Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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deliberation, had decided that we were not capable of publishing an Annual, but after they had made known their decision to us, we immediately arose and declared ourselves ready and more than fit to put out an Annual that would surpass anything that had ever been seen in this school. Some hard and exacting conditions were laid down to us by the Facility, and it was only after meeting these conditions that we were allowed to go ahead with the publication. How well we have succeeded with our work may be judged by the pleasure that you derive by the reading of our Annual. Although apparently doomed before we had even a chance to start anything. by the fact of the numerals “13” after our class, we have succeeded in accomplishing more than any other Senior Class ever did. So once more the fallacy of “13” is shown. We were doubly doomed, for were not the rooms assigned us Nos. G and 7? 6 and 7 equal 13. Think for yourself what things might have been in store for us and the merry time we figured on having while trying to keep Old Man Hoodoo down. He was downed, however, and we went on our way rejoicing and conquering. Our Basketball Team, which was the representative of the school, and ours because of the fact that it was composed of Seniors, was followed for a time by this Old Man Hoodoo, and consequently was the victim of much hard luck in the shape of injuries to its stars, but the Old Fellow was finally downed, mainly because of the sticking powers of the brave boys, and the last two and the hardest two of the games of the year were captured by our team. Hoodoo 13 recovered partially and followed the Debaters for a short time, but they too. had some of this determined spirit, and Old Man Iloodoo was put down and out for all time. The Girls of the Class organized a basketball team and won the Girls’ Championship of the school. They have organized and promoted Candy Sales and bid fair to become very capable sales-ladies when they leave here. They have entertained the hoys liberally with parties and dances, and whenever one of their clubs had “open house” the boys were more than willing to lie found waiting at the door until it was opened for them to enter. Much of the regret we have in passing from school is counterbalanced by the joy we find in leaving behind us a record in all things that will endure the attacks of the undergraduates and the coming Seniors for many years. We bequeath to the incoming Seniors all the joys of the aforesaid Banking and Economics and the happy smile and greeting of Mr. Gordon, and may they meet those smiles with smiles of their own. Our last and fondest wishes are that we leave behind ns only pleasant memories of ourselves with pupils and teachers, and also that success may finally crown our efforts as it did when we were E believe that a high school education is essential to success in public and business life. We believe that, since the majority of the boys and girls who graduate from high school enter the business world, they should have a course of study which will train them in business methods. members of the Class of 1913. LIONEL RUSSON. ’13. OUR CREED. 14

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CLASS OF 1913. S I begin writing this history of the class of 1913, regret stares at me with sorrowful eyes. The completion of this history brings us one step nearer the time of our leaving the High School of Commerce. What wonder that the phantom regret should appear! Our Class of 1913 has been the real pioneer organization of the High School of Commerce. We entered here when the school was a new field of learning and have blazed a trail for the many who come after us to follow. Wc withstood the trials and hardships encountered with real pioneer stoicism. The building was only about half equipped: the school was at its beginning; but we seized with ardor the rough materials on hand and have given the world the Class of 1913 as the finished product. Some of our number completed the course in three years by attending summer school, but we arc- the first class to spend the entire four years withiu the school, and the days it has taken us to do so are numbered among the happiest of our lives. Can anyone wonder that we regret exceedingly the very thought of leaving behind all the joys that it has held for us? We have watched the school grow, and our ambitions and aims have grown with it. Although nothing very beautiful is noticeable about the High School of Commerce, except the ivy that adorns its walls, 1913 has taken a pride in everything connected with it that is felt iri the very atmosphere of the place. The memory still lingers with us of the days when we were poor little “Flats,” who swelled with pride whenever a mighty and sedate Senior saw fit to condescend to notice us. We also remember and treasure the thoughts of our Sophomore and Junior days, for it was then that we began to acquire the manners that later made us the dignified Seniors that, we now are. It was then also that we got our first taste of the social side of the school life. Who is there among us who will ever forget the day we gathered in the Gymnasium after school for our first Junior Dance, and who is there who will ever forget the way we strutted around and looked at the Senior with disdain, for was he not barred from our Dance? For three long years, we strove, with the goal marked “Seniors” ever before us. We seemed never to get any closer to our aim, but wc strutted around and did our best to imitate the mighty men above us. Now, that we ourselves have at last reached our goal, after a little hard sprinting on the third lap, we have not only acquired, but have improved upon the real manners of our former deities. The organization of the class was accomplished after much hard work, but we were immediately brought face to face with harder problems of school life than wfe had ever faced before. Banking and Economics were to be mastered, and they were the bugaboo of many a young Senior’s life for some time, and they were conquered only after many a session with the midnight oil. But by far the largest problem we had to solve was the method of bringing this Annual before the school in a successful and pleasing way. The Faculty, after mature 13

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We believe that the High School of Commerce is the medium best adapted to the development of talent for the business world. We believe in hard work and honesty as great factors in attaining success. We believe that these and other traits tending toward success are best developed in the High School of Commerce. We believe that a healthy body and mind are the foundation of a lifework, and that to secure them, athletics and mental training go hand in hand. But we believe that business success is not the whole object in life. There are higher ideals. Social life and civic duly should command even more attention. We believe that it is the duty of each citizen not only to take an interest, but to participate in public, as well as in social affairs. Above all, we believe in the growth of democracy, in which all have equal chances to develop, along different lines, the various talents that God gives. We believe that the High School of Commerce is well able to inculcate the spirit of democracy in our future citizens. The many types of scholastic, as well as interscholastic activity, afford equal opportunity to all to develop talent along various lines. This is the carrying out of the true spirit of democracy. We believe that the best part, of man is a sturdy, upright character. We believe that the character development of the people in the past and the growth of democracy in the past have combined to give ns our present manner of living. We believe that the continued growth of these two forces will give us the mode of life of the future. We believe that our future life will be nearer the true spirit of democracy, nearer the Right Life, than it has been in the past. ON the night of December the twentieth, the Seniors held their Formal Dance at Kasermairs Academy. Everybody was there! Or almost everybody, and those that were not there, were very sorry that they had stayed away. Some came in machines, some in cabs and some in street cars. At eight o’clock the Grand March started, led by the president, Henry Reich. During the march, as customary, the programs, little yellow and white affairs, were handed out. They were soon filled and the dancing began, dreamy waltzes and lively two-steps. There were sixteen dances and four extras, and even then there were hardly enough. At ten o’clock ices were served, and when the music started the home waltz, all were sorry that the end of such a delightful evening had come so soon. THE SENIOR FORMAL DANCE. ALICE MERKT. 15