Plainfield High School - Milestone Yearbook (Plainfield, NJ)

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THE ORACLE fencing and wrestling rooms, run- ning track, baths, bowling alleys, etc., besides a tank 100 by 25 foot. The cross-country teamis getting into shape for the inter-collegiate meet on the 26th of this month, and the Triangle Club, the Univers. ity dramatic organization, has be- gun to prepare for the presentation of the comic opera, which every year is written and given by its members. This year the plan is to present it as far west as Chicago. I hope the Plainfield High School will be represented in the entering class here next fall and for many years to come, and wish you every success in the publication of the ORACLE. CoA. BROOKS, ’O1. The New Elocution Class. The morning of September 23 is long to be remembered, for on that day the new Elocution class was formed. Mr. Travell, afteralengthy address on the value of singing, announced that all boys unable or unwilling to sing could goto Room No. 3, and the girls to Room No. 5. Immediately some forty boys and a dozen girls responded, but it is only with the former that we are here concerned. Mr. Best broke the news as gently as possible, and yet the very thought of elocution brought forth a wail of protest. But tono avail. Hec- tograph copies of Lincoln’s Gettys- burg Address were distributed, with ag instructions to memorize it, and thus ended the first lesson. The following Tuesday Mr. Best delivered a learned address on the meaning and scope of elocution, discussing the definitions in Web- ster and the Century, and finally giving us one of his own to mem- orize. In the succeeding lessons we were told how to breathe properly, and were given some practice sentences for clear enunciation, of which the following are samples: She sells sea-shells; Coop up the Cook; She says she shall sew a sheet, etc., etc. Much merriment resulted, but the fun continues, for now we have selected readings by members of the class, taken in alphabetical order. And since the success of a class is directly proportional to the amount of fun to be gotten out of it, the new Elocutionclass bids fair to con- tinue on forever! Cyrit Brown, ’03. School Notes Miss Prescott, who left us last June. has returned to us and is fill- ing the place of Mr. Macnab during his illness. Could we not have a few more English or Caesar classes and keep here to teach them ? Cyril Brown attended the Yale- Harvard game. The school received a visit at Thanksgiving from Russel Bailey, ’02, and Wesleyan, ’06.

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16 THE ORACLE our star quarter and full backs. it is surprising that Yale did not runup a larger score in her game with us. If it had not been for De Witt’s wonderful kicking she probably would have done so. But it wasa good clean game and the best team won. Few people realize, however, the difficulty with which we have to contend, as compared with either Yale or Harvard, in regard to the limited number of men we have to draw from. We turn out teams from a body of but fifteen hundred undergraduates against Yale’s three thousand and Harvard's double that number. That we are able to do so is due to the purely democratic spirit which pervades our athletics and to the fact that the best man gets the contested place without fear or favor. At the opening of this year’s sea- son, Our prospects were not very bright. Ourends and backs were all that could be desired, but the line was woefully weak. The out- look for next year is the best that could be desired. Only five men, three of them substitutes, will have graduated, and their positions will be filled by promising candi- dates. Davis, Henry, De Witt, Bu'ke and Kaper will play in the team again. After all, the most satisfactory thing is that nocharges of professionalism or of any other kind have been brought against any of our players. ‘ Which fact,”’ as Professor Henry Van Dayke re- cently remarked in an address to some of the undergraduates, “is a pleasant thing to realize even in defeat, and it leads to victories in the end.” The most important thing in the near future is the debate with Har- vard. Last year this resulted in a victory for Princeton, and we are looking for a repetition of such an outcome this year. Our previous recordin debating with Harvard has been one long succession of de- feats, last year being the first time we have won in several years. The inter-collegiate gun shoot was held here not long ago and re- sulted ina victory for Yale, with Harvard second, Princeton third and Pennsylvania fourth. The scores were remarkably close, Yale getting 206 out of a possible 250 clay birds, Harvard 205 and Prince- ton 204. Archer, the captain of the Princeton team, made a new inter-collegiate record by getting forty-seven birds out of a possible fifty. Candidates for the winter sports, hockey, basketballand gymnastics, have been called out and practice has begun inallofthem. The work of the two latter teams is some- what handicapped by the ineffici- ency of the old gymnasium, but work on the new oneis progressing rapidly, and it will be ready for use by spring. When completed, this will be one of the finest in the country. The main floor space measures 170 x 100 feet. and the Trophy Hall adjoining, 100 x 50. There will be the usual boxing,

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18 A number of the people who at- tended the social g iven by the Jun- ior Class did not get any farther than the door during the course of the evening. Max Perkins, of Leal’s School, is taking a supplementary course in chemistry in the High School. “Character Books” are passing among the girls with this inscrip- tion: “ Dear friend, in this book, I invite vou to write, But to tear out the pages I deem impolite.”’ The preparatory class is raising money for framing the Great Char- ter of England. Tke meetings of the lower classes so far this year have been concerned chiefly with general school elec- tions, SENIOR. THE SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS ARE: President, Miss Dorothy Waldo; Vice President, Norman C. Hill: Secretary and Treasurer, Albert D. Beers. The Senior Class recently adopt- ed a class pin. It is a triangu- lar gold pin, composed of a small triangle in green enamel containing the class numerals superimposed upon a large triangle in white enamel containing the school let- ers: Shakespeare's Midsummer Night’s Dream will be presented by the Senior Class shortly before the Christmas Holidays. ‘Mike’ . Moynihan with his THEs ORACKIE “trumpet,” uniform and bright yellow announcer’s badge was a conspicuous figure at the field meet. Keep your eye open for ‘ puns- ter’’ Brakeley. He has quite de- moralized his classmates by his skill. Since the janitor puts the gas out the class in Senior Hysterics no longer meets. The Senior Class held its fortieth class-meeting on November 21, JUNIOR. THE CLASS OFFICERS ARE: President, Van Wyck Brooks; Vice-President, Francis K. Ander- sou; Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Frances K. Van Deventer. The class of 1904 entertained its friends at a sociable held in Frank- lin Hall Noy. 22. The Committee which had the affair in charge was composed of Miss Elizabeth Phillips, Chairman; Mae Batch- elor, Harold Fenno, VanWyck Brooks. The entertainment netted the class a neat little sum of ‘““Xmas money.” Charles Neagle, ’04, won thecom- petition among the students of the drawing class for the design on the cover of THE ORACLE. He secures as hisreward, a free subscription to THD ORACLE for thé year. Ata recent meeting of the class, the following important resolution was passed:—‘That no one shall hold any class office who has not been a regular member of the class since its organization.”’