Biddeford High School - Olympian Yearbook (Biddeford, ME)

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I2 THE OLYMPIAN this modern world as it is. Scientists, inventors, philosophers, and many oth- ers have sacrificed much of their time and effort for the good of humanity. They did it for us: we, likewise, must do something to improve conditions for others. When we graduate from high school, or from college, we must have a definite purpose in mind. We must not be sat- isfied to be successful for ourselves alone: we should strive to do something that will benefit millions of others. Here ambition plays an important part. One who is truly great is unselfish in his desires, with thought not for himself, but for others. He is continually trying to make others contented and happy, thereby gaining much happiness for himself. Let us make this our aim. ,Ioan Goodwin, '38, WASHINGTON OR NOT? The annual Washington trip is one of the outstanding events of the Senior year. Needless to say, the question of finance is omnipotent. Wise is the Freshman who puts away his extra pen- nies in the school bank in his first year and continues the practice throughout his four years: then there is little chance of disappointment at the last minute. As the future of the Washington Club cafeteria is uncertain, henceforth, the need of weekly saving becomes even more important. Statistics are dry reading, but here are a few outstanding facts: 25 cents a week for four years amounts to 552, which pays your fare to Washington with some left over. Systematic saving is therefore not only desirable but nec- essary. ln every American there should be a desire to see the capital of his nation. To see the great Capitol building itself would be worth the entire trip, but added to that is the majestic Congres- sional Library, the Washington Monu- ment, the Lincoln Memorial, the United States Mint, the Bureau of Federal ln- vestigation, and countless other sights which should make the patriotic Amer- ican proud of his nationality and his country. If a graduate misses this trip through a lack of systematic saving, he will have only himself to blame, and the pangs of conscience are not pleasant. The Editor. Ordinary men can be the bearers of extraordinary ideas. Fear magnifiesg it makes a molehill appear a mountain. Nothing is ever well done that is not enthusiastically done. He that waits upon fortune is never sure of a dinner.-Franklin. A philosopher is one who can't enjoy life for wondering about it. Marriage is like the telephone-one doesn't always get the party wanted. The doorstep to the temple of wis- dom is a knowledge of our own igno- rance.-Spurgeon. l-low can a man come to know him- self? Never by thinking, but by doing. Try to do thy duty and thou wilt know at once what thou art worth.-Goethe. Men are often capable of greater things than they perform. They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full eXtent.- Walpole.

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QIEILBUTTQJIPZHIPJLSQ MRS. BLANCHE BUTFERFIELD The summer vacation of I937 which provided many with much joy also was the cause of much sorrow for all peo- ple connected with Biddeford High School, due to the death of Mrs. Blanche Butterfield, former Senior Eng- lish teacher. To the students of the school, Mrs. Butterfield was a source of information, joy, and help. Although in failing health during the latter part of her teaching career, she did not let this hin- der her friendship and kindness towards her pupils. Knowing this fact, they loved her all the more for it, and con- tinually sought her friendship. Her position may be filled efficiently time and time again, but in all hearts will there ever be a fond remembrance of a kind teacher and friend. John Tarpy. MANNERS This admonishing editorial does not undertake to point out to the students of B. H. S. that they are ill-mannered. Far from it. They are merely thought- less, but thoughtlessness may have dire results. For example: if your path lies past a door from which a dismissed class is literally rushing, it is almost like trying to break through the ranks of an onrushing army. Lock-step is not suggestedg merely a regard for the fellow student. Don't always dispute the right of way. What if everyone did? Some unfortunate autoists have insisted on their right of way. They're dead. On the stairs, especially, thought should be given to orderly passing, as a misstep here might win a fractured skull. Several times we have wit- nessed the tragic result of a thoughtless push: books and papers are scattered over the steps in a general state of chaos and needless damage. Respect for teachers also comes un- der the heading of manners. As the doors of B. I-l. SI. were not designed to accommodate comfortably more than one person at a time, step aside, let your teacher enter first. lmpertinence to teachers should not be necessary to mention, but here again thoughtlessness often prevails. A re- mark which could easilyuxbe made jok- ingly to a school chum ought to be ab- solutely out in class room etiquette. Let us, therefore, strive for polite- ness. No one ever lost anything worth- while by being polite. The Editor. WHAT IS OUR AIM? What is our aim? Toward what are we struggling through these school years? Although the questioin is a broad one, let us hope that the answer is a goal not without a purpose. Our great aim in life, whether or not we ad- mit it, is to secure happiness. And happiness comes only from hard work, from success, and, most of all, from the joy of making others around us happy. Sometimes we are so busy that we forget that everyone wants happi- ness as much as we do. Our aim in life, to bring that happiness, must be something that is going to benefit our environment. Think of the marvelous things that others have done to make

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'sI1.IlTlElfQIf'2lIR2TTef DESTINY As the year begins, Nature blossoms out in glory and beauty which men call Spring. It was Spring in ltaly when they met, a young man and a girl: but in their hearts they carried the beauty of Spring from their own native Amer- ica. l'-lad fate had them meet elsewhere, might their destiny have been other- wise? She was sitting on a stone wall high above on a cliff, perhaps for the first time, tasting the freedom and liberty for which her soul thirsted. She was staring in dreamy contemplation down on the wide blue expanse of Santa Monica Bay, which lapped hungrily at the jagged edges of the rocks below. White sails billowed out against the water and floated away far across the bav like phantom clouds. ln a distance, pale blue ridges rose against the hori- zon. S'he felt very much within herself the peace and calm which close com- munication with Nature instills in one. May l offer the proverbial penny? inquired a masculine voice. Quite startled, she turned and looked into the smiling, quizzical eyes of a tall bronzed figure. May I? he asked, and swung his lithe body up on the wall beside her. I beg pardon Mr ..... er ..... 15 she looked up questioningly. Oh, dear: another social error against me, he laughed. Please for- give me. The name is Barrie, a good old American name. You see l'm Am- erican, too. Yes, I gathered that much, plus the arrogance, she quipped mischievously. Oh, aren't you being a bit hard on a poor fellow? Well, l suppose l asked for it. l should have told you that l know all about you and that it's quite all right for you to speak to me because your aunt approves of me thoroughly. l suppose that sounds conceited, but it really is quite true. Oh, l know what you're thinking: 'lsn't he the upstart and impossible fellow?' But really, you'll like me eventually. I sort of grow on people .... Don't you ever get out of breath? she interrupted. Oh, not at alll My respiratory system is of the best, that also runs in the family. But seriouslfy, l do hope you're going to like me, because l've planned so much fun for us ever since your aunt told me you were coming. We're the only American family around here and it gets terribly lonesome at times. They sat in silence for a few secondsl, gazing out over the bay, then she spoke: Did you know that my mother spent her childhood here? She lived here sixteen years before she went back to Paris again. As a child I remember the many stories she told me of this Italy she loved so much. l believe, really, that she must have been very broken-hearted when she left hereg ev- ery time she talked about the villa, tears would come to her eyes and she'd look very sad. Sh'e's been dead for quite a while now. It seems to me that when l'm out here on the wall where she used to sit so often that l'm closer to her. Thus they had met, so informally, and yet they had been instantly at- tracted to each other.