Hartford Public High School - Classbook Yearbook (Hartford, CT)

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THE CHRONICLE 261 The scene suddenly changes to one which typifies the earnestness displayed by the young scholars throughout every day of the school year. You can see them easily mastering Latin and English composi- tion, dipping into the pools of science, and finding that after all X is a real cross. upon which all may be hanged, entirely oblivious of the fact that, excepting the faculty, they are the only occupants of the building. For the teachers, realizing the danger of our being con- taminated if allowed to mingle with upper' classmen, wisely decreed that we attend an afternoon session. Because of this careful rearing, we continued to develop physical and mental strength, free from the injuries into which our impetuosity might otherwise have led us, had we been allowed to enter the field of athletics. This next scene portrays the concert given by the Glee Clubs for the benefit of the Athletic Association. Among the members you can easily distinguish five Freshman girls and thirteen Freshman boys. Ah! This picture shows the unprecedented performance of a Fresh- man boy conducting, actually conducting, the Boys' Glee Club in a most difficult selection. We well remember the applause he received from his classmates. You now behold eight Freshman girls and five Freshman boys diligently picking tunes on their instruments in the Mandolin Clubs. And here is a picture of the participants in the choir concert. Previous to that year it had always been given in this hall, but the size of the choir was now so greatly augmented that Mr. Bald- win deemed it prudent to hold the concert in Foot Guard Hall. Even there the seating capacity was inadequate. Realizing, however, that without the assistance of the Freshman songsters, the concert would be a failure, the conductor readily made room for us on the groundiioor. The scene before us now is one of spring-time for the annual Freshman-Sophomore flag-rush. But the Sophs, poor chaps, are wise. They have sized up our strength, which had previously been large enough for the gym., but too large for it to hold us, with the result that we had to rest content with a few lectures about the instructor's bcpfhood days on the Hudson. So these wise Sophs shake their heads, and the rush is called off. The only happening of our Freshman year which causes any re- gret is the resignation of our revered principal. Our alarming num- bers so far preyed upon his health that he felt obliged to turn our management over to another. Not willing, however, to alienate himq self entirely from our class, he agreed to help us through the remainder

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4 260 THE CHRONICLE of the illustrious Class of 1911 were to have been enumerated to you today. It is due to this publicity, we realize, that this assemblage of distinguished persons is so very extensive, and it is this publicity, we take the liberty to add, which has made the class history the drawing card of today's program. We are conclusively assured that adver- tising pays. The present age is indeed progressive. This fact is presumably being brought nearer home to you as time goes on, and as a statement of fact, needs no statistical confirmation. VVe have said that the age is progressive. We now confront you with the irrefutable assertion that the Class of 1914 is even more lightning-like in its rapid progress than is the age. In order that you may comprehend the verisimilitude of what has been declared, you will doubtless demand weighty proof. We hesitate nary a moment before complying. Therefore, for your edification and the dispelling of whatever vision-obstructing cloud there may be upon the horizon of your mind's eye, we shall proceed in the elucidation of the well-nigh incomprehensible importance of our already celebrious class. I An important illustration of the marvelous progressiveness of our far-famed class is this screen to which I now call your attention. It may be visible only to your imagination, yet upon it will be thrown reproductions of our remarkabledeeds. And so, for one brief half hour-we won't intrude upon your valuable -time further-imagine yourselves, ladies and gentlemen, the audience of a moving picture house. Call it the Empire, if you like, the Hartford, or the Princess. You can all see this immense crowd of girls and boys who throng Hopkins Street, eager to enter this imposing edifice, and you im- mediately conclude that it is September 10, 1910. The multitude seems innumerable, in reality there are six hundred and fifty-eight students, 'constituting a larger class than any one preceding. Since then, however, parents have profited by the example of our parentsg have sent their children to follow as nearly as possible in our footsteps, with the result that succeeding entering classes have surpassed ours in numbers. Across the street from these embryonic geniuses you behold a throng of upper classmen, all interested in our advent. The inevitable police are on hand also, you notice. They have been warned that the cheering by our enthusiastic welcomers must not be so ear- splitting but that the train announcer at Union Station may be heard by transient Hartfordians. 9

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262 THE CHRONICLE of our High School course as Principal Emeritus. His resignation is not to be thrown upon the screen, for we have resolved not to recall vividly any sad recollection. And now, friends, you behold us migrat- ing in June, lflll, from the Freshman Class into the Sophomore Class. So far our record has been most praiseworthy. How time flies! One year has passed, again September rolls around. Wle enter upon our second year a triHe self-conscious, yet self-confident. XVe should have been dauntless even if the number of rather antagonistic upper classmen had not been decreased by gradua- tion, and even if we had not had the experiences of Freshman life to guide us. Now the roll is being called: Miss Frazzle? Left High School to go to work in a millinery store. Mr. Green? Clerk in a paint shop. Mr. Pompadour? At work trying to learn the barber's trade. And thus we learn that our numbers have dwindled from six hundred and fifty-eight to three hundred and ninety-five. Noble souls! They have all left us to aid some other in his need. What a sacrifice! And as their dear faces pass from us forever, Trinity Field appears. Doubtless you have already surmised the cause of the downcast looks which those Freshmen are wearing. No wonder they are glum, foriwe have just trimmed them right soundly in the annual meet, as we did in the annual Hag-rush, which was again restored. Still we pass on. Inasmuch as the football field at New Britain was a veritable mud puddle, the moving picture man couldn't include it in his reel. Never- theless, it is worthy of mention that four Sophomores played on the team that went down to defeat before our dear friends. And just think! One of those four was captain, and all the points scored for the H. P. H. S. were by a Soph. But let us have a little vaudeville. That winter four of our men made hair fly in the Y. M. C. A. VVhy, they could shoot baskets from all angles and positions. And when it came to hockey, I declare, they were as good at that as at hookey, five Sophomores eating up everything that came into sight. But then, that was nothing extraordinary for this illustrious class, any more than the fact that in the good old summertime six of our boys led the baseball squad on to victory after victory. Thus we had a majority on almost every team, and really might have had more had it not been for such nuisances as marks and demerits. But we almost forgot our movies. Because of the recognized athletic ability of the third classmen, it was decided to revive the annual gymnasium exhibitions, thus giving