Bucyrus High School - Bucyrian Yearbook (Bucyrus, OH)

Page 29 text:

WHAT CAN WOMAN DO? Each one leaves a record of his deeds in the final history of his race. Could this one thought be impressed upon the mind of every woman, there would follow such a great revolution as would cause this world to stand in amazement when seeing the results that would follow. Next to God, we are indebted to woman for the making of this world. Woman it is that can make this world an Eden if she will, but her intlucnce can also be used for evil. We will now speak of the woman who exerts her influence for good and who seizes every opportunity for making the future better and shedding peace around her. Some one has said gIn all history the strength of any nation is measured by the condition of the women of that nation, and will he throughout all succeeding ages. She may learn any trade for which she has the ability to master. Before the Civil War the majority of occupations were thought not appropriate for women. But when the war talled forth hosts of men from the north and south, the business of the time demanded tens of thousands of women to fill vacant positions. From that time a mighty Change took place favorable for female employment. Among the occupations for women are, music teaching, school teaching, florists, bookkeeping and banking, a work Clean and honorable, suitable for any woman. Among great women who have done much for their country is Dorothy Dix, liThe Angel of the Insane Asylumsf, Through her power of voice and intellect, the people saw that it was their duty to provide asylums for the are of the insane. Above all other positions is one in which she can accomplish most good for God and humanity. She can reign queen of the home. The husband goes out in the world to toil with his hands and brain to provide for the home, and the wife is to weave the results into the richest blessings. Talmadge said, llWoman sits on a throne so high, that if all the thrones 0f the world were placed on top of one another, they would not make for her a foot stoolfl Our great grandfathers thought they were by their votes putting Washington into the presidential Chair. But no, his mother, by the principals she taught him and by the habits she impressed made him president. It is the mothers duty to keep the home pure and happy. Ever since the world began, as long as the homes were kept pure in the nation, the people in the nation were strong in action and noble in thought. How true the old saying is, lVFhe hand that rocks the cradle rules the worldfl The early impressions are the best, and it is during this character forming period that woman can use her influence. Now I ask, does woman in reality rule, and, is it not her duty to act her part well? Look how woman has used her inHuenee against intemperanee, the great foe which destroys happiness, breaks the hearts of wives and mothers and brings poverty to the home. In order however to accomplish anything along this line she must become the highest type of womanhood, a pure Christian woman. The task of the Christian woman is laid before her, but her reward will be received through all eternity. ORPHA O. COE Alpha Zeta Ragus Girls

Page 28 text:

DOES POETRY BELONG TO THE LESS HIGHLY FRED,K F. BLICKE Philomathean Bradwurster H. S. Orchestra Asslt. Editor, llBucyrianll DEVELOPED NATIONS? Is it true that poetry is the production of nations when in a state of unprogressiveness or non-development and that it flourishes best when the country is in this Condition? Or on the other hand is poetry merely the mark of manis intellectual or material progress? . , Let us assume that poetry belongs to the state of development and progressiveness. If such is the case, then today we must look to the worldis prosperous and intellectual nations for our poetry. We all know, however, that in the last Efty years no really good poetry has been produced by any nation. And indeed any reader of poetry would scarcely think of elassing poetry in the same age with steam engines, automobiles, wireless telegraphy and flying machines. Let us leave out of consideration the advanced age of civilization of the present and look over the past years when America was an undeveloped stretch of land on this side of the Atlantic, and note the sentimental age in which our grandfather's lived. Among their associates were such men as Lincoln, VVebster and Clay, whose powerful oratory gave them world-wide fame. An objection may be made that oratory is not poetry. It is not accordingr .to the literal understanding of poetry but the oratory of these men is found to be full of poetic expression and sentiment which shows that both the poet and the orator are inspired by the same surroundings. Whittier and Longfellow produced their greatest works in the early part of the nineteenth century when America was still classed as an inferior nation. Going still farther back to the time when America was mostly back woods, we find such men as Patrick Henry, John Adams and others, whose powerful and forceful elocution is too well known to commen:C upon. Let uS look at the condition of literature In Europe when that continent was in an unprogressive state of develop- ment. VVe Find in the early condition of England examples which show that its greatest poetry was composed when that nation was in an undeveloped state. We notice that almost the first utterance of the rough, rude, uncultured Teutons who inhabited England at an early date is poetry. Homeris Iliad, one of the immortal productions of Grecian literature, was written in the midst of unsettled warfare and when the countries of Greece were in a constant turmoil. Burns, Scotlandls greatest poet, lived and wrote when that country was in a state of degeneracy. In conclusion to the above facts Shakespeare, whose works stand today pre-eminent in the literary world, lived in a period called the Golden Age of English Literaturef, This period occupied the sixteenth century, when England was but poorly developed and when it was a rare thing for a common person to be able to read or write. Milton also wrote in one of the dark ages of English history. It has been shown that all of the worldls greatest poets wrote in times which are not noted for their brilliant his- tory, but rather in times when the country in which they lived was either at a standstill or in a state of degeneracy, and as this progressive world of today has failed to produce any great poetry we therefore conclude that poetry is the production of nations when in a state of less highly development. 24

Page 30 text:

CLEO J. DE LASHMUTT Philomathean Ragus Girls MUSIC the rustle of the leaves in Summefs hush, When wandering breezes touch them, and the sigh That filters through the forest, or the gush That swells and sinks amid the branches high, lTis all the music of the wind, and we Let fancy float on the Aeolian breatth The right to like or dislike music or a musical composition without giving a reason has long been regarded as CO- existent with human freedom. Music has been a sort of Cinderella of the Arts, sometimes observed, incidentally admired, but generally treated as of no serious importance in the presence of her favored sisters, Paintingr and Poetry. No one, 'who has not at least learned the difference between a pen sketch and a water color painting, presumes to pronounce an opinion on the merit of a picture; so it is with a musical composition-no one should judge a selection unless he has learned the difference between a Massanet production which refreshes the intellect by its appeal to your feet and one of Beethovenk masterpieces Music is rationalized emotion and must be heard to be appreciated, the same as a picture must he Hrst seen to be appreciated. Have you ever stopped to think how music really influences you and what emotions it calls forth? It soothes the sad, encourages the helpless, enlightens the whole world, and causes things to appear in a more beautiful aspects Let us turn to the church on Sunday morning; there are prayers, a sermon and the InusiC-the choir begins to sing. Does not this arouse in you the purest and loftiest of emotions? VVhat emotions are aroused by that martial funeral dirge? An almost suHocating feeling of sadness and sympathy, associating with the mysteries of the Great Beyond. This really is one value of music. In a literal sense it brings all Heaven before our eye, and recalls and discloses eternal truths and relations. . Is not the slow, beautiful wedding march of Lohengrin a sort of sad farewell to the maiden, which however, soon breaks forth into a happy futureeof wedded bliss. Then there is 'the stirring music of the brass band, and of the street piano. All of these play upon our different emotions, but music influences everyone in a way that nothing else can do. However, most people have vague and unsettled ideas as to the expressive power of Music, and in looking for something which does not exist, they fail to hnd that which does. This vagueness arises from three causes; first, ignorance of the true nature of musical expressiveness; second, ignorance of musical history; third, foolish Criticism. Music is an art which expresses moods, and it expresses them with detiniteness, eloquence and inHuence. Many who are ignorant of music try to discern in it the cause of moods, and that is just what music cannot tell us. Bulwer says, llMusic once admitted to the soul becomes a sort of spirit and never dies. It wanders through the halls and galleries of the memory and is often heard again, distinct and living, as when it first displaced the wavelets of the airfT And in the words of Shakespeare, llThe man that hath not music in himself, and is not moved by concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, strategems and spoils. Let no man trust himf, 26