South Side High School - Optimist Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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k: sus THE OPTIMIST 1 THE HISTORY OF THE OPTIMIST Men in all walks of life, after their demise, leave behind biographies in the form of their works. The author leaves his books; the sculptor his statues; the singer his records; and the composer his songs. So we. the students, upon our depart- ure from school, leave l ehind us a series of tab- ulated events relative to our school years. Thf. Optimist is our biography, and record, which we may look upon with pride as a memento by which the school may remember us and reflect back with satisfaction upon her graduates. In the first year of its campaign, under the leadership of R. Graham Huntington, Editor-in- Chief, and Alfred Cambell, Business Manager, Thf. Optimist made its good start in the school periodical world. During this year a total of one hundred and ninety-six pages of live-wire ma- terial and forty-one pages of advertisements were printed. During its first year. The Optimist had six departments, namely, the Literary Board, whose work was handled by four editors; the School News, the Athletics, and the Personals Board, each Present Optimist Staff In November of the year nineteen hundred and thirteen the Sunnysides took great pride in publish- ing the first number of The Optimist. This wonderful start paved the way to which The Optimist has now come, toward that goal for which Thf. Optimist shall forever strive. This exceptional start has never failed. We work hand in hand with our slogan of Optimism: “The Op- timist looks on the bright side of life, the sunny side, the south side. Let us bring you back to our ten successful years in the publication of The Optimist. having six members: the Exchange Board with two editors, and the Arts Board with five artists. In addition to this, there was the usual full-page editorial by its helmsman, and a few well-drawn cartoons. During the second year of its publication. The Optimist, under the guidance of Edson Gould. Jr.. Editor-in-Chief, and of C. Malcolm Gilman. Business Manager, made great progress toward the high position that it holds today. There were no changes in the number of departments, but the Literary Board had five editors instead of four,

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 S5TI THE OPTIMIST IW OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Newark, N. J., April 25, 1923. Editor, The Optimist, South Side High School, Newark, N. J. Dear Sir— It hardly seems possible that ten years have passed since the opening of the South Side High School, yet such is the case. I am writing to offer, through Tin: Optimist, my hearty congratulations to the principal and teachers and students of the school on the completion of a decade of very successful work. The school has reached an enviable position. Its graduates maintain themselves with great credit in higher institutions. The standards of the school are high and have been worthily maintained throughout all this period. May the accomplishments of the past lie a strong incentive for the future. The honorable record of an insti- tution is an inspiration for renewed and continued effort. May the next ten years be to faculty and student body a period marked by success and genuine happiness in all the work that is undertaken. Very sincerely yours, DAVID B. CORSON, Superintendent of Schools.

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THE OPTIMI ST and the Athletics Hoard dropped one front their usual six; the Personals Board added one more, totaling seven for their department. In this year, nineteen hundred and fourteen, the number of pages of material exceeded the preceding year, summing up to two hundred and thirty-seven pages. The fifty-five pages of advertisements also showed an increase. Much may be said about these second year numbers. The Junto commented upon us, and this is what they had to say: ‘Ho. ho, ha. he, he.' laughs Br’er Rabbit fit ter kill while he dun hold his sides wid his paws, so dat dey don' split through. 'Ef dis yerc Optimist doan hab de bes’ name what ah cber hcerd ob! It suah am de sunniest papah on de inside; then ef des outside am gloomy lookin'! An’ Br’er Fox, ef all desc yerc Optimis's am as good as dis yerc one ob ’em, ah dun rccken dot dat 'cr school am gwittc ter hab some pretty nice papahs!’” I am sure we can be proud to think what others think of us. We had some wonderful literary and artistical work. In the May issue of 1914, we have an ardent lover of South Side Girls who writes a poem upon them. Its name is “The South Side Girls,” and by his poetic ability he brings out the many charms and characteristics of the fair one. Be- sides all this A1 material, the editor raises the standard of the paper with an editorial. We also sec the products of our cartoonists. This issue also had a beautiful picture of our school building. Thus, the second year finished with a more marked progress. Now we enter upon the third year of The Op- timist's publication—nineteen hundred and fifteen. This year, with Raymond Shrocdcr Editor-in- Chief. and C. Malcolm Gilman, Business Mana- ger. at the helm for the first half year, and Sand- ford Hill, Editor-in-Chief in co-operation with C. Malcolm Gilman at the front for the second half year. Through the untiring efforts of The Optimist board, a total number of one hundred and eighty-eight pages of material was printed, with forty-four pages of paid advertisements. No change in editors of the respective boards was made. This year we raised higher our flying colors with more cuts, cartoons and stories. Miss Lillian Hausman favors The Optimist readers with a clever little poem, in which she sets a routine for successful optimists. The Editors-in- chief impress their opinions in good, sound, thoughtful editorials. Under the hand of William L. Rech, Editor- in-Chief. The Optimist outdistanced its preceding years. This was the cause for additional mem- bers on the boards, and a large Senior Optimist. The Personals and School News Boards were given two additional aids to their former six. With still increasing progress, two hundred and forty-five pages of snappy material and forty-five pages of advertisements were given to The Optimist readers. The editorials and cartoons added illus- triously to The Optimist. The Senior Optimist made a big success. Its originality and good form aided us in stating that the progress in The Optimist is still everlastingly increasing. It contained a humorous “Time Table” which told of the trials and tribulations of the Senior Express.” Also Senior Statistics” were well received in the June, 1916, number. The fifth year was put under way with J. William Carson, Editor-in-Chief, and C. Aird Mof- fat, Business Manager, for the first term, and Hyman Rosenzweig, Editor-in-Chief, and the same business manager, steering The Optimist for the rest of the year. In consequence of the Board's work a total number of three hundred and seventy- six pages were set into type. This season, since our school received an addition in the form of the Junior College, a new department bearing the same name was instituted in The Optimist, with two reporters to handle the news which came under that department. Each number contained its usual good, snappy editorial. Many artistic cuts and cartoons were used. An article labeled A Study Period. gave a fine description of how a student frequently spent his study periods. The special Senior numbers came across with good results. They contained the good quality of wit and humor for which The Optimist is noted. For the first half of the sixth year The Opti- mist was in the able hands of Jerold M. Stern and Edward Steinberg, Editor-in-Chief and Busi- ness. Manager, respectively. The second half year saw as Editor-in-Chief, Raymond Brandeis, and Edward Steinberg, Business Manager. These asso- ciates did well, in nineteen hundred and seven- teen. in outdistancing the pace set by former Op- timists. To prove this, the record of four hun- dred and twenty-eight printed pages was made by The Optimist. This term the Junior College discontinued its page in The Optimist, due to the fact that it had its own paper. In place of the Junior College Department was put the Mystic Pen. Its editor was unknown and it contained satirically humorous remarks of many Sunny- siders. The papers had their regular editorials and the usual stories, cuts and cartoons. Nineteen hundred and ninctecen, the seventh year of The Optimist's publication was piloted by Ray- mond Brandeis, Editor-in-Chief. and Chester Grant, Business Manager. These pilots took charge for the first term, while during the second The Op- timist was put in charge of Clinton E. Metz, 25