Belt Valley High School - Husky Herald Yearbook (Belt, MT)

Page 49 text:

'CIZIDI IDI IDI IDI I BELT BUCKLE li SIDlllE3lItiIlflDlIlflIlIDllRlllf.5 IIEIILQASS lItllllIlSClIIIDllRCM Oh, Ah1ned, look at the beautiful flower! What is it? I asked n1y Arabian companion excitedly as I pointed to a gorgeous pla11t about five feet in height. A flashing smile lighted his dark face as he answered proudly, 'iThat, oh lllj' friend, is the widely known Flower of Graduation which tl1e Sophomore who live in this Castle of True Ilreams care for so tenderly. Is it not beautiful Z' In all this great city of Bagdad, tl1e city of knowledge, there is not a thing of which we are more proud. A flush of pride suffused his face and l1is dark eyes flashed warmly. I looked closer. Yes, it was beautiful in a pure, clear, shining way. The tall stem was of a deep green color and the long, slender leaves drooped grace- fully all around the flower. The flower itself was very large, although it was only half open. Its petals were of a clear, ivory color, almost transparent i11 its clearness and impressed me somewhat as an angel might impress a llllllliill such as I. Through the clear petals I saw the glow of rich gold. Its beauty was breathtaking I Ahmed, please tell me about the flower. The story must be wonderful Z I pleaded. turning to the young Arab. Yes, my friend, it is wonderful. Uome, let us sit on this cushion by the flower and I will tell you all I know about it. After we had seated ourselves comfortably, he resumed in his low. musical voice, A few years ago, my friend, the Sophomore Class came to tl1is city illld were known by no one. One day a certain man came to Iiagdad and told tales of wonderful hidden treasures. XV-e were filled with unbelief but not so the Sophomore Class. They believed and began to search for the treasure. In the valleys, tl1e mountains, everywhere they looked, but they could find nothing which resembled gems or precious stones. Disappointment began to show in their faces, until one night as they sat in a wooded glen watching the moon- beams play on the grass upon which they were reclining when a fairy queen appeared and said in a soft, low voice, i'My people, look not for some great treasures. Look for something plain and common. When you find it I shall whisper in your ears. Listen for me while you search. Then she disappeared. They looked and looked for daysg then oI1e day they came upon an ugly, insig- nificant little seed and were about to pass it by when a voice said. 'It is the seed of Beginning. Plant it and care for it and soon it will grow i11to the Flower of Graduation, the hidden treasure.' They made the Fairy Queen Olson their ruler and joyfully cared for tl1e flower. Now you can see the golden treasure shining like a ray of hope through the pure petals. The Fairy Queen Olson still reigns over the Sophomore Class and their progress becomes more and more rapidf' As Ahmed's voice died away I could see the whole thing in his dreamy, passionate eyes. lVith a soft Goodnightl' he crept quietly away a11d I, overcome by sleep, let my heavy lids close as I drifted into a wonderful land to dream of the great Sopliomore Class and their glorious Flower of Graduation. Sl-IIZIT Humxo Oi 1930 I II II II II II Il II H129 Page 41

Page 48 text:

Gil BELT BUCKLE I IDI IDI IDI IDIZZC' dllllllllINlllllIDllR IEIBASS lll-lIllllSClIlfIDlIRf'M Un all sides tiny objects were silhouetted against the horizon. 'Twas the Class of '31 advancing on their camels and Arabian steeds to assemble at the oasis of B. V. H. S. Here Grand Faliph Bowman greeted them with great hospitality. To the happiness of all Miss Kellams consented to be their rakif tguidel. Ali Klimas was chosen leader with Sheikh Veliber as Katib fsecre- taryl. Nona Williamson was given charge of all jewels and precious stones and proved to be of the greatest worth. After coffee had been served to all, tl1e I'aliph presented them with a string of blue glass beads and an ostrich plume. tThe beads of good luck and feathers of endurance and speed. fl Peace be with thee and may Allah watch over thee, said the Grand I'aliph as they departed on their long, hazardous journey. The rolls of honor along the pathway all testified that the noble and honor- able of '31 were many. Great were their accomplishments. The ostrich plume gave endurance for long hikes. They set up a Cllill'lll School, where people were taught to be charming. They successfully raffled off the dowry worthy of a chief's daughter. Une night along the trail Sheikh Kennedy became seriously ill. An opera- tion was performed by llr. James Irvine with the worthy aid of M. ll. Marsh, special trained nurse. I'pon the removal of l1is left leg, spinal colunm and a cancer the patient declared he felt better. During this time Sheikh Yeliber was replaced by Helen Rutter as Katib I secretary lp. On 13Pbl'll2Il',V 21, the I'lass of '31 stopped at a small oasis a11d stayed here a short time to make merry over their good fortune thus far. l'pon resuming the journey tl1e next day they came upon the Ilaravan of Old Timers whom they received with good-will and gave to them a bountiful supper. Heing weary of travel by the first part of May the prosperous Class of '31 invited a select group of friends to a lovely garden and entertained them royally. Very lovely was this garden, with stars twinkling up above, breezes whispering through the treetops, beautiful flowers nodding their heads to the erooning of soft music brought from afar, the floating figures of the gorgeously robed merry-makers. and over all the pale wan light of tl1e Arabian moo11. In later travel they hailed the Uaravan of Seniors and a great feast was held. The veterans of 'lil traveled on and on. Finally they reached the great Mount of Improvement a11d found Grand Ualiph Bowman waiting with wor-rl that Mecca, the City of Success would be reached the following year. Anr:1.1..x MuI:KI.1No C11-II II II II II II II II I 19 3 0 i Page 40

Page 50 text:

i BELT BUCKLE I IEII IEII , 1EII IEIIZIZ' rtmesritmam crass rrtsatoimt With Miss Worth as rafik our Caravan set out on September third, 1929, to cross the Desert of Know Nothingf' After several days of hopeless hopping around in our oversized green tunics we decided to have a leader to keep order. Sheikh Charles Holmes was honored with this position and Loretta Chartier was chosen as assistant. Julia Armstrong and Mary Ellen Carr were chosen as assistants or special wakils and Grace Sinionis illld Albert Larkin sent to the t'Great Council. At last we viewed the Oasis of Light Peeping Through? Here we were niet by wakils from the Junior and Senior Caravans, who told us that we niust stay one night at the Tent of Initiationl' before continuing our journeys. When we reached this tent we were inet by their sheikh who asked, t'Min hunakiw f4'FI'0lll where ?,'j We hung our heads, ashamed to acknowledge the place of our travels. I11 the tent we went through the most dreadful experience thus far ac- costed. After much horrible torture we were niade blood-brothers of the mein- bers of the B. V. H. S. Caravans, by being daubed with blood and forced to kiss the helns of the Seniors' tunics. Then, handing us ostrich plumes they said, These feathers are for strength, endurance, and speed, such as Allah has given to the Ostrich. IVe have now traveled nxanv davs throu fh burninv' sun and terrible sand Q ., D storms of humiliation but our hopes are raised as we awake every morning to find ourselves nearer to the Oasis of Education.', lVitl1 the aid of the Great Prince HOW'll12lH and his many servants, may we some day be welcomed with the friendly greeting of the Arabs, hsilltlillll aleikf' and given brain-food and knowledge-water from the 'tijasis of Education. We also hope to discard our now faded green tunics for those of a more sophisti- cated hue. i BIARY ELLEN CARR 'ilfll II II II II II II II I 19 3 0 i Page 42