Richmond Hill High School - Archway / Dome Yearbook (Richmond Hill, NY)

Page 17 text:

Page Fourteen T H E D O NI E Q 9 EIN 'A N U . rg Q 'rp V ' A Sophomorefv Philosophy of Life Why is it that the High School student's life is beset with so many iridescently in- congruous setbacks? He comes into High School because he is too young to go to business, and he takes Latin because he is too young to know better. And everything happens just oppositely to the way it should, all through the course. When he is a freshman, the senior girls think he is just too cute for words, and when he attains his seventh or eighth term the freshwomen speak of him in awed whispers. If he doesn't do anything for his school, he is lacking in spirit' if he does it is to show off. If he has a sympathetic personality, he's a musher or a cakeg and if he is quiet and reserved, he must be stuck on himself. pass your work, you're a grind. donlt, youlre a dumbbell. ! I lf you If you lf you come early, you can't get in. lf you come late, you have to stay in. Therefore, what'n Hempstead is the use? The Psychology ofHu71zor Humor is a funny thing. 'VVe hold this to be self-evident. But why are some jokes funny? WVhy do we laugh? Do you appre- ciate your English teacher's jokes? At least you pretend to. Does she snicker at your sallies? What indeed is this subtle sense, sometimes almost sublime, more often silly, of which some people seem almost devoid while others are endowed with so copious a superabundance? Psycho-azzalysis for psychazzalysisj, the new school of psychology, has been tearing down old ldeas and replacing them with new ones, which may or may not be cor- rect. The pscycho-analyst theory of humor is something like this: Each of us has two minds. Many of us evidently do not realize this, since we are so careful not to overwork the one we know, or sincerely believe, we possess. These minds are called the Conscious and the Subconscious. Each action, according to the psycho-analysts, is traceable to the libido, or life impulse, and has its definite cause. Humor is in itself absurd, but it affects one so that, temporarily, the Sub- conscious mind gains control, causing a physical reaction or manifestation known as laughter. This brief rest refreshes the Con- scious, wherein lies the value of humor. A11 this, to quote a prominent member of the faculty, is as clear as mud. We do not doubt that psycho-analysis is correct. But if anyone asks us why jokes make one laugh, we shall reply, with evi- dent truth if not with originality, Because it's funny. Good news for the present DOME editor: Blessed are the Micks, for they shall in- herit the earth.

Page 16 text:

T H E D O M E Page Thirteen rultrirxz g racy The Faculty Adviser THIS title was suggested to me as l listened to an inspiring musical program in a Friday morning assembly. The Orchestra, Glee Club, two soloists, and the school combined and showed an earnest interestedness, resulting in a pro- gram of high excellence. Wliat made this fine assembly possible? The students, their training and talent. But we must not for- get the teacher known as the faculty ad- viser. There are a score of student activities in the school just as important in their way as the one mentioned above. l won't list them. l might leave one out. You know them, and if you have had any experience whatever in any one of them, the teacher or faculty adviser of that activity stands out before your mind's eye. You students furnish the material, the faculty adviser, the guiding hand. For years Flushing High School retained the Tennis title of Queens. Year after year we came up to the spring schedule with high hopes. We wept for disappointment when the famous team headed by the Scovil brothers, Earl and Kes,', went down to defeat before Paul Jenks, F.H.S. aggrega- tion. Finally our faculty adviser, hir. Fin- nigan, began to lie awake nights devising ways and means for winning the Queens title. He instituted a preliminary open tour- nament to bring out the tennis talent of the school. After selecting his team he an- nounced a challenge scheme, whereby any student could challenge a particular mem- ber of the tennis team for his position at any time during the season and the team member must accept and defend. The re- sult is evident: two years of untiring effort on the part of the team and the faculty ad- visor have brought the Queens title to the biggest borough's central High School,- Richmond Hill. The strength of Richmond Hillls intra and extra mural life owes much, as you will agree, to the faculty adviser. VVouldn't you like to see this group of teachers all to- gether, say at a reception or something of the sort given in recognition of their ser- vices?-every teacher in the school con- nected in any way with a student activity? These faculty advisers get rewards. They live in an atmosphere charged with energy, courage, growth, and, above all, one of youthful friendliness. But of all these re- wards your friendship and your apprecia- tion is the greatest. The faculty adviser doesn't always lie on a bed of roses. Wliat a disappointment for him when the marking period comes around, and two, three, or even more of his best players have to be plucked from his and your team because of failure in their studies! Your studious effort means even more to him than your friendliness. lf you are out for a team, drive hard on your studies, for a scholastic quitter deserves no more sympathy than a quitter of any kind. Richmond Hill may well be proud of her students, even boastful of their achieve- ments. The continued successful growth of a spirit of cooperation among the students and between students and teachers depends largely on the proper appreciation of work done by both. lVlore joy to the faculty ad- viser, because of the loyal and generous helpfulness of all of you who reap the benehts of disinterested sacrihce of time, money, and laborious achievement. We all know you, appreciate you,-yes, and honor you, Faculty Adviser. On August 1, 1922, FRANK STEFFENS, of the present sixth term class, died at the Coney lsland Hospital as a result of an ac- cident while diving. He had been spending the summer with his parents at their bun- galow at Rockaway Point. Frank left a clean record in the Rich- mond Hill High School. His name was among those eligible for Arista this term. Students and faculty extend their sympathy to the bereaved parents.

Page 18 text:

THE D O M E Page Fifteen The Somers Festival COur Teachers as Actorsj Rarely is a man privileged to be the recipient of such sincere admiration and appreciation as was accorded ARTHUR S. SOMERS, banker and educator, at a lunch- eon held on October 28th at the Hotel Commodore. Over two thousand men and women gathered together to celebrate the 35th wedding anniversary of Mr. Somers and his 30th anniversary of becoming a member of the Board of Education of the City of New York. Every borough of Greater New York took part in the festivities. The Somers Festivalf, as it was called, began with a series of episodes depicting The Procession of the Years and their VVedding Festivals. lllany are the occasions on which the fac- ulty of R.H.H.S. are proud of their stu- dents, and this most certainly was an occa- sion when the students of R.H.H.S. would have been proud of their faculty, could they have seen them perform. The 'tProcession of the Years and their VVedding Festivalsn was the portion of the program alloted to us, and under the direction of Miss Barber, lllr. Flint and Mr. Wood it was beautifully done. We knew that it was a huge success, too, by the applause we received. Five graceful dancers, who were students of the H.S., appeared on the stage and called forth the brides of 1887, 1892, 1897, IQO2, 1912, and 1922. With the Fifth An- niversary group came a company of wooden merry-makers, armed with wooden spoons, clothespins, and other appropriate articles, singing to the air of a familiar folk-song: 'Twas in the early 90,8 that the winters fled away, lfVhen Arthur joined the Board 'twas said 'Now Somers' come to stayl' O'er sundry knotty questions he manfully has pored, For Somers isn't wooden, though he serves upon a Board! The 'ftin wedding of the Tenth Year followed with the clatter of dishpans, the clash of tin plates and other tinny imple- ments of cookery. A single beautiful goblet, carried by a young lady clad in white and followed by wedding dancers, symbolized the Crystal Wedding. The l'Silver VVedding was particularly beautiful. The procession was headed by a tall, stately figure bearing a large silver loving-cup. The Silver Wedding was fol- lowed by the passage of the later years. After all the other boroughs had present- ed their tableaux or pageants, Mr. Somers spoke. He said in part: A share of my embarrassment is dispelled by my knowl- edge that this tribute is one in which you may all justly share. You have all been a part of it. Space will not allow us to mention all the notable people present at the luncheon, but educational circles were represented by practically every associate and district su- perintendent, high school principal, direc- tors of special branches of the Board of Education, and many hundreds of princi- pals and teachers. lQLA l3 Hey Eighth Term The Senior Class is now rejoicing in the peaceful regime of our esteemed friend Herb Nlohrmann, assisted by Lil johnson and Frank Stellwagen as his vice-president and secretary respectively. Qur well known and justly celebrated associate S. Bailey has been forced to absent himself from the track lately because of an accident. While running the customary three miles he tripped upon his beard, long overdue as is usual, and sustained a dislo- cated jaw. Qur big game hunter E. Ruck, after a wild chase through the History 8--5 class, has at last succeeded in securing a specimen