Curtis High School - Curtis Annual Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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f'In September of the year 1909, the earlier entertainers were ex- changed for the more substantial interviews with Physicus and an- other Algebraicus and Geometricus, both of whom were older and more advanced brothers of the former instructors. At this time this group of whom I am speaking began to distinguish themselves by organizing into a class and entering social circles for the beneht of the higher classmen whom they entertained. Thus .after three years of study and companionship with the people mentioned, the Seniors began to glory in their great progress and chose banners of green and white stamped 'Reward Sweetens Labor,' besides wearing emblems of gold. The achievements of some of the followers were indeed praiseworthy, being finally chronicled in the form of an 'Annual' The journey through the CURTIS HIGH SCHOOL had finally ended after many hardships, offset by as many pleasures. The gradu- ates now attribute their success to the efforts of their patient and worthy instructors, while I recognize this success by the presentation of these diplomas. A few days afterward, amid the shouts and applause of coin- panions and friends the close of each Senior's high school career was marked by the presentation of one of those trophies of which old Diplomacus had spoken. f-X' Twwzty-tlzree

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HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1911 U ES, my dear, I am again at that pleasant semi-annual task which I enjoy above all else,-the writing out of diplomas, a sweet old voice was heard to say. Not that I rejoice at the graduates going, for indeed we have become very dear friends after our four years of companionship, but then I know that I have accomplished my work of carrying them through their school career. And old Diplomacus looked very thoughtful as he laid aside the last diploma he had written, while his mind wandered 'twixt mirth and sadness as he thought alternately of the Seniors' coming and of their leaving. Since most people are relieved to share their joys and sorrows with their friends, old Diplomacus sought the same method of relief, and so revealed his experiences with the 1911 Seniors to me. Just four years ago, he began, they came with me, a host of laughing but determined boys and girls, pleasantly seeing only the joys stored up in the dear old CURTIS HIGH SCHOOL. They talked only of the basket-ball games, the stunts to be done in gym- nasium, the entertainments and lovely lunches to be enjoyed at noon, but lo! their vain fancies soon were shattered, for they found that most of their time had to be divided among several interests,-Algebraicus who converts our simple alphabet into a most complex science, Ger- inanicus and Latinus, who teach one to twist his tongue into new and wonderful shapes, Physiogiographicus, who brings his followers over crags and knolls, and from ocean bottom to volcanic craters, and Englishus, who is always urging his pupils to rewrite books in the form of book-reviews. By the second year, he went on, only half of the company re- mained to face the hardships of the coming year, and having learned to contend with a few difficulties while Freshmen, the violence of a dreadful bore called Geometricus was met with far less awe and fear than were the kindlier friends of their preceding year. At this time desperate measures were taken for the increasing of our premises, for Addmiticus had added about two hundred more Freshmen to the train, to make up for losses in the more advanced companies, an act which required the addition of two rooms formerly belonging to 'Grammar Grades',-over which Algebraicus and Ger- manicus presided, besides a wonderful laboratory where the Sopho- mores could prepare their lunches Qproviding their mothers had not had timej Twenty-two

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CLASS PROPHECY Curtis had a Senior Class, Of which she was quite proudg Whenever it was mentioned, The praise was always loud. To guess what Fate would bring to each Was a thing We could not dog So a little fairy came and said, I'll tell each future true. Milton has a splendid choir, The finest in the land, He leads them on to victory By waving his right hand. And Hildur sings with all her vim, The mezzo part to carry- She fell in love with a tenor fair, And very soon did marry. Of a paper that the truth does tell, The editor's Anna Wardg The miscreants are in awe of her, For their deeds she does record, Twenty-four