Charlotte High School - Witan Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

Page 26 text:

T H E W IT A N SHOEMARKS IN A CONCRETE WALK Being a brief history of the Class of 1926 “Ho, hum,” I sighed as I settled for my sixth period snooze. Then the jolly old Maytime sun streamed in the window, the hard-wood seat softened and I stretched my legs. Drifting thoughts, well—they just drifted, till a dreadful one happened along and casually reminded me to attend to this here class history. I shivered as I had on a certain October evening long ago and a series of painted faces with braided or molasses-covered hair passed by. Stockinged feet thumped up dark stair? covered with prickers. Whack! A ballplayer made a homerun on the feat of someone's trousers. Then oysters—ugh! And cold water! I awoke promptly, then found my fing- ers immersed in the inkwell! But I laughed all the same—the old mem- ory was still 0. K.—I hadn't forgotten that initiation of four years ago. Again the hum of words and the generous sun compelled me to slum- ber. 'Fifty-nine whirling dervishes—no it wasn't — just fifty-nine frantic freshmen holding their first class meeting and electing “Prof Butter- field (the younger) and “Wally” Sex- ton and a certain Miss Rhoda Decker as officers. And then, weeks later, came a super-extra special Frosh Re- turn Party where good dancing and punch were returned for that some- what “evil” initiation. The thoughts were coming faster now and in greater variety—things that had happened at undecideable times. The Lion Tamers' Club, the good old-fashioned assemblies in the attic, summer days and study hall “or the campus” beneath the ancient, tranquil oaks, a ten to eleven score when East High and Charlotte met, Miss Abbott’s “Sunset Class, on.' Frosh teams, the surprise we enjoyed one opening day when we found the school renovated and enlarged by sev- eral new class rooms, the library and the librarians, the operettas. More memories came, of former all-schol- astic athletes, of successful “skips to Fang's, of the first eighth period, of new class members and ot former ones. “Describe a business cycle the Economics teacher said. I awoke and, with usual stupidity, mentioned that it might be a two- wheeled vehicle with handle bars and wire basket on the front of it. That was that, and I again nodding. More thoughts, of the smil ingest and reddest-haired school-marm in town, our advisoi; of uproarious student elections, of Senior-girl candy vendors, of the famous “Ballyho Bugle.” A million more memories whizzed along, each bringing a touch oi humor and tinge of sadness because they were over. I thought of the schoolhouse itself, grim and prison- like on a wonderful spring morning when a fellow felt that he must ski]) and then peaceful and lovely and such, making him feel sad on a late after- noon when things are quiet with just one bird in the trees and the low sun behind them that cast little spots of light and shadow—of passive alienee that rested him but still made him feel like the very devil for not having les- sons finished or being tardy or things like that. B-r-r-i-ang! — Seven o’clock — time to get up—no, guess it isn't—just the period bell. Another day almost done. Gonna get out of this doggone school for good soon. Wonder will I draw a blank diploma? Oh, well! wx had a good time while it lasted! John Konath Maher, Historian 21

Page 25 text:

THE WIT A N COMMENCEMENT SONG .. ... ........ The years have numbered only four Since first we gained thy portal— But four, and thou hast left to us An heritage immortal; For here we learned not only facts Close bound by rules and study, We entered in thy healthful sports, And we grew strong and ruddy. We learned not only narrow laws To train alone our talents, To counsel us for Life’s real school Our tasks were made to balance. Ah! Classmates, not the stinted view, The statement narrow-minded— Life wants not him who stands aloof Wit prejudices blinded. But Life does want the character With grit and strength anil vision; Who laughs at wit with other men, But laughs above derision; A man not limited to rote Or formula or table, But who can estimate his world With judgment sound and stable. These are the traits we should have gained, As well as wit and learning— These have we gained, so 1 believe, As on Life’s road we're turning; And since we have, we may well know' Where’er we cast our lot, Wc owe success and future fame To thee, our school, Charlotte. Lyman H. Butterfield, Class I’oet. 23

Page 27 text:

T HE W I T A N THROUGH A PINHOLE AND WIIAT THE PROPHET SAW THERE Two long, lean, lanky gentlemen with prominent noses and high, in- tellectual foreheads, one of whose hair was partially combed (1), the other of whose hair was partially uncomhed (2), gazed in bespectacled toleration at a third long, lean, lanky gentleman whose hair was red, and whose bristl- ing, ruby beard only partly ensconced r.n enormous mouth which, it was said, had attained its dimensions through continuous conversation (3). The third gentleman was engaged at the mo- ment in an injunctive harangue, which was at such length that he whose hair was partially uncomhed at length felt called upon to belabor his head with a milk bottle; whereupon that person, proclaiming to the world his recent assassination, prepared to depart, and was only prevented by the incident of being accosted in the doorway by a short individual of prodigious rotunl- ity, who bore in his right hand a bil- liard cue and balanced upon his head a chess board (4). Recognizing him, the warring parties became reconciled for the moment; but were soon in the throes of strife again. The very house rocked on its foundations, and suddenly leaped like n thing alive high into the air, and continued its ascent with enormous ve- locity. He of the partially uncombed hair explained the phenomena by ref- erence to physics, saying that the flight was due to the vast amount of hot air in the room. He of the prodigious rotundity bethought him- self of Einstein’s theory; producing a pin he pushed it through the floor. Being displeased with what he saw, when he had applied his eye to the hole thus made, he thrust the point into the red-headed person. The consequent flow of heat was all that could have been required, and the ascent was faster than before. See?” he cried, or rather listen: by Einstein’s thory of relativity, if you could go far enough away from the world and get beyond the rays of light leaving the earth at that time you would see what had happened then, acted over again for you. We have done that. Here, take the pin an 1 make holes for yourselves; you could see nothing by looking through a larger hole than one made by a pin.’1 The others did this, and, applying their eyes to the holes, were con- fronted by the scenes that had taken place in the year 1935. I see,” said someone at length, ob- serving a sour, middle-aged (5) man at work before a desk, that the author of ‘Sphinx in French is writing a sequel to that piece of work.” Entitled ‘Sphinx Everywhere,’ I suppose.” Two gentlemen emerged from the side entrance of a theater, one clad in a gym suit, somewhat the taller of the two, although neither was of a height that would attract attention. He was also more athletic appearing, and cast a basket ball about with groat vigor for a man of his age (6). The other protested, apparently, from time to time, hut to no avail; the man refused to argue. As a matter of fact, both were very thin, because they had wait- ed so long for their next meal; the fact that the smaller of the two (7) had taken Solid Geometry instead of Trigonometry in high school was be- lieved to be the reason for such pov- erty. A deep stentorian voice roared sud- denly, Look!” All to be seen was a vicious old Latin teacher, keeping up the reputation of her race. Don’t you remember her? The conductors used to let her ride half price; she was out of college before they found out (8).’’ In the principal’s office sat an arro- gant, aggressive lady, quite unlike herself of former days, devoid of all the quiet, demure shyness (9). They change like that sometimes,” mur- mured the r'eep voice. Those two will never be white again; while they were waiting for a minstrel sho v to begin they happened into a bakery where they hid tn an oven to escape a policeman. The black was baked in.” (10) On a street corner stood a short, wide, thick lady with fanatic eyes (11) , waving a bone, in an address to a large audience, in the very front of which was a tall, handsome person (12) smoking a cigarette. He was a minister’s son; he listened to this lady's speech every night without fail. He never was able to decide whether the lady knew anything but was con- vinced she would never stop talking. A large lady (13) and a little one (14) some seven seats apart in a trolley car were telling each other they would come over tonight. 1 should think they’d have enough of each other by this time,” muttered a 25