Chester High School - Flamstead Challenge Yearbook (Chester, VT)

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16 FLAMSTEAD CHALLENGE We all know that we would miss our daily paper if we didn't receive one. just think of all the news we can comprehend in just one hour! There are so many advantages of the daily and weekly papers that it is hard to find any fault with them, however, there is one large disadvantage. They may become vehicles for organized propaganda. This would affect the welfare of the American people so much that we must be on the look-out for such an occurrence. Journalism, within the last two hundred and fifty years, has become practi- cally an industry in itself, and reaches more people than any other big business in the world. Today, as never before, the people of the United States are able to grasp the news of the world simply by reading their daily paper. We must all agree that journalism has certainly spread nation-wide! Insirumenially Speaking SALUTATORY ADDRESS Lois Mansur A baton is raised-the conductor points his instruments to action. Imagine that you hear the smooth, swift beginning of a musical composition that suggests a mountain shower. Then a soft tremolo of the bass indicates thunder, and a sharp Hash of lightning, intimated by rapid ascending arpeggios, is followed by a swiftly descending scale. More thunder precedes the return of the little shower. After this, a rainbow is hinted. This composition has been written to give a definite effect. As you listened, you thought of something specific-the thunder, lightning, and rain, and a moo-d has been created. This is true of the music that falls into the impressionistic and expressionistic classes. What is behind the composition? Gf course, it has melody and rhythm, it is written in harmony-but the instruments express the musicg they suggest the picture. Then each one has its role of creating the mood or impression. Some assume the roles of familiar objects, animals, or even humans. One of the outstanding instruments in an orchestra that are personified is the bassoon. It has been called the clown of the orchestra. Perhaps this is because it makes a point of counterpoint with a twinkle in its eye. Of all instruments, I can think of none which presents a more beautiful portrayal of human feelings than the violin. It is no wonder that music has been conceived especially with the idea of bringing out its human quality. A particular symphonic suite with this idea in mind is Scheherazade, by Rimsky-Korsakov. It is based on tales from The Thousand and One Nights, in which a certain Sultan vows to slay each of his wives. Sultana Scheherazade saved her life by telling tales to the Sultan over a period of a thousand and one nights. Throughout the suite, the violin solo appears as the narrator, Scheherazade. Always the stern Sultan is the full orchestra. Scheherazade is a classical work for the listener's pleasure. As a way of contrast, the creation, Peter and the Wolf, has the primary purpose of teaching children to recognize the instruments of the orchestra. Of course it is enjoyedg it has appeal for both children and sophisticated adults. Like Scheherazade, Peter and the Wolf is based on a story. In short, the wolf has gobbled up a duck, and has threatened the safety of the cat and bird. The boy-scout, Peter, with aid

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FLAMSTEAD CHALLENGE 15 The first printing press known to mankind was invented in Germany in the early 1400's. Although Gutenburg was the inventor, he did not receive credit for his great work from the people, however, he greatly aided the field of journalism in Europe. John Campbell, in 1704, published the Boston News-Letter, the first success- ful American paper. Soon journalism began to spread, adding to the enjoyment of the American people. Benjamin Franklin was one of the most outstanding beginners in journalism in America. His Poor Richard's Almanac won a hearty welcome from the Amer- ican press and soon found nation-wide acclaim. It was so well known, for it won its fame on its literary merit alone, that the people looked forward to its publica- tion with great anticipation. Critics today consider it an outstanding piece of journalism. Franklin's reforms, including the organization of a police force, a militia, fire extinguishing companies, and others, were brought to the public eye', through the Pennsylvania Gazette. It is difficult for us to imagine not knowing about daily happenings in local, state and national affairs, but during George Washington's day daily news was seldom known, for only weekly newspapers were published. As the telephone and telegraph were not discovered at this time, mail clerks and carriers were of great importance in transmitting the news to the publishers. Travelers to Europe and ship captains often were depended upon to bring news of foreign countries to the colonies, thus, news was outdated before it could be printed. Nevertheless, small newspapers were printed, and increased in size during the 1840,s when the tele- graph came into practical useg thus, news from the outside world could be received more easily and quickly. Daily newspapers began to be published, and the growth of the daily paper encouraged news writers to contribute to it. Compared with newspapers today, the colonial papers were very small, often only the size of typewriter paper, and usually only three or four pages in length. There were no sketches, pictures, or comics to make the papers more interesting, only bare news which the colonists grasped with eagerness. Soon journalists began improving newspapers. joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, two outstanding men in the field of journalism during the nineteenth century, started the trend to improve newspapers by special feature columns, pictures and sensa- tional articles which appealed to the reading public. Today, it seems unimaginable that such conditions as those mentioned could have existed only two hundred and fifty years ago. Now, with the Associated Press and other wire services, the nation's newspapers have been reduced to a great similarity. News found in California papers is found here in the New England papers, written up by our own reporters, but bearing the same information. Right here, in the state of Vermont, there are numerous excellent newspapers bringing the world's events to the reading public. Even farm families in the rural districts receive their daily paper by subscribing to it, and having it brought to their homes by mail carriers. Others buy their papers at drug stores, or news- stands, eager to read about the world happenings. Now, with a circulation of millions, the nation's papers reach out far and wide to small rural communities, and to cities, releasing world news to everyone interested. Our own little school paper, the Chester Chatter, published monthly, relays news of school affairs and current events to the student body. I am happy to say that, aided by advertisements, the paper has been successful. This paper has undergone several improvements during the three years of its publication, and ranks well with the other mimeographed school papers in the state. This is only a small example of newspaper work, but one of considerable importance and experience for anyone interested in a journalistic career.

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FLAMSTEAD CHALLENGE 17 from some hunters, captures the wolf, and places him in a zoo for everyone to behold. The bird is represented by the flute, the duck by the oboe, the cat by a clarinet playing in a low register, the wolf by the three French horns, and Peter by the strings. Each character has a special theme. These themes are played by the instruments before the performance of the music, so that children can associate them with the characters. There are also the recordings, Tubby the Tuba and Pee-Wee the Piccolo, which have the same purpose in mind. The instruments actually introduce them- selves to us. A story is told about those particular instruments to acquaint chil- dren, especially, with them. For the listener's enjoyment, once again, take Morton Gould's arrangement of Surrey With the Fringe on Top. The percussion section of the orchestra inter- prets the part of a horse jogging along. Then a crack of the whip is effected by the sharp impact of a percussion instrument simply adapted from wooden blocks. Here is another way in which an instrument is effective in playing its role. We should not forget the greatyinspiring church music. Although the organ is most important, the voices of a choir are instruments-in an exact sense of the word. Here is something more important than enjoyment of the music, the instruments-organ or choir or any other-touch us more deeply. An organ prelude and a chorale are what we like to hear, are important in worshipping Godg above all, they give us a real spiritual experience. From the simplest of enjoyment to a great experience-the instrument has carried us all this way. Perhaps the instrument senses its importance in appealing to our fancies, in providing enjoyment of music. An instrument deserves more than recognition as a man-made thing of wood and metall Music itself is a crea- tion of man. Without the instrument, music's deep and wonderful message could not be conveyed. Through Adversity to the Stars THIRD HONOR ESSAY Phyllis Whitcomb We have chosen as our motto, Through Adversity to the Stars. To us this means that we will try to overcome the things that stand in our way and reach our aims, our stars. Each of us has some aim in life-maybe it is high, maybe it seems quite in- significant. If nothing more or less, each of us aims to lead a happy and useful life. Next year some of us are going on to school, some of us are stepping out into the world on our own. In either case we shall meet adversities. Like everyone who has gone 'before us we shall find the going hard at times. Our plans will be upset, our dreams crushed by some unforeseen obstacle, some unexpected crises. To have for the aim of our life just to be able to speak and understand seems very meager to us, who take such powers for granted. Yet this was the case of Helen Keller. When she was 19 months old she was stricken with a fever which left her blind, deaf and dumb. In her autobiography she says, One brief spring, musical with the song of robin and mocking bird, one summer rich in fruit and