East High School - Exodus Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

Page 31 text:

Class History By Leslie Bunch IN the fall of 1934 a bewildered but resolute band of pilgrims searching for truth and knowledge wandered into the wilderness known as Decker Woods and settled at East High School. They quickly made friends with the hostile Decker Tribe of Indians. As the leaves grew on the trees these pilgrims also grew and began to assimulate the knowledge and behavior of their strange neighbors. Many moons passed thus. We find that in March, 1936, in an effort to prevent their defusion into the tribes of East High, these hardy souls organized the Senior Class of 1937. One Glyn Mainwaring, a player of the flute, was chosen as the leader of the flock. Two venerable soothsayers of the Decker Tribe, Gisela Birkner and Marvin Johnson, wTere chosen to help guide the destinies of the children of wisdom. By now the news of the great intellectual wisdom and physical prowess of these scholars traveled far and wide as if on the wings of an eagle. Many more moons passed as these children of wisdom endured times of need and enjoyed times of plenty. In January, 1937, in accordance with an old Indian custom, Norma Newbill received the honor of being made Mantle Orator of the Senior Class. Defying age old traditions a feminine member of the pilgrims, Mildred Sattler was elected president of the Student Council, the governing body of East High. “Hi-Y,” an ancient order of Monks of Mischief, honored Robert Wilson Blake by making him the supreme potentate of all East “Hi-Y” Clubs. The Senior Friendship Club recognized the brilliance and leadership of the children of wisdom by electing Betty Grosser Chief Squaw of their organization. The spring of 1937 brought a change in leadership of the band of pilgrims. Walter Nehls, forerunner of the circus strong man, was selected to guide their fortunes. Robert Dearth, first of the matinee idols, became a tradition because of his ability to strike the mindfs chords of pathos in his dramatic work which drew capacity crowds in the Town Tepee. The dramatic achievement of the age was realized when these monks of knowledge under the brilliant leadership of that dilettante of drama, George Weis, presented that famed dramatic work, “The Senior Revue.” The children of wisdom,, aside from their intellectual and cultural achievements, were also famed for their social gatherings, especially their class dances, at which many of the present ballet dances were first conceived. As the leaves grow on the trees, so must they part from the trees. Thus it was that in the spring of 1937 great sorrow descended upon the band of pilgrims. The mighty chieftain of the Deckerites had ordained that before the passing of the last moon of June these pilgrims must leave Decker Woods and seek their fortunes in more fertile hunting grounds. With grim determination these children of wisdom prepared to go forth into the world in search of whatever the Great White Father held — 31 —