Central High School - Caldron Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

Page 10 text:

s This year, several young men interested in debating clubs conceived the idea of forming such an organization for the male members of the High School. Their action caused much disappointment and some anger among a few of the young ladies who are desirous of developing their oratorical ability and becoming stump speakers in the cause of wornan's rights. The society meets every two weeks on Friday evening. Often during the year, when no program had been prepared, various members would volunteer to debate exteniporaneously. These meetings always proved to be the most interesting. Though no eloquent and elaborate speeches were delivered, still interesting and original arguments were always given. They showed clearly how much good was being derived from the organization. One of the wisest actions taken by the society was its electing Mr. Schultze president, Through his knowledge of Parliamentary law, Mr. Schultze has made an admirable chairman, and by his kind advice and friendly criticism has rendered a vast amount of aid to us all. In conclusion, we, the Class of gg, who upon coming into this high school awoke the waning interest in debating clubs, earnestly hope that when we leave the school, this interest will not be allowed to smolder and die. WHO? The speaker stood in the Geometry class Propounding a proposition deep, He talked and talked 'till their came a voice: Mr. S. you may take your seat. The speaker stood in the Congress halls Debating on questions deep, He talked and he fumed 'till the Czar said: Time's up! So take your seat. :N if 1 L:-LL: ., . ,Ma -1 Quai We ' .lr UN

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I ,Q 5550. ia' Gt, iid xml! CN, Qx l '-QV, 5 51? ta 0 Debating Clubs in the High School. BOUT twenty years ago, sei-eral young men, namely: Frank Taylor, Theo. Frank, Harry Nincle, Urban Miller, Sam C. King and Chauncey Hart, formed a debating club. These gentlemen are all graduates of our high school and are, with the exception of Mr. Hart, all living in Fort XVayne. The Constitution and By-Laws were drafted in judge L. M. Ninde's law oliice, and the society was called tl1e Clay Club. This organization met every Friday in the criminal court room of the old court house, and important questions of the day were discussed, and usually left to the decision of some prominent attorney. Poems and essays written by members were a feature of the weekly program. The Clay Club existed, as near as I can ascertain, about fifteen years, and was certainly beneficial, For one of its charter members in speaking of the organization said to 111e, I derived much pleasure and good from that society. It was just line. It seems that the linal dissolution of the Clay Club was caused by the many social and athletic duties of some of the members. There was a debating society in the High School for Five years after the dissolution of the Clay Club. In the fall of ISQGQ the class of '99 formed its Lyceum. We were only second years then, and of course the other classes ridiculed the idea and some of the teachers opposed it. Never- theless. in spite of these detriments, when we had received permission from the School Board to hold our meetings in the large assembly room of the high bers, bate, term school we launched our society, Through the ability and untiring efforts of the president and the co-operation of his fellow oflicers and ITICID- the organization became a success. Questions of current issue, as well as the famous authors, were discussed, In addition to the regular de- it was the custom of the society to secure some local speaker for each meeting. The Lyceum continued in this manner throughout the school and until February of the next term. V At this time the Lyceum decided, for two reasons, to take in the other classes, excepting the Freshmen. In the lirst place, the ranks of '99 XVGYB getting thin, and we thought that we could do better work with more members. Then, we thought that we were rather selfish in depriving the members of the other classes of the vast benefit we were deriving from our Lyceum. Hence the Union Debating Club was formed and followed the plan set down by the 99 Lyceum. This organization also had a very successful issue and disbanded at the close of tl1e school term in 1893.

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4- A nother Commencement Crime. f + my K mf Urs fe.: sf-ffv el fi I NlJ'3'C7gd'3f ' 7' if Hl-I last of tl1e few days of school hung like ill-boding clouds over the high perched heads of the Seniors. They felt that some mis- .x , .ISK X 'sql' 4 '- - Cl fortune, some shame, or some dire calamity was to befall them on that awe-inspiring night when they were to make their appear- 5 , M ly' Y., , , . if 5 25 1 'Q . . . . . . . . .9 L to 1 ance betore the public as graduates: and they knew that lf it did, the ever triumphant juniors would have another victory to add . ,, H i yoga... 4 I I I 3 -A to their already long list of successes. They hesitated about asking the juniors to act as ushers, but finally were forced to acknow- Q Q C176 . . . . . A it w..f ledge that they were the only ones capable of pertorrmng that duty with dignity. i'5'W e ,. . . . . . -. X, f-, T lhe invitation was extended somewhat later than Ruth Ashmore would have advised in her column of the Ladies Home My W .. 'Q journal, but then the Seniors had to look out for their own safety and we cheerfully forgave them. tlf we do anything that is at all out of place, you must remember that Ruth is dead now and we have no one to go to for advice, therefore you must excuse us. I Several dashing young boys ot' the Sophomore class were asked to assist our boys-the Seniors' real reason being to prevent the naughty juniors from having any fun at their expense. But they found out that the Sophs were not angels either. The Temple was guarded night and day, and when the last day came the mighty Seniors heaved a sigh of relief for not a junior or Soph had attempted to enter the building and not Ollli of them showed any signs of coming fun. The Seniors had not remained after school the day when they extended their invitation to the juniors and did not see tl1e group of wily boys contidentially talking to each other in the assembly room. Profound thought made them speechless for some time, then a merry voice rang out, I've got it, boys? I've got it 5 The way they acted one might have thought that they had something awful: but it was only a brilliant idea. Yes, and there were others too, but nothing nizich was said about them until the last afternoon before commencenient. The junior girls were in great demand and telephone mes:-ages H-ew from house to house. Door bells rang violently and in embarassment the shy lassies with their hair done up on curlers opened the door and were confronted by a pufhng usher. At last evening came. At seven o'clock six fair maidens made their way to the balcony of the Temple and sat, three on either side, near the boxes, One Carried a suspicious looking package. In a short time the guests began to arrive, and for nearly an hour there was a continual chatter and the rustle of silks and pretty ball gowns. At eight o'clock the lights were lowered. Not a sound was heard. The heavy curtain slowly rose and before the audience sat twenty-seven young