Edison High School - Wizard Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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Those participating in this fete were members of the physical education department of our school. It was under the direction of Miss Millicent Hosmer, the physical director. Activities such as the May Fete serve to show the glories of physical development. But what is beauty of body without beauty of mind? A place where a mind can find much improvement is a library. Miss Rhf.a Gibson Library Edison lias a larger fiction library than any other school in the city. Most of these books have been given to the library through voluntary subscriptions in the English classes. Miss Gibson, our librarian, has acquired quite a bank account by collecting fines on over due books. With this she bought a book rack exclusively for encyclopedias. Our average circulation is from six hundred to seven hundred books a day, counting distribution for every period and also including over night draw-outs. When new books are added to tbe library. Miss Gibson does not put them away on the shelves for students to find, but she advertises them so that the students may be well informed of the additions. On the main desk is a little sign that reads, “Have you read this? ’ This serves to awaken the curiosity of the students. Speaking of awakening the curiosity of the students, there are few things in Edison which arouse more interest than the class plays. On the evening of June 11, 1926, the Senior Class presented Shakespeare's refreshing comedy, As You Like It. The cast had prepared for the production in the usual class play class, working diligently throughout the term. The play was selected because of its undying popularity, its charming story, and its variety of characters. It Ticenttj

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 THE EDISON WIZARD THE W I Z A EDISON HIGH SCHOOL Minneapolis, Minnesota September 7, 1926 Dear Mr. Edison: Few great undertakings are entered into without some feelings of fear as to how they will ultimately turn out. and it is with many an inward qualm and considerable trepidation that I realize that I am the first one to write to you in this annual. You are already acquainted with the plan in which we are editing this volume of THE WIZARD, in a series of letters to you telling you about our school and its activities. Each person who is writing is doing his utmost to make his letter interesting and to give you as much information as possible concerning the school which bears your name. Perhaps it would interest you to know that every page of THE W IZARD is a product of Room 312, which is the headquarters for everything connected in any way with our annual. Here it is that the members of the staff and all the helpers congregate day after day to work on this publication. Some arc pounding out words on the typewriter; some arc declaiming bits of nonsense to bring a grin to the editor’s sour face; while I am at this precise moment sitting in a corner seat, clutching my hair frantically in my efforts at concentration. Outside the day is pleasantly cool; the sun is pleasantly warm, and the breeze on my face is pleasantly refreshing. Altogether it is a day conducive to great mental activity. However, my wits are not particularly sharp today. There are those on the staff who think they never are, to tell the truth. You know, Mr. Edison, we have all just relumed from vacation, each one having spent it in his own way. It is a long time since we have heard these halls echoing with footsteps or with the clatter of hanging locker doors, and it takes some time to grow accustomed to these new things. In a few weeks the routine of school days will be running smoothly. New clubs will be forming; old clubs meeting; athletics will soon take on an air of importance, and various entertainments will be taking place. Each year we have been finding new types of amusement. Last year Edison tried a new one. On May 14, 1926, Edison held for the first time in its history a May Fete. It was a coronation ceremony of old England representing the crowning of the king and queen, and an entertainment was given in their honor by their retainers. The King, Jeanette Carlson, and the Queen, Anne Homey, were attended by Heralds, Courtiers, Pages, Ladies-in-waiting, Court Jesters, Warriors, and Old English Dancers. IM Nineteen

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offers opportunity for a wide range of character study, even the most subordinate roles being quite distinctive. The scene of the play is the terrace before Duke Frederick s palace and the beautiful Forest of Arden, to which delightful place the characters are all drawn for one reason or another. There “like old Robin Hood of England” they live, ennobled by the philosophy of Duke Senior (John Laing), delighted by the lovely forest songs of Amiens (Melvin McLaughlin), amused by the sour eloquence of Jaques (Vernon Fox), and entertained by the whimsical antics of Touchstone (Peter Mankowski). Miss Ruth Tupper English and Class Play The winsome Rosalind, one of Shakespeare’s most bewitching heroines (Marion Stevens), her dainty cousin, Celia (Lyla Grennan), the handsome and romantic Orlando (William Schulze), two real villains, Oliver (Sylvester Fitzpatrick) and Duke Frederick (George Spano), the faithful old servant, Adam (Kenneth Gray), the courtier, LeBeau (Clarence Hedger), Jaques de Boyes (Ben Brainerd), and Charles, the wrestler (Hubert Nelson) we will always remember, and adding to the out-of-door atmosphere, are petite Phebe (Betty Roe I, good-hearted Audrey (Agnes Doherty), the poetic Silvius (Walter Woodruff!, old Corin (Frank Boulet), and the foresters (Donald Vosika and Edith Peebles). Edith's guitar added much to the singing. The production was a delightful one and proved once more that Shakespeare, even in the hands of amateurs, is not only extremely valuable for the performers but very entertaining for the audience. Probably you would be interested to know that Earl Nordquist, an alumnus of Edison, represented the Minneapolis and Minnesota Hi-Ys at the international Y. M. C. A. conference held in Helsingfors, Finland. August 1 to 6. Probably an excerpt from Earl's letter will give you a better idea of his experiences. Twenty-One