Banning High School - San Gorgonian Yearbook (Banning, CA)

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Forensic The Forensic contest is an event of great importance for the schools of Riverside county, and many- schools participate in it. The productions are: Freshmen- -declamations; Sophomores— stories; Juniors—essays; Seniors—orations; the work being entirely original except the declamation. Medals are given to the winners of first place in each event, and the winning school is awarded with a cup. This year the B. U. H. S. came home with high honors and fly- ing colors, having won first place in the declamation and short story. We were represented by Hugena Butler—declam ation, and Margaret Hazen—short story. Much praise is due these girls, and our able coaches, Mrs. Coombs and Miss Ludemann, The Juniors and Seniors were not represented this year, owing to lack of time for practice, but we hope that next year we will be represented by all classes, so the cup will be brought home to Janning,. D. H.S. ’25 ao. Public Speaking Class The Public Speaking Class of ’25 has made a great record for itself in school activities. It made its first public appearance by presenting “The Mad Breaktast,” a one-act play, one of the “wildest” farces ever given in the history of the B. U. H. § ih The second public performance was the Vaudette, May 8, which was a huge success. This program was taken in charge entirely by the class, each member directing an act. This entertainment was the first program ever given in the B. U. H. S. in which the stu- dents had charge of the directing, The Public Speaking class is under the direction of Mrs. Coombs, who is mainly responsible for the wonderful progress it has made, Wil, dats, 5), : [Page Twenty]

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A Gift of the Gods In the dark ages when civilization was dawning, the gods met on Mount Olympus and decidcd that there should be one place of peace and contentment in the new world which had just been cre- ated. A messenger was sent to find the desired spot. After many days of wandering, he spied a sunny green yalley bordered on either side by high ranges of mountains, Immediately he flew down and started to explore the wonderful scene. Awed by its beauty and sereneness, he knew that here was the cherished spot. The gods agreeing with him, chose the little valley and called upon the gods of climate and season to give their help in making it an ideal spot for health and happiness. Banning, endowed with all these privi- leges of nature, was placed upon the world’s stage of action, and humanity made its first entrance. The Banning Pioneers The curtain rises to find the scene laid in the San Gorgonio Pass. The prologue being presented by the Indians, who were the first inhabitants. Their villages were situated west and southeast of Indio. Those west of Indio were at Indian Wells, Palm Springs, Chino Canyon, Snow Creek, and Little Potrero Canyon. And those southeast of Indio were situated at Alamo, Agua Dulce, Torres and Martinez. Cabazon, the chief of all their clans, plays the lead in the be- ginning of the prologue. But now the scene changes with the en- trance of the white man, who slowly but steadily steals the lead from Cabazon, and the curtain falls to find him still gaining, The audience, represented by the two stolid sentinels, Mounts San Jacinto and San Gorgonio, witness the second rising of the cur- tain to find the white man assuming the lead, and only an occasional Indian in the foreground. These early white settlers were Dr. I. W. Smith at Highland Home, Dr. Edgar, beyond him, J. M. Gilman, at the Gilman Home place, and Powell Weaver. The Jost ranch was situated in Potrero Canyon, while Rans Moore settled a little east of the upper reservoir, Mrs. Lucy Toutain was also another early settler, who had her home at the mouth of Water Canyon. CC. F. Roth settled at the mouth of Millard Canyon, and S. Z%. Malard lived in the canyon, Gideon Scott was another early settler. The scene of action now takes place in the building of a lumber mill in Water Canyon, which was under the supervision of James M. [Page Twenty-two]