West Des Moines High School
1905 Annual
page thirty-two
THIRD YEAR
HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1906
MANY months ago—to be exact, it was the year one thousand nine hundred and two, ninth month and fifth day—if you had chanced to stand on the corner of Fifteenth and Center, you would have seen a sight long to be remembered. Crowds of good looking (?) young men and women were coming from the various paths and byways to what has been and always will be the "Center of Learning."

Now if you had, out of curiosity or thirst for knowledge, asked those who seemed more promising or brilliant than the rest to which class they belonged, they would have replied immediately that they were entering the class of '06.

It is now my purpose to relate the history of that far-famed class. (O thou noble class of '06, thou star of all classes, how can I do thee justice!) We have just seen them entering this vast hall of knowledge as "freshmen." Most freshmen classes are considered "green" and rather looked down on by those who are so unfortunate as to be created a year or so earlier. Not so with this class. Teachers and pupils alike felt that the grade schools of West Des Moines,

"In framing this new class, so grand and true,
For it their long used molds aside they threw;
And, choosing those in wit and brain well mixed,
Had fashioned this, the noted class of 1906."
From the first they received the laurels of the school. What victory could be more complete than that which they gained in their freshman year over the three upper classes in debating?

During their sophomore year their representative in the East—West High debate was without doubt the best debater on the platform. During their junior year two of this illustrious class had important roles in that glorious victory over Omaha. As a crowning victory to this year's achievements two of her goodly number took first and second prizes in the contest give by the Political Equality Club for the best essay on "Why Women Should Vote."

But not in brains alone is this class superior. Does it not hold its own in the Orchestra and Glee Club? What would athletics be without her sturdy youths?
The junior class has been by no means behind others in social life and functions. Even the seniors agree that the junior class went beyond all expectations and eclipsed past records in that brilliant gathering, the "Junior Prom." This was held at the Elk's hall and certainly the juniors have a right to be proud of the way it was conducted, and also of the farce given during the event. Of course a large part of this glory should be laid at Miss Allabach's feet, but what achievements of theirs do not either directly or indirectly owe their success to her?

Now as the year is drawing to a close and they are looking forward to the coming year as one in which they will merit the reward of being called "Seniors," the hope of the class is that they shall deserve as never before that which one teacher was heard to say of them:

"These are the noblest scholars of them all,
They are the ones on which we build our hopes.
Their lives are gentle and the elements
So mixed in them, that we can now stand up
And say to all the world, 'This is a class.'"

WINIFRED WRAGG