Wisconsin School for the Deaf - Tattler Yearbook (Delavan, WI)

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GIRLS’ BUILDING

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Salutatory Clyde Arthur Uchling Members of the Board of Control. Superintendent, Teacher . Classmates, and Friends: It is my groat pleasure and privilege, in behalf of the class of ,925. to extend to you a most cordial welcome to this fifty-fifth Commencement exercise of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf. It is hardly necessary for me to try to tell you in words how truly glad we are to have you with us tonight. We have learned how useless words really are when they try to express the deepest feelings of the heart, and we cannot possibly put our thought. ' into words which will sufficiently express the sincerity of this welcome. The illustrious Shakespeare once said. “Welcome ever smiles,” so I feel that you have already sensed your welcome; that you have seen it in our eager eyes and joyous smiles and have caught it from the very atmosphere of the place. Our class consists of four girls and three boys, all of whom have been student of this school for many years, with the exception of one, who has been here only four years. During our stay here we have come to look upon this place as a home. We have been surrounded and guided by faithful friends and guardians innumerable. There are no adequate words to express our deep appreciation for the constant attention and untiring efforts on the part of our teachers and for the wise counsel of our superintendent. We have chosen as our motto: No Step Backward.” We shall endeavor to bear this in mind throughout our lives; and when a Goliath comes our way to be met and conquered, we shall use this motto, “No Step Backward,” as our weapon. Our class colors are “Black and Gold.” The black and gold may well represent the contrast between sunshine and shadow. We would have life ull sunshine if we could, perhaps, hut how much better it is, really, for lives to shine forth through the shadow; how much stronger characters are for the refining influence of dark and gloomy days. The gold, always bright in itself, shines with a double radiance when it mingles with the black; just so our bright days shine with a more pronounced lustre through the gloom of disappointment and hardships. To us this is u day of mingled joy and sorrow. Joyful, because we are to fling away our book and school cares to take up new work. Sorrowful, because we are to part with our dear friends with whom we have spent so many happy days amid these beautiful surroundings. We have been led through pleasant paths to this bend in the road, and we are eager to make the turn to the larger life thal is just around the corner. We ask you to join us with gladsome hearts in the celebration of this hour, and to feel the same optimistic conviction expressed by Browning “All's right with the world.” Again we repeat with all sincerity, “You are welcome!

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Valedictory Dorothy Dcnlingcr Tonight, dear friends, it is my privilege to say farewell for the Class of 1925. Many yeurs have we looked forward to this night and now when the time has come, we are proud to say that we have completed the work here; yet we are loath to leave the school and each other. We have had such pleasant times here and have learned so much that, wherever we go. whatever we do, the memory of our Alma Mater, the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, will remain with us. Our success in life, we shall owe to our school for here we have received that equipment which will help us in life's buttles. To the State Board of Control:— We thank you for all that has been done for us. We have learned to know you because of the numerous visits you have made here. These show your great interest in us and have led you to give us the comforts of home and very pleasant surroundings for which we are truly grateful. To our Superintendent:---- A lump comes into our throats when we think of the necessity of bidding farewell to one who has taken the place of a father to us and who has proven such a wise and nhle counsellor at all times. We only hope that many more classes may receive the same patient help that we have. To our Teachers and Instructors:— We each can remember the day on which we entered school, wondering why we had come. We were then in the dark but year by year that darkness has been lessened by your patient help until now we see the light. We have chosen for our colors “Black and Gold to signify our ignorance at the beginning of our school life here and our understanding at the close. We have no way of showing our gratitude for the many ways in which you have helped us except in words which do not seem sufficient. We all are your debtors and our debts are those which can never be fully paid. To our Schoolmates: — Many years have we been together, many “scrapes have we been in but now those times are ended for the Seniors. We have striven to make the Class of 25 one worthy of remembrance, and one in which the W. S. D. mny feel pride. We urge you to continue your work here until you have been graduated. Farewell, dear friends. To my Classmates:— Last of all, I bid you farewell, for we want to part last. We have been together many years. Only two of the original class of kindergarten days are here now. Others liuvc been added year by year till now a class of seven stands on the threshold of life. We arc taking the first step together and then No Step Backward, our motto, will guide us through life. Let us hope to meet again and later in eternal life but for tonight I bid you forewell.