Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR CLIFTON HUH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 9 2 7 OUR ACTIVITIES One sign of growth in our high school within recent years is the frequent organization of various instructive clubs. These organizations are sponsored by members of the faculty, who have a decided interest in the success of the student in a particular line of work or activity. Educational methods of this nature aid immen- sely in bringing to light the practical applica- tions of the work we study in class. Our know- ledge of a subject is broadened by constant con- tact with it through mediums other than the text book and the daily recitation. Moreover, the progressive student discovers a means where- by he may relieve himself of surplus energy. Many things, hitherto hazy in our concep- tions, can be elucidated by the discussion and reports of the club. Far more is to be learned by the incessant, intelligent, guided following up of a subject than by grudgingly trying to figure it out ourselves. Many of us, no doubt, have not the sufficient time to participate in “after school classes,” but we should all try our level best to register in at least one organization. C. Roehr, June ’27. THE BIOGRAPHY CLUB The first meeting of the Biography Club for the new term, was held in October under the sponsorship of Miss Hill. The new officers who were elected are: Miss Alexander ........................ President Mr. Kulik ...................... V ice- President Miss Wilson ......................... Secretary Miss McNamara ......................... Treasurer An executive committee was chosen by the members of the club. The committee had charge of all the biographies to be rendered by the different members at the meetings. The biographies presented so far are those of Dumas, Balzac, Dickens, and Stevenson. Inter- esting accounts of West Point and Annapolis were also given. A hobby party was held before school closed for the Christmas holidays. Many delightful games were played, gifts were exchanged, and refreshments were served. We extend our heartiest welcome to all pupils who desire to join the Biography Club, and we hope that the future members will carry on the work as it has heretofore been done. Sadye Wilson, Secretary. THE SPANISH CLUB Eariy in October, the Spanish Club was re- organized under the supervision of Miss Kehl. Students of 4-1 and 4-2 Spanish classes were eligible to join. At this first meeting the fol- lowing officers were elected: Betty Lamberson, president; Angela Farrell, vice-president; Frank Reilly, treasurer; Helen Richter, secretary; and Joseph Kaiser, sergeant at arms. The Spanish Club meets twice a month, usu- ally every first and third Wednesday of the month. The Club has a regular program of entertainment, the main feature being the pre- sentation of a short play. Among the many plays given are the Two Donkeys, presented by Messrs. Kaiser, Roehr and Gurriell; The Classes, presented by Miss R. Hachadorian and Messrs. Scheffel and Over- beck; The Astute Servant, presented by Mar- garet Smith, Cornelius Van Ess and E. Harvan; The Double Robbery, presented by Angela Farrell, Rose Hachadorian and Gordon Watson: The Laundress of Napoleon, presented by Helen Richter and Leon Pra Sisto. At every meeting, after the minutes are read and the roll is taken, the students sing America in Spanish. In fact the entire program is car- ried on in Spanish. Helen Richter, Secretary. PACE TWENTY

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THE K E F I- E C T O K CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 1927 this had happened and Mr. Hartley’s will had been probated, it was found that I)an was the sole heir to his uncle’s vast estate. As Dan de- sired to follow his chosen profession, that of private detective, he had sold his uncle’s shares in the Continental Marine Corporation for the munificent sum of some three hundred fifty thousand pounds. This, combined with the rest of the estate, valued at around seven or eight million pounds, placed Dan in a position to rest fo the rest of his life, had he wished to do so. And this was the situation of Dan Hardy as we take leave of him, as he is sitting in a large arm- chair, smoking and reminiscing over his first case, which had brought him all his fortune. W. Ackerman, June ’28. A TRIP TO CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL IN 2026 At exactly seven o’clock my electrolarm rang. I jumped out of bed and pressed the button on the wall. This would cook my toast, coffee, and an egg in the kitchen, where I had prepared them the evening before. This is certainly a great improvement over getting up, going down- stairs, and then cooking your breakfast. I wonder how people could have lived in 1926 without this wonderful patent. After I had eaten my breakfast, I went out to the garage and put on my wings. My aero- wings are like the wings the fairies were sup- posed to have had, except mine have a motor which is strapped to the back of the wearer. 'The bodily weight of a person to-day is not enough to cause the wearer to have to fly low. All people are very thin now a-days. Every student in high school studies dieting in order to be able to keep thin enough to operate his ae row’ i ngs success full y. I found that one of the straps on my wings was broken. I had to look for another one, which took me some time. When I found it, it was already quite late. Therefore I put my wings on in a hurry and rapidly ascended in the air. About three blocks ahead of me I saw my friend, Hilda. I could not catch up to her with- out speeding as she, too, was going as fast as possible because it was so late. After looking around to see that there were no policemen in air-gliders or on the house-tops, I pulled the lever that marked the highest speed. I soon caught up to her and asked her about an Eng- lish composition we had to write. As our ma- chines made so much noise, we had to yell to each other. We soon abandoned this because I had a class in elocution in the afternoon and I did not want to strain my voice. As we neared the center of Clifton, we had to slow down. Clifton is now the largest city in Passaic County. After we passed the air traffic, we came to the Thorburn Building, the highest in the city. We, as Seniors, are permit- ted to fly over it, but the lowly Freshmen have to make a detour around it. Freshmen are not permitted to fly more than three yards above the ground. As we neared the school, we saw many other aerowings. We had to stop talking and fly carefully in order to avoid accidents. High above us soared aeroplanes. These belong to Professor Brown, the principal, and the mem- bers of the faculty, because a person has to be of age to drive one. Professor Brown, as a .pecial distinction, has a plane with two sets of wings. We have Junior Police who fly about in aero- wings which are painted red. in order to be seen easily. When they see something is not as it should be, they blow a loud whistle which can easily be distinguished as only theirs. Besides this, we have a code of laws which we have to follow. This code is pasted on our wings. In a large, open field behind the school is a shed. There the principal and the teachers keep their gliders. Just behind the doors of the school is a large vestibule where each student has a locker in which to keep his wings. The boys’ lockers are at the other end of the build- ing, for they might want to try on the daintier aerowings which the girls have, and ruin them with their extra weight. We were flying over Nutt Boulevard, named in honor of the esteemed principal of our school a century ago, when we suddenly heard a loud, shrill siren blow. This was the warning that school would start in ten minutes. As soon as the siren sounded. I rushed for the doors, in or- der to obtain help in translating my Esperanto. One thing for which we may be glad is that we don’t have to study Latin or Greek as they used to do a century ago. After we had carefully put our aerowings in our lockers, we proceeded to our section rooms, ready for work. That is how I went to school this morning. Don’t you think it is a great improvement over walking to school, as the poor students had to do in 1926? Mary Pfistkr, June ’30. PAGE NINETEEN

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THE REFLECTOR CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 1927 THE BIOLOGY CLUB THE FRENCH CLUB We don’t meet very often, but whenever we do then the fun starts. At our last meeting we gathered in the gym. Miss Valenti played the piano and Miss Faillace took charge. The lat- ter made a little speech in French telling the members about the program. First we sang Le Marseillaise and then two quaint little songs, “Au Clair de la Lune” and II Etait Un’ Ber- gere.” After singing these we placed our chairs in a circle and played a game called “le jeu de 1’ anneau’’ and another very funny one called French “blind man’s buff.” In this one we made a circle and two boys went in the middle. One had his eyes blindfolded; the other carried a bell which he tinkled to attract the former’s at- tention. The blindfolded player had to try to hit the other with a stocking stuffed with flour, and I think he did this very successfully, for I don’t suppose one of them will very soon forget the “sock” the other gave him. It was a dandy meeting, and on the behalf of all the members present, I wish to say as our friends, the French, might word it,—“Merci beaucoup, Mile. Vorrath. Nous nous sommes amuses tres bien !” Any French student may join our club, and will be made very welcome. Mary Faillace, Secretary. It h Plain That The Girls Can't Beat The Boys In School Spirit. t) U V Jar v r SCHOOL RIBBONS SCHOOL CAPS n fh ' Accomplishing what we set out for, our club has started its second session with great strength in members and much work planned. Our committee on Collections has secured in- teresting objects, one of which is the skull of a horse. Everet Anderson, one of our enthusias- tic members, has presented to the club a mounted chart of various types of butterflies. Through the efforts of our executive commit- tee we have been able to present to the scientific students of our school, slides of plant and ani- mal life. Miss Wallace, our sponsor, aided our club with explanations of the slides shown. Our membership has been greatly increased this year. We extend our invitation to all stu- dents interested in biology, or any form of science, to visit our meetings. Each and every member of the Biology Club feels the great loss of a good friend and a loyal member, Elwin Davison. Sylvia Weiss, Secretary. DOINGS OF THE DRAMATICS CLUB In October the 3-1’s were initiated into the Dramatics Club by the 3-2’s, in the High School Gymnasium. A short time after, the board of directors met, and a play called “The Stubborn Couple” was discussed. This board consists of six per- sons chosen by the three English classes. At its request Miss Smith undertook to name the characters, and also to select two persons to give recitations at the Thanksgiving assembly. The following morning these names were read off in class and work immediately began. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, after the usual morning exercises, Dorothy Mc- Aleer took charge of the assembly, and announc- ed the numbers. The first was a song, “America the Beautiful,” by the whole assembly; then fol- lowed a humorous monologue entitled “A Cheer- ful Caller,” by Adeline Mair, in costume. The next number was a Chopin Concerto by Eugene Kuzmiak, a graduate of this High School, ac- companied by Miss Hagmeier in lieu of an or- PAGE TWENTY-ONE