Fosston High School - Talisman Yearbook (Fosston, MN)

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yi! lk rf Q ,, MISS CHERRYBLOSSOMH HE three acts of the musical comedy Miss Cherryblossomn- occur in Kokemo's Tea Garden in Tokyo, Japan. Cherryblossom, in reality, Miss Evelyn Barnes of New York, at the death of her parents is left by her fatlver's secretary in the care of a Japanese inn-keeper. Her fathei-'s secretary uses her property for his own ends. When Cherry is about eighteen the secretary returns to Japan with a party of Amerie cans one of whom, John Henry Smith falls in love with Cherry and wishes to marry her. Kokemo, however who has brought her up as his own daughter. wishes her to marry Togo, a rich politician. The play centers around Jack's efforts to outwit Kokomo and Togo. Finally Cherry learns her true identity, comes into her own property, marries Jack. and all ends happily. After weary weeks of practicing, the operetta was presented on March 253 first one obstacle and then another had retarded its performance before this time. When finally presented, it was a great success and exceeded our highest hopes. The parts were all taken splendidly and brought forth repeated huists of applause from the audience. Parnel Hillestad. as Kokelno. was admirably suited to his part and caused many outbursts of laughter by his ridiculous slips of language, Marion Vaaler. as Cherryblossnm was u charming little Jap and proved herself equal to the role. Walter Solberg, as the American hero delighted the audience with his solos. The dances uhich he and Cherry performed were graceful and picturesque, and seemed to fit into the atmosphere created by the scenery. The part of Togo, a rich politician, was played by Adellor I.aVoi, who was in every respect a digni- fied nctor. His difficult solos were sune with remarkable ease. Gladys Howe as Jessica. nlensed the audience greatly and played her part well considerinr: the fact that her special training had been limited to two days. This part was to have been played by Bertha Vingaard who was unable to perform because of illness. Leon Johnson took the part of Hnrry. the ardent lover and friend who was willing to die chuck full of rice in order to heln his pal win Cherry. Too much credit cannot be given Miss Falkeid and Miss MacNair who coached the chorus and nrincinals untiringly, and worked out the artistic stage setting which went to make Miss Cherryblossom one of the best, ii not the best, entertainment Fosston High School has ever produced. FlF'I'Y-FlFTY PRESENTED BY THE GRADUATING CLASS OF FOSSTON HIGH SCHOOL Under the direction of Miss MncNair CAST OF CHARACTERS: Henry Brown, artist ......................... Walter Solberg Paul Green. author ...., .. .... Joseph Johnson Patrick 0'Mallay. janitor .... . . . .Adellor LaVoi Mrs. Podge, landlady ...... .... A my Chapman Sophie Bland, a dancer .... . . .... Anne Wynne May Dexter, an enthusiast .... .... Ii Iarion Vaaler Mrs. Hawley. a collector .... .... H elen Waldron Smudge, a darky valet ..... ...Clarence Mittun Cap'. a wanderer ........... , ........... . .... Henry Hovlnnd Josephine, a seeker. ....................... Isabelle Anderson The fixst. two acts take place in the studio of Henry Brown and Paul Green: the third is a bungalow in the Adirondacks. Paul and Henry are struggling to achieve fame and bread-and-butter money in literature and art. Utter failure is their lot until one of Henry's paintings, accidently displayed upside down, is enthusiastically purchased by an art collector. Paul. following the same idea, writes his stories backwards, and success follows swiftly. Some innocent fibs. told for reasons of necessity, reach the newspapers and the pals find themselves headed for trouble. Their love affairs go awry and in thc predicanients that follow as a result of their playful propensity for spinning yarns they find success an empty thing. A woman who claims to be Paul's wife, an elusive vanishing painting, a mysterious sea-faring man, and a meddling landlady all contribute to the mix up. In the end the affailu are untangled so that the play ends happily. Page Forty-two

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Bk '21 lv 'Ze E It .- ---A-JM-- LESTER R. PEEL Instructor SMITH-HUGHES PLAN under the Smith-Hughes plan. This plan was organized by the Smith- Hughes Act, which passed Congress in February 1917. It provides that the Federal government shall give each state us much money as that state spends for agriculuturul education. This money is in turn given to each High School that meets the requirements of the law. Thus there are two dollars available to the State, whereas-there would be only one available if the Smith- Hughes law were not in etTect. Three fourths of the expenses of running the Agri- Q XBHE Agricultural Department of the Fosston High School is conducted cultural department of the High School is paid by this money, and one fourth by the School district. The students in the department attend classes for six months, where they re- ceive instruction on how to raise crops and stock, how to test seed, how to test milk, and various other farm practices. They learn how to make things needed on the farm, for the school has n well equipped shop for this work. During this time they decide whnt they are going to raise during the summer, and study out various proh- lenis which they will meet. During the other six months they curry out a project. This may he nn acre of potatoes, an acre of corn, a calf, a group of poultry, or something similar. They do all the work and are ndvised and helped hy the instructor, who visits their farms during the summer. In the full their projects are figured up, and they write an uc- eount of how they did all the work. They ure given their credit after their work is finished and the reports are made. By this plan farm boys who could not attend the regular High School, get a chance to come in when work on the farm is slack. They are at home during the busy season and are studying when they have leisure time. They are, at the same time, studying something they are greatly interestd in, and something that will help them when they are farming for themselves. Page Forty-one

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1, I I 4 is e s'rA'rE Dx-:CLAMATION i ' REATER interest was evidenced in declamation this year than has been shown for several years past. On the evening of January 25th the High School Auditorium was crowded with high school students and their friends who had come to hear the contestants in the preliminary to the State district contest. Seven girls and six boys participated, and the musical numbers of the program were furnished by the pupils of the Intermediate grades. That the entire contest was of high caliber, was the opinion of both the judges and the audience. Hilda Vaaler won second place in the girls contest in her interpretation of a cutting from Anne of Green Gables and was given the privilege of represent- ing the school at the Red River Farm Crop Shows in Crookston. Marion Vaaler secured first place with Longfellows Famine Scene from Hiawatha. In the oratorical contest Clarence Mittun won second place with Wilson's League for Peace and Walter Solberg took first place with his rendition of Presi- dent Harding's address before the Disarmament Conference. Then came the grind of preparation for the district divisional contest. The original plan was to enter the Thief River division but owing to the fact that their contest was posponed until March 10th, arrangements were made to join the east- ern division at Bemidji. The contest was held at that place the evening of Feb. 21, in the Methodist Church Auditorium. The oratorical contest was held First. Considering the fact that it was Wol- ter's first experience in declamatory work he gave his selection remarkably well, and won fourth place in the judges' decision. Marion was the sixteenth speaker. The audience had become restless, but she gained their attention and held every listener thru the final word of her selec- tion. She secured first place in the judges' decision, and Fosston may be well satis- Hed that their contestant was undoubtedly the best altho she was thrown out of the contest lay the committee in charge because of several seconds overtime. There was a di erence of over three points between Marion's rating and that of the next nearest claimant for first place. The goodly number of lower classmen who entered declamation work gives promise for a strong department in public speaking next year, and assurance that we will continue to send winners to the various contests of the district. Page F arty-three