West High School - Senior Occident Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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Adolph Sruher President of the Executive Council d Sm f. i ■ Theodoro Ha .ard Treasurer ,»n«l Kquipmcnt Miimicrr Harold I . Snucd Munasor of die Musical Raymond II. Fuller Business Man-iircr of die Occident

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The Year’s Dramatics While our athletes have been winning victories for West High upon the athletic field, our many amateur actors have shown the school and Its friends what Rood results High School students can achieve in the Une of dramatics. The first play of the season was William Shakespeare s As You Like It. which was enacted by the school's Dramatic Club. It was the firs: time in three years that Rochester High School studeuts had attempted to produce Shakespeare. The result was a distinct success. The oft-expressed opinion that High School audiences care only for light farces was once for all com- pletely disproved by the close aud appreciative attention displayed by the audience throughout the whole play. Those who took the different parts entered into the spirit of the play, and their lines showed careful study and preparation. On Friday. December 7th, the January Senior Class gave their Senior play: FSeveu-tweniy-eight. or Casting the Boomerang.” We shall not soon forget that benevolent old gentleman, Mr. Lancelot Bargiss, or his son-in- law, Mr. Hollyhock, who got into such difficulties. The play was such a merited success that, in response to a general demand, the class gave a second performance, which was the first matinee ever presented in our Assembry Hall. The joint classes of January and June, 190S. gave as their Junior farce, The Last Rehearsal.” It was replete with amusing sensations, dramatic situations and would-be fussers. Its plot was unique—although not very evident, its staging effective, and every part was well taken—that of Mrs. De YorbuVg-Smith finding especial favor with the audience. In addition, ii was the financial success of the year, in the line of dramatics. We now come to the social and dramatic event of the year—the June, 1907, Senior play. A Continental Dragoon.” Without exception this was the best productiou ever given by West High School students. The plot was thrilling, intensely interesting, and developed to au artistic aud touching climax. As one gentleman in the audience said: It was quite superior to many High School farces and plays, in that it possessed a strong plot.” The Senior play would have been a very creditable production under the best of circumstances, but when we consider the great difficulties under which it had to be given—difficulties which almost necessitated its postponement— its dramatic success approaches the marvelous. But he la In error who thinks that to the students should be given all the credit for the success of this year's dramatics. We should remember Mrs. Ellis, who. through her continued interest, unstinted co-operation, and able supervision, has made this success possible. And now a word in conclusion. There was a time when every class In High School—not even excepting the Freshman—wanted to and did produce a play or farce. That was the time when a large number ol plays given and not dramatic excellence was the question considered. The natural result was that it soon became difficult to secure a good audience for a High School dramatic production—the students and general public had been filled to satiety. We believe that West High School has at last succeeded in striking a happy medium. The past year was notable not only for the marked ex- cellence of its dramatic offerings, but even more notahl Tor the small number of these offerings. A precedent has been established, that if fol- lowed. will prove to be for the best interests of the High School and its dram rules. .rt7

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The Cup of Happiness A Fable In the long, long clays ago. there nestled on the side of a a little town, and the mailens of this town were no.ed far and wide for their great beauty and were much sought after till those attentions had spoiled them and made them selfish, looking only for their own pleasure, though I less of others. One twilight as they were discussing what they could do on the morrow to most enjoy life, a spirit appeared to rhem and sail: Find the cup of happiness. One can obtain it on the way to yonder mountain sum mil.’ The maidens had all heard that the old philosophers had written much about the cup of happiness, and now as they glanced toward the summit of the rising peak, gilded and glorified as it was by the sinking Phoebus, it seemed most natural and probable that, if any where, the cup of happiness would he found on that glowing mount, the place where Phoebus first made his appearance and lingered longest. So they all resolved to make the search, each cherishing the secret hope that she would be the fortunate one to obtain that wonderful gift—the cup of happiness. Three secretly set out that very night. The rest were threading their way up the mountain path before the dew had left, the flowers—all except Fay the—she had lingered to help her mother, and not until Apollo had mounted well into the heavens did she leave her home and begin her solitary walk. Even then there were many things that delayed her. She had heard the taccssan-t calling of two birds and peeped through the sedge to seek the cau9e of their pathetic notes. She spied on the ground a little downy ball of a bird, scarcely able to hop. that had evidently fallen from the nest some ten feet above her. Going back a step Faythe round a broken-off branch. She tied her handkerchief between some of the twigs at the end. and placing the nestling on this, hoisted the prodigal to his home, where he joyfully flopped hack in with his crying brothers, while his parents went jubilant with joy. This done, she then recalled the purpose for which she had set out and continued her way along the winding road, quite alone, till she heard ahead of her a childish voice and saw a small urchin driving a flock of sheep. He was having trouble, for just as soon as he had hurried up the sheep on the right side, some on the lett had strayed. As Faythe came up to him she said: Would you not like me to walk on one side for you? I am going right along your way? The child looked up with surprise and pleasure. Oh, if the lady would I should be grateful to her, and Fay.he smiled to think what her companions would say if they should see her driving sheep. As they neared the destined sheep-cote the child timidly ventured to ask: Would the lady help me now. This Is the hardest part of all. Faythe smiled her assent and ran hither and thither til! all the sheep were safely gathered in the fold. Then she hurried on, not giving the child time to express his amazed thankfulness. Bye and bye she neared a lonely moun- tain hut. A child came toddlJng down the path to meet her, saving: Oh. Is you coming to see my poor sick muzzer? Is von she. who she praved to come? No, I am sorry I am not she, but I will come if she would like to have me. hut the child :n his baby conviction was already nigging her onward till she stood at the door of the crude cabin. There on a'cot In a room of great disorder lay the sick mother. As she raised her head and gazed at the form in the doorway some nf the smile and brightness of face seemed reflected on her own pained one. What may I do for vou? asked the girl. The poor astonished woman hesitated. But I really want to. added the girl. Su Faythe heated water, bathed the painful part, righted the room and fed the woman from the delicacies of her own lunch. Then she departed fo Inform a relative of the woman in the next cabin along the way. 1 he sick one was too grateful to express her gratitude, but remem- bered loug afterward the comfort and happiness this first visit of Faythe had brought to her. Fnythe found the sister and fulfilled her mission.