Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-05-06
USELESS EXTRAVAGANC

Which is Being Introduced Into the
Annual High School Promenade
What Some of the Members OF the
Board of Education and Teachers
Say.
To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
Now that the promenade of the Hillhouse
high school is over permit me to say
few words on the subject Since the dis
cussion of the High school promenade in
board of education meeting few weeks
age in which Mr.. Whitney expressed himself
80 strongly against the promenade there has
been strong sentiment raised all over the
city against such an extravagant social
event in the graduation week. The bssrd
of education instructed the High school
authorities to make an investigation of the
matter and fud out the sentiment of
the parents of the young people who were
to take part in the promenade. The COM
mittee appointed have been pursuing their
Investigation both thoroughly and rapidly
ever since, and nearly all the parents have
been visited and asked to express their
opinion. They say that ali of the people
of moderate means, and also those of
larger means, have expressed themselves
against such gaudy and extravagsnt sf-
fair. Oae woman only, who they found
| at the washboard, expressed herself as in
| favor of the promenade. She said that she
| wanted her daughter to 60, and was glad
| that she would be for once where she
| could appear as well az her weslthier class
| mates.
The manner in which the recent prom
| enade was gotten up has been strongly
| criticised. Besides the doubt that existed
| az to whether the Hyperion was procured
in manner strictly honorable and respect
full to the board of education, 1t Ia alleged
that there was an undesirable element at
the head Of 1t, who have carried matters
on in a most thoughtlsss and extravagant
manner and in such q way that the class
| dues were outrageously high. They are
asserted to have gone ahead without and
| regardless of the approval of their teachers
or the board of education. This same ele-
| ment, they aay, was at the head of the two
receptions to the graduating class already
given in Warner hall this season. 1t Is
more than probable this will be the last
promenade at the Hyperion, at least con-
Quoted in this thoughtless and extrava2ant
manner. Some of the teachers and mem
bers of the board of education have ex-
! pressed themselves openly and csndidly on
the subject.
President Graves of the board of educa-
ton said that while he was not in favor of
having the promenade entirely abolished
| he thought that it should be conducted in
a much less public manner, and that if
they could hold 1t in hall of their own,
such as they propose to have in the new
High school building, 1t would be much
simpler affair and would be easier con-
trollsd by the authorities. GAS an after
graduation event We have no virtual con-
| troll over it at present. I think, however,
it would be well to dispense with the more
extravagant element"
Attorney Harry W. Asher, when asked
| his opinion on the matter, said:
| 81 am not adverse to the promenade
| when conducted in modest and simple
manner. But I certainly think that mat
tsrs have been carried too far both this
year and last. know Of ono young man
who wanted to sell his tickets to the prom
| enade in order to pay the heavy class dues
| which have been levied. The promenade
| seems to grow in extravaganza every year.
We went through the same experience a
number of years ago. The class of rs had
| a promenade but the board of education
| finding that the event had out grown all
bounds shut down on 1t entirely and we
four or FIVE years following. Then they
school hall and they wore held there until
year before last, when they had to 60 else
where on account of the High school hall
being utilized for other purposes.
81 am in favor of the promenade when
it is conducted within the bounds. One
only graduates from the High school once
in life time and we all look back with
pleasure and satisfaction to the days spent
at Hillhouse. But most of the boys and
girls who graduate cannot bear the expense
of this affair. In fact know of girls who
borrowed money from their Weather class-
mates in order to buy the three gaudy
dresses necessary, the money to be paid
back after the girls had earned it by teach
ing. do not claim that it ought to be
eliminated, but that 1t should bs held with
less expense to all concerned. 7 know of
women who have worked hard at the wash
board in order to provide gaudy and ele-
CANT dresses for their daughters and l do
not think that it Is right to make such an
effort necessary. There are also a great
many who attend who do not dance at all so
that virtually few get the benefit of what
the ma ority cannot enjoy.
"When we get cur new High school
building, however, there will undoubtedly
be such a sentiment against its being held
elsewhere that the proper authorities will
be able to control it."
Principal Isaac Thomas says: 81 am not
in favor of abolishing the promen-
ade entirely. think it might be made a
source of great pleasure to the graduating
claes. If 1t could be held in the High
school hall it could be kept within respect
able bounds, and one of the expenses would
thus be cut off. The last two promenades
have seriously interfered with the studies
of the senior class, and have also reached
the other classes somewhat. The result
will be that larger number will not grad
uate with the rank in their class that they
should.
Mr.. Malcolm Booth and Miss Stella Skin
ner, two other teachars in the High school,
were seen, and they emphaucally endorsed
what Principal Thomas had said; that the
promenade had become an evil, and &C.
riously interfered with the work of the
scholars. They were restless, and their
thoughts were off their studies and school
duties. The sentiments of Aessrs. Whit
ney and Plunket are well know. They are
strongly opposed to the promenade in its
present form, and Mr.. Whitney has ex-
pressed himself az not being in favor of
holding such an event. There is also
strong sentiment among the members of
the graduating class against the PRONE
made as now conducted.
Many. of those who have known about
the matter feel. that it is the influence of
the Yale junior promenade that has
brought about such state Of affairs. And
they think 1t is folly for the parents of the
average scholar at the High school to be
called upon to pay the expenses Of a ball
that rivals that of Yale.