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READINGS OF MARTIN INSTITUTE SENIOR
CLASS, 1926, CLASS DAY EXERCISES
gix Articles, President’s Address,
Salutation, Progress of The Pil
grims, Class Prophecy, The Master
Builder, Class Will, Read at Class
Day Exercise* at Martin Institute
Auditorium on Tuesday Afternoon,
May 25th, 1926.
President’s Address
(By Frank Gudger)
Patrons and Friends of Martin In
stitute and the Class of 1926, we wel
come you to these historic grounds
and to these old walls through whose
portals have come and gone so many
of the useful and distinguished men
and women who have adorned the
halls of legislation, the editorial
sanctums, the learned professions,
the pulpit, the bar, the bench of
state and nation. The traditions that
cluster about this old institution are
well-night holy, for they are treas
ured on the altars of the hearts of
thousands of pupils, who thronged its
classic halls, many of them now
grown gray with many winters, many
of them busy in the active vocations
of life. Again we welcome you to
our Class Day Exercises, and feel
distinctly honored by your presence.
We shall now engage in the pro
gram of the afternoon.
*' ' I "
Salutation
(By James Wilson)
Teachers, Class Mates and Friends:
It gives me great pleasure to wel
come you here this afternoon, and I
hope that our coming together at
this occasion may prove both bene
ficial and interesting.
After four years of earnest effort
and faithful service, the graduating
class of 1926, of Martin Institute,
stands before the open doors of the
future.
Grand opportunities lie before us,
but let us remember that opportuni
ties do not come with their values
stamped on them. Every one must
be challenged. A day dawns quite
like other days, in it a single hour
comes quite like other hours, but in
that day and in that hour the chance
of a life time may confront us. To
face every opportunity of life
thoughtfully, and ask its meaning
bravely arid earnestly, is the only
way to meet supreme opportunities
•when they come, whether open faced
or disguised.
Our class motto is well worth tak
ing with us on our further journey
of life. And may we cherish it in
our hearts, and live up to its precepts
in such a way that our efforts may
reap honored reward.
Let us remember, dear class mates,
that if we are to succeed in our
future tasks, we must work! Noth
ing can be had by nothing. What
ever we achieve, we must pay for
it. Then wo must have patience and
forebearahce, whichi is| simply de
pendent upon the slow justice of
time. Then third, and most import
ant, we must have faith. Bayard
Taylor says, “Unless a man believes
in something far beyond himself,
something infinitely surer and grand
er than he can ever become; unless
he has an instinct of order beyond his
dreams; of laws beyond his compre
hension; of beauty and goodness and
justice besides which his own ideals
lire dark, he will fail in every loftier
form of action, and ought to fail.
Life, class mates, is a bicycle
faith, and work is the wheel you
should ride. If you would mount to
the crest of the hill, and coast down
the other side, just oil the machine
with cheerfulness, and see that the
parts are in trim.
Then straddle the saddle and pedal
on with a ready, steady, vim. Don’t
start with a rush up the hill of life—
Just pedal a medium gait; remem
ber that those who “scorch” at first,
are likely to finish late.
Grasp the handle bars of the wheel
of “work” with a firm hand not too
tight.
Then sit up straight like a man and
push—push for the road that is right.
You may wabble a bit, and punct
ures, too, may cause you to dis
mount, but plug up the holes with
smiles and pluck. They are the plugs
that count. There are other ma
chine* than work. There’s the “Idle,”
the "Lazy,” “The Rest,” but the one
called “Work” is the best.
It is a low gear wheel of homely
frame, but it’s safe and sure and
strong. So straddle the saddle of
“Work,” classmates, and push it
along with pride—
Till you get to the top of the hill
of life,
Then you'll coast down the other
side.
There is absolutely no limit to our
attainments. With this permanent
and faithful friend always at our
elbow, we will go forth conquering
and to conquer.
We are humbly grateful to each
one who has been instrumental in
making our progress possible.
First, we wish to thank our par
ents, without whose aid we could
have never reached this mile stone
in life. We thank our teachers, who
have stood faithfully by lending a
helping hand at all limes, whose
patience and forebarence we have
sorely tried at times. We wish to
say there is a genuine regret that
you are not to be our teachers any
longer.
We thank the Board of Education
for what you have made possible for
us. We hope, kind friends, you will
accept whatever future progress we
make as a thpmk offering for the
service you have rendered.
And now again, I bid you welcome.
First, you mothers and fathers are
always welcome, for I know you
have our interests at heart. And
you, my school mates, I welcome to
our exercises, from which you may
glean some grains of wisdom. I wel
come you, our teachers, to the last
thing we shall give as your pupils.
For today we leave your supervision
and your guidance. And last, I bid
you, my classmates, welcome. Wel
come to the commencement of a
broader life; a life where each of us
becomes a responsible individial; a
life where we survive or perish, ac
cording to our own efforts; a life
whose happiness, success and ulti
mate good we hold within our own
beings—and, because I know we shall
meet it with clean bodies, brave
hearts and pure souls, I bid you,
classmates welcome to that life.
The Progress of The 1926
Pilgrims
(By Sara Wills)
In the year of our Lord, 1922,
we,' the present Senior Clas3, were
graduated from Grammar School,
and upon receiving our promotion
cards we were told of the benefits
and privileges of High School. In
this land there was a castle called
Knowledge, a much bigger and finer
castle than any of us had yet seen.
So hearing these things, 36 of us set
out to explore this castle of wonders.
The journey we found to be a
long and perilous one, and we each
carried a heavy burden on our backs
upon which was inscribed, “Ignor
ance.”
Often we wanted to give up our
burdens and go back, but on con
sidering all the crowns of glory to
be awarded us at the end of our
journey, we strove onward.
Far in the distance we could see
the constellation, Diploma, from
Martin Institute, shinning brightly,
and toward this goal we traveled on
and on.
So in progress of time we got up
to the gate over which was written
Sophomores of 1923.
We were disappointed to find that
all of our band were’nt with us.
Some of them had dropped by the
wayside, because their burdens had
grown so heavy. This was discourag
ing to the rest of us, but we decided
to strive even harder, although our
goal did some times seem impossible
to attain.
Behold! One day while we were
working and weeping, “Three Shin
ing Ones” appeared and gave us a
scroll' which revealed the talents of
the Pilgrims.
Gladly did we rejoice.
We held distinction in the Castle
of Knowledge.
Those who crossed the hill of dif
ficulty happily passed through the
gate of 1924, which was guarded by
fierce lions. We passed the mount
called Error, into the valley of Hu
miliation; and all the while we
could see our goal, which always
inspired us, and often brought us in
the way of Envy, who filled us with
a desire to do in a day what it has
taken others years to accomplish.
Once while wandering aimlessly,
we found ourselves in the roads of
Doubt and Fear, but we were led
out of danger by promise, and en
joyment on our way.
And so in 1925 we stood at the
foot of the Delectable mountains.
There were only twenty-five of ui
left to do the climbing. But the
warm and joyful thoughts that w’e
had about our dwelling here linger
forever and ever.
Oh! by what tongue or pen can
our glorious joy be expressed.
And thus we came to the gate en
tering into the Castle of Knowledge.
This was opened unto us, and we
were thus assured of our diplomas,
for which we had worked and de
sired so long.
The burden of Ignorance had
gradually slipped from our backs.
And now while we all on life’s
way, may turn to different paths
this day, happily go, that we may
find peace and joy among mankind.
Class Prophecy
(By Geraldine Brown)
A short time ago I came home
late, and being very hungry I ate a
lunch of pickles, cheese and salad.
I then retired, and the sweet repose
of sleep closed by eyes and shut out
the noise of a turbulent world. Soon
1 entered that condition that the
most profound scientists have never
been able to explain, called dream
land.
In a moment I seemed to be waft
ed twenty years into the future. I
was on a beautiful island in the
South Seas, where the sting of winter
was never known. I had been cast
upon thi3 island from a sinking ship,
and was the only white person who
ever walked the shores. The natives
thought I was more than mortal, so
made me their queen. I was furn
ished with a splendid home, and
shown all the respect of royalty. In
spite of all these honors showered
upon me by the simple natives, I
longed for my own people and looked
forward to the time when a chance
ship would come to my rescue.
Each day I went with a retinue of
attendants to a high hill, where I
could look far over the ocean in
search of a sail, but each day return
ed disappointed. As the years went
by I learned to love my island home.
Imagine my astonishment one day
as from my accustomed hill I
saw. a ship, full-rigged, bearing down
directly on our little harbor. Soon I
saw she was in distress, and was
seeking a harber or refuge. I gave
orders that my subjects should be
dressed in their very best and drawn
up in orderly array to receive the
strangers. She dropped anchor
abreast of us, and a few frightened
faces looked over the railing, and
among others was the intelligent face
of a middle aged woman who seemed
far more composed than the men. In
spite of the twenty odd years that
had passed, I easily recognized the
features of Sara Wills. She was
wild with delight, as she saw a white
woman, but did not know me in all
my finery. Imagine her astonish
ment and joy when she learned who
I was.
She said she was going to Europe
on a concert tour, and a storm blew
her off her regular course. I told
her to stay with us, and I led the
way to my splendid mansion. While
we prepared for dinner, she told me
the story of the graduating class of
1926.
It sounded like a fairy tale, as
the history of some of the class seem
fed more like a story written for a
book than of real life. I was so anx
ious to hear of the dear old class
I could hardly wait for “Sallie”, as
we used to call her, to get primped
up. Suddenly I said, “Now you can
talk while you dress, so tell me what
has become of John Richardson.”
“Oh, John is a popular professor of
Domestic Science at Mercer Universi
ty. Gives lectures over the radio,
and all that sort of thing. Since the
women have come into such promin
ence in the political and financial
world, Mercer has seen fit to add to
its numerous departments that of
Domestic Science and Art. Now the
young men who attend and study un
der Professor Richardson receive
thorough training in cooking, sewing,
sweeping, cleaning and nursing, so
when they leave Mercer they are well
trained house-husbands.
“Fairy Belle Simmons is as pretty
as ever, and in an effort to help
others, become more beautiful. She
has an up-to-date beauty shop in
Chicago, where the permanent wave,
face lifting operation and numerous
other beautifying processes can be
given to patients by especially con- j
trolled wave lengths as they sit in'
1
their elegantly furnished apartments
partaking of delicatessen meals,
while they dream of the good old
days when people had homes with real
cook stoves in them and women of
60 years were supposed to have a few
wrinkles and grey hairs and were
not expected to go through beautify
ing tortures in an effort to make
them look like flappers of 16 sum
mers.
“Joe Pendergrass and Manolo Fer
rer have a dancing school in Palm
Beach, where society belles are train
ed in the latest toe-dances, Spanish
high flings, etc., by night, and the
mermaids do fancy diving and all
kinds of water stunts under their
direction by day.
“And dear old Julia Marlin, you
remember how she kept the treasury
replenished with her Baby Ruth sales.
Well, Julia is still tickling the sweet
palate of the nation. She owns one
|of the biggest candy factories in
New York. Has a beautiful sum
| mer home on the Hudson, and a
palatial winter residence in Cora l
Gables.
“Franklin Holder is the most
prominent criminal lawyer in Wash
ington, D. C. They do say that
Gerald Chapman, the three boys that
murdered Prof. Whight, the Jones
and Bloodworth boys and other mur
derers whose fate interested us so
much in the olden days, would not
now be lying in forgotten graves
with their toes turned to the daisies if
they could only have had the eloquent
voice of Judge Franklin P. Holder
raised in their behalf. Judge Holder
has the enviable repuation of never
having lost a case.
“Sara Carruth and Jeanette Stone,
you remember, were always great on
wearing handsome furs. Well,
Jeanette conceived the idea of raising
fox for the market. About that time
a rich uncle in Colorado died, and
left her all his wealth. She could
have married anybody she wanted,
but instead she formed a partnership
with Sara Carruth, and now they have
a fox farm in Alaska, which is con
sidered the largest and most valuable
in the world. Both are as rich as
Jews, but are just as nice and sweet
as ever.
“Harold Duke and Joe Levin have
a Vaudiville Company that puts old
Keeth’s in the shade. With their
usual generous disposition, they set
all their old friends up to their shows,
and I happened to be so fortunate
as to see the one in which they star
red as Charleston dancers on a tight
rope.
“Senator Dorothy Aiken of Wash
ington, D. C., was in old Jefferson
about two weeks ago. It is very
probable that she will be a presi
dential candidate on the Democratic
ticket. Jefferson feels proud of the
enviable record she has made. While
at home, Senator Aiken spoke to a
large audience from a soap box on
the court house lawn. So great was
the enthusiasm that it was necessary
for the entire police force to be on
hand to keep the mob quiet. Sen
ator Aiken, in her forceful manner,
set forth her platform. She said
she was heartily in favor of depriving
men of the franchise, and letting
women control the politics of the
country. “Man’s place is in the
home, while woman’s is at the ballot
box!” she shouted. And she was
cheered, not only by the women, but
by their frightened husbands, as
well. “Sisters, we must make our
husbands obey us. If we cannot do
it by kind methods, we must adopt
drastic measures. Deprive them of
their household expenses, their clothes
allowance.”
“I am sorry to tell you of the
fate of Allen Venable and James
Wilson. They were both strange
boys, you remember. Never cared
anything about money or worldly
things. Their only thought seemed
to be about being missionaries, and
converting the heathen. They got
Up a bold scheme of trying to con
vert the Chief of the Zula Tribe, and
they hoped to get his entire nation.
With confidence and determination,
they went into the Wilds of Africa,
and were never heard from again.
There were rumors that they formed
a meal for the Canibols, but we
never really knew what fate they
met.
“Louise Weir is startling Europe
with her marvelous voice. She has
often been urged to sing in Grand
Opera, but prefers to tour the world
at leisure with her business manager,
Lester Legg, giving concerts to
packed houses when and where it
suits her pleasure.
“Ralph Wills has a wonderful sani
tarium in Miami. After years of
scientific efforts in the medical pro
fession, he can now sit back and
read, or flirt with pretty nurses,
while he presses a button and elec
trical devices cut off arms and legs,
or snip out unnecessary or trouble
some organs, at his bidding. They
do say that it is very noticable the
number of lady patients who find
their way to his sanitarium, due as
much to his handsome appearance,
as to his medical skill, I dare say.
“But, ’Dine, you would have died
laughing if you could have been with
me one day in Philadelphia. I took
the street car out to the park, and
just behind me sat a woman who re
sembled the old woman who lived
in a shoe more than anybody I ever
saw. There were children, all sizes,
stair-steps from one to fourteen
years. The whole car was amused —
|it was, “Thomas, do sit down; Mary,
I don’t put your sticky hands on my
dress; Watch out, Jonny, keep your
head out of the window; Sally, I’ll
I slap you if you pinch your brother
again.” All this, punctuated with
l the constant, “Wow, wow,” of the
. little one-year-old. I looked around
from curiosity to see what that poor
1 mother must look like by that time;
and my eyes nearly fell out of my
head when Starkey Hand, big, hand
some and prettier than ever, for
getting for the time the troubles of her
little brood, greeted me with the old
time cordiality; and she said that I
looked thin, and insisted that I come
out and stay a month with her at her
lovely suburban home, where every
thing was so peaceful and quiet.
“You remember how crazy we al
ways were to go to movies if Rudolph
Valentino starred. Well, Storey
Ellington is the shiek of the stage
now, occupying the same place in the
hearts of the movie fans that Valen
tino did in the oMen days—and a
significant fact is that he always has
a Spanish beauty for his leading
lady.
“Richard Ayers is a real estate
agent in Mars. They do say he has
divided and subdivided that planet
until it looks through the telescope
like an old-fashion block quilt. A
radio message recently from the far
off planet gave Mr. Ayers lecturing
to his hundreds of salesmen as they
started out to put over these marvel
ous sales on innocent, unsuspecting
tourists.
“’Dine, I’m tired now, the trip was
nerve racking, so I believe I’ll lie
down and rest a bit. By the way,
here is a New York paper. Perhaps
you might get a bit of news from it
to interest you.”
Upon glancing at the paper, ima
gine my surprise, when the big head
lines greeted me, “Emlyn Scott
Daniel, Famous Artist, Sues Dickson
Storey, Pastor First Baptist Church,
For Breach of Promise.” But here is
the article: “Kansas City, Sept. 12.
Miss Daniel -is suing Mr. Storey for
breach of promise. Both formerly
lived at Jefferson, Ga., and were
graduates from the famous old Mar
tin Institute in 1926. Since that
time they have become prominent,
and it is a shock to their numerous
friends to learn of this affair. A
visit to the studio of Miss Daniel re
vealed her distress. She exclaimed
in a tragic voice, “0, my poor dear,
I would give up my success, my fame,
my whole life, to help him in his
work if he would only keep his pro
mise to me.” After she became more
palm, she gave us the following let
ter, which we feel will greatly influ
ence the court’s decision: “My Dear
Emlyn: Due to my extreme bashful
ness and retiring nature, I have re
frained heretofore from asking you
to be my wife. But my dear one, I
feel that my life would be a blank
without you and the light of your
love. Will you be mine? Say “yes”
very soon, for I cannot bear this
suspense much longer. Always yours,
Dickson.”
We should have liked to prolonged
the interview, and to have sought to
be of some comfort and help to Miss
Daniel, but we were interrupted by
the arrival of Mr. Jewett Weir, who
will represent the plaintiff in court.
Attorney Weir is an old friend of
Miss Daniel, and has a wide reputa
tion of being able to settle to the
satisfaction of all concerned such
cases as this out of court.
*On the next page I found this in
teresting bit of news: “General Gud
ger, Commander-in-Chief of the U.
S. Army, during the recent conflict
with Japan, is off by air plaine for
a much needed rest from his duties.
He will visit his old friend, Richard
Ayers, a prominent real estate dealer,
on the Planet Mars. Gen. Gudger
has a record of bravery and loyalty.
After graduating from Martin In
stitute in 1926, he went to Annapolis,
where he \ received strict military
training. Then he figured conspic
uously in many skirmishes and small
battles before he distinguished him
self in the conflict between the Unit
ed States and Japan, which resulted,
as we all know, in the complete
overthrow of Japan.”
Just then my great home commenc
ed to shake, and I supposed we were
having another of those earthquakes
which had become so frequent. I
opened my eyes, and found it was
mother shaking me, saying, “Geral
dine, you have overslept.” My beau
tiful dream was ended.
The Master Builder
(By Dorothy Aiken)
Day by day the organ builder labors
in his dingy cell,
Day by day his inspired vision plans
for hands that fashion well;
And the stately rich-wrought organ?
*tis to sound for endless days,
All the sweetness, all the joy of life
to be its song of praise.
Many failures mark the years of him
who faithfully tries to build,
Many inspirations fade, all is not just
as He willed;
But with patience of a master, each
poor failure marked success,
He could clearer see the perfect
thing, could greater skill profess.
So these our school years of train
ing, contain forces good and m'
They suffice to bring forth purp ose
make the deeds the thoughts full
This one year has marked accr i s s
the Master’s work stands now
for trial,
Will it bring forth fame and gl ory
will it suffer Him denial? ”
All the sweetness, strength and
beauty in the Master’s i ma g e
wrought,
Came from love of good perfected i n
the vision that He sought;
And the work, which like the organ
song, His skill will testify,
May reflect all truth and justice, and
our good faith justify.
May this Senior band, which is to u
the organ, still untried,
Prove to have a depth of sweetness,
and a field of service wide- ’
Then the Master-builder, which for’iy
is just our school, M. 1.,
May be proud to claim successful her
inspired vision, Seniors of ’25
Hi.
Class V/ill of Senior Class
of 1926
(By Dickson Storey)
Ladies and Gentlemen: I am an
attorney by profession, and make a
specialty of drawing a difficult class
of wills.
In past years so many of the last
wills of this school have been broken,
the class decided to hire an expert
who could draw up such a document
in a way that it would remain in
tact through time and part through
eternity.
The Senior Class of this school
realized that soon it would cease to
exist, and as it possessed many treas
ures beyond price that might cause
conflict, among those who desire to
secure them, she took a careful in
ventory, and distributes them as
follows, which is her last w-ill and
testament.
| Listen, one and all, while I read
this precious document.
We, the class of 1926, being about
to cease our existence as a class, be
ing of sound minds, in fact, having
; well crammed minds and super hu
man understanding, with a memory
: that was never known to fail, do
make and publish this as our last
will and testament.
Item 1. To our highly respected H
faculty, who have imparted to as all
the wisdom of the age?, de bequeath
a sweet succession of peacful nights H
and dreamless sleeps. 1
Item 2. Also, in recognition of H
their watchful care over us, we be- H
queath to our teachers the limitless H
knowledge and the information wa H
have furnished them at various I
times in our examination papers. ■
We realize that many things we have I
inparted were entirely new to them I
and all the rest of mankind. If I
this information could be spread to 1
all parts of the earth, it might trans* I
form many benighted people. a
Item 3. To our beloved Superin* I
tendent, we bequeath our deepest I
reverence, our sincere affection and I
our heartiest gratitude. During the I
years we have spent in this school, I
he has taken the keenest interest in I
1 our welfare, so as a partial payment I
[ of the debt of gratitude we owe him, I
we will give him a first mortgage on I
the glittering reputations and stu- I
pendous achiements which the great I
mysterious future has in store for I
us. I
Item 4. We bequeath to said Jun- I
iors our Senior Dignity, and ask that I
it may be upheld with all seriousness I
in spite of their light-mindedness. tVe I
also leave our places in the class room I
1 and chapel. May they fill them as I
'promptly and as faithfully as ve ■
have done, and if we leave any eras- |
ers, pencils or other scholastic equip I
ment, we give to whomsoever can I
get them in the mad scramble. W I
some mysterious way, may these arti- I
cles which we have used impart to I
them some of the great wisdom I
have absorbed in this institution o I
learning. I
Item 5. To our successors, we leave 1
our places in the effections of ouf I
teachers. They will love you even I
as they have loved us, and will show I
you all the tender kindness and at- I
tention they have shown us. I
Ittm 6. There is one especially I
valued privilege or right that a
Senior Class holds dear, so we here
by will the right to run away on
April Fools day to whomsoever wants
John Randolph Richardson wills hi*
ability to sing, which he displayed *
often in chapel, to James K
Harwell. ,
We will the squeak seat m
chapel to the Junior boys, trusting
that they will get as much music ou
of it aa we have. . A
Sara Wills leaves her P> aM
(Continued on opposite p*3w. *