Tottenville High School - Purple Parrot Yearbook (Staten Island, NY)

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ufiic elaarfmenf, ,Maier The house lights dim, the conductor's baton is poised, and a hush falls upon the audience as the first strains of Shubertis Unfinished Symphonyn are heard. The world famous New York Philharmonic Orchestra, you say? No, it isn,t the Philharmonic, nor for that matter, the N.B.C. Symphony Orchestra nor the Goldman Band. As you have guessed by now, we are talk- ing about what we believe to be one of the finest musical organizations of its kind, The Tottenville High School Band under the baton of its accomplished maestro, Mrs. Lala Wilson. Our band was organized in 1937 and gave its first performance at the Christmas assembly of that year. It began playing at graduations, and begin- ning at the commencement of Wo1'ld Wai' Two, it set out on an intensive war- time program. It played at most of the war monument dedication ceremonies on the South Shore. Since most members of the bands which customarily marched in the national parades were gone, the Tottenville High School Band volunteered its services. In the interest of public moral it cooperated with the American Legion and participated in several of their performances. It continued with its annual and semi-annual evening concerts alongwith the graduation ceremonies and assemblies. Later on it commenced to play at the May Day fete at Clove Lake. ln 1948, it played a major part in the successes of the Colden Jubilee. Later, in 1950, the band played and made possible another tremendous success, '4The Womanless Wedding.', As these last four years have passed we have seen our fellow band mem- ber gradually leave and new members gradually take their places and we reminisce over these wonderful fruitful years we have spent in our '4Band of Bandsu which has been made possible only through the untiring efforts of our own Mrs. Lala Wilsoil. Her devotion to her band and her ukidsi' has made all of our successes as triumphant as they are. Everything worth having has a beginning and our Euterpean Society had its beginning way back in 1937, with Mrs. Wilsoii as its progenitor.

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jlte Unifecl Wafionzi These days we are all told to respect and appreciate the United Nations. A little task like this is nothing at all for me. I have the United Nations in my blood. Or, at least, I have the blood of the United Nations in me. I've got English in me. The English are said to be slow to get a joke. This is utterly absurd. One day in a History class a boy spoke as follows: HMost of the houses in France are made of Plaster of Paris. The whole class, of course, except me, roared with laughter. I can't see anything funny in the situation. The boy's ignorance is deplorable-not amusing. I've heard peo- ple tell me I don't smile. I donit smile because I don't laugh. I didnit laugh because I'm still waiting to hear a joke that's funny. I have Scotch in me. The Scotch are supposed to be penny-pinchers. This is ridiculous. I've never heard anything so outrageous in my life. Per- haps I do use a crook-resistant, burglar-proof padlock on my wallet-and perhaps I do bake biscuits to use as Christmas presents for the hockey team every year-simply proof of the sensible saving and flair for economy which is a virtue of the Scottish people. I've got Spanish in me. The Spaniards are said to be adept dancers. This is something with which I heartly agree. Just look at all the boys l've danced with-there isn't more than one with a cast still on his foot. There's only one thing that worries me-I wonder Why my dance partners so often wear combat boots and shin guards? The German in me is something of which I am exceptionally proud. And the claim that the Germans are stubborn is about the silliest one yet. Iim a typical German. I've never been known to reverse a decision in my life. I still think that my definition of glycerine as a vicious liquid which is miser- able in water in all proportions is better than any old stuffy Chemistry book. We simply have confidence in our infallibility and absolute conviction that we are right but this is no indication that we Germans are stubborn. 0i'm after havin' Oirish in me too. And judgin' by the likes of me- we Oirish haven't got the temper we're supposed to have. And the next time one of you lf,'q'.',.l' Q23 claims we've a temper, Oi'l1 gie ye the back oime hand so fast ye won't know what happened. One of these days, I plan on setting up my private United Nations. When I disagree with myself-I've always got the veto. When the Scotch in me refuses to appropriate money, the German gets stubborn about a concession to be made, the Irish loses its temper, and the Spanish is over in a far corner doing the fandango-I can always rely on the English to ask- Blast it all, old chaps, I really don't see just what the trouble is. Would you bully fellows sit down and explain the bloody thing to me?,' CARoL Rats

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When Mrs. Wilson first arrived on the scene, Tottenville High boasted of a rather large and loud glee club. Large-because it consisted of a hun- dred or more members and with this many members I imagine that it was loud! However, some of this group along with Mrs. Wilson agreed, that with a smaller group they would be able to concentrate and present a finer type of music. With this idea in mind, a new club, consisting of about 20 members, was formed. A club founded for good music and founded upon hard work. Believe me, hard work it wasg especially for its director., Mrs. Wilson. With the formation of this new club, a new and fitting name had to be found. After much thought, quite a bit of discussion, and innumerable sug- gestions, it was finally agreed that the name 'cliluterpean Societyv was both fitting and proper. Why tl1at name? What does it mean? ln Greek Myth- ology we learned that the Goddess of Arts and Science was named '4Muse. The word music is derived from this Greek word muse. Euterpi was one of the arts and sciences, specifically 'GCoddess of Songf, So much for the word Euterpean, now let's turn to the dictionary and look up the word society. Society: a body of persons united for the promotion of some object. Now that we know how Euterps got started and how it received its name, 77 let us take a look at some of their productions. The premier performance was a musical reception held in the music room before a select group of friends and relatives. It was indeed a very swanky affair. All the decorations were in gold and white, the Society's colors. The flowers were gold and white with a gold and white cake served for refreshment. From this rather small but inspirational beginning we have gone on to bigger and better things. With the aid of our leader, the inde- fatigable Mrs. Wilson, we have presented Mikado, HH. M. S. Pinaforef' 'Trial by Juryf' Pirates of Penzancef' '4Princess Ida, Colden Jubilee Celebration and most recently wllhe Womanless Wedding. The Euterps also perform at every commencement exercise, at which time we lose a certain percentage of our members. Older members go out of school into their chosen field or profession never forgetting the memorable days spent in the Euterps Society. New members come in to replace the old as the Society progresses onward . . . onward to a world brought closer to good music through the untiring efforts of our beloved director and the cooperation of the Society members. RONALD LARSEN, RUTH HEINS