Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-05-08
A FEW WORDS

More About the Hillhouse High
school Promenade.
Tothe Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
The recent High school promenade has
been widely commented on through the
columns of the press, by the school faculty,
the teachers and the public at large, and
Perhaps it will be permissible, certainly
not amiss, for member of the class lately
graduated to say few words about the
matter.
In a recent edition Of your paper there
"Useless Extravaganza" This criticism
embraced remarks and comments by eev-
eral members of the board of education
and teachers of the school which were true
and to the point, but in other parts Of the
same article were remarks which may be
treated in little different manner.
1t was stated that 'san undesirable ele-
ment" was at the head of the promenade,
who Carried matters Oh in q most thought
less and extravagant manner, 80 that the
class dues were outrageously high" It
will possibly be interesting to know that
the class dues were no higher this year
than they have been for several years pre-
vious, and that the dues we're unanimously
adopted by the class at least five months
before a promenade was talked of or a
committee elected. When at length a
committee was selected to get up prone
made it WAS composed of those who stood
well among and commanded the respect of
their classmates; and this Is scarcely syn
nymous to undesirable element" More
over, when the committee asked for an sp-
preparation it was given them out OF the
class treasury, and the dues were not en-
larged, nor were the individual members
taxed for extra funds. Of course this
appropriation did not pay the expense of
the dance, 60 few boxes were anetioned
off and tickets were sold to outsiders at
five dollars ($5) apiece. The committee
utilized these extra funds for decorations,
ETC. , regulating the expenditure to the re-
csipts. Hence it will be clearly seen thet
very considerable amount of expenses
were borne By those not in the school, and
that the reception did not cost the msm
bers Of the class any more than 1t mould If
managed in far less elaborate manner.
The two receptions which were given to
the senior class at Warner hall last winter
have been unfavorably spoken of by some.
These were not given by the class, but to
it, and those came who wished 10 pay
ssventy-fve cents for their tickets. Was
IL HOb DStt6r lCE tuo sCuOlaEs 10 pay LuIb
sum for social evening among their clsss-
mates than to have spent it for some out
side dance or the theaters and that certain
ly would have been the case.
When, because of the overerowded con-
dition of the school, the hall was cut up
into recitation rooms, new accommodations
had to be sought for the class day exer-
cises and the promenade The Hyperion
proved to be the only place eui.able in
size and reputation, and for the last two
years these two events have besn held
there. When new high school building
has been erected, fitted with = hall of
respectable aize, the Hyperion will IN
doubtedly not be sought after or desired,
but the Alma Mater will be preferred.
I believe that no parents wish their chill
dren to be deprived of a class day and
promenade, and since their school furnishes
no place, other accommodations must be
sought. Theae events in the school life
are like gala days, looked forward to with
pleasant expectancy, cherished afterwsrd
in fond remembrance.
Injustice has been done to tho class of
1913 and to its promenade committee more
than once of late through the daily papers,
and trust those words will not be out of
place. 1913.