Biddeford High School - Olympian Yearbook (Biddeford, ME)

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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.

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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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I4 TI-IE OLYMPIAN Spring blossomed into Summerg so their friendship blossomed into love. They were together constantly, dancing, swimming, playing tennis, or riding at night on the lagoon listening to the en- chanting melodies of the gondoliers. One windy day they had gone out to the cliff. Just two weeks from now, Monica, and we'll be happy together, l prom- ise. Yes, she thought, they would be happy together, because they were alikeg they were modern America. They would find happiness together, not run away from it. As Monica turned to speak to him, her hat blew off and became lodged on a little ledge on the cliff. I'll get it, said Barrie, jumping over the wall and taking the few steps to the edge of the cliff. Oh, please, don't bother with it, Barrie, it really doesn't matter, and anyway it's too dangerous, Barrie. Please come away from there, l'm scared. Don't worry, dear, I'll have it in a jiffyf' Barrie, Barrie, look out! she screamed. The rock is slipping under your foot. His face paled and his eyes looked up at her frantically. A scream rent the air as his body went hurling through space to death below. Days later, spent with grief and re- morse, Monica left the villa to return home, to America. As Summer passes on Nature dons a more vivid beauty, the flaming loveli- ness of Autumn. From out of nowhere, seemingly, came the majestic roll of the organ. Slowly, and unobtrusively the strains floated into the room and trembled somewhat in the gloomy atmosphere. The girl lifted her eyes a little apa- thetically. She did not mind, really, for she felt beyond any emotional up- heaval now. Strangely enough the mu- sic seemed to blend peacefully with her trend of thought. Her gaze slipped dials and wandered The pure ivories of came out in relief past the radio around the room. the grand piano against the huge darkness of the con- bust of Beethoven sole. The great loomed familiarly against the east win- dow. High above the fireplace a gracefuly carved mirror reflected the twilight without. Shades of night gently weaved its purple threads through the dull gold ridges in the sky. The tall pines bent their majestic heads in submission to the funereal tranquillity into which the earth had suddenly plunged. Violet A. White. BACK SEAT DRIVING. lt is an undeniable fact that every person has at some time during his ex- istence been assailed by the untiring efforts of a back seat driver. This gen- tleman requires no introduction, for doubtless we all are acquainted with the omniscient one whose only difiiculty lies in the fact that he does not perform the task you are vainly attempting to do, thereby obtaining an opportunity to apply his amazing theories. Even though it may be a mere card game or the innocent act of partaking of a meal, you may consider yourself indeed for- tunate if you escape his ubiquitous pres- ence and the diabolical glee, which he takes at the agony caused by his in- sistence upon expounding these hypo- theses. Perhaps the greatest contribution to the advancement of mankind will come when a genius, for surely it requires a genius, will invent a perpetual task for this insidious class, that they may tac- iturnly employ themselves in the actual practice of their theories. Doubtless we all have attempted thus to benefit human beings, but unfortunately, we are compelled to admit that, in prac- tice, this plan is not feasible. ln every