Yeatman High School - Yeatman Life Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLEGE TO THE GIRL RUTH FRANKLIN-june, 1919 OLLEGE meanslittle to most of us. We realize .that it is a place of learning- an institution for higher education, the dictionary has it- but our knowledge seldom carries us further. As far as its importance to ourselves, and the real spirit and usefullness of its life are concerned, we are ignorant. Our impres- sion wavers between visions of the daring pranks of the story-book college girl and of the eternal grind of study. Of course. we are willing to admit that there we can learn things-formidable ologies and Hogra- phies which, in our vast experience, we declare can have no bearing on our every- day lives. We realize, too, that the college graduate can secure an excellent position immediately after commencement. But, says the business girl, that signifies noth- thingj' and she proceeds to cite numerous instances of the rise of women who have not received degrees. Why waste four years ? she asks. The ambitious girl can advance without such an education and be earning money at the same time. This is true, but the college woman's ad- vantage lies, as James Russel Lowell has said, not in getting something by which she can earn her bread, but in making every mouthful sweeter to her taste. Alice Free- man Palmer, first woman president of a college, has explained very fully the benefits, aside from the commercial ones, to be ob- tained by the girl who throws herself whole- heartedly into the activities of the college life. Some of us find it hard to realize that fun can enter years so crowded with work The realization that happiness lies, not in idleness, but in congenial occupation, is one of the greatest lessons of the college. Strengthened by the companionship of many others whose purpose, occupations and ideals are substantially the same as ours, in a beau- tiful environment, we shall learn the place of work and play in our daily lives and to combine the two so that they become indis- tinguishable from each other. Another great advantage, says Mrs. Palmer, His health. In the college, there is no time for sickness. Life is much too full and interesting. There we shall learn that ill-health is carelessness and discover, under the regular hours that we shall be forced to keep, wholesome food, and the regular exercise, that we are constantly gaining in mental and physical vitality. New and lasting friends are a third boon of college. Because we are thrown among people of all stations of society, political ideas, and creeds, these things will become negligible in our selection of friends. Tn- stcad, we shall he attracted to each other by similar tastes, ideals and ambitions. Then, too, through this association with all kinds of people, we shall form the ability to under- stand another person's point of view and so discover a new interest in humanity. VVC shall learn to appreciate and to form the ideals of personal character, another great gift of college life. Through association with the best scholars we shall gradually form new of life, culture and character. of the age, conceptions The power to see great things large, and little things small is said to be the supreme test of education and it is this that we shall be enabled to gain by observing the char- acters and attitudes of our instructors. The lasting advantages of upright character will be made apparent and this will become a thing for which we are encouraged to strive. The last of these benefits, and the one which Mrs. Palmer considers most im- portant, is that of life interests! Because of these we will become entertaining to our- selves and -interesting and 'attractive to others. We will emerge 'from college with knowledge on a great many subjects which will make the world a much more interesting V One Hundred One

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a few paltry degrees extra in the arcs of their pieces of pie. That men could sink so low! The thought embittered me to the core. Over there, with dishcloth on arm stood the Amazon mistress of the situation. Her triumph -broke out in a leering smile as she- saw me baffled in my attempts to assail her ironbound forces. Leer! VVhat care I? I tossed back my head, threw out my chest, tightened my belt, cut her with a side glance-all just as I had seen it done in the movies-then I stalked out of the room. Let them laugh, aye, and laugh some more. I may slowly starve, I may fade away like a pretty flower on a summers day, but yield to that woman-never! I told my tale to a lawyer friend and ended, Of course, teclmically, it was a great victory for me. He laughed more vigorously than I had expected. Yes, my boy, but you know technically you are a minor. And when it comes to signing contracts, et cetera-now mind, I am speaking in terms of pure technicalities -you are inthe same class with lunatics! Hang it anyway. A LA,KlPLlNG'S l..'ENVOl I SUCILLE BRYAN-JLIIIC, 1907 :When the last diplomas been given and all of the speeches are done, I When the stress of the play is over and fame and honor are won, XV e shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it-have done with the worry and strife, And try to forget about lessons and follow the simple lifegks And no one shall ever disturb us with the thought of report-cards again, And no one shall ever remind us how near to flunking wescameg For crams and grindings are over, at least for a season, we know, And no more shall the night-oil be wasted in trepidation and woe. ll he girls were not all Priscillas, but reilection shall make them content, When they think of the pain and the torture that all of the cast underwentg And joy again shall possess us when we know that our class dues are paid, And the threats of our terrible treasurer shall ne'er again make us afraid. And those distressing delusions of striving only for marks Shall give place in less time than you'd think to summer picnics and larks. NV e shall love to be left in calm silence with nothing at all to do, But to sit and dream and wonder that our cares are really so few. Then great will be hopes for the future and the joy will be undisturbed, For the world will be lying before us and our wild, reckless natures uncurbedg But in spite of the things that have vexed us, when we look back in those future davs, VVe shall long for the school we have left here, when the world has taught us her ways. One Hundred

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place in which to live. Because we will have studied the fiowers and birds, Nature will have a new meaning, and hence, a new enjoyment, for us. Through our studies of History and Economics, we will be able to understand the importance and origin of most of the social and political institutions of the world-we will have gained interest in the affairs of our country and its people. The world of literature, with which we shall have become acquainted, will cause our imaginations to quicken at the suggestion of some familiar phrase and will provide enter- tainment .for idle hoursi The most sordid task will be surrounded by the glamour of the inner beauty which we will acquire. To sum it up, the college provides the lasting things of life to those who are will- ing to work for them. These three great boons await us: H'ealth, wealth, happiness. and, in addition, the equally important ones of friendships and interests. Then for the sake of these advantages, which will make us of use to any community, an inspiration to our friends, and an aid to future genera- tions, let us turn to the college, Hthe foun- tain of perpetual youth-the youth of the spirit. WISHES ESTHER M. 101-INSON-111116, 1917 I wish I'd been a Cave Boy in the Prehistoric Age, Although the dinosaur roamed 'round and wasn't in a cage. W'hen the Cave Boy in the morning took his usual road to school, If he felt hot and weary, he would plunge into a pool. fAnd while he's there, I'll tell you why I envy his lot soy It's a very serious matter, and I think you ought to know. He didn't have to hurry if the hour was getting late: For there wasn't a Miss Carney to make him mend his gait. He didn't have to think about that nickel library fine, And nearly rush himself to death to get upstairs by nine. He had no frightful troubles to disturb his nightly rest, fI'm referring to our custom of observing ten week's testsl. He didn't have to study hard for hours the night before, He didn't have to cogitate on HQSO4. He didn't have to struggle through great Burke's Conciliation , He didnit have to ruminate on problems of a nation. - Translations from the Latin never bothered him at all, He never heard of Caesar and his mighty wars in Gaul. He didn't have to rave about the Babylonian homes, Or fall into a rhapsody on the grandeur that was Rome's. He didn't have to ponder over shirts and socks and ties, And choose a pleasing color scheme to charm his teacher's eyes. No, when the Cave Boy with reluctance left his cool, refreshing pool, He donned his little tiger skin and strolled along to school. More likely when he got there, he'd find upon thedoor, f'The dinosaur has been here and dear teacher is no more. So when I think of all the things he didn't have to do, You don't know how I envy him, by the way, d0n't you? One Hundred Two