Athens Area High School - Athenian Yearbook (Athens, PA)

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Pleasure, may I present my friend, Athenian. He is a new student here and I’m sure he’s going to be fascinated over our entertainments. Athenian: Pleasure, how do you do! I’ve already heard much about you, and I feel very much honored to have the opportunity to meet you. Pleasure: Oh, of course! Awfully glad to see you. Yes, I feel myself an important individual at evening parties. Certainly you have something to be proud of; we don’t let everyone attend! (Turns, joins others). Frivolity (Walking up to Politics): And this, my dear Athenian, is Politics. He is one of the livliest lads of “our set.” Athenian: Pleased to meet you, Politics. I have already seen you. Politics: Oh yes, of course! Glad to know you. As I haven’t time now, I want to see you later on a scheme of mine. (Turns and joins others). Athenian (To Frivolity): Important, isn’t he? Frivolity: Politics is always important with us, my dear Athenian. Come! Here is another I want you to meet, Athletics. (Enter Caution). Caution (In a low tone to Athenian): Athenian! (Athenian is so amused that he does not hear.) Caution: Athenian! (Still he does not hear). Caution (Speaking quietly to herself): I have called him but he does not heed me. I can wait no longer. (Caution, with a bowed head and faltering step, walks out). Frivolity (Walking up to Athletics): Athletics, let me present Athenian. Athenian: Charmed, I’m sure. Athletics: Athenian? Oh! Yes, yes, of course I remember seeing you. Now for a chat. At the High School we have the boys’ and girls’ associations. But in the coming two weeks Politics and Frivolity have something on for both evening and daytimes. So later on in the school year I will have something doing. So join now and be prepared. Athenian: All right; don’t worry about me failing you. (Meets the remaining friends and then speaks to Frivolity): Oh! tonight has been a charming adventure to me. Frivolity: Well, I suppose so, and let me tell you, tomorrow Politics intends to have something doing and he doesn’t want you to fail to see him. Athenian: I didn’t fail you tonight and you can count on me for tomorrow after such a pleasant evening as I have had. (All begin to laugh and dance—Curtain). SCENE 4 Description: Auditorium of the High School. Discovery: Athenian conversing with Dishonesty. Every Athenian: Did you wish to speak to me, Dishonesty? Dishonesty: Yes, I wanted to speak with you last night before you left school. I heard you telling Ideals, then, that you didn’t know whether to go with Frivolity or study for the examination today. I had a proposition to offer that would allow you to have your good time and yet do splendidly in the exam. It was certainly too bad that I couldn’t find you. Every Athenian: Oh. but I did go. Dishonesty: You did? I supposed Ideals would have persuaded you otherwise before he left you. You want to hear my suggestion then? Every Athenian: Yes, Yes. I was wondering what I would do. I have thought of everything without success. What is your plan? Dishonesty: Merely by dishonesty. A very simple plan. Come over to these rooms and I will give you a few pointers on it. Athenian (disappointed): Oh, I dislike that way. I guess that I will have to take it though, as I mustn’t fail in that test. I will go and think it over. (Exit) (Two hours later Athenian and Dishonesty meet again) 7

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Athenian: You know it makes me feel better to hear you. I’m ashamed of myself for wanting to give up the fight. (All proceed, chatting together. Curtain). SCENE 2 Description: Auditorium of the High School. A spacious, light, sunny room with walls decorated with beautiful works. One space on the wall is devoted to football pictures. Over the picture of the founder of the High School the Stars and Stripes are draped. Discovery: Every Athenian conversing with Ideals in the midst of other groups of students. Ideals: No, no, it isn’t like this every day. There isn’t a school more studious and orderly than the Athens High School. Do you want to go now to plan your studies with the Principal? Every Athenian: Not now. The others haven’t begun work yet. Let’s look around awhile. The building is strange to me and therefore is interesting. Frivolity: You’ll like it here, and I don’t blame you for wishing to look around now, but it would be a greater benefit in the end to you, if you would start aright, not by following the actions of others. Every Athenian: Do they have any amusements in the school here? Ideals: Oh, yes. Frivolity and her set have something on. as they say, con- tinually. It would be difficult to find a night they had time just to study. But here in school we have plenty of recreation that enlivens the sometimes prosaic school life; in debates, oratoricals, recitations and contests. Every Athenian: Debates? Oratoricals? Isn’t that great? Do you think that I will have a chance to enter them? Aud, Ideals, do you think that if I try my best, 1 could graduate first in my class? Ideals: Of course you can be Valedictorian if you try, and I’m sure the prize at Commencement, to the Senior who has been the greatest aid to his school during his four years spent there would be worth striving for. Every Athenian: I’m certainly glad I came to Athens in preference to other schools. There is so much of interest here. I believe I’ll go now and arrange my work. Thank you, Ideals, for the help and inspiration you have been to me. I hope you won’t regret your faith in my ability. (4 p. m. As he is leaving school Athenian meets Frivolity.) Frivolity: I am Frivolity. I believe you are a new student here, and as I am an old one I am taking this liberty. I wanted to invite you to join our circle in the ‘Thornless Path,’ as Ideals calls our club. Every Athenian: Thank you. I’m sure I would enjoy it. But what did you mean in saying you were an old student? A Senior wouldn’t call himself that, would he? Frivolity: But I am an old one. I am only a sub-Junior and have been here four years. I don’t seem to accomplish much. I wouldn’t stay here in school, but for the jolly times I have. But, will you join us? We are starting the year right by having a party tonight at my house. Be sure to come. Curtain THIRD SCENE In the Thornless Path Description: In a modern, richly furnished room. Small tables at which boys and girls are being entertained by different amusements. Discovered: Frivolity, Pleasure, Sport, Athletics, Politics and others may be seen chatting contentedly. Enter Pleasure at one side and Athenian at the other, both appearing very happy. Frivolity: Greeting Athenian): You are here at last—welcome! Athenian: Let me thank you, Frivolity. It’s so glorious. Everything is so pleasant and the music is just great! How wonderful you are to grant me all this! Frivolity: You’re entirely welcome, but come now and meet the rest of “our set’’ that I spoke about. (Turning, sees Pleasure approaching). 6

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Dishonesty: Well, Athenian, you look troubled. That must mean you didn’t try my plan and you are thinking of your report card. Athenian: 1 did try your way— Dishonesty: Why so dejected then? Did you get caught? Athenian: No, I was spared that humiliation, though it would have been a just punishment. No more of your tricks for me. I am thoroughly disgusted with being dishonest and underhanded. What do you get by dishonesty that is worth having? Nothing. I prefer getting a zero honorably. Curtain SCENE 5 Description: School building in the background. Students outside on the bank of a river that flows close to the building on one side. Discovery: Politics and Athenian on the bank of the river. Politics: I’m glad you are running for the presidency this year. You’re mak- ing a good beginning for your High School activities. Don’t you think the spirit of the parties is fine this year? It excels that of the preceding years. Hut would you mind telling me how you overruled the law concerning the number of points necessary for the President of the school? Every Athenian: Pull has been using his influence to help me. I couldn’t have done it alone. Politics: Oh, I understand it now. You’ll have it easy, all right. Every Athenian: And it is a good thing I have his influence, with such a close contest this year. Pull (approaching): Yes, the Liberals are putting up a stiff fight. If they continue at the present rate, in another year or two they will win in every way. Politics: Did you know, Athenian, that the Liberal party has been revived just this year? The party was in existence a few years ago, but this year is the first since then. Pull: It is so funny. Push, the leader of those Progressives, has worked him- self up to his nomination for the presidency alone, using no influence, and now he thinks he will succeed. They are doing fine, but it is ridiculous to think that they will carry the election. Every Athenian: They’ll find out this afternoon at the election that they can’t down the Conservatives and can’t overlook Influence. Will have to be going. Will see you later. (Exit) (4 p. m. Athenian in class room which is empty except for Push) Every Athenian: To think that Push, using his own ability, should win. I don’t believe that Influence is so necessary as Pull said. I wish that I had followed Ideals. But it is too late now. (Turns and starts). I didn’t see you, Push. Push: I unintentionally overheard you speaking. Let me say it is never too late to mend. I’m sure, next time, you will do better, Every Athenian. Every Athenian: I appreciate your interest. But I am discouraged at the way everything has turned out since I came to Athens. Curtain Sixth Scene Just a Day Off, That’s All Description: Same as the first scene. Discovered: Athenian standing on the bank, looking toward Round Top. Presently he turns and looks towards the school. Enters Truancy, who approaches him. Truancy: Say, youngster, it’s too pleasant to hang over books today. Let’s take a day off and go to Round Top. It looks so enticing and it certainly is wonderful up there! You know you can get Chance or Venture to write an excuse and the Principal won’t know the difference. Athenian (Brightening up): That’s the idea—you’ve got the real stuff in your make up. Glad I saw you this morning. (Starts walking slowly). 8