Julia Richman High School - Spotlight Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 10 text:

fflfl GAY girls Life in the Spotlight? as a theme offers fascin- ating possibilities of speculation. Shall the em- phasis be on Life, or on Spotlight? Shall we stress the definite article in the title, thus slyly intimating that the Julia Richman Spotlight is, ipso facto, the Spotlight of Spotlights, whose effulgence dims all lesser spotlights? Or, shall we elevate the preposi- tion to supreme position, thereby limiting our theme to the players and the spot so lighted, ignoring all outside? Ah, the players! and the spot! Here, inevitably, our thoughts turn to our seniors who at the moment occupy the center of the stage. But imagination balks at the idea of seniors and spot in juxtaposition. Or, with apologies to Shakespeare, may we classify all who come within the Spot- light's rays as those who are born to the spotlight, those who achieve it, and those who have it thrust upon them ? My acquaintance with those who are born to the spotlight is a limited one. The only instance I recall occurred some years ago in Edinboro, when I ran two blocks on Prince's Street to catch a glimpse of Princess Mary, who had come up to review the regiment of which she was honorary colonel. The glimpse was a very satisfactory one, so I ran two more blocks down a side street to see her again. Somehow, her charm and beauty, real as they were, left me vaguely disappointed. Even we of the democracies still subconsciously expect royalty to have some visible sign of its high estate, its uniqueness, so to speak-a faun's ear, perhaps, or some other feature that differentiates it from the common herd. Alas! The Princess Royal had neither more nor less than any pretty girl. An unconsciously cherished illusion was forever shattered. Much more exciting are the recollections of those who have achieved the spot- light. In that triumph, one recognizes that not the divinity that doth hedge a king but the human qualities which we all possess to a greater or less degree are being glorified. A Memory recalls many such pictures. Sir Thomas Lipton, a boy of humble origin, who became famous as a tea planter and merchant is one. I can see him in imagina- tion in a box at the theatre, with the spotlight playing upon him, enjoying the cheers of the audience for his good sportsmanship in challenging the American yachtsmen year after year for the International Cup, even though his hope of success was slight. I can still hear the musical comedy chorus that changed its song to Tommy, Tommy, tell me true, Do you love me as I love you? to the delight both of Sir Thomas and of the crowd.

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FOREWCDRD Dear Classmates, Graduation! This goal, once a dream, has at last become a reality. We have worked hard to gain the knowledge which is neces- sary to open the doors to the future. Of course, we do not, as yet, have suflicient learning to cope with all of the problems that life presents. Though the problems we have encoun- tered in the past might have seemed microscopic to the on- lookers, they have prepared us for our future destinies. We have the ability to stand on our own feet and face life unafraid. That, after all, is the heritage of American youth. Let us go forward then, confident that we will find our places in Life's Spotlight. Sincerely, Zf.eZ4u,Q

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I have a picture of a little girl who had heard such vigorous and heated discussion of politics at home that she simply had to attend the political meeting, to which inci- dently only men were invited, at which Teddy Roosevelt spoke for William McKinley, the candidate for President. Staying after school for a week for cutting, and fin danger of annihilationl wiggling down a crowded aisle of men, were a small price to pay for the rapture of standing against the platform, near enough to touch Mr. Roosevelt, looking up into his face and hearing him say, lim dee-lighted to be here. Think of sharing the spotlight with Teddy-and being quite unaware of it! Or perhaps you would like to hear of the same little girl and her brother, aged three and five, who started out to find their mother who had gone to a church service in the big tent which served the summer colony for a church. The easiest way to enter, as far as they were concerned, was to roll under the tent. It was a matter of complete indifference that they arrived in the spotlight, so to speak, in front of the pulpit, ignored the speaker, and surveyed the audience, with audible comments as to where mother might be. Mother, incidentally, was crouched down, out of sight, suc- cessfully avoiding the spotlight. The spotlight plays upon Charles P. Steinmetz, the great scientist and inventor of things electrical, reciting to a thrilled high school class in Greek Qfrom the Iliadl. We had a vision of the sheer enjoyment that he found in what to us was still something of drudgery. Helen Wills at sixteen in pigtails- Little Poker Face, the papers called her- winning the woman's tennis matches at Forest Hills, Sir Harry Lauder, the Scotch ballad singer, in the Atlantic City Traymore Grill after a concert, suddenly breaking into song, and entertaining a delighted audience for an hourg Hiram Corson, one of the great Browning scholars and a personal friend of the poet, holding an audience so enthralled that they were not even conscious of the more than untidy and startling dress of the speaker, and the several rings on every finger of either hand. I recall the excitement with which we watched Secretary of State Lansing in November 1918, writing on hotel stationery and posting in a drug-store window on the Atlantic City Boardwalk the statement: I have had no information that would lead me to place any credence in the report of an Armistice on the Westem Front. Three days later, however, on November eleventh, at five o'clock in the morning, the great organ in the church across the way pealed out the joyous news of the real Armistice, and in less time than it takes to tell, the streets were crowded with laughing, weeping people. The first World War was over! So the spotlight of memory swings always to and fro. The world-wide spotlight is focused today on figures and events of importance in winning an enduring World Peace. May this SPOTLIGHT of yours in the future recall to you the funny, tragic, interesting and lovely experiences you have had in the Julia Richman years. PRINCIPAL limit i7. 'ii51.Wa