way And cast ourselves upon the treach’rous reef, Your standard bright shone like a beacon ray, Inspired hope and brought us sweet relief. As soldiers in the strife we have been strong, When failures ever round us seemed to throng. We've onward pushed to this victorious hour, E’en though thro pitfalls we were led along. And gained our goal through Perseverance's power. In these eventful years, that backward lie. The truth of this great thought we did descry— Progression’s not the beaten path to wend, But the new untrodden one to try And, in defeat, to none but success bend. Now joyfully, yet sadly, we depart Out in the world, each one to do his part. And, though our walks in life divergent be, Thy memory we ll hold within our hearts And oft in praise our voices raise to thee. New faces we have met, new friendships found That we shall cherish as the years roll round. And, when we chance to think of days gone by, Recalled shall be the sacred tie that bound Us to these friends, and this, Our Own West High. DOROTHY DISNEY. 4

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Commencement Speakers Chosen by competition. Anber Benedict...................................“Sic Semper Tyrannis” Dorothy Disney................................................Jane Addams W.. Sheldon Howell...........•........................The Ideal American Ethelind Rees.......................The Educational Advantages of Travel Eloise Smith............................... The Anglo-Saxon of To-day Anna Whitbeck............................... Women of the White House Honor Roll Dorothy Alexander ; Inez Beatty Anber Benedict Edna Bond Isobel Cobb Dorothy. Disney Charlotte Fredericks Hattie Green Aurelia Hillman Isabel Hollinshead W. Sheldon Howell Mildred Kennell Harold Kondolf Ruth Lamb Mary Leyden Kenneth Masters Arthur Melville Ruth Otis Alice Paddock Eva Player Ethelind Rees Evelyn Reichenbach Lois Richmond Eloise Smith Mildred Steinkamp Norma Storey Sheldon Thomas Antoinette Van Liew Elizabeth Whalen Anna Whitbeck 16