Barringer High School - Athenaeum Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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20 EDITORIAL. HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. Newark, N. J., 1-890. EDITORS: Wm. H. Osborne, Miss Gknevra F. Tompkins, Nathan Kussy, Miss Nellie S. Kinnard. BUSINESS MANAGERS: Ai.rfrt G. Clark. Henry Hahn. EDITORIAL. S we enter upon the duties of amateur journalism, we feel the responsi- bility of our position, and shall endeavor to do what we can to make this issue of our school paper interesting to our readers and useful to the school. We fondly hope that a generous public will smile kindly at our mistakes, and give us more credit for our efforts than they really deserve. However this may be, here is the Annual to speak for itself; on other pages will be found “metal more attrac- tive ” than school-boy editorials. Between the covers of this magazine are grouped the choicest products of the wit and the diligence of our pupils. Yet, bear with us a little, while we our tale unfold. Last June, amid the acclamations of a well-filled house, and the parting regrets of their teachers, the class of ’89 left us for a new sphere of action. On the Sep- tember following, an unusually large number entered upon their duties at the High School. In order to make room for the increasing force of pupils, the whole building at No. 103 Washington street is now used for the “annex.” How long, oh, how long must we wait for a new High School building! When the class of ’90 returned to the High School in September, they were filled with regrets upon realiz- ing that this was their last year in the old school, but these cogitations were agree- ably disturbed when they discovered that the last remnants of Paleozoic time had been replaced by shining rows of new single desks in the assembly room. Since last year the number of papers and magazines used by the Composition Department has greatly increased. The various classes now subscribe for the fol- lowing: North American Review, The Atlantic, Harper's, Century, Scribners', Magazine of American History, The Cosmo- polit an. Wide Awake, St. Nicholas, Youth's Companion, and The Christian Union. During the past year the classical depart- ment has made some improvements and is about making others. Its “ Kennan ” lec- ture was a complete success, clearing three hundred and fifty dollars, which will be used for a stereopticon with views, and books for the classical library. The latest addition and improvement to our school happens to be stationary on West Park Street, and usually goes by the name of the Free Library, a building filled with books of all descriptions and on all subjects. It is, and is bound to be, a great aid to students of all classes. Oh! what a help it is to the pupil who seeketh after science: there he may be seen, the enthusiast, the gatherer of scien- tific facts, earnestly examining that jour- nal of science called “ Puck,” or extract- ing psychological notes from “Judge.”! And also he abstracteth the Seven Day Book, undoubtedly with the intention of studying ethnology as delineated in the characters of the wily aborigine and the Mexican cowboy. Oh, what an excellent use of an excellent thing! WE cannot conclude without a word in favor of our advertisers. Representative business men of the community, they are well known and worthy of patronage. We thank them for their aid and recom- mend thepi to our readers.

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OUR SOCIETIES. '9 OUR SOCIETIES. 'pHE Montagu Society is in a flourishing condition holding its meetings as usual on Friday afternoons, but the girls are no longer crowded into one room. The two rooms in the rear of Miss Greene's room are thrown open, and comfort and air arc thus secured while the members enjoy a “ feast of reason and a flow of soul ” in the shape of essays, recitations and read- ings. On Friday afternoon, December 20th the programme was of a highly interesting nature, as William Dean Howell’s farce, “The Elevator, was rendered before a large and appreciative audience. The piano, rejoicing in a new cover was pushed back against the black-board and decorated with a bouquet of flowers. Miss Greene’s desk, resplendent with Christmas gifts, was also given a position in the back- ground, Mrs. Sherwood’s nig. Miss Ley- den’s and Miss Antz’s chairs and Miss Crane’s table transformed the platform into “ Mrs. Roberts’ luxurious drawing- room.” With these auspicious surround- ings, the troupe made its first appearance, The cast included the best artists of the Dramatic Company of the Senior Class. Moustaches,—gray, black and various “Do YOU ever receive contributions written on both sides of the paper?”— asked a man as he entered the office of the editor. “ No sir,’’ replied the editor. “All right; I was going to endorse this check to your order, but I don’t want to break your rules.” And he went out, leaving the editor in a deep green study. Prof.:—“Gentlemen, was Minerva married ? ” Pupil:—“No sir, she was the goddess of wisdom,” and then he didn’t know what they were laughing about. shades of brown,—overcoats and Derby hats played a conspicuous part in every scene, Miss Williams in her role of Mr. Roberts excited much merited applause. Mrs. Roberts’ (Miss Albertson) lamenta- tions over the non-appearance of her guests and the failure of her dinner-party were quite dramatic. All the acting in the Elevator scene was strong and effect- ive. Miss Baker, in her part of Mrs. Cur- win, fainted in a manner truly artistic and Miss Rudd, as Mr. Miller, frantically waved his (her) wife’s fan over the unconscious lady. Miss Melick and Miss Tunison performed their parts of young Mr. Bemis and Miss Lawton with such truthfulness that their little side play produced the effect of being a scene from real life. Other scenes followed, equally felicitous in presentation and the performance closed with a very effective farewell—the whole troupe appearing on the stage singing their adieux while love-smitten gentlemen hung highly-colored hearts on the “the weeping willow tree,” (in this case the gas-fixture). Every one pronounced the farce a brilliant success, and the next production of this company will be hailed with enthusiastic delight. Books were put away and the Junior, class was called to order. “ Write a pun,” said the teacher. Two girls sitting together looked in consternation «at each other. “What is a pun?” w'hispered one. The girl addressed took her paper and wrote the following: “The poor King of Ann«am is dead. This is the most notable case of suspended annam ation on record.” Her se«atmate slyly looked over her shoulder, saw probably only the first sentence and turning to her paper wrote:—“ Mrs. Jones js dead. This is a pun.’

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EDITORIAL. 21 The High vSchool records testify to the fact that the Senior Class of ’90 (gentle- men) is larger than any previous graduat- ing class. At the beginning of the year it consisted of twenty-four young gentle- men possessing undoubted abilities, unlim- ited knowledge, and vast resources of wit. This is not unusual, for you have all heard that any household possessing the con- venience of a sixteen-year-old boy may dispense with all dictionaries and encyclo- paedias. You have also heard that ’a young man of sixteen invariably knows vastly more than his father. This par- ticular Senior Class, besides being the largest, is also the brightest—at least so the teachers tell us. This, however, doesn’t turn our heads, because the teachers say the same thing to each class every year. But we fear this class is rather naughty; should this be the fact, the case is very sad. Every year brings with it changes— changes in the school as well as in the home. German has been introduced into the girls’ department as an optional study —the choice being between that and Latin. The large number of pupils who have chosen the new study thus indicate their preference for the Teutonic language of to-day instead of the “dead language” of the ancient Romans. Miss Buettner is guiding the classes of the main building through the mazes of the German primer, while Miss Bigelow and Miss C. E. Crane teach the “Annex” German classes. The “Annex ” comprises six classes, Miss Freer being in general charge. The other two first year classes arc still in the main building. The three second year classes go on about as usual, the general routine being varied on Wednesday afternoons by Mr. Sonn’s lecture in the Laboratory, He has offered a prize to the scholar who shall write the best abstracts of his lectures. The Juniors now occupy the two rooms in the rear of the Seniors, and are presided over by Miss Crane and Mrs. Sherwood (formerly Miss Winans.) The Seniors? Well, they are Seniors. Time flies so quickly they can hardly realize that the culminating point is reached, that soon the school doors will be closed upon them and they will be numbered with the classes of the past. They have developed extraordinary talent in the line of amateur lectures on astron- omical subjects and bid fair to become brilliant and world-famed star-gazers— these wonderful Seniors who have never yet viewed the heavens through the magic lens of a telescope. To Miss Leyden, who has initiated them into the mysteries of the celestial sphere, they have declared themselves ready to “believe almost any- thing.” With all the assistance which is at their command, they should pursue their search after knowledge with com- parative ease, but in Geometry, especially, there is considerable faltering and stumb- ling, though it is not caused by the “stub- bornness of Miss Polyedron,” but by the seeming unconquerableness of Miss Plane and her sharp angles. With the excep- tion of such small class difficulties, High School affairs seem to be in a favorable condition, with prospects of an ever-widen- ing influence for the school. The edi- tors close with wishes that the New Year may be a happy and prosperous one for the friends and patrons of this institution of learning. With feelings of pain and sadness we record the untimely death of our young friend and schoolfellow, Frank B. Voor- hees, a member of the Senior Class, who died on December 20, 1889, at the home of his parents in this city. He associated