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

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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

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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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THE CHRONICLE 263 Hartford a grand treat. From this picture you will rightly conclude that the Sophomore girls in their trim middy blouses and the boys in their neat white uniforms were no inconspicuous part of the perform- ers, and that they won the gratitude of all the spectators for having made possible such an exhibition. Statistics and our beloved movies show that our musicians continued faithful in their work. Time and again did the walls of this hall and likewise those of Unity Hall vibrate in fear and trembling because of the sounds produced by our class. Appreciating the fact that the success of the previous choir concert was due to our impetus, which caused it to be held in Foot Guard Hall, Mr. Baldwin decreed that the one of 1912 be given there also. This likewise was a success, for the choir was again pillared by our Caruso and thrush-like voices. To convince you that we were not devoting our time exclusively to athletics and music, we refer you to various numbers of The Chronicle. VVithin their valuable pages you will find no less than six articles con- tributed by members of our class, all good, sensible stories,-not a lot of nonsense about babbling brooks, lulling breezes, murmuringpines, and that stuff. And when we assembled in the Hall in june to have marks dished out to some of us, canned for others, the principal wore a smile, a brand new one. He was satisfied. Part II, ladies and gentlemen, will follow immediately. NVe will open our junior year with a little vaudeville. Lots hap- pened to us those days. Right off the reel, something grand came along. You see, our girls had become. wondrously pretty-such beautiful specimens of humanity that it was decided to give a play entitled, The College Hero, in order to show the good people of Hartford a sample of our class. We all know the results-how bril- liant and showy everything was, especially the paint and powder that refused to be washed off the next morning. Now you may not believe me, but our class had lots of nerve those days. One little instance will suffice. There was a track meet held in the Armory. Our class entered two half-milers, speedy as the styles of the day. Well, the events we11t off in fine shape that evening. At last came time for the half-mile. Now here's the nervy part. The entries take position, but our two are missing. In a second the race starts. Boys, where are you? Alas, the race is over. A reconnoiter- ing party is sent out. Fear arises in every Junior's heart that our men have been kidnapped. But lo, they are found-found in the dressing- room-fast asleep. 2' 2 . ..4l