Barringer High School - Athenaeum Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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of periodicals, “Appletou’» Art Journal,” and the “ International Review.” Surely wc are not too enthusiastic when we recognize in the “ Montagu” one of the best friends, one of the greatest aids to the culture for which wo are striving. TUB llKSPBItlAJt. This 8ocicty is still procuring under the plan of “self-government” commenced but two years ago, and which, this year, has been continued with increased popularity. Al- though the numlicr of names on the roll is not much greater than last year, yet in the character of the exercises there is a marked improvement; but in no other manner is the Society’s prosperity shown in a stronger light, than in the interest which each indi- vidual member feels in its welfare. Up to the present time, the Society has had no library connected with it, but toward the close of tho last school-year, a fund was appropriated for that purpose, and with this addition, tho Society will l c more than ever an aid and incstinnble help to the scholars of the Senior anti Junior Classes. We wish it a prosperous future, and may it be an increasing means of usefulness—an aid to its members, and an honor to the School. A CHRISTMAS ODE. BY T. W. I.AUTBKBOKN. A Merry Chri»cmas. joyful lime». To school-mates, ®,,c d : May Same help me wnic «hc»c line» And to his Jcrvioc call. For merry Ohri»tma now is here. And warms each loving heart. To sing his praises loud and clear Around the blazing hearth. O'er hill and stream and highland snow. The merry chimes arc borne. Till rich and poor, the high and low. With gladness welcome morn. Tho day has come, the joyful day. That gave this world a king; Oh I may wc all. each in our way. His name with praises ring. The houses of the rich «re filled With children bright and gay. Who little know or feel the chill Of those across the way. And when the sun beneath the sea. Concealed its dazzling rays. The cosily presents on the tree. Each one of them surveys. They did not think, they did not care. Of those across the way: With noisy mirth they, filled the air. Because they were so gay. The poor without, that hitter night. Did rich folks never move; They Hd not think that “ God is might, And never would approve. Thus every Christmas passes by. The poor there arc to feed ; But up in Heaven there is an eye, Which marks cadi kindly deed. Then let us now. dear school-mates all. Divide our bounteous stores, With those who do upon us call, And open wide our doors. HIGH SC H OOL A N N U A L. CIRCLES. PRIZE ESSAY, CLASS OF ’70. BY MINNIK b. LYOX. Tho circlo is of all ligures most beautiful. Its symmetry and completeness suggests thoughts of beauty and perfection, which lead us away from the Unite to that which it symfmlizcs, the infinite. Nature everywhere tells of the circle, from the beautiful lino in which the sky descends to greet the earth, to the endless curve in leaf anti flower, in ocean shell, anti waving smoke. The round of sunrises and sunsets, of twilight and starlight, give us the days, and the revolving tlaya make up the week. The months, in their turn, are but the embodiment of the circling weeks. The great full years with one hand grasp tho months, and with the other, touch the un- born days. And so, as the sunset of the year touching the sunrise of the day, bounds the circumfer- ence of nature’s rounds, wo learn that “ there is no end, but every end is a login- ning,” that the finite is but a portion of the infinite. To men, the home circle is more lieautiful than all others. The literary, the scientific, and the social circles dwindle into insignifi- cance, beside tho one in which love forms the centre, and the blending of hopes, hearts and aims, the sacred circumference. Our nation, for one hundred years, has been describing its circle. To day we are proud of its expanse, as around thecentre,— independence,—a circumference has been drawn, within whose enclosure the whole world is glad to step. As circles are large or small, according to the amount of space which their circumfer- ences enclose, so are men's minds considered broad or narrow, os the comprehensiveness of their intellects is far-reaching or limited. Every man lives in a circle of his own, which is varying each day, either widening as his knowledge increases, or growing smaller as he allows the range of Lis thought to become contracted. Shakespeare’s writ- ings reveal the immensity of the circle in which mentally, he must have lived. Dryden says of him: “ But Shakespeare’ magic could not copied bo; Within that circlo nono duret walk but ho.” The circle of Milton’s life seems almost boundless, so far-reaching was his imagina- tion. Our range of thought may seem small and limited; yet out of the world’s fullness of knowledge, wc may gather new ideas every day, and thus breaking away from old limitations, the circles of our learning may become greater and broader. Our lives may bo a scries of circles. Wc may think we have drawn our bounding curves, .when lo! a new thought looms up 6 before us, aud what was the circumference, now gives centres for other circles. Emer- son says. “ There is no thought so sublime, but it may lie trivial to-morrow, in the light of our thojghta ” Anti again, “ There is no outside, no enclosing wall, no circum- ference to us.” Some day, when we can no longer widen our earthly circles, while the world may consider them mere circlets, God will judge of them by their completeness. If the curves are even anti true, if every point of the circumference is equally distant from, that is, equally near the centre, God will give to our lives, thus rounded out and complete, greater development in the life beyond, greater thoughts, which will serve as centres, around which circumferences may l o drawn to infinity. Every day we hear of men, who, tired of the hurry and bustle of the world, long again and again for the simplicity of their childhood. They forget, that as they walk life’s broad circles, they are to gather knowl- edge and wisdom which shall teach them simplicity in its highest sense. It is the thought of a noted writer, that V the higher men rise, tho simpler they becomeand a wiser than man has said, “ Except ye become as little children, yeean in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Little children in their play, as they join hand with hand, joyously (lancing around the chosen one in their centre, ever ready to enlarge their circle for each new comer, beautifully typify the most perfect human life. For that life is most pe:fcCt in which men, dropping all discord and contentions, in a touch that signifies unity of heart, thought and aspiration, join their bauds around the centre of centres—God. As we ;isscmbled in September, to c6m- mcnce another year of study, wc saw many familiar faces, and were glad to find so few wautiug. But among the friends vve missed was one in particular, Mr J. L. Johnson, Professor of Mathematics, whose hearty grasp and cheerful voice always-welcomed aud encouraged us. Mr. Johnson is a man of sterling integrity, great executive abilities, and a gentleman. Ho labored hard for the benefit of his pupils aud for the good of the school generally. He has left the city and adopted the profes- sion of Law; but although he is not with us iu person, lie will always occupy a prominent place in the hearts of the scholars. “ Such wm his worth, our loss is such, Wc cannot lovo too well, or grioro too much.” C. L Docoukrty. It has been three years sinco death has entered our midst; but In October one of our school-mates. Jennie Church, who entered our school in September last, was called up to that Higher School, whore “wo shall know as wc are known.”

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HIGH SCIIOOL A N N U AL. J0LGII g CHOOL UAL EDITORS: Aliikht D. Bl'uubsskk, Hattik M. Baii.ky, Ciiaklks W. Cokskli., Mahy I. Lombard. NEWARK, N. J., JANUARY 1, 1877. EDITORIAL. In pursuance of a long established custom, the pupils of the High School again send forth their Holiday greeting, through the pages of the “ Annual.” At the close of each year, we almost unconsciously pause to consider the various events which have made up its history. Thus, taking a retrospective snow of the past year, wo can but admit that it has been an eventful one—one that will hold a prominem place in the history of the world. Foremost in the ranks of great achieve- ments stands our “ Centennial Exhibition ” —that wondrous collection of the produc- tions of art, science and literature, which so fittingly illustrated, not only the development of our own nation, but the progress of civilization throughout the world. But, notwithstanding our advancement in science and invention, our country is to-day suffer- ing great financial embarrassment; the nation not haviug yet recovered from the effects of the panic which so recently swept over us. In our gloom we will cliug to our nation’s motto, “ In God wo Trust,” knowing that He who has led us so safely for one hundred years, will not forsake us in tho future. Though there is much to absorb our attention in the outside world, still we are not prevented thereby from noticing the changes that have taken place in our limited sphere of action—the High School. Our previously large number of pupils was greatly increased at the l cginuiug of the present school year, so that we now suffer not only inconvenience, but annoyance, on account of our crowded condition. We earnestly hope that the Board of Education will speedily gr ut sufficient appropriations for the construction of a building of which the city of Newark may justly be proud, and one of suitable size aud comfort for our successors. At the beginning of this year a change was made in the names of the classes. In the place of the unmeaning appellations of “A, “ B,” 44 0,” and “ D. were substi- tuted more appropriate titles, so that we are now known as “Seniors,” Juniors,” “ Second Year,” and “ First Year ” students. Greek has been stricken from the list of studies in the Male Department, much to the regret of those wishing to prepare for college. In the Junior Class, Gilmore’s Art of Expression has been provided to take the place of Greek. The young ladies of the First Year Class now study English Analysis instead of Latin as heretofore. The Junior young ladies, who never before have l een numerous enough to form two classes, this year number over sixty, in con- sequence of which the class has been divided, and the new division placed under the charge of Miss Lena A. Bosworth; Miss Isadore M. Winans has been promoted to the charge of the “ N ” division of the Second Year young ladies. The appointment of Mr. J. L. Ileffron, to succeed Sir. C. L. Woodruff, who resigned last spring, has given entire and universal satisfaction. The vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. J. L. Johnson, is now filled by Mr. A. B. Griffon, a graduate of Rochester Univeisity; the ranks of the faculty of the Male Department have been reinforced by the appointment of a new aasistaut, Mr. R. C. Newton, a graduate of Hurvard College. At the end of each year, not knowing what the future has in store for us, we naturally resolve that we will endeavor to make the coming year a brighter and a more joyous one than that which is drawing to a close; not only for ourselves, but fur all those with whom we may bo thrown in con- tact ; and, as a good precedent is worthy of being followed, let us resolve that our lives, in future, shall be far above what they have l cen in the past; and, having formed this resolution, let us be sure that our works show our sincerity. POLITICAL. America is destined to be always subject to great political excitements; and although we are not partial to a politicals life, yet we do not regret the abovo state of affairs. The all-absorbing topic of the present time is the late presidential election. It now seems as though the question ” Who is elected!” will never be satisfactorily answered. Though there will always be the doubting ones, we hope and believe that they will have the good sense to abide by the decision of those who have l een chosen to declare the result. In Congress we may expect lively times during the winter, neither party having more than a bare working majority. From the Old World we hear rumors of war, though we cannot tell when the deci- sive blow will come; but come it must, and delay is only adding to its force. Notwith- standing the fearful consequences which a war will occasion, we sec on all sides a general impatience, a feeling among our couutrymcn, that a war in Europe will be for our benefit; will cause a revival of busi- ness, and will place us on a sure road to prosperity. But stop! Reflect! We have just passed through a terrible war; one which caused a fatal revival of biuiuess, as a result of which we are now suffering finan- cial embarrassment. At the close of thi- European war, we will be in just as bad if not a worse condition than now, for like causes produce like effects, and an unnatural demand will produce an unnatural supply, which at tho end of the war, will glut out market and lower the prices at a ruinou- rate. Practically this war may prove a a transient benefit, but morally, that pros- perity which is founded on the adversity of others,, is not real. Let ns hope, however, that wheu the dark clouds have passed away, the sun will again shine upon our country, and the world at large ; for, “ O’er the darkest night of sorrow, O'er the tlra Hic»l Hold of strifo, Dawns a brighter, clearer morrow. Spring» a nobler, truer life. OUR SOCIETIES. TIIK MONT AO I! ASSOCIATION. 1876! The Centennial of our Country and the Decennial of the Montagu Society • May we not take thi» at a sign that tho growth and prosperity of the Society shall run parallel with that of the Republic ? Wo think this Is not too much to hope, and as if to encourage us in this idea the member- ship has this year reached one hundred ; and h » we “ take it as a sign.” But if wo look away from the air-castle building for the future, we find that the “ actual present ” is filled not only with fair promises but with positive good. Not only is the memliership large, but the mcml crs, are active and en- thusiastic, and the weekly meetings interest- ing and profitable. The Anonymous Box ” furnishes the So- ciety with abundant criticisms, suggestions, and stray bits of information which are cx- ccdingly valuable. The initiation fees, monthly dues, and the proceeds of the annual public meetings are supplying the Society with the ! cst of read- ing matter, and the shelves of its library are taring filled with valuable books. Among the recent additions to the library we may mention the “ Little Classics,” “ Milton An- thology.” “Carlyle Anthology, “Draper’s Intellectual Development of Europe,” Mrs. Whitney's “ Sights and Insights;” and even Helen’s Babies ” have found their way to its shelves. The members cannot forget a golden gift in the shape of an English sov- ereign which came to them not long ago from a former memlter of the Montagu ; the name of the donor we are unable to give, but the gift has been transformed into three ele- gant volumes in green and gold, entitled “ Half Hours with the Best Authors,” and a hundred girls are day by day reaping tho benefits of this kind remembrance. In addition to the two hundred volumes in the library the members have also, for gen. cral information, “ Youman's Popular Science Monthly.” “ Harper’s Magazine,” “ Scribner’s Monthly, “Appleton’s Journal,” “ Tho Inde- pendent,” and the “Semi-Weekly Tribune. It is also the Society's intention with the beginning of the new year to add to this list

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6 TREASURES FOUND IN SCAVENGER BOXES. BY IDA r. KINSEY. There is no one on our streets more jeered at than those miserable persons, who, with the emblem of their profession, a hooked stick, search pcrseveringly our refuse boxes. The terrible “small boy laughs loudly and openly, and older people pass by with a look of compassion or contempt on their faces, for it is not a sightly heap, this one consisting of old food, rags and shoes, which others liafo thrown away as useless. But truly royal treasures have l ccn gath- ered from sources which promised no more. At just such a heap as this, the busy bee, whom it is impossible not to associate with cleanliness, reaps a rich harvest, finding sweets where others find but refuse; even from the worst of carrion securing reward for labor. But revolting as tho carrion, and poisonous as the gases that rise from it, wo are con- stantly giving out the same poisonous car- bonic acid from our lungs, and even this is turned to use. We enter a concert room. Some of the finest talent is engaged for us to-night, Tho song begins, filling the air with music and making every nook vibrate with melody; now rising, now fall- ing, like waves on the bench; now the notes arc deep, rich, and wondrously sweet; now rising higher, gaining in strength and sweet- ness and thrilling us like the joyous notes of a bird. Yet higher tho notes rise, until they seem to find an echo in the songs of the an- gels: but again they fall, down, down, sadly and mournfully, like the wail of a soul that has knocked at the gates of pearl but has not found admittance. Again the song is joy- ous, rippling, and dancing, and sparkling like a brook in the sunlight, and ,thcn, with a burst of glory such as the sun throws back, the song is finished. The breath expelled from the lungs as re- fuse matter, poisonous to the body, required only a skillful use of the vocal chords to give us this rich treasure of song. But this refuse breath is of still further use. We open the window and away it flics to the plants, for to them it is life-giving. It forms itself Into delicate blossoms of the fuchsia, the graceful bells of the modest white lily, and the glossy petals of the rose. In the fields we find it transformed into the daisy and the yellow butter-cup, and in the wood it assumes the form of the delicate fern and the blue wood-violet. Indeed, this vile gas is the origin of all those beautiful features with which nature smiles upon the world. Again and again we find treasures under a rough exterior. In California we are shown a handful of what appears to be common soil, but when washed it discloses gold. The diamond when found is enclosed in a hard HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. earthy coating, which is broken in search of the gem; but even then it does not disclose its beauty, but appears like a piece of ground glass, until it returns from the hands of the skillful diamond cutter. We have all seen and admired the bcauti- ful aniline dyes, with their brilliant and lasting colors; the brilliant blue reminding us of the open sea, and the deep green of the pleasant shades of the forest; the rich purple and yellow, true royal colors, and the red suggestive of fircsido warmth and comfort; but we may not all have known that these gorgeous colors are mado from the refuse left after making coal gas. Of n and often the roughest exterior covers a gem of rarest beauty or of highest use; within the rough shell of the pearl oyster lies the purest of gems and under a thread bare coat wisdom is often found. Over many of her most precious gifts nature has thrown a veil devoid of beauty, and under it these treasures are unappre- ciated and trampled under foot. Patiently they wait under their homely covering until the moment comes when they spring Into light, dazzling the world with their fresh beauty. BLOTS. BY JULIA A. NICHOLS. Before me lies an open copy-book. At the top of its once pure and glossy pages, is a printed copy. A child's hand, a careless little hand, slowly guiding a pen over the paper, trying to imitate the line above, has made an ugly blot upon the page, And left the whole disfigured. Had the most elegant penman written there instead of the child, and the blot been made just the same, the page would have been spoiled. In winter, when the carpet of glistening snow is spread over the earth, wc can most easily discover blots and blemishes; for men trample the delicAte crystals under foot until we can hardly realize that the mud-stained covering was once white and spotless. But tho ugliest blots are those which wrong doing leaves upon the lives of men. A man’s faults, among which are idleness, selfishness and profanity, are all blots on his character. Intemperance is one of the most unsightly blots on the face of our land. The women of our country are now trying to check this great evil; and slowly, but surely are succeeding, where the men have failed. If the young ladies do not wish to visit the various saloons of our cities, they may. at least, banish wine from their tables on the first day of the year, when all thould make good resolutions. If they did cease to offer the poison to their friends, there would be a decrease in the number of our jail occupants throuj the year, and thus one page of our natioi record would be less blotted and disfigure The world was created fair and bcautif but the first man, by his sin, made a blot the page which was never erased until “G sent Ilia only begotten son into the wor! that whosoever bclieveth in him, should r perish, but have everlasting life. Wc may erase the blots on our vario copy-books, but we cannot help seeing th they have been there. The page never loo as perfect as at first. Tho biota on our chi actcrs—our sins—we cannot erase. The blood of Christ only can do this p, felly; and Christ alono is able to prtto us before God “ without spot or wrinkle any such thing.” OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND SHUT YOUR EYES. BY IDA J. MOKKISON. They were two little gills, I heard sajin 1“ Open your mouth and shut your eyes. And I’ll give you something to make you wise.' The one addressed did not hesitate moment, but did as she wns requested, wi so much faith and confidence expressed her face, that it would have seemed qu heartless to disappoint that expectant lot What she received was something good, ai she looked as if she thought it was just it should be. This little incident made me think, tl in childhood wc almost always befleVc tl things arc just what they should be. have faith in all around us, and never thi that the world is half as artful as in af life we find it to be. Childhood to me seems as sweet, and pu and trustful, as the opening bud in t spring time. The bud, as it grows day day. does not question, “ nad I letter gro’ If I do, perhaps cold winds and hard rai will come; then what shall I do? t grows on and opens farther each day, that may drink in the sparkling dews, soft ra and gentle sunshine, which the good G has sent it. Thus it grows and oxp r.ds a soon ! ecomea a beautiful blossom. The child, like the bud, grows and dev opes as the days pass on, but she has h some of the graces of childhood, much the sweet simplicity which was so udmir is gone, and she does not trust every one she used to. She lias learned that she ci not go through the world, opening her moi and shutting her eyes, for sometimes would be filled with very bitter things. But though the world may seem to very deceitful, at times, and wc may feel tl we cannot have faith in any human boil there is One al ovc and over all. who can trusted by any one, from childhood to age. When He says to us, Open y mouth and I will fill it, we may be sure tl He will give us only that which is best.