Western High School - Westward Ho Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THE RECORD Bcwilzlered And so we entered... LONG files stretched in an almost endless line from the bus to the huge red building before us. Breathless, ex- cited, fearful, we fell in and followed those whom the great door seemed to swallow. lnside we were directed to D the auditorium by gay and laughmg girls. How could iz 69 Q l f 0 1 qi 57 'Q F4 1 ,A 'fill ll anyone laugh at such a time? -f N - l'Since then we have learned i '-- that they were seniors.l In the auditorium, which seemed to us immense, we awaited our orders. Presently Miss Coughlin, a lady we have all grown to know, respect, and admire, addressed us. Soon she began calling long rolls, and from time to time a detachment would rise and follow the appointed teacher. Deep sighs of relief escaped our lips when we finally heard our names called. An endless line . . . Vl7e rose and cast furtive glances to see whether or not there were familiar faces in our company. The first days were confusing, but immensely exciting. lfach new door brought new adventureg new teachers, new subjects, new friends. How well we remember our very first assembly, when we were introduced to our year advise1's, Miss Burner and Miss Raitt! How vividly we remember those first tedious hours spent in the biology lab learning again how to printl How timid we were when we entered those scholarly Latin rooms, certain that we should be called upon to deliver an oration or write a much dreaded term paperl And what fears crept through our hearts as we tried to tell ourselves that the new typing teacher wouldnit expect a hundred words a minute without errors! However, as the weeks more on and the first pangs of pain subsided, we realized that we were not expected to be snpervvomen. School life began to fall into a definite pattern, days became more routine. We began to play our part in Western, even if it was only the traditional role of a bewildered sophomore. ln a few weeks we were confronted with a new and exciting responsibility. We were to elect the officers of our year. Sponsor sheets were being passed from every direction in the cafe, in the homeroom, and between classes. Girls were fran- tically preparing their speeches, the sponsor trying her best to put her candidate in the front ranks and the candidate trying to make a good impression. As the result of a tight election Doris Hamilton became president, Margaret Junghans, vice-presi-

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Th Class of '42

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dent, June Krickhan, secretary, and Gertrude Drafts and Miriam Shamer, treasurers. We were proud of our ollieers and pledged ourselves to support them. The election brought to us more than the oflicers of our year, for at that time we made many new acquaintances among our classmates who had arrived at Western five months previously. They had been marching along, not waiting for us to join the ranks, and were now eager to break us in and show us the ropes. They had many stories floating around about their parties and celebrations and their tree planting on Arbor Day. They often spoke of their junior-Freshman Party. Evidently The Florist Shop, a play presented on that day. had left a very deep impression of the spinster and her lovers. There was one day, however, that was more memorable than anywthe Freshman Rally. That was the day on which they ofhcially became a part of the school. We looked forward to days like those. which our senior classmates assured us would come. And. indeed, in a very sort time they did come. We were still forgetting our seats in the study halls when our great day, Sophomore Rally. brought us Sophie Moore, with her pigtails and her baggy gym suit and ideas of taking showers before the gym period. When we saw her metamorphosis from pigtails to president, we began to have hope for ourselves. Besides the play there was the excite- ment of wearing white dresses in the middle of winter and the deeper, more serious implications of our Sophomore Rally day. We had been at this time oflieially accepted as a part of Western. Teachers and fellow students, from the jauntiest Junior to the most sophisticated Senior, took us for what we were and tried to make us feel at home. Before long we found that it was time to enter- tain our sister year, the Seniors. at the Sophomore- Senior party. Evelyn Woodis Marionettes made a BIFIIIHIUIL Street and points south 15 What,s eookin, ?', line beginning for the party and one of our tea dances brought it to a delightful close. Our Sophomore year was devoted not only to entertainment, but also to some good works. During this year war had begun in Europe and the Red Cross was sending out a call for help. The sophomore Associated Biology Clubs sponsored a dance, which proved so successful that we were able to present a substantial sum to the American Red Cross. Before we fully realized what had happened, we had successfully carried out the first maneuvers of our high school Career, and vacation time had come. Should we like to go through again all the bewilder- ment, anxiety and new experiences? We sometimes wonder. We were midway... . . . When we came back to Western in the fall, we were not bashful, not boldg no longer bewildered newcomers, not yet benign old-timers, just juniors. Behind us lay our first year, a year crammed full The pause that refreshes