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

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wo Wie 5 an a Zigi .SM Today my mother told me to clean out the pockets of my red corduroy jacket. 'Tll send it to the cleaner's before school begins, she said, to the waiting laundry man. ' Usually I find exciting things in my pockets-old letters, school passes, a bunch of tired peanuts, and occasionally a forgotten handkerchief. But this time I found two nickels and a movie ticket stub. I began to think, when did I leave these? So I imagined what might have happened with them. Of course, the ticket was to our nondescript place of entertainment a atia in a sma town wa ca e t e ta ium. e two nic e s were pl'l' ll y lldh4'Sd Th kl definitely the change. A double feature costs forty cents, most always. But the ticket lady always gives dimes in change. I began to weave a dramatic story behind the two nickels and the ticket stub. Mary Lou was a senior in high school, Pleasant Dale High. She had a quiet nature and even though she was a very pretty girl, she didn't go out very much except with a crowd of girls who were her gals All of them had running crushes on the new senior boy, or Mr. Anderson, their history teacher, the same people on whom girls usually have crushes. fThis isn't a very unusual story.j But Mary Lou was a little different from her friends. She had absolutely, definitely, positively, surely fallen in love with the Greatest Senior in P.D.I-I.S.! He was, namely, Gene Norman, who was deeply tanned all year 'round and could dance, so Mary Lou had been told, like a dream. Oh, how she longed for him to speak to her or nod to her. Either would have made her slightly ecstatic in reels of unconfined joy. She could see herself dancing with Gene Norman, laughing with him, talking with him. In most stories, the heroine has her fling with the hero, so I cannot resist letting Mary Lou have hers. Besides, the story would be Hat without it. Well, Mary Lou got her chance. On Monday morning, Tony Eberhart called Mary Lou as she was coming into school. 'cl want you to meet my friend, he said. At least, that's what she thought he said, for there standing with one big paw reaching out to shake her hand was none other than our friend, Gene Norman. It was as simple as that! Later that morning, Mary I,ou's third class teacher sent her home on a sick pass saying that the girl had looked Vacant and distant all through the class and perhaps she was ill?

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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

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Needless to say, Mary Lou walked 011 clouds that whole wonderful day. And when the telephone rang at five-thirty and Gene Norman's magnificent voice came over the wire, Mary Lou nearly fainted from excitement and joy, all those emotions that make a girl radiant. He asked her how she was and did she get home all right fhow did he know I was sent home, M. L. thoughtj and was it possible for her to go to the movies with him that coming Friday night? Was it possible! I! Why, it was not only possible but also probable, definite, absolutely possible, definitely possible, etc., etc. Make my voice sound casual, M. L. thought, trying desperately to regain her poise. I think I can make it,,' she answered. I'll let you know tomorrow morning first thing, 0.K.? Magnificent Gene answered, Sure Then Mary Lou got rid of him quick before she could give away her feelings. This was no date to turn down, so Friday night found Mary Lou walking quietly beside Gene towards the Stadium.,' Imagine a tall, well-built guy, as handsome as they come, looking down at a small, sweet blonde girl and there you have the picture. But now the story changes, for as they enter the inner gates of the great theatre fit looked great to Ml.. thenj, Gene asked, would you like some candy to which Mary Lou said yes. From there on the evening is tiring, the movie boring for some reason that no one can explain. Even though they seem to be a perfect couple who have enjoyed five days of togetherness, suddenly they want no more of each other than just a friendly acquaintance. Mary Lou longs for the gals and Gene longs for his gang of fellows. All that Mary Lou has as a memento of the evening is her ticket stub and the two nickels that Gene gave her to choose whatever candy she pre- ferred. Somehow, she didn't buy the candy. Weeks later, she finds these mementos in a corner of her dresser drawer. In youth, sadness is always short, for there are too many happy days for every one, so shall we say that Mary Lou felt sad for only a minute or two, then threw the ticket stub away and gave the two nickels to her younger sister who wanted a comic book .... This could have happened. I don't remember how they got in my pocket but the more I think about it, the more I wish that the story could have a happy ending. PEGGE NIELSON