Plainfield High School - Milestone Yearbook (Plainfield, NJ)

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THE ORACLE fice, on their patriotism, on their loyalty and school-spirit depends the result. The classes of 1904 and 1905, by two highly successful entertain- ments, contributed largely to the Athletic Asociation treasury last year. In the same manner the Board of Directors wishes to fill the treasury this year. Are 1903 and 1906, for the honor and glory of the Plainfield High School, will- ing to undertake the task? The money is needed; the demand is urgent. Meanwhile the manage- ment of the Athletic Association is planning an entertainment on a different basis. Remembering last year’s failure, will the students show their loyalty, manifest an interest, and makeit, as it deserves, a great success? Long, hard, per- sistent work shows the patriotism of the school’s athletes, while the student body is left to attest its school spirit by faithful attend- ance and strenuous, well-organized cheering at all games. Especially among the girls such a spirit has been conspicuous in the past. But among the boys the spirit ought to, and must be improved. In order that our teams play their best, that every member play as if inspired, as if his whole life depend- ed on it, every student in the school should be at each and every game. If, this winter, our basket-ball team is to have a successful season; if, next sp ing, our base-ball team is to win every game, each and every pupil must attend every game. In the various sociables, entertain- ments and dances, a pupil shows his loyalty to his class, but in ath- letics alone may he show his loy- alty to the school! FREDERIC T. VAN AUKEN. THE G. A. A. The Girls’ Athletic Association is yet in its infancy. Afew years ago there was such an association among the girls of the High School. They then used for basket-ball the upper floor of the Whittier School building, but when that was changed into class-rooms, no other place could be secured for playing in, and so the Association died out. Nearly all the girls who belonged then have left the school, but sever- al times efforts have been made by the younger girls to re-establish the Association. At last in the spring of 1901, interest in basket- ball became so great that once more active endeavors were made to secure a field, and this time suc- cessfully. The old tennis ground of the Casino was secured through the kindness of its owners. The number of candidates who respond- ed to the call for players was very encouraging. We were also fortu- nate in having some ex-collegian players among the teachers. En- couraged by these facts, the girls organized with the following of- wcers: President, Dorothy Waldo; Secre- tary, Elizabeth Phillips; Treasurer, Elsie Goddard.

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6 TOES ORACI the very best accounts of school affairs, unless each student sees that anything of note which may not be known to the reporters is called to their attention. The gist of the whole matter lies in the two words, ac ive support. We emphasize these words now, because we wish to avoid the great difficulty frequently encountered by nearly every school paper—lack of material. We hope that we shall never find it necessary to speak in any subsequent issue of the ‘‘inac- tivity of the students.”” We donot think it will be necessary. ‘ Fore- warned is forearmed.”’ ATHLETICS. Among the various phases of our school life as seen in THE ORACLE, we should not forget that of ath- letics, playing, as it does, so im- portant a part in that life. Of course, school is intended pri- marily for the development of the mind, but in these days we are coming to realize more and more that the growth of the body should keep pace with that of the mind. And for such a purpose our Ath- letic Association exists. True it is, that in athletics only afew students can represent the school on the regular team. But, nevertheless, the first team excites younger or less skillful players to take up the game more seriously and to play it harder and more intelligently. In the past onr teams have cer- tainly brought honor to the name of the Plainfield High School. Last year our basket-ball team carried everything before it, losing but one game, and that one of a series of three. During the same school year an entirely green base-ball team completed a highly successful season, winning nine out of four- teen games. Even defeat has taught some lessons by which wemay well profit in the future. In all branches of athletics our prospects are extremely brigh t this year. In basket-ball three mem- bers of last year’s fine team are back at school, while a goodly- sized squad, containing several promising candidates, practices regularlyin the Hope Y.M.A. gym- nasium. The hockey management hopes to obtain an enclosed pond near the city for practice. Should its hopes be realized there is every reason to expect that Plainfield High School will be represented this year by a fast and capable team. To form the nucleus of an- other strong base-ball team, six of last year’s players remain, while there is an abundance of good ma- terial to fill the remaining places. Thus, as far as a careful observer san predict, our athletic year. bids fair to be most successful; and, doubtless, these pages will be illu- minated by the records of many important victories won by our teams. Judging the future by the past, the issue rests not with the candidates alone, nor with the teams, but also with the entire student body. On their self-sacri-

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THE The Executive Committee was composed of these officers and Miss Ball and Miss Burroughs of the Faculty. This Board appointed Miss Prescott as manager of the team. With the opening of school this year and the return of cooler weather, the work has continued with greater enthusiasm than ever before. At the fall meeting of the Association, Miss Florence Martin was elected President and Miss Helen Munro Treasurer, to fill vacancies. Miss Burroughs was appointed Manager to take the place of Miss Prescott. The Manager has received chal- lenges from outside teams, which it has been necessary to decline, much to the disappointment of the players. Since, however, there was no place to play during the cold weather, it was thought unadvis- able to send out a team which had not practiced for several weeks against a team in strong playing trim. Then, too, since courtesy demanded a like challenge to meet these teams on the home field, the challenges had to be declined. To take the place of out-of-town games a series was arranged between three teams, Junior, Sophcmore and Scrub, and a banner was offer- ed to the winning team by three of the teachers, Miss Ball, Miss Bur- roughs and Miss Lovell. A great improvement has been made in the playing during this fall. The girls are throwing more carefully and are becoming confident and skillfal. ORACLE In the spring we hope to makeeven greater improvement. The object of the Girls’ Athletic Association is ‘“‘to promote physi- cal exercise and interest in athletic sports among the girls of the High School.”’ The game is entirely dif- ferent from that of the boys. For this reason, and because the prim- ary purpose of the sport is the wel- fare of the girls, there have been no spectators at the games except the members of the Girls’ Athletic As- sociation. FLORENCE MarvTIN. At this time of writing our School Editor, Miss Maclay, is very ill, and has been unable to edit her department. We hope that she will recovers soon and be with us again, even as we read of her ill- ness. The Board of Editors regretfully announces the resignation of Miss Dorothy Waldo as Literary Ed- itor. Miss Waldo’s withdrawal is caused by the overpressure of school work. Through the kindness of the Board of Directors of the Public Library, the Board of Editors of THE ORACLE holds its weekly meet- ings in the Directors’ Room at the Library. It is the unanimous opinion of the Board of Editors that the names of all contributors to the Literary Department should appear after their compositions. THEr ORACLE publishes only the best, and there