Central High School - Centralian Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

Page 31 text:

History of the Central Literary Club. Par back in the misty past, long before the last lingering hairs departed from the shining dome or Mr. White, long before Philbrook’s feet became a standing joke, long before C. Will Lawrence entered within the portals of Central—there was brought forth in this High School an organization by the name of the Debating Society. This advent occurred in the year 1882. From the very first the influence of the society upon the school was acknowledged to lx? of the very best. It was held necessary that such questions as, “Who can trace his birth back farthest beyond that of Methuselah—number 12 or number 6,” “which is the most clearly the work of the devil—Latin or Greek,’ should be decided once and for all. This the society did to the satisfaction of everyone. At the end of five years certain of the boys finding the intellectual pace too fast seceded and formed a new society. This society had for its Declaration of Indedendence the following: “We hold these truths to be self evident; that all Platos are created dull and witless; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these rights are stupidity, obstency and the pursuit of ignorance; that to secure these riglils societies are instituted among Platos deriving their just powers from the consent of the brainless.” Of course for the loss of such boys the society wept no tears. The year following the Debating Society changed its name to the Central Literary Club and under this name held its first annual open session 1887. The same year beheld the first annual C. L. C. Plato Contest. When we look back over the records of these windy battles and see that the C. L. C’s. posess five medals more than their rivals, the Platos. We can not help but believe that the society during these years prospered in a literary ability of no mean consideration. Indeed when the members of the Central Literary Club stop in contemplation of the history cf their sccicty ar.d the success of their fellow members, both in school and in life, it is impossible for them not to feel a thrill of pride. Ray Barnett.

Page 30 text:

Officers and Members of COLORS; Old Rose and Blue. YELL: Nika! Nika! Rip, Ra, Re! Notabena, C. L. C. OFFICERS. MISS ZOE FORD Mr. Edgar Lovejoy Mr. Geo. Mulford Mr. Will P. M. Stevens Mr. Ralph Byrne Miss Olive Stone Miss Mabel Ai.len the Central Literary Glub. MEMBERS. Celia Abernathy, George Mulford. Edith Gillham, Will Stevens, Barton Hall, Tom Scruggs, Kate L. Holloway, Alberta Smith, Edgar Lovejov, Allen Withers, Loyd Morrow, Raymond Barnett, Elsie Gillham, Fred Pugsley, Zoe Ford, Will Gill, Katherine Harroun, Earl Alltn, Ray M. Merrill. Olive Stone, Ethel Murray, Ruth Lowry, Leon A. Searl, Gladys Jones, Diller Wood, Sena Hutchings, Ralph Byrne, Mabel Allen, Oakley Lemming, Van. Hammett, Daisy Kirk. McClain Alexander, PAST MEMBERS. Arthur Byrne, Roy Standish, Will Lawrence. Tucker Buckner, Roy Russell. President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, -Critic, Sargeant-at-Arms, Reporter. -J!0-

Page 32 text:

 SOCIETY OF LITERATURE AND HISTORY.