Charlotte High School - Witan Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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22 THE VVIT A N Alumni Notes In planning this, the Alumni Number of the Witan, we have tried to get into personal touch with as many of our graduates as was possible, and we wish to thank most sincerely all those whose prompt responses and hearty cooperation have made possible the carrying out of our project. Wo have devoted special space to those classes which mark the five-year divisions of our history, figuring back from the present year. The following are extracts taken from letters received in answer to our requests for person- al messages from representatives of the five-year classes. Note that in 1907 there was no graduating class. ALUMNI EDITOR. To the Editor of the Witan:— Dear Sir:— It is with pleasure that 1 accept your invitation to send to the readers of your paper an expression of greeting on behalf of the Alumni Association. The entire personnel of Charlotte High School should be congratulated for developing the school to a point whore it is able to support a paper with such a high standard as the “Witan.” In 1918 the students conceived the idea of a medium for the expression of student opinion. Indeed a staff was chosen and work actually begun, but later because no means of establishing the paper firmly were apparent, the vision never became a fact. It was left for others to unite those interested in Charlotte High School by means of a school paper. The “Witan” gives to the students not only a place to express their thoughts but furnishes them experience in various ways as well. 1 under- stand that the “Witan” is a student product entirely. The Alumni Association of Charlotte High School has been greatly strengthened in numbers during the last few years. This means that wc should progress more rapidly, that wo should do more to help the High School on to greater achievements by giving them our whole-hearted support in every activity. Charlotte High School has outgrown its village connections by becoming a part of Rochester. New opportunities are ahead and no person has a greater responsibility than members of the Alumni Association. We have the -same leaders with us now as formerly. We have a Principal who is never too haril pressed for time that he will not spend time to help us in our work or play. We should not stop now, for we have still greater projects to face. Let us help Mr. Butterfield and the other faculty members continue to keep Charlotte High School the best high school in Rochester. Sincerely yours, NEWELL A. FERRIS, President of the Alumni Association.

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THE WITAN 21 Goodbye—And Thank You! This number of the “Witan,” besides being the Alumni number, is also, in a way, a farewell number. A large majority of the present staff will be graduated in June and this is, therefore, their last effort in producing the Witan.” The outstanding feature of our work this year has been the remarkable cooperation which the students, as a whole, have given us. When we under- took, last fall, to publish the first high school periodical ever published in Charlotte High School we hardly expected to last the whole year. But when we found, instead of the expected lack of interest on the part of the pupils, a whole-hearted response to our every call, it can be understood why we have felt so gratiled and why we have so often expressed our gratification through these columns. Therefore, we wish to thank you once more for your support, and we earnestly urge that the same support be, in the future, accorded to succeeding Witan” staffs. Orchestra The first Charlotte High School orchestra was organized in 1908. Mr. Tolman was principal at that time, and being a great lover of music, had conceived the idea of introducing it as a school activity. In those days such activities wwere few, so that everyone who was musically inclined, and even some who were not, were more than eager to play in the proposed orchestra. Mr. Tolman secured the sendees of Mr. J. F. Winneur of Rochester to give private instruction on the various instruments. After many weeks of drill and practice, the orchestra was formally organized with thirty-eight players. There were twelve violins, six firsts and six seconds; four violas, three cellos, three flutes and piccolos, three clarinets, six comets, two horns, two trombones, bass, piano and drums. Those who have had anything to do with the high-school orchestras will realize what an undertaking it was to instruct and drill all those students, most of whom hail never played an instrument before. However, after many rehearsals, the orchestra gave its first concert on the 27th of November, 1908. Two programs were given—one in the afternoon and one in the evening. These consisted of several selections by the orchestra, including National Airs, La Rose, and Bohemian Girl a number of solos, duets and a string quartet. Many other successful concerts were given during the next two years. The orchestra played a very important part in all school and many com- munity functions for several years following. A few of the former members found in music not only recreation ami pleasure, but a successful life work. EDGAR A. DENISE.

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THE WIT A N 23 ’17 This project of an alumni issue about which you have written is an interesting one—interesting to all C. H. S. Alumni at least. Prom the class of ’17 I wish to send greetings to the faculty, to the other Alumni and to the under-graduates. I am proud to see a school maga- zine from our high school. May I congratulate the staff upon the effective work which they have done? The issues of the magazine which I have seen speak well of the spirit of the present student body. LOIS A. JUSTICE 17. I am very glad of the opportunity to send just a word of greeting, as a member of the class of Charlotte High School, 1917. 1 do not keep in as close touch with the school as I would like, hut am always interested in any of its activities. “There were seventeen members of our class—the largest class ever graduated from the school up to that time. During the five years that have passed since we said “good-bye, we have gradually drifted apart. Five of the members of the class are married, one or two are teaching, some are still studying and others have their time taken up in various ways. “While different interests have come along to take up our time, and we seldom get together, we all have something in common—our memories of the good old days at C. H. S. A. M. CLARKE T7. •12 “Back in the days before the income tax and Eskimo pies had become American Institutions, the class of 1912 fought a good fight: for future classes and is deserving of the highest honor. A statue on the “campus might help some. A stem edict was sent forth by the school board that no dancing would I » allowed in the assembly hall at noon time. Try to imagine such a condition. (You can’t? We thought so.) However, the class of 1912 rose gloriously to the occasion. The dance was the thing. Those who could not dance made earnest resolves to learn. But it became clear that some definite protest was necessary. Some of the more violent discussed gleefully a plan to hang the entire school board—but no one had a strong enough rope. Then, happy thought came, “If we canft have the assembly we dance in the downstairs hall. And what could be noisier or easier than a Virginia Red ? Anil so it was done. And under the eye of a member of the faculty it was staged. To be sure many a heart quailed, but the dance went bravely on to a gmnd finish and with a fine air of nonchalance the dancers dispersed.