History of the Westby High School from 1912-1914, author unknown, continued from last week.

Principal L.E. Weiland fully appreciated the fact that a school that merely teaches its pupils how to glean knowledge from the printed page is not doing all it ought to do for wide-awake young people who must learn how to live with their fellow men. Hence societies and clubs of literary and athletic natures received their share of attention. A Literary society of more than fifty members was organized, and it was to long before our first program was given. Never have I seen a society of this kind attended and appreciated as ours has been. Sometimes it was almost impossible to seat the crowds which were in attendance. It was before such audiences as these that our students waxed oratorical or argumentative. This work revealed talent which we might never have discovered in any other way.

The boys labored hard and faithfully to clean off a spot large enough for a double tennis court. I do not think they regretted the work, for they realized all kinds of fun out of the court after it was finished. Anyone watching a lively game could not help but feel that it was all worth while; not only because of the fun it afforded, but also because of the exercise.

The tennis season was a short one and basketball soon became the all-engrossing feature of the hour. The boys’ team was coached by Sigurd Ramsland and the girls’ by Arthur Thorson. No one could expect me to express in cold unfeeling words the merits of these basketball teams. I do not think that I am saying too much when I maintain that they did a big work in proving to the people of our neighboring communities that we were no longer their inferior in any respect. Our boys and girls did creditable school work, exhibited good clean morals, and played the game on all occasions at the end of the season letters were given to the boys, and a basketball banquet, which proved to be a fitting close to this most successful year, was held in honor of the teams.

Thus the days flew by. Every one was busy, and time went so fast that we had reached the close of the year almost before we knew it. It had meant close figuring of time and concentration of energy to keep all the work and outside activities in full swing, but we did it, nevertheless, and when the books were handed in on the “last day” we all felt that the work and play had been so well proportioned that we could truly say that we had spent an enjoyable and profitable year.

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