Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

Page 20 text:

Cbe “ £baubrtnb” SCHOOL had been going on placidly for two and one-half months when one eventful morning we were greeted with gold and white banners hung in most conspicious places. Upon coming nearer, we beheld the words “Coming? “Dec. 9.” Of course that little insignificant question mark stirred up all the girls’, and some of the boys’ curiosity. All felt they could never stand the suspense when they were given to know that the whole thing was to be a secret. For the weeks following, there was mysterious nabbing out of classes of a chosen few. The sale of tickets began a week before the day for the great event and the intervening week was almost a vacation for many of us. What, with hammering and setting up of booths, and the many secret conferences of committees every one was more or less excited. At last the long anticipated day arrived. It was a gala day for everyone. We had, as usual, our recitations in the morning, but the call of the candy and sandwiches was so great that our afternoon recitations were chiefly mechanical. At this point we divided, some to help stock up the candy booths, some to help Miss Studley make sandwiches, and others to quiver and quake until the time for “public appearance’’ came. The afternoon started cut with a musical selection under the leadership of Mr. Hoover, and throughout the program, there was not one mistake or even a halt. This all goes to show that Commerce is composed of those who can do things well. An intermission for refreshments and a general good time followed during which the dignified seniors played “farmer in the dell’’ and other childish games. At 5:00 P. M. all went to the study hall to enjoy Mr. Lynch’s illustrated lecture on Scott’s “Lady of the Lake.” After this every one crowded to the lunch room and kept the white capped, be-frillcd waitresses so busy that they got twisted and brought to their patrons tea when they called for ice cream. Next, everybody congregated in the hall in groups and waited for particular friends to come for the evening program. At last seven o’clock arrived bringing with it so many people that by eight o’clock, auditors were doubly lined up around the walls of the study room. The evening program was remarkably fine, for some of Commerce’s best took part in it. During the last bars of America, everybody realized a longing for some of the toothsome candy still left in the booths, and immediately after the program was finished, everyone rushed to the lower hall where the theory of diminishing utility was being put to shame by the purchasing of one box after another. But alas and alack all things must end, so with the Edaudivid. One by one everybody departed, and like the character in Longfellow’s poem the visitors left footprints behind in the form of paper bags and empty candy boxes. Everyone voted the Edaudivid a huge success at least as far as pleasure was concerned, and when it was learned that we had realized one hundred and sixty dollars, which was to go to the Athletic Association, the affair was unanimously voted a success from all points.

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history Class of 19 U OUR school days, like a voyage, must come to an end and as we have now reached the end of our High School career we may pause, and, turning back the leaves of the “log” review the various events which have transpired. In our course there have been many periods, some calmly serene, some tempestuous, but our pilot, always with the aid of a faculty adviser,” has steered us clear of all the rocks and shoals which might have proved disastrous to our frail bark. It seems to us a long time, but it is only four years since we started on our voyage. We began with a fleet of ships. Each ship had the same port in view but there was no general commander. The first point which each had to pass was the point farthest south from the common destination. It was that of “Freshman Year.” In this first year of our voyage we all learned that to be on a ship of the “High School Fleet” one must become unnaturally dignified, one must acquire an air of wisdom, and an expression indicative of learn ing must repose on one’s countenance. One must learn to act of his own accord and remember that “we are young men and women as we were so often told by our officers. These experiences were gathered by all. They were perhaps dearly bought, but were treasured as valuable because collected in foreign lands. After this point was passed, the course seemed clear to our still inexperienced eyes. We thought ourselves “jolly tars,” who might now, to a certain degree, lessen the vigilance and the care formerly so necssary. Why, we had been at sea a year, and surely then one is no longer a mere landsman! During cur second year’s voyage, we delighted in looking down on and tormenting those who after a year’s delay followed cur example and embarked on unknown seas. We called them “Freshmen.” They were so delightfully refreshing ” But not much of this was allowed. The discipline at sea is very strict. As we neared the second point in our voyage, we found that to pass this we had to go through a very narrow strait. Upon observation we saw that our whole fleet was there to pass this point and then a calamity happened. The strait was commanded over by a very powerful landsman, and he would allow but one ship to pass. The powerful landsman must have been a seafaring man in his time, for his ways were most pirate-like. Just because the ships of our fleet suited his purpose he confiscated them. Some of our sailors were made “to walk the plank,” and others were kept to man the ships which had been seized. Our captains then held a conference and decided that another ship must be procured and all hands should sail further, on this. They bargained for one of the ships owned by the pirate-like landsman, and then rechristened it, calling it “Commerce. Then we continued cn our voyage and as we triumphantly and unitedly sailed through the narrow pass we, looking back, found it labeled “Sophomore Year.” A calm now set in and for three months we lay idle, but we were again 2n