Winamac High School - Totem Yearbook (Winamac, IN)

Page 13 text:

THE TOTEM We have courageously passed through these trifles and continually looked forward, with a smile on our faces, to this occasion of the com- mencement. These opportunities have have not always been given to the scholai . It has only been brought about through the expenditure of time and civilization. Let us for a moment glance at the world ' s advancement. Everyone who has given time and intelligence to the study of our country has been im- pressed with the rapid and exceed- ingly great changes caused by the work of civilized men. The inhab- itants of several centuries ago were savages living on marshy, jungle-cov- ered solitudes in small huts. On tl:e other hand the people of today have become civilized; they are happy, prosperous, and are living in an en- lightened condition. In a word, our churches, colleges, schools and homes indicate the state of our civilization, our hopes and ambitions, the same as the rude earthworks and clumsy implements left behind by the earlier inhabitants to tell the story of their intellectual and moral condition. Our own state of Indiana has founded the greatest public school system in the central west. Our en- vironment, then, is such that we, the pupils of today are better prepared for life work, whatever it may be, than the scholar of a century ago. Nevertheless, more and better results are expected from us . Yet we hope to measure up to your expectations and in so doing profit from them. Since we are able to regard the past as an advancement, is it not to our interest to still further the prog- ress of the world and to make even better citizens than we ourselves are? How, then, can this be done easier than by educating the young, on whose shoulders will presently rest the greater part of the responsibility, as it now rests on yours. Let us then continue to educate the boys and girls. As I have said before, we as young people are here tonight to thank you for your efforts. Now, asking your continued favor and similar greet- ings as in the school days now gone, we once more heartily welcome you to these exercises.

Page 12 text:

THE TOTEM in every sense of the word. It is his capitalization, and other people be- lieve in him and trust him directly in proportion to his ability. We have not been able to show our ability so far in anything but school work. It has been a long journey from the beginning of our school life to the present occasion, but pleasant never- theless. Doubly pleasant in these last years, when we have made the acquaintance of our present teachers. As we look into their faces tonight and think of the many- things they have done for us, it is hard to say farewell. They have guided us care- fully through the four years of our stay here, and have assisted us in evei v possible way. Whatever we may accomplish in life we shall al- ways look back to them as our chief inspiration. We are leaving behind us the pleas- antest days of our lives, although some of us are going into broader fields and some of us will still be students in the great school of life. And now teachers and schoolmates, with mingled sadness and joy we turn from the realization of pleasant scenes and memories to the antici- pation of the broader and brighter fields before us. — H. L. M. Kind Friends and Parents: If we, as a class, did not extend to you our sincere greetings and heartily welcome you to these exercises, the last in which we shall take part as a class of the Winamac High School, we would, by this act, show ingrati- tude. We, therefore, come tonight to express our appreciation of your work. We sincerely desire to thank you for the assistance you have given us during our school career. The citizens of Winamac, especially, have ti.ken great interest in our progress. If anything has been attained by our completion of a High School eoui ' se, then the credit belongs largely to you, who have made it possible. The pupil who hungers after knowl- edge, and desires to make a success of his or her work may do so by spending at least a portion of his time in High School. However, in every phase of life we find shadows as well as sunshine. It is in these times of discouragements that we greatly enjoy to see the bright faces of brother or sister or hear the kind words of mother and father.

Page 14 text:

THE TOTEM, i y Class 1 r0phBcr I t y ■ I ♦J •?• The writing of a class prophecy is by school tradition a recognized task for some poor Senior each year. Puerile, isn ' t it, when we look back on those days when the class of 1910 were spraining their brains and try- ing to finish among the first, and think of the great things our class prophet told for each of us? I can see them now— especially those who lagged at the beginning — see them toiling almost day and night to close up the gap and approach the goal with the class. Ah ! those good old days are far removed now, and nothing remains but the fond mem- oi ' ies of that senior year. As for myself, I have been pretty well occupied since receiving that fitting rewai ' d for all High School graduates. After teaching school for a year I began my college work at Indiana University, and after four years there I continued my school work in Brownsville, Texas ; so you see I was right on the ground for the big split in that state when it was decided to make two states out nf it and set one part aside, along with Louisiana and Arkansas, as a reservation for the negroes. My work since has been in the schools of the wliito section, New Texas, and as State Superintendent am doing my best to bring the schools up the stan- dard set by the old Hoosier state of my birth. During my first visit to the state I met an old instructor, Mr. Spencer, who owned territory in New Texas, and said that he intended to ' ' Terry ' ' there the rest of his days. I under- stand he has a unique plan of raising potatoes without eyes. His irrigation scheme is perfect. He has an ordi- nary street sprinkler mounted on the latest model of bi-plane air ship, so whenever he desires a shower he just fills his tank and glides out over the fields. During all these years I have kept in touch with my old classmates, and last year when I visited Indiana I ran across several of them. The first thing I did on my return was to stop off at I. U. and visit my old friend and teacher, Mr. Spauld- ing, now pi-esident of that college. That was indeed a treat and the hours we spent together will live in memory forever. Coming up from Logansport I stopped at Star City, which has grown Avonderfully since the days when we met the boys there in athletic games, to see my old friend Willard, who is president of the large school situated there, and has charge of the physics department.