The San Francisco call., 1896-06-11
The Girls Give Many Reasons
Against Their AdmiS-
sion.
REEL DANCED BY THE FACULTY
Novel Entertainment Which Brought
Considerable Talent to the
Front.

1uS Class OF 30 n6IQ nlgl
revel in the Girls High School yesterday
afternoon. The Board of Education had
forbidden elaborate graduating exercises,
but the girls, metaphorically speaking,
snapped their fingers at the board and
showed unmistakably that it would take
more than a few mere men to put a veto
on their enjoyment.
The entertainment had been named q
high jinks, and if frolic and noise and
originality constitute a inks the girls
held one yesterday.
The faculty had been bidden to be pres
ent, but for once the girls were the pre-
ceptors and the teachers waited inquir-
lngly TO learn what was to happen next.
The graduating class of '96 consists of
between eighty and ninety girls but there
were 150 present, for every one VINO had
ever attended the class during its three
years course had been invited, and even
the girls who had moved away into the
interior towns responded to the call.
BY o'clock every one was in the build
ing, the doors we're locked and the links
were given over to the care of four little
mothers, who ably fulfilled the duties
usually discharged by sires. They were
Janette Newman, Lillian Nathan, Edith
Carpenter and Estella Shrek. By COM
mand of these young ladies every one
assem- mbled in the chemistry where
ranged tier upon tier, the girls prepared
themselves to make all the noise that 150
pairs OF strong young hands and lungs
aided by whistles and rattles could make.
The tyrant man had been carefully ex-
cluded, the only exception to this rule be-
ing in favor OF Principal Elisha Brooks,
who had to sit by and hear his sex alluded
to with flppancy. not to say dertsion,
which would have been CALLING If, as the
professor afterward gracefully expressed
II, he had "been boy"
The exercises opened with a grand de-
bate, "Shall Boys Be Admitted to the
High Sehool?' and before it was over the
ears OF every boy in town must have been
tingling. Mamie Voorsanger and the
members Of the faculty present acted as
arbltratOrs, and the noise with which this
announcement was greeted would have
put university football match to shame.
Adrienne Cert opened the debate, when
quiet had been restored, by pointing out the
advantages which would follow the admis-
of boys. "They think they rule the
I, but they would soon be taught that
not. They could polish the black
and clean up the tubes in the
try class, and how much better it
be if the girls had something on
} lavish their superfuous refine
Nary Mooney took issue with the
ng orator on all the above points.
-nted out that girls who clamor for
nasium should turn their muscle to
mt by cleaning their own tubes and
boards. For her part she would scorn
boys help. Besides any one who
acquainted with the nature of boys
be aware that they never
ANYTHING clean. not excepting
.ir own faces. 1t was not until
end of her grafton that this young lady
ave a peep behind her mask OF a 'fneW''
woman by saying: Don't let them in, for
the more they see Of US the less they will
think of US. Distance always lends en-
chantment."
Miss Katherine Gorham made clever
speech, pleading that it was the girls
duty to admit the boys out of a sense of
pity. Miss Amy Cookson scorned the idea
OF boys being admitted on any grounds
and said that as for letting them in to
scrub black boards, she believed that God
helped those who help themselves. Miss
Letitia Rountree plea for the bows.
I'VE should feel bashfulness at the
thought that there is man in our midst,
but | think that crisis would soon pass.
Ny opponent said that God helps those
who help themselves, but she forgot to
quote Bear ye one another's burdens.
The boys would learn that it is not well
for man to be alone, and this would help
them in after life."
Myrtle Hodson shrddered at the idea of
sharing the school with rough, half-grown
boys, and she prayed that in her day at
least it might never happen. Mamie
Voorsanger said: what a great disad-
vantage, what an awful calamity the ad-
mission of boys would be. We have three
male preceptors already. Could boys do
more ii an they have done2 We do not
teel the need of more boys" Miss Voor-
sanger asked pathetically if boys should
be allowed to play in their garden and
trample down their flowers, and she con-
cluded with: "Shall we, the rising Shaws
and Anthonys of San Francisco, allow
boys to trample on our rights2"
Miss Abenheim took a strong stand in
favor of the ruling sex. She said admis-
sion to the high school would bring out
the boys chivalry, and she ventured to
predict they would build the girls a GYM
nasum. GAS tor me l give my hand and
my heart to this cause. Girls, will you
Join me?" The oratory had all been ac-
companied by the most enthusiastic
demonstrations from the house, but the
young orators who spoke extempore and
with remarkable ease and fuency, had
not been at all embarrassed by the noise.
AT the conclusion of the debate verdict
was clamored for, and Principal Brooks,
after expressing thankfulness that he was
not a boy, decided that any boy who
dared to enter the school should be
drowned in the fshpond. Mrs. Pray,
speaking for the lady teachers, pro-
nounced the debate a tie.
After the oratorical duel the girls under
took pilgrimage OF the school in gay
procession, singing a parody on March
ing Through Georgia" They visited the
various classrooms, in each of which one
of the following young ladies made
brief address: George Hawkins, Tilda
Richards, ChrIstobel Sobey, Etnel Hanks
Irene Lowe and Helen Louter, who made
the address in the studio, where the girls
pelted Professor Goldstein, who was dis
covered there, with flowers
After the pilgrimage halt was called
for refreshments, which consisted of ice
cream, cake, lemonade and candy. The
girls then declared that Virginia reel by
the faculty was the next item on the pro-
gramme, and they all assembled on the
platform of the big hall and applauded
while the following teachers good-natur-
edly complied with their wishes:
Professor Z. Brooks, Miss Nellie Owens, Mrs
Mary Mayborn, Miss Mary Prag. Miss Louise
Marriott Howard, Miss Frances HodgKinson,
Miss Katharine Wilson and Miss Mary T.