West Philadelphia High School - Record Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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v . .W -W , .pu-La 3 , i THE RECORD 1918 23 At the end of the term Cummings was Presidentg Bourne, Vice-Presi- dent, Heilman, Secretary, Fisher, Treasurer, and in the Council Dagit, Frishmuth, Callow, and Schaffer had been elected to fill vacancies. Dur- ing the term from February to June, '16, we selected and secured our Class rings. For the first time we upset the example established by other Classes to get the ring in the Senior Year, for then we could enjoy wear- ing them longer at School. All through our junior Year most of the Class seemed to be somewhat void of interest. There wasn't the spirit that should have been displayed, not the necessary pep to push things, but we were destined for a better fate. When we became Seniors, how proud we felt! A new sense of re- sponsibility and dignity became ours as we realized that soon we would have secured that much desired diploma and would then have entered college or the great business world. Only one more year and all our ex- pectations would be fulfilled and our plans come into reality. Many eventful things happened during the first half of our Senior Year. Dark clouds of war had long been hanging over this country and the storm broke when our nation, defending the democratic institutions of the world, on April 6, 1917, declared war against Germany. This was to have a direct effect on the School at large. A little previous to this time military training had been instituted, but after the declaration of war it was renewed with redoubled vigor. It was up to us to show the best We had, and we did, not only by assisting in promoting the military work here at School, but, also, some of our members left to join the military service of the United States. Noble and sacrificing was their purpose, and let us now offer upia silent prayer that some time soon we may again see them back in good old U. S. A. At the first meeting of our B Class Reid was elected Presidentg Bauer, Vice-Presidentg Zimmerman, Treasurer, Dagit, Secretaryg Cum- mings, Barron, Bourne, Friedman, and Gulick, Councilmeng Mr. Greg- son, Class Advisor. After Reid resigned and Bauer was elected to fill his place, Sullivan then became Vice-President. Although much credit is due to the Class for the sch-olastic and athletic activities in which its members were engaged, yet as a Class we lacked enthusiasm, our meet- ings were not as well attended as they might have been, but with it all we established many notable and worthy precedents. There had been much discussion about our banquet this year because other Classes had not conducted themselves as is proper for High School men to do. Because of this Mr. Heyl and the faculty had been very dubious about letting us have one, but on pledge of good faith we were

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Q v 1 1 -wr. -2 22 THE RECORD 1918 Several days later, after we were given our rosters, We started school in earnest. Many were the complications and woes into which a Fresh- man fell. lfVe believed Seniors who told us that the lunch room was on the fourth floor and grinned sheepishly when we discovered ourselves the victims of a practical joke. When we found the lunch room, at the direction of one of the protecting faculty, we got into more trouble. Seniors were kidding us, other students were taunting us, and despite our efforts to appear like upper classmen we were always singled out. In the first and second years of our High School career many of our number left our midst. Some couldn't stand the bombastic epithets of an irate Professor, while others with a far more noble and lofty purpose left because they were unwilling to make Mr. Plitt suffer any indignities in his efforts to teach them Latin and Greek. Those were real martyrs! Our Class has always tried to live up to the precedents and even to surpass both athletically and scholastically those which had been estab- lished by former Classes. Many of our numbers represented the School in baseball, track, crew, football and swimming, and not confined only athletics, some devoted their time to literary and musical pursuits either by contributing to THE WESTERN or by joining the Glee Club or Orchestra. Now, having gone through our Hrst years of High School, we find our numbers sadly diminished. What had been one of the largest Fresh- man Classes to enter West Philly, by the time we had become Seniors, was one of the smallest Classes and our graduates number approximately only sixty. In February, '16, we entered our third -or junior Year, and when we looked ahead two years to our graduation- Well, what's the use, we're only half through, anyway. Even though the outward appearance of expectation was suppressed, yet there was not one who was not anxiously and eagerly waiting for the time when he could look back and claim Western as his Alma Mater. Each year of training and scholastic ex- perience seemed to make one feel a new sense of pride and dignity. On March Zd, 1916, we held our first Class meeting and for the first time met as an organized group. One week later we elected the following oliicers: Williams, President, Moss, Vice-President, Bauer, Secretaryg Fisher, Treasurer, Grubb, Gundaker, Hahn, Mahoney, Partridge, Council- meng Mr. Anthony, Class Advisor. Due to resignati-ons and to the de- parture of some from School, our officers had been changed frequently

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24 THE WESTERN 1' - - , 1 -7 .,,-if 52 as - :, , , , ., r' 4l 1 i -.' J . A, 'V ' . ' , Q , .V ' Q :ga given the chance, and on May 16, 1917, we held the banquet, our first social event as a Class. We held it at Kugler's, and needless to say it was a success, and every fellow who was there enjoyed it. Mr. Mahoney spoke to us and drove home some good, sound truths, mingling with it his enjoyable Irish humor. Mr. Gregson also spoke and firmly upheld Mr. Mahoney's idea of manliness. Various other members of the Class were heard from and after an evening of pleasure we dispersed to our homes. We had made good, upholding the honorable name of West Philly, and had acted like men, not yaps, as Mr. Mahoney ex- pressed it. Now we have passed over another half year of our High School life and still a half year more and then-yes, now we can look forward, in our Freshman Year it was almost hoping against hope. Yet on looking back, how insignificant those three and a half years seem and how quickly they have passed by. We still had our Washington Trip and Senior Play and Dance before us. Many were the efforts and much the energy expended by our com- mittee to obtain consent for a trip to Washington. Our Principal and his Cabin-et rigidly opposed it because of the numerous reports of misbehav-D ior on the part of some West Philadelphia students on former trips. Finally consent was secured, but only under very strict ruling, and every- body felt rather gloomy. Even though there was a feeling of regret, yet some began to hope for better things, The Washington Trip was not necessary, it was only a matter of precedent, why not substitute some- thing else ? Various rumors were going around of donating the pro- ceeds of the Senior Play and Dance to some patriotic purpose. This report was not mere idle talk and at a meeting it was definitely decided to contribute the money to the Red Cross or to some other organization which was doing work for the benefit of the Boys in the Trenches. Since the Washington Trip was to be taken by the A and B classes at the same time, it was necessary for us to consult with the B Class about what they were going to do. In order to accomplish this, we had a joint meeting of the two Classes and Mr. Mahoney and Dr. Par- tridge both spoke on the need of the Red Cross. Each put the situation squarely before us and asked us how we would like to be over in France and to hear our School fellows had done something which would help us. After quite a long discussion, it was unanimously decided to donate the proceeds of the Play and Dance for some patriotic service.