Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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THE ANNUAL BOARD PLAY. THE Annual Board gave their first play in the East Tech Auditorium on the evening of Friday, May the first, the day on.which so many people had a hard time keeping track of the new time. To say that the play was a great success is a mild statement, and the auditorium held an appreciative audience, who enjoyed the amateur production immensely. “In Plum Valley,” the play presented is a rural comedy of four acts, which, speaking in a theatrical manner, proved a scream all the way through. Uncle Jared represented the good, old-fashioned farmer full of fun, while his wife Aunt Lucinda was one who could never see the funny side of a joke, and her obtuseness always added a little more spice to the humor. Uncle Jared's daughter Hazel was one of those sedate country girls; she fell in love with Doctor Markham, a city chap of sterling worth, while Hugh Elkins represented the other side of the question; he was one of those bad men wanted by the police in several different places, but who is always able to avoid the law. He plotted to force a marriage with Hazel Wilkins after learning that she had inherited money left by her uncle in South America. He planned to get Uncle Jared's consent by forging papers, showing that the old farmer was in his power, but he was foiled in his designs by Bill Stouter, who knew Elkins’ record in the West, and by Grace Stollard, who turned out to be Elkins’ deserted wife. The play ended happily with Hazel and Markham making arrangements for their wedding and Sallie and Scott (Uncle Jared’s hired help) resolving that they would get married and accompany the principals on their wedding trip to South America. The play was given for the benefit of the Annual in order to do away with advertisements. The success of the play is due to Mr. Orton’s faithful coaching, more than to any other one thing. He spent much time and energy in rounding out the players’ knowledge, and we thank him heartily for his efforts in trying to make the play a success. THE CAST OF CHARACTERS. Uncle Jared Wilkins ............ Dr. Arthur Markham ............. Hugh Elkins .................... Aunt Lucinda Wilkins ........... Hazel Wilkins .................. Sallie ji Uncle Jared’s hired help Scott 1 Ted Simpkins ................... Grace Stollard ................. Bill Stouter ................... Scene of Act 1. Uncle Jared’s farm. Scene of Act 2. Aunt Lucinda’s sitting-room. 55 ......Clarence Barber ........Arthur Xavier ..... Homer Twitchell ......Dorothy Prosser ...... Evylene Young ) Emily Gaiser Walter Krauss ...... Llewellyn Reese ....... Gladys Bolton .........Ralph Mullen Scene of Act 3. Glen where picnic is held. Scene of Act 4. Same as first. CLARENCE BARBER, ’14.

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The menu, which was an exceedingly fine one according to their idea, consisted of Brown Bratburd served hot, baked Henn-in-gravy, and Barry pie; the guests could also have either Wein-er or Apple-by consent of the Weiss hotel proprietor. After the dinner, the company danced and all said that they had had a good time. As we departed, we saw standing in the doorway and spouting as usual, the Geyser (Gaiser) of Commerce High. EDNA HENNING, ’14. RULES OF CONDUCT. THOU shalt be on time. 2. Thou shalt not loiter in the halls. 3. Thou shalt keep thine eyes rvited on the speaker and during rhetoricals pay attention to him only. 4. Thou shalt not enter Room 1 without expecting work. PICTURES AND STATUARY. TWO attractive pictures and two pieces of statuary, donated to Commerce by the class of 1913, through the Annual Board, serve as a constant reminder of unselfish interest on the part of out-going classes. The pictures consist each of a group of three panels with historic value. The rich coloring in black, red and gold gladdens the artistic eye; the vivid portrayal of important phases in English history holds the interest of students of actual life. The six panels are copies of historical frescoes recently presented for decorating the palace of Westminster. The statuary shows some of the best work of Michelangelo, being companion pieces representing Lorenzo and Giuliano de Medici. The latter have been temporarily placed on the platform in the study room, awaiting the time when a suitable perspective in the new High School of Commerce shall give them a permanent location. 54

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THE SENIOR CANDY SALE. TELL that doctor to hurry up and get over in this corner! Why, this man looks ready to die. What’s the matter with him, did you say? Why, he has been going without his lunch for a week in order to save enough funds for this Senior Candy Sale. He said he couldn’t just seem to get enough of that candy to satisfy his appetite, but you would think he might have known that he couldn’t overcrowd his stomach with this home-made candy and still live through it. Well, Doc, do you think he will survive? What’s that? It's nothing but cramps from overcrowding the stomach? But, man alive, look how that boy is suffering! What’s that he’s saying? ‘I herewith resolve never to eat more than my share of home-made candy even if it is for the good of the Senior Class.’ ” The scene portrayed was only one of the small incidents that happened on that memorable Nineteenth of January. From the time the bell rang in the morning, it was one great hustle and bustle to get the candy unwrapped, packed in boxes, and put on the trays. Any one seeing the Seniors rushing through the halls, here and there, decorating the booths or carrying large trays of candy, would have thought that he must be in the midst of the “Battle of Sweets.” About the middle of the third period everything was ready. Then how time dragged! It certainly seemed hours until the close of the period, but the waiting paid, for then came the big rush. All you could hear was, “Gi’me a nickel’s worth of this,” or, “How much is that big box there?” and hundreds of other questions. This commotion continued until the end of the sixth period, when to the disappointment of some would-be buyers, our great supply of candy ran out. After counting our proceeds we found to our great satisfaction, that the Candy Sale of the Class of ’14 was the largest and most successful that the High School of Commerce had ever seen. ARTHUR XAVIER. THE FIRST SENIOR INFORMAL. THE thirty-first of October had no horrors for the Class of 1914. One reason may have been that members of this class had stouter hearts and were more determined than their predecessors. Whatever may or may not be known about that, one fact is known, and that is that for at least two weeks before the end of the spooky month, secrets were being told among a few select Seniors, namely, committee members and officers. Various groups were dispatched to do different tasks. One merry crowd of dignified Seniors went to the forest and brought back many leaves as well as some of nature’s own ideas, that later were carried out in decorations. Some were dispatched to down-town stores, and these laid in a supply of bunting and crepe paper, while still others went to the country and captured pumpkins and corn-stalks. It could not be said that the time “flew” during these two weeks, because, contrary to tradition, it passed very, very slowly. The only visible excitement was the haste of Seniors to pay their dues. After much 66