Westville High School - Janus Yearbook (Westville, IL)

Page 33 text:

THE MEDLEY Class (Oration To the instructors who have been our faithful guides and to our fellow-students and class-mates it is my privilege to give a last greeting and it is with gratitude that I accept the honor of addressing you on this occassion. How large these four years of privileges seem as we look back upon them. Much we have lost which is now vain to regret - much we have won and henceforth must render account of our steward-ship. How faithfully shall we cherish the remembrance of our school and our class. I look back over the years we have spent together and see we have not been perfect students, but we have been faithful to W. H. S., ideals of justice, liberty and humanity and are confident that our instructors have exerted their most earnest efforts in our behalf, and to them we shall remember we owe much. As we move off this stage of duty we realize how important have been the years through which we have just passed. At no time in our lives have we been more in need of sympathetic but firm control. We found the special and almost exclusive function of our High School has been to tone up and strengthen the intellectual life and set up standards and ideals which appealed to the enthusiasm of youth and taught us to undergo the steady, persistant labor which changes ideals to realities. But as we launch our little craft away from the master builders hands, we feel our faith and courage waver as we go to battle with the realities of life where there shall be none to guide and assist. We have now come to the parting of the ways. Each must take his path alone and push on his own journey until death sooner or later overtakes each traveller. Memory is governed by its own laws. In all the mazes of the future, in all that awaits us in the life to come, our pleasant companionship here together will be stamped indelibly on each mind. There might have been things in our natures that would have kept us apart out in the world, but as weeks, months and years went by and we came in touch with each other, we found manliness, earnestness and reality. Even our little disagreements have brought out the generous and frank side of each one’s nature and we shall carry out into the world only sunshine and pleasant thoughts of our school life together. Three and a half years ago we were freshmen. We entered the portals of W. H. S. in January 1914, a small class, only in number, for otherwise we had an exalted opinion of ourselves until we were shown how to mend our ways by the upper classmen, who chose to dictate our course for us, regardless of our wishes. However, we made good as a class and most of us became Sophomores at the close of the school year. Moreover, in the latter capacity we commit- 29

Page 32 text:

THE MEDLEY Roland asked Mr. Magruder about something, then Mac told him and Roland said: “I know it”. Mac: ‘‘Well, why do you ask”? Roland: ‘‘I want to know, if you know”. Miss Haworth: ‘‘Well, alright!!!” Mr. Magruder in Bookkeeping class: ‘‘Use your head, Ray”. (Poor kid was using his paper and pencil all that time.) Freshie to Senior: ‘‘Did you get 86 in Theory? ‘‘Why I got 87!!” Some girls were talking about tatting. Genevieve asked Marie how a certain pattern was made, and she said: “It’s hitched up in there”. “Is Meyah heah?” “Shuah”. Frances: “As usual”. Miss Haworth: “That get’s my goat”. Mary Dowiatt: “You don’t say”. Frances: “Sort ah, kindah”. Ed. Zaniewsky: “Gee, Fritz”. Fred: “Good -night”. John Mellen: “Good night”. Mac: “No good night here”. Miss Custer: “Aw. shucks!” 28

Page 34 text:

THE MEDLEY ted ourselves favorably, but having learned to be our own guardians without the assistance of our would be superior school-mates. Again. September 1915, found our class embarking upon its junior year in High School. Our membership was somewhat smaller than either of the previous years, yet we continued to advance in our career until we reached the fourth mile post on our intellectual journey. Finally, assuming with all true dignity our lofty position as Seniors, we have persevered until we have reached the goal for which we started and are now privileged to graduate. We regret to give up the friendships and associations we have had during these years, yet we must. We leave our places to be filled by others who follow us. whom we commend to the helpful care of the teachers. We are grateful to the Board of Education and the patrons for making our High School course possible. Let us all cherish our High School experience as four of the best and happiest years we have known and endeavor to live lives that will reflect credit upon our Alma Mater. Genevieve Buskirk 30