Alameda High School - Acorn Yearbook (Alameda, CA)

Page 13 text:

We see that it is quite the thing to begin an exchange column with a little sermon; not to be behind the rest, we wish to say a few preliminary words. The exchange column is not a place for idle criticisms, or spiteful knocking. What we say here is meant to be a lesson for ourselves and for those who are criticized, so let us begin and find as few things to criticize as possible. ‘The Cricket” is always up to the mark, its stories are good and is is well arranged. ‘The Mystery,” a story written in Irish dialect, and found in the Christmas Number of the “Dictum Est,” is very good. We would suggest though, that you have a few cuts. ‘The Quill” of Stanford High should have some stories, fiction always a great factor in the makeup of a good paper. ‘The Orange and Black”of Spokane, is a very well arranged and intere sting paper. ‘The Gleam” has some good material, but we suggest that each Pa it wi be marked with a heading really “Gleam” that arrange- ment would improve you much. We drop a hint to the Coment of Reno—don’t put your ads in with your literary mz terial, it spoils your appearance. ‘The Canary and Blue” is a bright little paper—its joshes and jokes are particalls good. The little sketch in the “Comics” entitled “The Man” is very good indeed; we all agree that your other material ranks favorably with it. ‘The Arms Student” should have seperate departments for its material. The scattered hits, though, we find are good. ‘The High School Sparks” is a very worthy little paper—w enjoyed your stories very much. “Flame,” if your improvement is proportional to the number of your editions, you'll be a roaring conflagration in short order. “The Owl” of Fresno has a splendid issue for December. It contains three of the best stories we have read this season—it cer- tainly is a “wise old owl.” We notice that the “Advocate” of New Brunswick has no ex- change column. This surely must have been an oversight.

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THE ACORN 1HE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS By a plan introduced into the school through the thoughtfulness of Dr. Thompson, the Associated Student’s meetings will hereafter be deprived of their “dryness.” The plan is to call that body together once every two weeks where it will be entertained alternately by one of the classes, or some good lecturer. ‘This will tend to relieve the somewhat declining interest in these meetings and make them objects of anticipation. The institution will promote class spirit and the feel- ing of competition between the classes will maintain the excellence of their entertainments. The plan is sure to be successful, as it has worked in other schools where there is no more, if as much, talent as in the Alameda High School. THE LYCEUM Time was when a debating tryout was the field of honor for the leading spirits of the school. The membership of the debating society was large and the role bore well-known and honored names. Every Sub. Junior hoped to debate some day for the honor of the school. The League Convention was held in Alameda and the whole High School worked to make it a success. The winner of a debating medal was looked upon with awe by the lower classmen and with pride by the upper, “But the old debaters have gone.” What of it? They were of no finer mental caliber than nine tenths of the boys in the school. But these boys whose place of honor is really the rostra, try to run dashes at far below the average time and allow their school, once fé- nowned for its forensic power, to sink into oblivion. ‘The school has now the chance to retrieve its lost honor and glory, will you suffer it to become dishonored and shammed on the rostra by your neglect?

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The term finds us with the material for the best baseball, track, and basket-ball teams we have ever had, but without the facilities to develop this material. We have neither athletic grounds of gym- nasium. Think of it. Alameda, a city with a population of over 20,- 000, without an athletic field of gymnasium. In Oakland and Berkeley it is the same. The school children of these cities have no grounds they can call theirs. Our football and baseball grounds are played in San Francisco or at Idora Park on rented grounds. The University of California is gracious enough to offer its track to the High School athletics, but our men have no means to trin for their big meets. Omr baseball team practices on the flat marsh land two miles from the school. the track team can’t train, as our old apology for a track has been taken away, and the basket-ball team has disbanded in disgust ofter attempting to practice in a gym not half large enough. Our athletic association has striven hard to overcome these obstacles, but not until the citizens of this city provide their children with a public playground will Ala- meda High be able to assume and hold her proper rank with the leaders of the athlectic world. We have six men left from last year’s nine, and plenty of good material to draw from. The old men, Brush, Brooks, Hubbard, Shep- ard, Jenkins, and MasFarland are well-known; as to the new men, L. Randolph comes from Boone’s Academy with a string of victories to his credit, unequaled by any “prep.” school pitcher in the state. G. Lewis and G. Roach attended St. Mary’s College last semester and there acquired reputations as ball players to be proud of. Perry, Brampton, and Burton are well-known, and any one of them may yet make the team. : The entire squad was tried out against the U. C. Dental team on February 3rd. The constant changing and shifting of players practic- ally gave the game to our opponents, who won by 5 to 2. On February 6th we went to Irvington and easily defeated Ander- son Academy 8 to 1. Randolph pitched and was the whole game, striking out seventeen would be batters, made several assists and put- outs and allowed but three hits. Alameda scored five in the first and three in the seventh. Anderson scored in the ninth, barely saving themselves from a shut out.