Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 1926 FAILURE?—NO, SUCCESS. Friends, Classmates, and Fellow-students, Lend me your eyes: I come not to praise our Reflector, but to Bury it. The good work that you do often lives After you In the solid, indestructible substance of A School Book. But you have said that you could not Get Ads,— And you are honorable students. Thus Let it he. How can I infringe upon your honesty And say it is untrue? For you are honorable students and To he trusted. You say that you did your best to Help our Cause, And that you failed through no fault Of your own— And you are honorable students— How thankful we are that the above has been proved untrue. Yet up until a very short time before the Reflector was printed, this thought, or the equivalent, occurred to each member of the staff. Each one had practically lost faith in the numerous pupils of the High School; had lost hope of ever getting their support. But at the critical moment you came to our aid and thanks be to you for it! As a result, the Reflector. Don’t you feel compensated? (By the way, 1 thank you for the loan of your eyes). M. V. H., Feb. '27. THE HONOR ROLL Sometimes honors upon honors are heaped upon students through no efforts of their own, but has it ever occurred to you that an honor for which you have worked hard and diligently is twice as sweet as one which was thrust upon you ? This year an Honor Roll has been started in our High School. An average of eight in every subject is all that is required for membership. So why not try for a position among the elite of the students next term? A little more con- centration and diligence will have their effect, and you will And that instead of just managing to squeeze through you will rise above your previous attainments. Your standard, with the standards of other students, makes up the rat- ing of our school, and with a new Clifton High to work for, why not do our best? W. Geyer, Feb. '26. THE FUTURE The completion of our new institution of learning marks the beginning of what seems to be a great step in the future of Clifton. It paves the way for a factor that is a vital neces- sity in a city with a widely spread population and a large, irregular territory. This factor is a civic center, a place for education, recreation, and also for the carrying on of the work of the city government. The large tract of land in the immediate vicinity of the High School is an ideal place for a park, an athletic field and stadium, as well as for a library and municipal building. It must come, it will come; and where the student of to-day thinks he is attending a school in the center of an open lot, the student of to-morrow will see—I do not know, I only imagine, and that is what you must do. Im- agine the vast change that the future holds for our old Race Track. H. Reuter, Feb. '26. SENIOR EGOTISM The Senior of 1926 has made his entrance. He has strutted with great pride, for not only is he a senior, but the first senior of a new. sumptuous high school. Therefore lie has pro- ceeded to act with great confidence the part of the Senior. But alas! the results have been fatal to his egotism. He, upon taking the short- est route to class, has been unceremoniously herded in place by a most conscientious patrol; he has been compelled to ask the lowly Fresh- man, who carries a floor plan, where such and such a room is; he has been forced to abandon his slow indifferent pace, for the automatic clock and bell system is an undisputed authori- ty; he has carried his head high only at the peril of having it well bumped on some tempo- rary scaffolding, thereby having the “knowing look” replaced by one of pain; in short, he has been stripped of all his Senior airs. He has probably made the wise discrimina- tion that too much self-confidence is egotism, and just enough is self-respect (which distinguishes the vagabond from the poor man); and has come to the sober conclusion that it is not airs but deeds, that make the Senior. E. Stursburg, June ’26. PAGE TEN

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T II K R E F I. E C T 0 R C I. I F TON I! I O II S C II 0 O L P E B R II A R Y 9 2 6 OCR NEW SCHOOL Here is the reward of patience, students, a beautiful new school, fully equipped with the most modern devices, a school on the whole to he proud of. Facing the east, it faces the com- ing of dawn, and all new things. Is it not a well chosen site? lint that is not all. The ex- terior and interior of the building itself show careful deliberation. From basement to the top floor one finds on inspection only the most mod- ern equipment, and each day is adding its share. Indeed, schoolmates, we have much to be thank- ful for. and it is our duty to show appreciation and gratitude by our good work and our good- will. As I write 1 have a feeling of mingled gladness and sorrow, of gladness that I was able to enjoy the school in all its newness; of sorrow that my term has come to an end, and 1 must leave for other fields. Nevertheless I shall always remember this half year in the new C. II. S. and 1 leave hoping that you will radiate appreciation, and that you will make the most of your opportunities in this splendid building. T. S., 26. A Eulogy on the Old School “Crack goes the whip, and off we go; The trees and houses smaller grow; Last, round the woody turn we swing: Goodbye, goodbye, to everything. R. L. Stevenson. Old Friend, even Tolstoi could not express my sorrow at being severed from you. You have seen the rise and fall of empire, and have fitted men and women for the study of profes- sions and trades. You have watched talent spring into bloom, and have gazed upon the battlements of success. It was you who shaped our destinies and directed us on the road to happiness. I see you now peering through your tarnish as a vestal virgin of old striving to keep alive the wavering fires of knowledge. You could easily rest upon your laurels, for many a time you have embraced fame and have been a com- panion of glory. Though we have left you, the birthplace of secondary education in our city, behind, and though we have forsaken our old haunts for a brighter and more modern dwelling, still we are unable to break the chains of memory by forgetting you, Old School. G. R. Connors, June ’2G. PAGE NINE

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T HE K E F L E C T () R C L I F T O N H I G If S C II () O L FEBRUARY 1926 HINTS DO YOU KNOW THAT WITHOUT A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION: A standard college will not enroll you as a student ? Your ambition to be a teacher can never be realized ? You cannot study law in a law school of re- cognized standing? Reputable schools of medicine will bar you as a student? Class “A” dental schools will not allow you to take their courses? Schools of engineering will not enroll you in courses leading to a degree? You are barred from entrance exams for West Point Military Academy? The U. S. Naval Academy will not allow you to take its examinations? You cannot secure a position of standing in the newspaper world? Radio engineering schools will not accept your registration fee? Nurse’s training schools will not consider your application for entrance? The possibility of ever becoming a private secretary is remote? Charles Pink el, June ’26. LIFE SPOIiTS Have you begun the mastery of some sport that you may enjoy throughout your life? If you haven’t, start now. Basketball, football, baseball, track, and such strenuous games arc fine, but you need more. You can count on your fingers the number of middle aged gentlemen who still cling to these four sports, for they are few. Of course, if you intend to become a fatty or a chair-ridden bookworm when you have passed the forty year mark, get under the covers, but if not, choose your game now, so you may en- joy it the rest of your days. Golf, tennis, hand- ball, swimming, hiking and bowling are all fine sports. Become proficient in one of them. The average middle aged man dislikes to take up a new sport at his time of life for fear he will be a duffer and will take a long time learning. 15ut if at that age you have already become ex- pert in some sport, ten chances to one you will play the game because you enjoy it.—Don’t forget, someday you will be middle aged, and if you would rather be fit than fat, at that time, choose your life sport now. F. E. N., Feb. '26. THE LANDING AT THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL The waves of hope dashed high On the Clifton High School site, While the trees against the sunny sky Tossed their branches in delight; The September day was fair. Blue, cloudless, was the sky, When a band of students cast their lot In the brand new “Clifton High.” Not as the slothful come With slow, indifferent step; They sauntered up, gay as could be, They were just full of “pep.” Not as the sad do come With countenance sad and drear; Their faces beamed with joy and light, They radiated cheer. Aye, ’twas a wonderous sight— The landing at “Clifton High,” And it will be sung in verse and song As the months and years roll by. Many more will be sheltered there, Many a seer or bard. For they’ve left untouched what there they found— Freedom to study hard. Dorothy Ridsdale, June ’26. PAGE ELEVEN