Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-06-22

the same keen eyes, which from that
time to this have watched over all that
We have done.
After the introduction, be made a
little address to US, no part of which |
can recall to mind, but | do remember
that after the address was over turned
around to communicate something to
the girl sitting back IF me and was
suddenly brought to a realizing sense
that "a new order of things was at hand,
by the sound of a stern voice saying,
THAT little girl on the front seat will
please turn around and stop whisper
ing and thus | achieved the doubtful
greatness of being the first of that long
suffering band of martyrs, which from
that time to the present have been un-
lucky enough to fall under the ban of
bis displeasure.
l will not take up your time by tell
Ing you how the organization of the
schools WAS brought about, for indeed
do not remember much about it my.
self. Gradually the school was graded,
and when in 1874 we first occupied our
new school building, the high school
was an accomplished fact. Before this
time | do not think that term was used
at all, the higher classes being called A
and grammer classes. The high
school as first organized had about thlr-
ty-tive pupils, divided into A and B
juniors and middle class, the middle
class containing twelve members.
There were no seniors until the next
year. Examinations at the end of the
school year In the spring of 1875 deter
mined who were to be the first seniors
At the opening of the school year of
l875-lS76, there were found but four
pupils in the senior class, all the others
having dropped out. OF that small
band much was expected. L think that
never since has there been class that
had as firmly impressed upon their
minds the fact that the eyes of the
world were upon them. But we were
equal to it all, for what class since ours
has gone through the high school in less
than two years timer
After the Christmas vacation of that
year, preparations for the first COM
mencement were begun. Our subjects
were assigned to us and in addition to
the task of completing the high school
course in the allotted time so that there
could be graduating class, we were
confronted with the necessity of writ.
ing the Orstions and essays, which were
destined to be the forerunners of those
annual bursts of eloquence and learn.
ing which have dazzled the people each
year even to the present time. An
event of such an importance was not to
be lightly considered. You who have
had the examples of your predecessors
before you, cannot conceive of the
anxiety which beset us, and l assure
you that by the time l had finished
"blacking the heels of my boots" the
gray hairs were already beginning to
make their appearance on my head.
1t may be necessary just here to ex-
plain to the younger members of the
association that the subject of my es-
say was "Black the Heels of Your
Boots" And to show you what an im-
preston ! must have made on an aston.
ished community by my efforts in that
direction, to this day that subject is re-
membered by some of the oldest inhsb-
itsnts, and l am frequently reminded
of the enOrmity of my Offenses.
But at length the course of study, the
essays and orations were completed,
and the finishing touches necessary to
all commencement exercises were be-
gun First came the selection of a
class motto and the class song. After
much deliberation as being peculiarly
of the fact that we four out of the
large number starting, were alone sue
cessful in completing the course, the
motto "Pauci Sed MagnanimI" ("Few
but Brave') was selected, whether by
Mr.. Chase or our high school teacher,
Mrs. Wells, l do not remember. This
motto was not at first intended for any
but our class, and we still look upon it
as ours alone.
The selection of the class song was q
more difficult matter. We had such a
limited stock of material from which
to chose something we could sing. Lit
tie did we think we were destined to
render ourselves immortal, when, as a
last resort and owing TO circumstances,
was chosen the gem that is SO familiar
to you all. You may be interested TO
know just what those circumstances
were. The choice was left to our music
teacher, Mrs. French, now Mrs. Y ockey,
and the fortunate "child of destiny"
who stands before you, out of the few
class songs contained in collection
belonging either to Mr.. Chase or Mrs
Wells. There had been some selections
made as being less doleful than others
to practice on as class, the final decis-
ion to be made later. The first inten-
tion was to have quartet by the class
and possibly chorus by the entire high
school, but as usual the best laid plans
"gsng aft agIee." About week before