Ypsilanti High School - Ypsi Dixit Yearbook (Ypsilanti, MI)

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1897 - 1898. FE ROM ’96 on through the years of ’97 and ’98, John On- looker (an anonymous personage )held reign as editor of our High School semi-monthly publication—Tur CHat. The pointedness of Onlooker’s pen doubled the circulation of the paper each of the two years mentioned, and with the increase d circulation the amount of printed matter was doubled. Toward the close of the year ’98 there were those in the school who thought a school annual should be issued. ‘This idea was acted upon, and under THE CHAT management Vol. I of THE Ypsi-Drxir appeared in June, 1898. The purpose of the Dix1T in the minds of its inventors was to gather into one volume those incidents of the school life of that year which might be of interest to the alumnus of the future—to have the pictures of our companions at the “Old Ypsi High” as they looked when we were with them—to compile a vol ume which might show something of what the Ypsilanti High School was and stood for. Not the completeness of the first. volume nor the enthusiasm with which it was received were the rewards of the Drx1r promoters, but rather the spirit and energy characteristic of the school which picked the matter up and is carrying the matter on in so creditable a manner. : Morris B. CuHapPin, ‘98. 1899 - 1900. HE YEAR 1899-1900 was one of innovations for both THE Cuat and Tue Drxit. The shape and general form of both were considerably changed. ‘THE CHAT, which had form- erly contained larger pages and fewer of them, was given its present make-up. The cover-design still used was introduced and the headings for the various sorts of reading matter were adopted. THE DrxitT, too, sustained significant changes. It was given the general form and arrangement which still prevails. Photographs were all taken at the galleries and the quality of the pictures thus greatly promoted. Manager Brooks is en- titled to a geat deal of credit for this improved feature. But no less credit is due the faculty and students who generously responded to his proposals.

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The Chat-Dixit. A SYMPOSIUM By THE ALUMMI. 1895 - 1896. 4 3 HE CHAT is a good deal like Topsy, “It just growed.” Just prior to the holidays, 1895, several young men evolved the idea of founding a school paper. Mr. Ray Rowley was the prime promoter and issued an announcement setting forth a plan and asking the co-operation of the student body. The plan was received with enthusiasm and immediately after the holidays Mr. Rowley set about issuing the first num- ber. ‘This appeared Jan. 9, 1896, and fully justified the claim of the promoter that such a paper would be a success. THE CHAT was issued twice a month and was improved with every issue. ‘The unselfishness of the promoters being evidenced by the fact that every cent over and above expenses was put in to improve the paper. Each number was eagerly looked for, so much so that one High School teacher complained of it and thereupon the man- agers had it entered at the postoffice as second class matter and quit peddling it at school. As nearly all connected with the paper, originally, were members of the class of ’96, some plan had to be devised to secure a continuation of THE Cuat. Immediately the Sigma Delta accepted the trust, and since then have managed and edited it. The Christmas number of ’96 was the first special edition issued, but a year or so later the Sigma Delta originated the “Y psi-DIxiT.” The Y. H. S. owe much to the patriotism and forethought of Mr. Ray Rowley and his associates for founding THE CHAT and to the Sigma Delta for continuing it and originating the ¥ PSEDIX Ets” JouHn McCann, ’o6.

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The faults? We do not need to speak of them. They cannot escape the eye of anyone who will compare the publi- cations of that year with the output of succeeding years. One thing is noted in such a comparison, however, which affords the management of 1899-1900 much gratification. And that is, that recent editors have seen fit to retain so many of the features then introduced. We are proud of THe Drxir and THE Cuat, and hope they may continue to improve as they have steadily done since they were founded. Lewis L. ForsyTHE, ‘oo. 1901 - 1902. WW HILE there were no striking changes made in THE CHAT and Drixrr during the school year of 1901-1902, the main object of the management, which was to keep up the marked improvement of these publications which had been very noticeable each year since their. origin, was realized to a considerable degree, we are proud to believe. What the extent of this improvement might have been is not for us to judge, but if our readers have been able to detect that THE CHAT and Dixir of the above school year were better in any way than preceding ones, on account of the addition of some features and the omission of others, and their general arrangement and appearance, both inside and out, we wish to share the credit for such an improvement with the students who were attend- ing the Y. H. S. at that time, for our success was due to a great extent to their timely and earnest support. We realized that there was a possibility of improving THE CHat and Drxtr in many ways, which naturally would be possible, considering that they had been in existence only a few years, and we aspired to such an accomplishment, not for the benefit we would re- ceive ourselves, but because it was our duty as loyal members of the ¥ HS. An d now as we go back once more and take our places as managers of THE CHat and Drxrr for ’o1 and ’o2, and look over the corresponding issues that preceded and those that have followed, we heartily congratulate former managements for these publications which they established and the standards of