Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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OLLA PODRIDA The Greek Club The Greek Club was organized on the twenty-first of Sep- tember, 1908, by Miss Clayes of the classical department. The principal object of the organization was to call back to life the rapidly waning interest in classical subjects, but as this was not the only object, I will here recount a few facts from its history. Immediately after its organization the members of the club began work on the production of a dramatization from the first, second and third books of Homer ' s Iliad, to be staged in Jan- uary of the following term. The first public undertaking of the Greek Club was in September, 1908, when Professor Edward Bull Clapp, head of the Greek department of the University of California very kindly consented to deliver a stereopticon lec- ture under the auspices of the club. Professor Clapp spoke on his recent travels in Greece, and greatl interested his audi- ence. During the rest of the fall term of 1908, and during every term since then, we have been favored with lec- tures by various members of the University faculty. We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to Professors Clapp, Allen, AVashburn, Linforth and Richardson, all of the University classical department, who have entertained us on various occa- sions with very interesting lectures. On January 29tli the club produced the scenes from Homer, wdiich we mentioned above, with great success. During the tall term of 1910 the club members made a trip to the Affili- ated Colleges in San Francisco, where Dr. Washburn explained the archaeological collection in the museum there. The club had enjoyed several visits to the museum in Berkeley, where the collections were explained by University men. In No- vember, 1910, the club entertained the graduating class at an uiformal reception and produced a dialogue from Homer. We look forward to a third production of the sort this term. 21

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OLLA PODRIDA Chess Club Six months ago there was no such thing as a chess club within the school. Now it is one of the strongest organiza- tions we have. For some reason, notwithstanding that chess brings the highest powers of the mind into use, an organiza- tion for the sole purpose of playing and advancing the game bad never before been considered. A visit to one of the play meetings will convince you of the success of the club and the popularity of chess as an intellectual amusement. One person has said that chess is a form of dissipation that is spreading with a remarkable degree of rapidity. However, the general belief is that it is a game highly instructive to those who participate therein. If anyone in the schools is desirous of learning this game, he or she may obtain very apt teachers by letting the president of the organization know. On January 19 a regular business meeting was held, at ■ which officers were elected for the present semester. Laurie Steinegger was chosen president ; he is probably the strongest player in the club. Kimberlin is vice-president — a man who made a very high standing in the recent tournament. Stanley Arndt is now secretary-treasurer. He is a strong man. The two teachers of chess, apopinted by the president, are Eugene Sturgis and Bruce Anthony. In the school election of last semester Bruce Anthoney was chosen chess manager for the term. Anthoney is a great student of the game and should make an excellent manager. It is hoped that a large number will learn the game and join the organization this coming semester. 20

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OLLA PODRIDA Glee Club The Glee Club, as reorganized last term after an interval of a year, under the leadership of IMiss Victorine Hartley, di- rector of music in the Berkeley schools, will continue its work this year. There were at first only twenty-three or twenty-four mem- bers, but when strains of music were heard by some other stu- dents musically inclined, coming from the Assembly Hall dur- ing the fifth period, the call was too strong to resist, and the membership grew until after elimination and balancing the parts there were thirty voices to carry on the good work. On December 10th a concert was given in the Auditorium, which, considering the length of time the club had sung to- gether, was a decided success. There was a very good audi- ence, even though it was a cold, rainy night. However, this year we are organized fifty thousand strong and intend to do good work- — work that will not only be a pleasure and excel- lent training to the members, but will also prove very enjoy- able to the listener. e already have songs well worth listening to in our reper- toire — songs to B. H. S., southern melodies, national hymns, comic encores, etc. — and we intend to enlarge our collection. There has been some talk of a tour of the central part of the State during the spring vacation. If this is realized, there i;: a lot of work to be done in connection with it. There is an excellent opportunity for those who are. or are not, deep in athletics to come out with their voices and join us. A e shall need more men, and as there is some new material in the school at this time we hope to welcome some of the new voices into the club. In view of the fact that there are so many activities with the student is called on to support, we intend to give concerts that will be free to the student body. 22