Bellows Free Academy - Alpha Omega Yearbook (St Albans, VT)

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SNAPPED QUITEBY CHANCE I I

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SENIOR CLASS HISTCDRY By HELEN PATTEN Class Historian The history of the class of 1937 is so dra- matic and colorful that it resembles a play-one of those modern plays that so skillfully disregard all the rules of drama. With your kind permis- sion, I, as class historian, shall review the play called The Class of I937,'l in absolutely unbiased manner. This is a play in four acts, with three all too brief intermissions. Throughout the action, there is very incidental music by the high school orchestra. The play was written by the actors as they played their parts, under the able direction of Mr. Dickinson, the principal, and a band of capable assistants, the faculty. lt is produced by the board of trustees with the cooperation of the taxpayers and is given by an all-star cast. Act I shows the arrival of the class in the gymnasium. Their timidity and curious mistakes furnish some bright comedy moments. There is rapidly rising action and the villain gradually puts in an appearance. He is called Study and is of alarming size and proportions. It is evident that he will interfere sadly with the enjoyment and leisure of the actors, now known as freshmen. As leaders of the group, the following ofhcers were chosen: President, Gordon Dewartq Vice- President, Dorothy Sunderland, Secretary, Rita Corrigan, Treasurer, John McKay. The most important and well-remembered scene of the social life of the act was the gay time enjoyed by the class at the Freshman-Sophomore Reception, which occurred sometime in the stormy month of December. The outstanding feature of the event was the lowering of a string of balloons from the ceiling, which, together with a large snowball, dropped into the center of the room. The efforts of the sophomores were well re- warded. At the close of the act, tragedy seems immi- nent, as there is a desperate affair-a mental crisis created by Study's brother villain, Examinations. But the freshmen, by one last spurt of their tired brains, win. Somberness does not predominate in this act, as there are athletic and social activ- ities. which among other events include the first Junior Jamboree. The freshmen contributed an entertaining skit, Family Album, but failed to win the silver cup which was awarded to the junior class. . After an intermission of eight weeks, during which the actors go away on vacations or stay at home and help with the work, the play is re- sumed. Act Il shows the same people in the same place, but they are now known as sophomores, owing to an advance in rank. The leaders elected for the group were: President, John lNfcKayg Vice-President, Sylvia Fortong Secretary, bfaxine Sears, Treasurer, Edward Corliss. A touch of pathos is found in the absence of several of the cast who were so disabled in the encounter with Study's ally, Examinations, that they were unable to appear in the second act. lnterwoven in the many scenes were such events as a reception given in turn by the sopho- more class on December 18. Gay trimmings of purple and gold ribbons formed a canopy Linder which the couples kept time to the music. This affair was well planned and ably conducted by the sophomores, who were proud of the duty that was theirs. The action continues to rise till the end of the act, when we again have the inevitable struggle and the crisis brought about by Examinations. Again, after a bitter exchange of hostilities, the class wins, thanks to the time spent in preparation. After another eight weeks' intermission, the curtain rises on Act HI. Scene and characters are the same, which may make the play sound monotonous to you, but I assure you it is not. The actors are so changed that each act seems like an entirely new play. They are now called juniors. Those playing the leading parts in this act were: President, Edward Corlissg Vice-Presi- dent, Elizabeth Anderson, Secretary, Helen Cul- verg Treasurer, Malcolm Brown. As in the scenes of the first two acts, the Junior Jamboree holds much of the attention and plays an exciting part. Since this is a junior activ- ity, we find our actors more keenly interested in the plans than in the two preceding years. The third stunt-night appeared to be much like its predecessors only in that the stunts of the differ- ent classes seemed to be improving. The class of IQ37 gave an exciting comedy entitled Co-eds and Chemistryf' The returns were sufficient for l6l

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financing the most important event of the year, the Junior Prom, which took place on June 5. Leaving this gay setting in the center of the stage, we see at a glance, a very busy and business- like setting at the left wing, namely the Mercury staff, who portray excellent parts in the perform- ance. The group consists of: Ralph Guyette, as Associate Literary Editor, Gordon Dewart as Associate Managing Editor, Virginia Purrier, as Exchange Editor, Edward Corliss as Assistant Advertising Manager, and Sylvia Harris as As- sistant Circulation Manager. The outstanding individual distinction to come to our class during this act was the winning of a S150 scholarship at the University of Vermont for his prize essay YVe VVho Would Diet by Gordon Dewart. The most exciting scene of the third act oc- curs When the Annual Junior Prize Speaking is held. Congratulations were warmly given Eileen Rooney for winning the Hrst prize, to Virginia Fisher for the second prize, and Foster Corliss for third prize. Before the curtain falls, there is a dreaded but certain confiict. Study's emissary, Examina- tions, is defeated again, but this time more dras- tically than ever before, perhaps because those who fell by the way before were less vigorous fighters, and still more probably because the sur- vivors profited by their sad fate. Again an intermission of eight weeks, then Act IV arrives at last and is warmly received. By this time, the actors are so matured, so at ease, so changed for the better that they are diffi- cult to recognize. We seem to View with rose- colored spectacles that scene that so soon will vanish. lt looks very attractive with the follow- ing leaders at the head: President, Edward Cor- liss, Vice-President, Dorothy Sunderland, Secre- tary, Nlarjorie Little, Treasurer, George Bryce. The action is more rapid and more com- plicated than in preceding acts. There is more comedy than before and there are several im- portant scenes and interpolations. Scene I shows the election to executive posi- tions on the Student Council-Edwin Simpson, President, Rita Corrigan, Vice-President, and George Bryce, Secretary and Treasurer. Repre- sentatives to the Executive Council from the sen- ior class were Wayne Richardson and Marjorie Little. One of the most exciting scenes of Act IV was held on December 10. Laying aside the duties as seniors and students for one brief eve- ning, the class held its first senior supper in a room attractively trimmed with Christmas decorations. The president and vice-president of the class acted as host and hostess at this supper. The guest speaker was Miss Alberta Beeman. Edwin Simp- son and Rita Corrigan gave talks suitable to the occasion. A Christmas tree, which included small gifts, was enjoyed, after which games were played. Hard work and success were shown in April when the class carried off the cup from the fourth annual Junior Jamboree. The skit presented was Remembered Yesterdays. A new Mercury staff was announced during the latter part of Act III for its work in Act IV. The leading positions fell to: Gordon Dewart, Managing Editor, Marjorie Little, Editor, Vir- ginia Purrier, Feature Editor, Sylvia Harris, News Editor, Rita Corrigan and Jean Dewart, Reporters, Dorothy Sunderland, Sports Editor, Virginia Fisher, Alumni Editor, Edward Corliss, Business Manager, Edwin Simpson, Circulation Manager. The actors who showed promise of being stars in the preceding act have fulfilled that prom- ise and shine brightly, in the cast of Guess gain, our Senior Play which was presented May 6 and 7. The cast was as follows: Waldo, Wil- liam Ciofii, Bertie, James Fortuna, Janet, Eileen King, Bill, Gilman Rood, Dora Mae, Rita Cor- rigan, Mrs. Skinner, Dorothy Sunderland, Lord VViggleton, Frederick Hodge, Olive Ordway, Virginia Purrier, Lulu Perkins, Sylvia Harris, Sol Messer, Lester Luman, Mr. Grimes, Harold Best, Marcella Jenks, Eleanor Schofield, Renee Lamour, Aldine MacArthur, Mr. Pratt, John lNIacDonald. Virginia Fisher won third prize in the Speak- ing Contest held at the Cathedral High School, for reciting The Day of Judgmentfl At last the fatal hour arrives, and the Final Examination raises his sinister head. The efforts of several of the seniors in the last of Act IV were well rewarded when they were declared exempt from Final Examinations. The attack of the other seniors is brave and well organized The result of concentration is apparent. To a man-and a woman-the seniors now emerge vic- torious. They have finished Study. And then the sym- bolic touch, without which no play worthy the name is complete-the ironic twist of the new school dramatists: Study, met face to face, is found to be, not an enemy, but a friend, and an invaluable ally to possess throughout life. The strenuous preparation for battle, which made our cast more and more familiar with study, was a blessing in disguise and everybody is happy. The play ends in a burst of glory, with flowers, music, and congratulations-in short, graduation exercises, and We have the well-known and ever popular, happy ending. ISI .l.J