University of North Texas - Yucca Yearbook (Denton, TX)

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WM-T«KNER. L.MIU.EIV venture was doomed from the very outset, and made an object of mirth at the mere mention of the name. What could be expected of a Cotton-Tail? The joke was not so readily apparent then, how- ever, to the student body. Having chosen a title for the Annual, the stu- dents next set about the election of an editor-in- chief and a staff. The men of the school — then as they are now, in the minority, yet hardly so unanimously in the mi- nority as at present — took the initiative or in some way outwitted the women and nomi- nated two candidates for editor-in-chief. The Reagan Literary Society nominated Mr. Louis L. Miller; the Kendall-Bruce, Mr. William M. Tanner. After a spirited campaign, in which both candidates remained good friends, and in which the women took an interested part, the latter candidate was elected by a small majority. Each of the ten classes then chose an associate editor. The business managers of The Journal, Mr. W. Z. Bates and Mr. N. N. Rosenquest, were made the business managers of The Cotton-Tail, also. Thus far the students had given their enthusiastic support. After the excitement of the christening and the election was over, however, the majority of the students seemed to regard their work done. The staff that they had elected enjoyed their entire confi- dence, and were left to pay for the honors bestowed upon them. Where was the genius that had seemed so abundant? Apparently it had vanished or had taken refuge in the thickets and the brambly haunts of the timid cotton-tail. 17

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ulty, assembled themselves in the Auditorium to discuss the advis- ability of attempting the publication of a school annual. After much wise and otherwise deliberation, it was decided that an effort should be made to publish a student yearbook. There already existed The Normal Journal. a monthly student magazine, which devoted the May issue to Commencement affairs, and was a sou- venir booklet of the principal school activities during the session. But now the dignity and importance of the institution seemed to demand a more pretentious publication. The school, having attained a yearly enrollment of almost five hundred students, was suffering from growing pains, and needed an additional outlet for the superabundance of apparent genius then in the bud, in the flower, and in some cases so far advanced as to be almost in the pod, so over-ripe it appeared. Furthermore, should not the Normal, in imitation of other schools, publish an Annual. And were not these reasons good and sufficient? Bear in mind, ye members of The Yucca staff, that not more than three months of the session remained when it was voted to undertake the Annual. But smile kindly or shed a pitying tear at the inexperienced innocence and the youthful enthusiasm of these your most remote predecessors. Remember, they were pioneers. Several problems immediately arose in attempting to carry through this ill-advised and tardily initiated literary venture. First of all. What should be the name of the yearbook? A copy of the prospective Annual was offered as a reward to the person who would suggest an acceptable name. Several names were suggested, among which were The Alfalfa, The Cocklcburr and The Cot- ton-Tail. After much deliberation and many discussions, it was decided by two members of the Faculty that it should be called by the latter name. At chapel the students were informed (announce- ments of great importance could be made in those days) that the Annual had been christened The Cotton-Tail. The students and the Faculty cheered. And lo, it seemed very good ! But to look back at this selection of a name, it is clear enough now that the 16

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The staff was soon organized into committees to still-hunt this erstwhile seemingly plentiful genius. In feverish haste each member of the staff set to work studying other school annuals as models. The editor-in-chief and the art editors, working under the direction of the optimistic and ever-patient teacher of Drawing, literally spent their days and nights with Uncle Remus, searching for appropriate and artistic uses of the cotton-tail motif. Easter cards and designs afforded some hints as to the artistic possibilities of the cotton-tail. Every student who could draw a creature even remotely resembling a cotton-tail was encouraged — yea, begged — to expend his best efforts, with the assurance that whatever manner of quad- ruped he limned, his drawing would be sure of acceptance by the art editors. The drawing room soon took on the semblance of a veritable warren, so numerous were the cotton-tails in all stages of disguise, unlikeness, and contortion. Every member of every English class was assigned a class poem, class prophecy, class letter, or other literary representation. Classes were corralled and marched almost under guard to photographers to have their pictures made. Clubs and all other school organizations were begged, coaxed, and threatened in an attempt to get them to take space in the Annual and have their pic- tures made. Each member of the Faculty was besought for his photograph, and all cheerfully responded. Two members of the staff were detailed to cull out of Forty Thousand Sublime is