Eastern High School - Punch and Judy Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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THE EASTERNER 10 During the next few days, Alexander sted several other boys to help in carrying out the plan and each was pledged to absolute secrecy. Alex- ander was busy all of the time and every day after school he was either occupied ia the laboratory or in writing long and important letters to large manufacturing companies. Meanwhile, the public at large was dis- cussing the peculiar circumstances which seemed to surround the Annual Review cf High School Cadets. The President ci the United States had promised to be the reviewing officer, but still the Marine [iand had not been engaged for the oc- casion. Neither had any other band, so far as the public knew. The school offi- cials refused to give out any interview whatsoever upon the subject except that there was to bea band. The public won- dered and no one knew what would hap- except perhaps Alexander ? and Jimmy enli pan The day of the review was clear and the sun shone brightly. At three o'clock, the appointed time, the regiment was lin- ed across the broad expanse of green and the President and his staff came forward and took their places. Yet, one thing was lacking to make this a perfect picture. No band with its sun-reflecting instruments was to be seen. The crowd wondered. Where was the band? The regiment was called to attention and the review began. When the time came for the band to pass in review be- fore the regiment, the colonel command- ed “Parade Rest.” Hardly had his words died away, than from one end of the field, the music of a imlitary band floated over the surpris- ed multitude, and a little group of boys in cadet uniform and carrying small boxes with horns attached, marched jn review. Everyone was astonished. “It looks as if they were carrying phonographs,” shouted someone, “Alexander's Ragtime Band!” yelled another and this cry was re-echoed over the field. After the review, I worked my Way through the large crowd that surrounded the band, and as I happen to be a repor- ter for that rising school paper, the YEASTERNER, I was able to obtain this interview from Alexander : “T wish to say, not only for myself but for my band, that it is pleasing to see the success this band has been. “T have been asked by several persons to state how the music is produced and what is in the little boxes carried by the band. Those little boxes contain a ma- chine which is the ordinary phonograph adapted to the needs of the band. The music is produced from an ordinary phonograph record, the volume of which is increased by an intensifier which I jini vented. A regulator was another thing that had to be invented. Many other minor improvements had to be made. “T wish to thank the members of the band, especially James Black, for their aid, and I also wish to acknowledge the valuable help of Dr. Rothfell, the Valiant Talking Machine Company, and - the makers of the American Records.” THe—How slippery the floor is. hard to keep on your feet. She—Well, really, I shouldn't mind if you did keep off of them some of the time. 5 —The Script. It’s

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THE EASTERNER. 9 ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND By Watson Davis “I guess that means that your beauti- ful High School Band project has gone tc pieces,” said Jimmy Black as he came out of room 13 with Alexander Welling- ton. They were leaving the room in which had just been held the first meeting (and was it the last as Jimmy thought?) of the High School Band. “I don't see,” continued Jimmy, “how a grand and magnificent band can be formed with exactly three members. You see, besides that little freshman who can play the bass drum, you and I are the only members. And all you can do is to give us a sterling imitation of Sousa, while I can be very useful in handing ‘round the music.” “Oh, I don’t know about that,” was Alexander's only comment. “You don't know about what?” ques- tioned Jimmy with a little surprise, “What do you mean?” “T think that there will be a High School Band before the Annual Review or Cadets comes off, replied Alexander, quietly. “Forget it!” said Jimmy expressing his doubt in a rather strenuous manner. “How are you going to do it? Are you going to be the whole band?” “You just wait and see,’ Aelxander said as he shut his locker door and hur- ried down the hall. “T'll wait, but I don’t know about the seeing,” replied Jimmy. Surely, as Jimmy had said the High School Band project seemed likely never to materialize. Alexander, however, was determined that in the Annual Review cf High School Cadets, a band of high school students should march at the head of the regiment. But the question was not whether there should be a band; it was, could there be one? How could a band be organized cut of boys who could not play? Still, Alexander had to meet and overcome all t.ese difficulties. Alexander, therefore, sat down and did something that, although common with him, is not very often indulged in by other boys—he thought. The next day he had one grand and glorious plan all thought out. However, as Alexander had learned in the school of experience, it is easier to make the plans tian to carry them out. When he arrived at school, his first move was to see the physics teacher and lie explained his plan to him in detail. Dr. Rothfell seemed to think the plan very good, but was not too enthusiastic about it. He cautioned Alexander to be sure not to undertake anything that he could not carry out, but he assured him that the physics labor atory was at his disposal. Alexander was so pleased over the first step in the carrying out of his plan that lie hunted up Jimmy and explained his scheme. “You'll have to show me,” replied Jimmy doubtfully, “but I'll help you do anything.” Just then the bell rang and both of the boys had to make a wild dash to their section rooms in order not to be tardy.

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THE EASTERNER. im SCHOOL NEWS On Monday, January 6, Miss Clara Ascherfeld, a pianist from the Peabody Institute of Baltimore, gave the school ene of the most delightful recitals ever held at Eastern. Selections from Bach, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Brahms, Raff, and other celebrated composers were played with such beauty and so much feeling that the delightful program was ended enly tco soon for the hearers. Bearing in mind the great enjoyment derived from her performance, the school will be ready to extend a hearty welcome to Miss Ascherfeld whenever she may visit Eastern again. The faculty and the pupils of Eastern were very sorry to learn that, because of her ill health, Miss Wilkins was obliged to give up her classes for the re- mainder of the school year. While her loss is felt very much, we are all com- forted by the knowledge that it is not permanent and that we are fortunate enough to have so excellent a teacher as Miss Macmillan to fill her place. We all hope that the change of scene and the air of Rome, where she is staying, will soon restore Miss Wilkins to her former state of health, and that she will return in September greatly rested and able to resume her ditties among us once more. Since the Christmas holidays several improvements have been effected around the school, The conservatory at the south end of the corridor on the ground floor has been greatly enlarged and will be used as a room for the holding of classes and as a general overflow room for the laboratory, We also have a new floor in the drill hall which will be greatly appreciated by those who dance at noon hour when they are allowed to, and by Miss Grosve- nor, who has been longing for one since the beginning of the year. Eastern High School has great cause for rejoicing this year for her Athl etic Association was so fortunate as to win the second of the grand prizes, $500 in gold, offered by the Star in its “$5,000 contest.” This shows the excellent work that the school, especially some of the boys, accomplished, as we did not enter the contest until November 14 and were in it, consequently, about five weeks, only. The last month of the contest, the Star offered prizes for the greatest num- her of votes received during the week. Of these, Eastern received the first prize cf $1o, three times, and the second prize of $9, once, which made a total of $539 received in prizes. From this awards of $137.50 were given to the students, Icaving a balance of $401.50 in the treas- ury of the Athletic Association. Walter Graves, and Warden Dyer, who worked together, received the first prize of $50 offered by Dr. Small. Peter Steltz, the second of $25, and Charles Loteler and R. Brooks, the third of $15. Of the special prizes offered to stimu- lete the interest of students, the follow- ing boys, who brought in 1,000 votes or nore, received $5; Walter Graves and Warden Dyer, Peter Steltz, Charles