The Cynosure Name
TWO CYNOSURE QUESTIONS: The two most asked questions of the present Cynosure editor are: What does Cynosure mean? And how was it chosen as the name for our paper? Well, for you collectors of the more than 50 issues of the Alumni Association edition of the paper which we have printed since we started in 1986, you can look in the 1987 spring issue on page 5 and there you will find the following article. It was taken from another Cynosure from the very early years of its existence.
THE CYNOSURE AND ITS NAME: Ever wonder about the name of this paper? The word “Cynosure” is almost never used in everyday conversation, but it is a classy name for a high school paper. Back in the days when we trod the creaking wooden floors of Central High, did you ever think about how the paper was named? Well, here is how it all happened: Cynosure has two meanings, the first: is “northern constellation Ursa Minor,” also known as the North Star or the guide star. The second is a little more geared to our paper. It is defined as the center of attraction or attention. Now you know what Webster says about the word. With the definition out of the way, the next question raised by those who think about things like this, is this: "Who named it the Cynosure?" Well, it all happened in the year 1901, when the student publication staff at Fargo Central High School needed a name for their new monthly publication. Roy C Lewis, then the business manager of the fledgling magazine, tells how it came about. "The staff was all sitting round racking their brains over a name, when I was suddenly struck by a passage I had seen in Milton's poem, L'Allegro, about the '... cynosure of all eyes.' It was immediately adapted by editor Elmer Rice and his staff." Now you know the full story! When you look up at the northern sky and you see the North Star, think of it as the Cynosure–cause that's what it's all about. T'aint a bad name for our paper, either.
THE CYNOSURE AND ITS NAME: Ever wonder about the name of this paper? The word “Cynosure” is almost never used in everyday conversation, but it is a classy name for a high school paper. Back in the days when we trod the creaking wooden floors of Central High, did you ever think about how the paper was named? Well, here is how it all happened: Cynosure has two meanings, the first: is “northern constellation Ursa Minor,” also known as the North Star or the guide star. The second is a little more geared to our paper. It is defined as the center of attraction or attention. Now you know what Webster says about the word. With the definition out of the way, the next question raised by those who think about things like this, is this: "Who named it the Cynosure?" Well, it all happened in the year 1901, when the student publication staff at Fargo Central High School needed a name for their new monthly publication. Roy C Lewis, then the business manager of the fledgling magazine, tells how it came about. "The staff was all sitting round racking their brains over a name, when I was suddenly struck by a passage I had seen in Milton's poem, L'Allegro, about the '... cynosure of all eyes.' It was immediately adapted by editor Elmer Rice and his staff." Now you know the full story! When you look up at the northern sky and you see the North Star, think of it as the Cynosure–cause that's what it's all about. T'aint a bad name for our paper, either.