Enfield High School - Echo Yearbook (Enfield, CT)

Page 10 text:

8 The Enfield Echo house point, Somers, Scitico, and Suffield. There is rapidly rising action and the villain gradually puts in an appearance. He is called Study and is of alarming size and proportions. It is evident that he will interfere sadly with our enjoyment and leisure. Som- berness does not predominate in this act, as there are many social activities in the forms of Senior hops, assemblies, and plays. We suffer much agony and despair during this period because of these social functions which we are advised to attend in order to acquire poise and dignity. The boys, in particular, find the dances torture but the girls enjoy them greatly. In time, however, these func- tions become festive occasions for all. The main events of this year are the Hallowe’en or get-acquainted dance and the election of officers resulting as follows: president, Allyn Gourlie; vice- president, Marjorie White; secretary, Marie Hines; treasurer, Kenneth Cowles; class historian, Joseph Rich. Owing to the fact that Joseph Rich becomes Salutatorian in his senior year, I am appointed by the faculty to take his place as historian. After an intermission of eight weeks, during which the actors go away on vacations or stay at home and help with the work, the play is resumed. There are pleasant divertissements in the shape of dances, assemblies, and plays. It is in this act that Margaret Landry a member of our illustrious class is given an important roll in the school play, “Nothing But The Truth.” The members of this act seem to have achieved a charm and ease of manner, and a feeling of security that were noticeably lacking in Act I. Incipient love affairs are noticed, and the costumes are much more elaborate, as is also the make-up used. Our cast is beginning to be recognized by the upper classmen as a really talented group and we are asked to play minor parts in their activities and to become members of their clubs. It is during this act that we realize that, “It is not for school but for life we learn.” Another eight weeks’ intermission, and we file in for Act III. Again the same people in the same place—which may make the play sound monotonous to you, but I assure you it is not. The actors are so changed that each act seems like an entirely new play. We are now called Juniors. Our position and our pride have both advanced, but there remains the haunting dread of Study, the villain. The director, Mr. Lee, allows the actors much more freedom than they have previously enjoyed. Many improve their perform- ance because of this, but a few come to grief, and their poor performances detract much from the possibilities of the play. There are many delightful interludes to make this a cheerful act. It is in the operetta, “Don Alonso’s Treasure” that Donald Gourlie, John Galimberti, and Janet Bridge show marked musical ability] We then have our first dance, “The Junior Prom,” which is a great success both socially and financially. The gym is attractively

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tTbe Enftelt» Echo Published at intervals during the school year by the members of the Enfield Public High School, Thompsonville. Conn. Entered as second-class matter February 21, 1917, at the Post Office at Thompsonville. Conn., under the Act of March 3, 1879. VOL. 22 THOMPSONVILLE, CONN., JUNE 1934 NO. 1 ADDRESS OF WELCOME (By Allyn Gourlie) In behalf of the Class of 1934 I welcome you to these our Class Night Exercises. Tonight marks the beginning of the end, the beginning of our commencement week exercises and the end of our high school years. At the end of this week the majority of us will be seeking some sort of employment in this great land of opportunity. We know that our training of the last four years will enable us to recognize and seize each and every opportunity which may arise, thus enabling us to climb to the peaks of success and fame. So, with the deepest and most sincere pleasure the Class of Nineteen Hundred Thirty-four welcomes you, parents, teachers and friends, to our Class Night Exercises. CLASS HISTORY, 1934 (By Mary Giorgiole) The history of the class of 1934 is so dramatic and colorful that it remembles a play—one of those modern plays that so skill- fully disregard all rules of the drama. This is a play in four acts, with three all too brief intermissions. The play was written by the actors as they played their parts, under the direction of Mr. Lee, the principal, and a band of capable assistants, the faculty. It is produced by the board of education with the cooperation of the taxpayers and is given by an all-star cast. The scenes take place in the high school building, in corri- dors, classrooms, gymnasium and assembly hall. The settings are plain, showing signs of much use. Act I shows the arrival of our class in the halls of learning. Our timidity and curious mistakes furnish some bright comedy moments such as getting lost in the corridors, forgetting class- rooms, and getting acquainted with other classmates from Ware-

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The Enfield Echo 9 decorated in blue and silver, the class colors. The gowns of the girls are similar in color to hues of the rainbow as they dance the light fantastic under an array of gayly colored balloons. Two of our best dancers, Lawrence Smith and Marjorie White act as Host and Hostess. Our class is again admirably represented in the school play, “Mary’s Ankle” by Sherrell Sisitzky, Lawrence Smith and Edward Mika. The first minstrel sponsored by the Hi-Y is held this year with Viola Packer and Peggy Fleming as endmen. But, with our added maturity, comes more strenuous prepara- tions for encounters with the villain, Study, who lurks ever in the background, ready to invite a contest at the most inopportune and unexpected moments. Other unexpected things are happening. Many who came on in the first act with enthusiasm and high hopes have wearied of the struggle and left the cast in search of positions offering speedy remunerations and less brain fag. We miss them, but realize that they may be entirely justified in their withdrawal. Again an intermission of eight weeks, which both audience and actors greatly enjoy, perhaps because they realize there is but one more act to follow. The high school orchestra plays better than before, and there is an atmosphere of gayety that even the thought of study cannot completely dispel. Act IV arrives at last and is warmly received. By this time, we are so matured, so at ease, so changed for the better that we are difficult to recognize. We seem to view with rose-colored spec- tacles the scene that so soon will vanish. It looks impossibly at- tractive. We have grown honestly fond of all the cast, some of whom we regarded with anything but favor as the curtain rose on the first act of this queer play. Even that arch-villain, Study, seems less formidable. Wouldn’t it be curious if we grew to like him? The actors are certainly on much more familiar terms with him now then they have been before. The action is more rapid and more complicated than in preced- ing acts. There are more activities than before and there are some delightful interpolations. The school play of our senior year, “The Donovan Affair” adds great fame to our class with Marjorie White and Kenneth Cowles in the lead. Ernest Pierog, Robert Hardy, Walter Kelly, William Crombie, Bryce Leggett, Sherrell Sisitzky, Florence Petkis, and Donald Gourlie also show excellent dramatic ability. Our Senior Prom is very successful under the guidance of William Crombie and Sherrell Sisitzky as Host and Hostess. The gym is beautifully decorated in streamers of blue and white. Again in the Hi-Y Minstrel Viola Packer, Peggy Fleming, and Lawrence Smith show much talent. In a state-wide contest at Bridgeport, Helen Beck wins second prize in typing with Stella Wojnar third;