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

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.YOCIETY OF LITERATURE .HND HIJTORY gling plant, but even love could not protect it from About thirteen years ago a number of pupils of Central under the direction . of Miss Crane, an English teacher, or- ganized a society for the study of lit- -- erature and history. This was the beginning of the oldest society now existing in Central, the Society of History. Every year brought an improvement in the soci- ety, as its members accomplished their aim to carry the S. L. ll. to the front. Among the names on its - lists are those of two members of the faculty, Mr. Graves and Mr. Luby, and of many boys and girls who have won honors for themselves and their school in various events. Besides these, there is the name T of Elizabeth Parkinson, who has lately charmed ' American and European audiences with her wonder- ful voice. Last year the society obtained first place over its brothers and sisters by winning two out of a possible four prizes in the Inter Societ contest This the Literature and V - I.i::.. '- hail and the unfriendly elements. Slowly the flower grew., As the seventiny leaves became strong and h-ealthy, there was seen at the very root a bud de- veloping. The bud lived through the severe winters: the heat of summer' strengthened rather than weak- ened it. People saw and wondered. h Six years the flower flourished, but no one ex- cept the loving care-taker looked into its azure depths. 1 Then 'a new life sprang up in the bud, gradually it unfolded its petals and lifted its dew-filled cup to : greet the gardener. All who saw stopped, amazed at the beauty of the blossom and exclaimed: Look, the violetll' 1 Another year passed and, when the w-arm spring came over the earth, the violet raised its face towards - the light. Then thereh was seen, deep in its heart, its N' l very breath-a drop o-f gold. The gardener looking over his beds of flowers, stopped beside the violet, and, . gazing into the fragrant cup, murmured: Aris- tonian. 7 fe A 1i'ixh julian E::i::,:lS flaming T' Tis 1 ' ,If 'x.i 'ffl l ll' il ll , Qi ll ifzgil 6 Tllllul li s l 1 ' J V ' y ' J thirteenth year, might, indeed, have proved an un- lucky one had not the members been determined that 3 5 HISTORY' OF THE CENTRAL LUEBJTER CLUB, they would prove thirteen as lucky a number for them as it has often been for Central. It was their ambi- tion, not only to maintain the high standing of the society, but, if possible, to raise that standard, there- by gaining the approval of former members and showing themselves worthy members of the S. L. H. FRANCIS HICKEY, '07, THE BIRTH OF THE UIOLET A few years ago there lived a gray-haired gardener whose assistant was a woman of noble mind a.nd pure heartg one who ten- derly guarded the young plants entrusted to her. One day while sowing seed, she came upon a stony hill, so stony, indeed, th-at only in a few pla.ces was there any soil to be seen, but high up on the hill, Mount Parnassus it was called, there was a small plot of earth upon which some seed fell. The snows of winter had passed when the gray- haired gardener saw a tiny shoot growing there. Great care was taken that no harm befall the strug- ry y. frafall The glorious dawn of the twentieth century marked nothing more mo- A f mentous in the history of Central .ig Q1 than the birth of the Central Webster xv' Club. Twelve determined sons of Central - banded together in that opportune time, to emulate and exemplify the mighty Webster. ' Twelve embattled fa.thers stood and stemmed the tide of ridicule and denunciation, and worthily typified that grand exemplar 'twho met and conquered everything in his path. ' The organization of the Central Webster Club marked an era in the literary society annals of Central, for it marked the beginning of the organization of several new societies. The modern democratic spirit pervading the Central Webster Club appealed to the best talent of the school. Unsullied by false pretensions, the '4Websters have ever made brains, efficiency and character the requi- sites to their membership. Born of a spirit in aversion to formality, and always characterized by energy, progress and high resolve the legislation of '03 had no effect on the

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club, but to strengthen it and add impetus to its good work. Founded, as it is, upon the bed-rock of eternal prin- ciples, the Central Webster Club promises always to represent the best there is mentally, mo-rally and physically in Old Centra.l. HUGH Mooan, '05. CENTRAL J'H.HK'EJ'PE.HRE CLUB A915 lm Cf course, we are young, but what of t ,ML . that? Just think how Inuch we have accom- Qgps-Qlgi' plished during our short existence! We are xi now one of the largest societies in Central and are a set of bright boys and girls, unequaled anywhere. The Central Shakespeare Club had an exceedingly novel beginning. One day last fall the Seniors were surprised to hear that a new club was going to be or- ganized which would be entirely different from the other clubs in school. Only full-fledged Seniors could be mem- bers, and the meetings were to be held on Monday after- noons instead of on the accustomed Friday. To enumerate the many drawbacks to this new plan would be a long task. lt is sufficient to say that we finally gave up our former intentions and decided to be- come a regular school society. No doubt our Inore experienced fellow-society mem- bers would have smiled could they have been present at our first few meetings. However, our blissful ignorance of such things as rules of order soon vanished, and now we can undergo the ordeals of parliamentary form with perfect ease. ' It is no easy matter to put a new organization on its feet, but under the careful guidance of our adviser, Mr. Smith, we are now in running order. We have many good reasons to be proud of the C. S. C., the society of the old rose and green. .VIRGINIiX CORLEY, 'O5. .H HIITORY' OF THE DELPHLHNJ' A72 Q an During April a.nd May, of 1904, Mr. Earl Frank lnsley, Mr. J. Pearce Kane and Mr. Jerome E. Dyer, members in other societies, conceived the plan of forming a new society, the Delphians, which they thought would improve upon certain conditions of these societies which they deplored. They 5 A ol? 'Sha ig' :mt . -5.- soon attracted to their purpose Mr. Edwin Patteison, and the last day of school, a meeting was held at which these original four were present. During the summer Mr. Lucius McConnell became a member, and shortly before school began, Mr. Harry Minton, Mr. Dayton Langworthy, Mr. Howard Shafer and Mr. Frank Geary were united to the organization. All of these, like the originators, wished to get better con- ditions. Early in the fall Mr. Harry F. Cotton became a member. Later there were added Mr. George Neal and Mr. Dale Johnson. With these twelve members, a charter was applied for in November. Being required to have a membership of twenty before they could secure a charter, with painstaking discrimination the Delphians selected their members, and on January 13th, received their charter. Now, already 'prominent in school life, they move forward into the future, confident that the all- pervading object of the originators has been gained. EDWIN W. Pivrrnnsoiv, 'O6. THE KELUIN CLUB On the evening of March 16th, 1905, the organization of the Kelvin Club took place. This society was formed by a fewstudents with the purpose of promoting interest in scientific studies, and also to investigate things that are of scientific interest and importance. The members are assigned various subjects to investigate and report upon to the club. Lectures are also given by eminent scientists in this vicinity which are always followed by general discussion and experiments. The success which the club has had in the brief past insures a long and honorable life. The programs given up to the present date have been successes in the highest sense of the word. The lectures given by Mr. Peters, Dr. Wall and Dr. Parker, have been very satisfactory. The light which these investigations throw upon the small things in scientific studies will easily make itself felt in the department, and by doing this this club will fill a long felt want in the science department of the school. A. S. B1I.Ln3IcIsaoIi, '06,