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

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I . C.. 3 ,fila- V-f 5 C1 f ,,- .1 X 'THE .FTJQFF OFF DUTY' .,

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, THE CENTRRLIHN ' r I Hzsfomf - I-IEN one reads this, the seventh volume of THE CENTRALIAN, he naturally wonders about the history of this book. Vfhen the first CEN- TRALIAN was published, in what form it was, who its former editors were, and by what steps it has developed. The first CENTRALIAN was published in 1899. It was a thin little book, six by nine law-'T inches in size. The paper was not very good and the pictures would look exceedingly poor to us today. They were necessarily small because of the size of the book, but even then twfo pictures, such as the Senior and Junior officers, were often put on the same page. Yet the book well represented all the interests of the school, and is exceedingly interesting. James Gibson was the editor of this volume, and Buford Scruggs was his assistant. , The next two years THE CENTRALIAN retained almost the same form. In 1900 the editor and assistant were Chandler'Warren Watson and Ray Merrill, and the follow- ing year Will Hogsett and Joe Ellis. In 1902, however, THE .CENTRALIAN took a step forward. It was made larger, seven by nine inches, and so was able to give better pictures of the societies and different organizations. The editor and associate editor were Clifford Jones and Helen Mahr. Two years ago, however, was published a CENTRALIAN that showed how much room for improvement there had been. It was nine by twelve inches in size, the paper was of the best quality, the pictures were large and clear and in every way the book proved how,excellent THE CENTRALIAN could be made. The editor and associate editor were Dell Dut- ton and Ruth Weelzs and they will long be envied by THE CENTRALIAN editors, for it seems almost impossible to sur- pass their work. Last year, 1904, Hyden Eaton and Joyce NVelsh were the editors and upheld the standard that had I gre as been set the year before. The book was slightly different in shape, but in size, quality, material, etc., it differed very little from the preceding one. 'When the old GENTRALIANS are examined we can see that there have been many changes in the methods of pro- ducing THE CENTRALIAN, but that the aim has always been the same-to publish a book that will be of interest to every pupil in Central. At first the staff was chosen by their predecessors. Then in 1902 they were nominated by the teachers and elected by the school, and a faculty adviser was added to the staff. That year, too, the editor-in-chief of THE LUMINAEY was retained as editor of THE CEN- TRALIAN. This seemed wise, the greatest experience is needed to publish the ANNUAL. In studying the history of THE CENTRALIAN one studies also the history of Central. Every change that has taken place there is at least hinted at in THE CENTRALIAN. In the 1900 book we find that open sessions have been forbidden and that strenuous efforts are being madeto re- gain them. VVe see, too, organizations that have since dis- appeared-the Anti-Cigarette League, the Cadets, and the Girls College Club.' This year we noticed the first ap- pearance of the Aristonians and Wfebsters. This CEN- TEALIAN seemed to show. that Central was wide-awake, for that year the first glee and mandolin clubs were formed, THE CENTRALIAN had language and science departments for the first time, and the four literary societies gave their an- nual Christmas play. In 1903 we miss this feature and some of us are reminded of the struggle the old societies made against admitting the new ones. Last year we mourned the absence of the three oldest literary societies. lVhen we study the history of THE CEN'r1mi.IixN and see in what close touch with the school life it has always been, we realize that THE CENTRALIAN has been what it evei hopes to be-a true representative of the life at Central. LEE CAMPBELL, '05.

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