Westport High School - Herald Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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UB. of the ,s City, ivision, closing was at- vs, and i gave 'e next ted by Jing. 3 year, l over. rt this lhrist- slight- ' than et the At the f three Our ent for t time lx Mil- ttend- we ex- o con- s' and recep- grad- abject ails in v help n the Lctivi- ature, ed to at the h the divid- lished .r, in- 3s of lick's, ry in- ating ,sh to ader- l feel d the r V' W lllllllllllll-2 'lway on tba fiiancb T WAS WITH DIFFICULTY that 4 we tore ourselves away from lovely southern California, the California of the picture-cards. We supposed that all kinds of experiences had been ours with regard to mountains, beaches, romantic old missions, Mexicans, oil wells, movie factories, and nut and citrus groves too common to excite the ex- clamations of any but the recently arrived and the native Californian. Reluctantly we left Los Angeles Cpronounced Loss Angle-us by the initiatedl , starting toward San Francisco. We were to stop about half way to visit some cousins, whom we had never seen. At midnight we changed to a small branch line without sleepers, where we had much merriment about our private-car. We curled up as comfortably as possible for a nap, or to look out at the grim Te- hachapis, passing, black and silent, in the cold moon-light, or at the solitary camp- fire glimmering far below in the canyon. About five-thirty in the morning, we reached our station and soon identified our cousin, who drove us home in his machine. And such a ride! After gliding for some fifteen hundred miles over the -boulevard- like roads of southern California, this was indeed a revelation. Now I can appreciate the probable feelings of a corn-cob in the process of being made into meal, or is it bran? After passing what seemed miles and miles of nothing, we sighted a collec- tion of trees and buildings in the midst of all this immense barrenness. That's the place, said our host, and we were most thankful. Driving through numerous gates, we came to the house, where our hospitable cousins received us. After a hearty break- fast, we were told something of the place. This fertile San Joaquin Valley alone is half as large as the State of. Iowa, our host told us. Perhaps you wonder why I say 'fertile,' when not a single crop is growing on our eight hundred acres. This afternoon I'll take you over across the val- ley to see the fruit ranch of a friend of mine. By the way, you notice we don't have 'farms' out here--they're all 'ranchesf

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Y., ...Q , ., Y fsrik-at 5 A ..-...-.. .,---,-.m'vw:-U21-1--'s 1 '::1?ITf-'fy' 'W' ' 18 THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. come to other schools in a similar situation, and that is over-confidence. But this should have no terror for Westport. True, we have won enough ,to give us a great deal of confidence. In winning, however, the teams simply stirred Westport through and through. Not even a tiny, timid freshman but felt the electric thrill of vic- tory, and would almost die if necessary, if he could thereby make the debating team. The whole student body has an interest in debating, and a new desire to stand back of the teams has been manifested. This new enthusiasm will prove a powerful in- fluence next year in giving confidence, but .not over-confidence. We have lost too often to become conceited in one year. We have simply struck our stride, and are not going to become unduly excited over it. GIRL'S COUNCIL. The year of 1915-16 has been a most suc- cessful one for the girls' High School Coun- cil. The meetings have been interesting, and helpful. The petty problems of high school life, and the big problems of high school life were warmly discussed. The girls are really helped by these discussions. They leave them with a ,bigger feeling of responsibility, with a braver heart to shoulder their few trials and, best of all, with a feeling to get the most out of the many joys of life. The High School club has taught many girls how to be happy. On April 22nd, the annual banquet was held. This was a gathering of the groups from all the high schools. Westport had the largest number present, and Elizabeth Gleason, of Westport, was toast-master. The best thing of the year is yet to come. Sometime this summer, the West- port girls will go out to the Y. W. C. A. camp for four or five days of absolute joy. One who has never been there can not imagine what wonderful times the girls have. Oh! the memories! Hikes, ten- nis, and secret midnight, moonlight feasts! Mandolins, fortune telling, and stunts! THE BOYS, HIGH SCHOOL CLUB. ,tv HE most successful year of the High School Club of Kansas City, especially for Westport's division, has been completed. The closing banquet, held Monday, April 17, was at- tended by a group of real live fellows, and was a memorable occasion which gave great prospects for the club's welfare next year. Westport alone was represented by over seventy-five boys at that meeting. The club had a strong finish last year, and the enthusiasm seemed to hold over. For that reason we had a flying start this year. Of course, during the busy Christ- mas season, attendance dropped off slight- ly, but we finished even stronger than ever. From the very first Westport set the pace for the other three schools. At the first meeting of the club, two of the three officers elected were Westporters. Our own John Powell was elected president for the second term, this being the first time we have been thus honored since Rex Mil- ler held the office. Our average attend- ance was by far the best, moreover, we ex- perienced none of the fluctuations so con- spicuous in the other divisions. The Westport division of the girls' and the boys' High School Clubs gave a recep- tion on June 2 to the ward school grad- uates of our school district. The object was to interest these ward school pupils in taking a high school course and to help them bridge the great gap between the two schools. Our different school activi- ties, such as debate, athletics, literature, and social events were demonstrated to the guests. There is no doubt but that the reception accomplished its purpose. There are many reasons to which the club,s success may be attributed. Individ- ual work of several members accomplished much. Towards the end of the year, in- stead of discussing different topics of school life, we began to study Fosdick's, Manhood of the Master. Some very in- teresting meetings followed, thus creating a greater interest in the club. We wish to 'Shank Mr. Foster for his capable leader- Sh1l0 ln these discussions and we all feel that his efforts have materially aided the club's work. fl 4 4 We hae be: oil cit cla an we A1 Sa wz HQ br m W fo hz cc fi 1'6 CC

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H,,,,,- V.: i Ai: 1-QQ.,-g,,.-A-,..aq.1.-7l:-5-1-gg:-'r ... f-:-1.4-s .....,...--.- ,, g, Y.. , 20 THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. Well, he continued, the soil here is the same loose, sandy kind, and very rich. All it needs is irrigation, and that's com- ing soon. Our annual rainfall is about ten inches. In the meanwhile we raise stock. Little Clydena took me out to view her rabbits and puppy and the bright-eyed little chipmunk that let us come very near before he dodged down into his hole. At the end of the garden was a broad pond that mirrored the cool green trees sur- rounding it, and dignified gray geese float- ing over its surface-a refreshing spot in the midst of a general parched aridness. Called back to the house, we found that Walter, the stalwart six-foot cousin of twenty, was ready to go to town for ice, and wanted us to go along. The road in this direction semed a little more accus- tomed to travel than the others. On the way he talked of the state agricultural school at San Luis Obispo, which he at- tended in the winter. Here I might advise a course in Spanish as indispensable for all prospective California tourists. Also, while in the benevolent mood of advice-giv- ing, let me suggest to persons of commer- cial instinct that they take up the ice- business in that hot, dry place where it is sold at twice as high a price as here, and melts much faster. On the way back, flocks of striking-looking black and white birds flew acros the fields. With good- natured condescension at my ignorance, Walter informed me that they were mag- pies. Later, when the ice-cream had been made and eaten, the trip to the fruit ranch was undertaken. The ambitious mercury had been climbing till one could well be- lieve the stories that it sometimes reached a hundred and thirty in the shade, but I suppose it was not actually above a hun- dred and twenty that day. When sun- kissed California is mentioned, don't for- get that there is a sun-burnt part, too. In passing peach and apricot orchards, where the trees were heavily loaded with large, round fruit, one noticed that the leaves were crisply curled as with the first autumn frostsg but heat and drought were the causes. Not even weeds grew in the light-colored, sandy soil about the bases of the trees. Flat on the ground or tilted to receive the sun's rays, were shallow, wooden trays about a foot and a half square, on which the fruit, split in halves, was drying. I Across the road, one might see grape vines parching in the sun, yet bearing large bunches of delicious grapes. These vines were not supported on fences or ar- bors as they are here, but scrambled about over the ground at their own sweet will. This is the best region for both grapes and peaches. When we reached the orchard which we had come to see, its owner showed us the artesian well that furnished irrigation for his land. The water was gratefully cold. Passing the orchard, where fine peaches lay upon the ground as they had dropped, he told us that it was a very bad year for fruit-growers. At this our eyes must have enlarged about three diameters, for the branches were everywhere weighted down with the large blushing globes. You see, he said, there's such a big crop everywhere that the supply far eX- ceeds the demand. It hardly pays to dry them either. In good years we sell them to the canneries at seven dollars a ton, but this year we're glad to sell them at three dollars a ton for hog-feed-and at that, the hogs would be better fed on Missouri corn. Lest I shouldlose the little reputation for veracity I may have remaining, I shall forbear mentioning the grapes, but-nine of those peaches laid side by side reached the length of a full-grown yard-stick. In the cool of the evening we reached home again, after narrowly missing the scores of startled j ack-rabbits that hopped across the road and went bounding away over the fields. Family history was re- peated in detail by the sweet, gentle great- aunt, acros Then and l Su in m minc brist more I hous Y two ansv but ' I 1 for ' here rain screi inglj wre1 slee1 O. den: agili witl afra long half the hou' nes: of 1 excl of l pea' and dee' . , . ........g..i..,....i,1-g.1a..+.,, ..1...... .x,,5u,Au,,,,:,:Hl1. MN--NGN .-ITLDW