Barringer High School - Athenaeum Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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i8 EDITORIAL by the exertions of the majority of its members. Here, great attention is also paid to parliamentary rules and regula- tions—a circumstance which will prove useful in after life. Thus, the High School is to us all a copious fountain of culture and happiness. And, unpretending as we arc, we may yet hope that these few state- ments of our School’s character and do- ings, will prove convincing, and turn dis- satisfaction into satisfaction, the cold “ winter of discontent ” into warm, “glo- rious summer.” But our thoughts carry us one step far- ther. Although the variety of instruction is enough, the over-crowded state of our School, and the deficient condition of our library and laboratory, are matters which require serious and immediate attention. If this year’s Annual should contribute one mite towards these much desired improvements, our murmurs will cease, and the summer of contentment rule supreme. Next, a word of sorrow. Friends have left us, and in the loss, both boys and girls share. The genial countenance of Miss Emma P. Smith no longer meets us. She has left the scene of eleven years’ success- ful labor, and has accepted a position in the Mt. Auburn Young Ladies’Seminary, at Cincinnati, Ohio. So too, we miss the cheering voice and sweet song of Mr. John L. Heffron. Although we regret the absence of these, our friends, still let us extend the hand of welcome to our new teachers, Miss Clara W. GREENE and Mr. J. Watson Smith, and bid God-speed to those, who, in the past, have so faithfully tried to better prepare us for our life work. And now we most cor- dially greet you one and all, and wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. At the time of the issue of our last Annual, the Society paper was published jointly by the young gentlemen and ladies, and rejoiced in the name of “ Hesperian Record and Montagu Round Table.” Whether this high-sounding title absorbed its vitality—children with too long names are said to be unhealthy—we cannot say. This we know, that toward the end of the year, the paper languished ; and now, to use the words of our friend Mr. Tennyson, “The whole Round Table is dissolved,” and the young gentlemen are left alone in their pursuit of journalistic fame. Not that the gallant knights of the Round Ta- ble have wholly given up their quest, but finding the blaze of publicity to which they were subjected, almost too much for their maiden modesty, hereafter they will seek literary improvement in a more quiet and unostentatious way, content with hav- ing their names placed in print once a year on the pages of the Annual, accord- ing to the time-honored custom. The course of events in the Female Department of the High School, glides along in much the same channel this year as last. Our learned Principal leads a new flock through “ pastures green;” that is to say, the hexameters of Virgil, and a new score or two of sympathetic damsels are called to weep the fate of infelix Dido, and to learn with wondering, that the tricks of the “ senior-junior giant-dwarf Dan Cupid,” were the same in the days of Aineas, as in the nineteenth century. The subtile reasonings of the geometrician are unfolded to their eager minds, and a

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. EDITORS. William L. Hazen, ’79. Hannah M. Coult, ’79. Louis R. Menagh, ’79- Lizzie P. Baldwin, ’79. Bruno Hood, ’80. Ada Stickney, ’8o. Herbert S. Sutphen, ’80. Florence Patton, ’80. NEWARK. N. J.t JANUARY 1. 1879. EDITORIAL. •• Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer— The distant tinkling of the merry Christ- mas bells, calls the otherwise unassuming High School student to the editorial sanc- tum. With joy he enters upon the du- ties of his position to send forth words of greeting to one and all. But doubt pre- sents itself too soon. Will welcome be accorded to his greeting ? Often has he heard that the course of education pur- sued in the High School is uncalled for— an example of the city’s waste and extrav- agance. If this be true, how can the Annual, a production of the High School, hope for a cordial reception ? And yet we will not despair, for we wish to present in these pages a result which will justify the means—the Annual will proclaim the worth of the High School. The establishment of the Newark Pub- lic High School dates back, as our readers may well know, to the year 1855, and it held its first session on the seventh of January of that year. The number of pupils was about the same as at present, but the organization of the School was not complete. This time, however, has passed away, and the High School of to-day, reflects nothing but credit upon the city of Newark. The courses of study pursued in the Male Department are the Classi- cal, Scientific and English, and the Com- mercial. The first contemplates the prep- aration of students for college. The sec- ond embraces the Sciences, and Latin to a limited extent, and is intended as a pre- liminary course of instruction to those who may choose to pursue higher scien- tific studies, or end their school days with tjie Institution. The third and last pre- pares young men for a business life. Lit- erary pursuits form a prominent feature in the several branches, and that these all important exercises may be carried to a higher degree of perfection, a Society of the young men of the Senior and Junior classes is kept in a flourishing condition,

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A CARD. 9 “ well of English undefyled ” is opened up to them by the lucid pen of the fascinat- ing Mr. Quackenboss. A new influx of scholars has been re- ceived from the grammar schools to be in- itiated into the mysteries of X. Y Z ; to be led through the mazes of lingua Latina, to puzzle their heads over declensions and conjugations, and at last break their hearts on the stern rock of the subjunctive. This year, the incoming scholars so far exceeded in number the graduates, as to render the formation of a new class neces- sary. The room chosen for their use is in Corey Stewart’s building, and has, at least, the advantage of being near the sky. In this way, a new room has been added our School, and a new teacher, Miss Crane, to our corps of instructors. Of course, each member of the High School imagines it in a more flourishing state during the year in which he graces the institution, than it has been before, or can hope to be in coming times. In school life, as elsewhere, we judge our- selves most leniently, and, in the same spirit, we beg all our readers to criticise our work. •• Be to our virtues very kind, Be to our faults a little blind. A CARD EROM THE “HESPERIAN RECORD.” My task is done—my song hath ceased—my theme Has died into an echo; it is fit The spell shall break off this protracted dream. The torch shall be extinguished which hath lit My midnight lamp; and what is writ, is writ. Would it were worthier !” Thus, with this edition, our term of of- fice expires. Although we have met with many difficulties and discouragements, yet we cannot say that the duties of an editor are devoid of interest. It brings one in contact with business duties of daily life, and tends to sharpen and enlighten the intellect by necessary research. For the success of our paper, our thanks are due to our contributors for their kind assist- ance, to our advertisers for the helping hand offered, and to our subscribers and readers for their willing sixpence. In consequence of the publication of this paper, it seemed expedient to us to combine the December and January numbers with the columns of the Annu- al and we would request our readers to substitute this publication for the above mentioned numbers. And now in resigning our positions to our successors, although our connection with the Record will be no more as editors, yet the same interest will always be felt towards it, and we sincerely wish that the project will be carried forward, proving to be, as it has been in the past, not only of great interest to those con- nected with it, but also to the Hesperian Society in general, and in time taking its deserved rank among the school journals of America. “ Ik what shone afar so grand, Turn to nothing in thy hand. On «again ; the virtue lies In the struggle, not the prize.”