Hunter College High School - Argus Yearbook (New York, NY)

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THE ARGUS ' ' ' - -A ' ' - -- - A- - - A ' - LUJLKUJ - L E E 'livuivwa l v-v vAv v-v w-v-- -v -Av w-v w-v - -- Y-v Y-,1-QA, ,-v ,x,'v.v ' OOOOOICCCOOC O OC 0606 HAMLET We read Shakespeare's world-famous tragedy Hamlet dramatically in the schoolroom, under the directions of our Oral English teacher-and wie yawned. We read it at home, obeying the commands of our English teacher-and we fell asleep. We go to the Manhattan Opera House and see it acted with John Barrymone as Hamlet--and in ecstasies of de- light we firmly assert that it is the best play ever written. We rave over Shakespeare because he has apparently writt-en a play for John Barrymore himself.. Without reserve, with genius flaming in every linel' as wlell as in every action, this actor conveys to us the full significance of the Shakespearian masterpiece. We cannot but believe that the author had just such an actor in mind when he wrote the play. The other characters are good-but we are constantly on edge when Hamlet is not on the stage 3-we are waiting for him to appear. Of all the characters we like. the king least. Not because he is the villain, but because we can scarcely understand his poorly pronounced lines. They remind us too much ofthe book and the dramatic reading at school. However, we have reformed. Never again will we fall asleep over Hamlet! DR. NYE-By J. c. LINCOLN Dr. Nye is the story of ia young physician who has been in prison. Released, he re.turns to South Orhan, his native vil- lage, where he is shunned by the respectable element-the unco' guid. However, by his tireless eiTorts for the welfare of the town, he manages to restore himself to the good graces, of its citizens. In helping two young people to happiness, Dr. 107

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THE ARGUS We cannot say too much in praise of the Packer Current Items. It is a small magazine, but every bit of writing is excellent, andl-olhl oak among the saplings! Qwfe wax poeticj -written in a natural and mature style. After perusing many high school publications We find that the most general defect is the childish style in which articles ane written, or else a humorous swing to the other extreme. Clever, isn't it? Richmond Hill calls its magazine the Dome -the dome of thought, the palace of the mind--and its paper the Domino, We liked William J. Riley's baseball story, and understood every word. You see we once saw a baseball game. It was at the Yankee Stadium. The Yanks were, playing Cincinnati and we wion by a nose in the Tenth inning. Oh yes, we even know who Casey Stengel and Zack Wheat are. You can't fool us. Now we hate to be rude, but and the Colonial Bedstead and William B. McClellan intended to be synonymous? Careful, Dome! All honor 'to your golf team, twice city champions. We can hold a golf club very scientifically, but we can't swing it. Clever story, Miss Macnelady. You have the happy faculty of making people smile wth you. And we like your work, W. I. R., your style is charming, but don't let it get too set. We will close this review with an appreciation of your attractive cover. Thank you, and 'comlel again. Wad1eigh's OWL.- Good cuts, and very clever knocks. What we like about the Owl is the profuseness and variety of its material. Lots of it is good, and lots of it is not so good, but one feels that everyone has contributed and that thus the Owl is an expres- sion of the true Wadleigh, as it shrould be. Our own Argus might follow this- example. .at Q35 'Qi W5 Q. 9. Q60 il fl 106

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THE ARGUS Nye proves his innocence of the theft with which he has been charged. The, plot is a very lolbvious one. The scene of the stotry, South Orhan, is the typical New England fishing vil- lage 'which J. C. Lincoln is so fond of describing. The charac- ters are well done with that refreshingly hum-orous touch that is so characteristic of Lincoln. We have but one criticism to make,-Dr. Nye was entinefly tlolo noble to suit us erring mortals. MESSER MARCO POLO.-Donn Byrne Messer Marco Polo is the story of the love affair between, one of the most romantic figures of the Middle Aiges, Marco Polo, and the great Kubla Khan's daughter, Golden Bells, told .with the inimitable charm of an old Irishman. With such a combination of rich flavors the result is one of the most delect- able morsels that has been produced in the literary world for a long time. Donn Byrne, has an inborn gift for telling yarns and this one, with all its preposterousness, wlith all its vague philos- ophy cneates a gorgeous atmosphere of pageantry which would be overwhelming if it were not so delicate. The rich brogue of the dialect only makes 3, heavier and richer canvas on which Mr. Byrne may blend the vivid foneliggn colors of a past world of -mystery into a picture that is so beautiful that it does not have to be real. It is this lack of reality that prevents the book from having any historic value. But this need not detract from its true worth for Donn Byrne has succeeded in giving to the world a thing -of beauty and who can deny that that is a worthy achievement? Gladys B. Frankel. dv '4'i,'i31 lY,'ia:3':e4, ':.aK'Qsa,,, A 6- fm 'le'J! ' Q . Q 5. Q. , , A 4 .1 izpzdg ihvef. - .qi , Il' Qlllli ltlzgg . -ll' 108