Central High School - Centralian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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tfHcj L P 7S 0 a i pH c a mental sluggard and shortens many a school boy’s career in mid course. Now then, this sort of thing is my ideal antidote to the modern hankering for fraternity and sorority life in the high schools. To banish the secret society, which was recently done by legal enactment, and furnish no rational substitute, is sheer unwisdom, to my thinking. A fraternity man myself, I would raise my voice and use my influence decidedly against secret fraternity life in any grade of the public schools, including the High Schools, but I should desire to provide the widest and freest interchange of thought and feeling and social intercourse among the young people of our vast High School population. I should like to see a true and inspiring spirit of democracy pervade the whole school life of a boy or girl, and this spirit is definitely and easily gained in fres, open, social intercourse, as suggested, in the old literary, elocutionary and dramatic society idea. These efforts need not be confined to one or two societies • there may be several. An occasional scrap over an election of officers in such a society is vitalizing and joyous. Hie graceful staging of a good amateur play is full of stimulus and leads to a truer appreciation of the great dramatic art, too little cultivated among young people desiring broad culture in our day. Debating clubs should be encouraged, and the excellent work now done can be improved, no doubt. A boy who can put up a good debate has about the best running start for a successful career, where clear thinking and ready speaking and writing are involved, that I know of. 1 would plead for all kinds of open societies, literary, musical, dramatic, athletic, art and critical, thru which the intellectual faculties can be stimulated, and at the same time give a rational basis for social intercourse, with its adjustments suited to every kind of boy and girl. DAVID PERCY JONES. C. H. S.. Class 78. Pag- sixteen

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To the Central High School “Annual” ’07 AST year I wrote in a reminiscent mood to the Annual. I referred to the golden age of Prof. Tousley, Miss Abbott and Miss Cruikshank- a great constellation in the educational firmament of those early days, and they left their impress upon the students of the High School in the 70’s. Their commanding personalities were beloved and admired by all who came under the sway of their great influence. At the same time there flourished an institution, I fear now almost forgotten, to which we in our days were tremendously devoted. I refer to the Philomathean Society, which flourished and prospered for many years after my day Class of 78. This literary society did much for the boys and girls of that day. I can assure you. It was a center of interest in very many ways. It promoted good speaking, stimulated debate, gave a fine training in amateur dramatics, and at the close of the school year there was usually a public entertainment in the old Academy of Music, which always drew a packed house and filled each performer with a glow of satisfaction and pride. This annual blaze of glory was the goal of all our earthly ambitions. It was a vast stimulus to our school work and fulfilled our ardent desire to get into the game. These Philomathean meetings were held weekly and were wisely left entirely in the hands of the scholars, with the exception of one officer who was our critic. There was no paternalistic oversight except such as was solicited or kindly proffered when we had a heavy program to pull off, like the memorable burlesque of Romeo and Juliet given in the Academy, and under the supervision and training of Miss Abbott. The proceeds of these public entertainments were usually given to maintain our library, which in those early days in a degree took the place of the later and greater public libraries. To many a boy and girl the old Philomathean Society was the luminous spot in what to some was otherwise a rather prosy course in the High School. It gave us a chance to develop along a good many lines incidentally, outside of our books. It became our social atmosphere and life, the one thing needful to drive away ennui and brighten school life drudgery, which makes many Page fifteen

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All Stars from Central ENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL has produced more stars in the football line than any other school in the Northwest. By stars, I do not mean men that play a brilliant, showy game at times, but those that can be depended upon to do good work at all times, no matter what the circumstances may be. They form the back-bone of the team and are always sure to be where they are most needed in a crisis. I have picked those that 1 think starred above the ordinary players for the last fifteen or more years. First and foremost, of course, is Pudge Heffelfinger, who is known in all parts of the United States where the great game is played. He was one of the pioneers in this line at Central, but did not get more than started before he entered Yale where he received his most valuable experience. He played the guard position during the whole of his college career, and is admitted to be without a peer, and it will be difficult to find his equal. He was a heavy man, weighing about two hundred pounds, and this with his wonderful speed, for one so large, and his aggressiveness, made him feared and respected by all of his opponents. In this early period also was Geo. Belden, who, while not being a wonder was considered one of the best at that time as he made the Minnesota team shortly after entering that institution, where he played full-back. Minnesota at that time held the championship, not losing a game, and each member was considered a star. It was not until 1893 that Central got down to systematic football and were under the direction of a coach. This year produced two stars, Harrison and Guilbert, both of whom made the Minnesota team. The former was full-back at Central when they were champions of the Twin Cities. He played four years at Minnesota and was considered the best end in the West. His wonderful speed in getting down under punts and in carrying the ball, placed him away ahead of his opponents in this position. He was captain for one year at Central and for two years at Minnesota. Guilbert was half-back at Central where he was the mainstay of the team; his speed making great gains when they were needed. He played one year at Minnesota in the half-back position. The years 1894 and 1893 was productive of small men. It was in this period Cole and Woodworth showed their value. Each man weighed less than one hundred and forty pounds, but it was PȣC wcntrrn