Benjamin School for Girls - Tusitala Yearbook (New York, NY)

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TUSITALA FOR 1928 The loveliness of the day helped to make the trip very enjoyable. We went straight to Sing Sing and were shown through the buildings. It was very interesting, and we were all surprised at the amusements allowed the prisoners. Some of them were actually playing tennis, baseball, and football. The chapel was very large and divided into sections for the different denominations, each of which has its own minister. The prisoners are even allowed to go to school for an hour and a half each day to try to improve their education. We learned that most of the prisoners are very ignorant. There were two buildingsg an old building which is soon to be discarded, and a new one which is almost complete. The new building is a great improvement over the old prison and has many conveniences that the old one does not afford. After leaving Sing Sing, we went to see the grave of Washington Irving. We were all very anxious to see the grave of the distinguished early American writer who has written so many interesting and delightful stories of a period in our history that seems little more than a dream. But of all the interesting things we saw, nothing surpassed the estate of Helen Gould. The greenhouses were unbelievably large, and we were all charmed by the beautiful flowers. We left the place with many regrets, even though we knew that supper was waiting for us in the bus. INITIATION OF THE NEW HOME GIRLS October 13, 1927-the fatal night of initiation had arrived. Ten girls, grey-faced, gasped as one, ten hearts thudded to the choking point, ten pitiful lower lips quivered and were manfully restrained-the bell had rung. Although it is normally a cheerful, fussy sort of a bell, Thursday night its ring had a funereal overtone which was quite in keeping with the air of the whole school, for that knell was the signal. for a series of horrors. The door opened, and a most uninquisitorial-looking figure appeared, garbed in pink rornpers. Innocent it seemed, indeed, but we new girls had penetrated the mask, and we knew the diabolical mind that dwelt behind it. One by one, blindfolded and trembling, we were led down the stairs, our bare feet cruelly lacerated by the thousands of racks-later found to be cloves-on the steps. Down the stairs, feeling blindly before us, into a quiet little room, dark as the inside of a coffin. Monstrosities filled the air, created by the brains of those grey huddled figures there, mediaeval tortures were pictured-prayers offered up-misdeeds regretted -little kindlinesses thankfully remembered. Wills were made, old hates and new grudges forgotten, oh, many a girl made her peace with God in that quiet little room! And ever and anon, as a shriek rang out from beyond, a concerted shiver ran through the room, and a traitorous sob broke from our very hearts. One by one, we were led out .... oh, let us be merciful and draw a curtain over the slaughter! When the blindfolds were removed, we stood and looked at each other, too dazed evenlto speak. And then, as we began to take in the details, somebody started to snicker, and in a moment all ten of us were rolling on the floor with laughter. Molasses Y V V niwnvi VM Y iiiiir M -- H O O Win YVVY V O 74 T T Pdgdffifwy-Nflle

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TUSITALA FUR 1028 RECEPTION RUTH BACK For twenty-three years Mrs. Benjamin has welcomed both the new and the old girls to the School. This year, a charming group of girls gathered in the reception hall on the evening of September the thirtieth. . A marked willingness to make friends seemed to be the outstanding feature of this group of interesting girls. The newcomers were presented to their future faculty and then the old girls played the piano and sang. Many friendships were formed among the girls, some of which will last a lifetime. The alumnae were present and they assisted in giving all of the desired explanations pertaining to the past accomplishments of the school, to the inquisitive new girls. just as Mrs. Benjamin had again proved her success as hostess, the lateness of the hour was realized by the girls. Reluctantly, the Good Nights sealed another inter- esting evening, spent at4Benjamin. UPTOWN TRIP Friday, October 14, was a day that we all looked forward to with pleasure, and now that it has passed, we think of all the places we went. First, we went to the Van Cortlandt Mansion in Van Cortlandt Park. The interior of the mansion was very interesting, as the furnishings used by the Van Cortlandts were on display. We all enjoyed seeing the room where George Washington had stayed. , From the Van Cortlandt Mansion we went to the home of Edgar Allen Poe. It was a very small, three-room cottage, but we were all anxious to see the home that had inspired Poe to write his wonderful pieces of literature. The Hall of Fame was the next place we went. There we saw busts of many of America's outstanding men and women. There were busts of statesmen, writers, and soldiers. This was very interesting to all of us, especially as it was located on the N.Y.U. campus. In the jumel Mansion we saw many valuable relics of the Revolutionary days, as well as the room that George Washington had used for his New York headquarters. The trip was quite enjoyable and we were all glad to have had the opportunity and privilege of seeing so many historical places. TARRYTOWN TRIP Hurry, girls! You are going to be late! No, don't bother about the mail, Mimi, I'll give it to you in the bus, said Mrs. Yost. Such was the excitement as we crowded into the big bus and settled ourselves in anticipation. Even the great event of mail distributions could not quiet our voices. We started in a wild uproar. Page Fifty-Eigbl

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aae----ee - A f f TUSITALA Fon 1923 from head to foot, gory looking brands on forehead, chin, and handsg hair covered with paste-fit is little wonder we laughed, The teachers, who had bloodthirstily watched the whole thing, were inarticulate with mirth, the old girls, exhausted by their noble efforts, could only smileg but I think that we poor victims, sore as we were, enjoyed it most of all, since we realized that the horrors were over and that at last we were real Benjaminites. And when the sandwiches that the inquisitors had prepared were brought forth, our happiness was complete. We fell upon them with whoops of joy, sat down cautiously, and 'Qwent at itf' I know that a wilder looking bunch has never been seen, but a more enjoyable time has never been had. THE TI-IANKSGIVING DINNER AND PLAYS In a spirit of true scientific inquiry even at the expense of personal comfort, the home girls of the Benjamin School set out the evening of November 18, 1927, to de- termine the exact amount of food the normal female body can accommodate. I regret to state that the experiment was not quite completed, for the supply gave out before the demand was entirely satisfied. However, as far as they went, the results were incredible. Although there were one or two who faltered as the last piece of fruit, the majority of the girls could have eaten on indefinitely. When it became evident that no more material for experimentation was forth- coming, we sat for a moment with glazed eyes and stertorous breathing and then arose. Although the air had been full of song during dinner, after the meal we were incapable of anything more, than a sort of rhythmic gurgling, which, however, expressed our complete satisfaction with the world in general and the school in particular. After we had recovered somewhat from the dinner, the guests began to arrive for the plays. 'They trickled in in deceptively small groups, but when it came to getting them all in for the performance we realized how many people were interested in the school. The two clever little plays, The Clock Shop , and Lady of Pain , were given with a touch worthy of professionals, and more than once the unobtrusive presence of mind of the principals was brought to our notice. Our Dramatic Art Classes give promise of several budding geniuses already. WITHIN THE LAW To steal-a kiss. To beat-a carpet. To kill-time. To fight-life's battles. To speed-good news. To shield-a friendls honor. Page Sixty TV I -TAM