Claymont High School - Clay Tablet Yearbook (Claymont, DE)

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Gladys jones, 1 93 7 ET us take a glimpse into the Old World a few centuries ago. Surely there must have n some good reasons for the hordes of people coming to America. Why did they leave apparently good, comfortable homes to brave the perils of an uncharted ocean to come to a land that might be infested with wild animals or ruled by some cannibalistic savages? Per- it was the spirit for adventure and the desire for gold that lured the first explorers here. vast, unexplored continent, offering free land to any who cared to take the risks that went with it, beckoned to the people of the Old World. For political and religious reasons were more than willing to leave their mother country for a haven of peace and for chance to start life over again in the New World which promised freedom. They had no experience in self-government to help them-only the right of fighting for their lt was a struggle from the time they left the Old World until they achieved their in the new land. That made a stronger foundation on which to build a future world power-for all the were weeded out. Only the strongest could survive the hardships of the new country. Those who migrated to America had qualities which would help them SL1fmOL1Ut the most difficult obstacles that they would have to face. They were not afraid to try something new. lnitiative was one of their strongest points. lt furnished them the incentive to push forward with a new resolution to seek the things which they knew they wanted. Perhaps they aimed too high, but these different types and races of people reached the goals they set for themselves so securely and satisfactorily that the wisest leaders of the Old World were astounded. Surely, they thought, a country such as this could not long endure. But look what has been done-these different races of people from all over the world have created in America a new kind of democracy. Even today we find a number of immigrants still coming to America to build a new future for themselves and help build a better democracy. Edna Fawcett, 1937 East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet. Would Kipling have considered this true if he had known a cosmopolitan city. lt is true that the customs and belief of the East clash with the doctrines of the Western peoples, but cannot the two be blended? Consider that japanese who greets you in clear English and who wears a trim tailored suit instead of his native robe. l-le has been assimilated by a western world and has brought to it his skill to create delicate loveliness and ability to delve deep into the realms of learning. A short distance from the center of some of our bustling cities can be found a bizarre settlement known as Chinatown. Certainly the East and West are tangent here. America brings together the North and South as well as the other extremities. The swarthy Italian and the fair Swede meet on equal ground and have equal opportunity to make their contribution to the culture of the western world. Truly it is the huge cauldron into which are poured a great variety of nationalities from which come that versatile people known as Americans. America is comparatively a new nation among the other powers of the world, but we rank high among them because they have contributed so much to our civilization. The best social heritages of nearly every country on the globe have been blended within our borders. Knowledge of science and industry, the appreciation of fine arts and music, and the rudi- ments of our own government we owe to our fellow nations. Truly America is the greatest melting pot in the world. The peoples from all parts of the universe pledge their allegiance to this great land. Many of them sacrifice and struggle, and work and plan in order that they may be more worthy to be called citizens. They realize the opportunity that they have in helping to govern, in raising themselves out of the ranks of the ordinary, and establishing themselves solidly in this democracy. Those of us whom the Melting Pot has already Americanized must realize that the immigrants are not detracting from our opportunities but are adding strength and greatness to an already great nation.

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EUGENE SHEPHERD One minute here, the next minute there, Roaming about without a care. JAMES SPRING Rome was not built in a day. EDNA WALDRON A merry heart goes all the day. GORDON WALDRON 'All his faults are such that one loves him still the better for them. JACK WEATHERLOXX' l.oolcf here comes a lady. FERN WEHRHEIM She smiles and all the shadows depart. WILLIAM WHITE For every action you make have a good reason. MADELINE WILHELM Some credit in being jolly. BETTY WOHNUS Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. MARIE YOST Some friendships are made by na ture, some by contact, some by Interest, and some by souls.

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A TRIP TO NORWAY Gerd Zwilgmeyer, 1938 N the summer of 1934 our family went to Norway. We had been there before, but such a trip never fails to arouse one's interest weeks beforehand. In addition to the actual trip, we looked forward to seeing our grand-parents and other relatives. It had been four years since we had seen them. We sailed to that land of endless adventures on the S. S. Bergensfjord. On the way over I met some interesting people. A kind looking man was sitting on the upper deck looking idly at the sea. Beside him was an empty chair. He asked me if I wished to sit beside him and chat awhile. The stranger asked me several questions, and before long we were deep in conversation on art. It was not until the next day that I discovered his identity. A friend told me-Jonas Lie! Here I had spent a whole afternoon chatting with one of America's foremost artists. On the Scavenger Hunt, held when we were several days from America, one thing we were to get was a poem written by Herman Wildenvey, a Norwegian poet. I went to Mr. Wildenvey and asked him to write me a poem. Certainly, he said. He sat down and thought a minute, pen in hand. With a flourish he wrote a few lines and handed me a slip of paper. A poem! By Herman Wildenvey, too! On the eighth day of our voyage, we saw rising out of the sea before us a glorious country full of rugged mountains. A few hours later we arrived at Bergen, one of Norway's largest cities, situated among seven mountains. One of the most interesting places in Bergen is the German dock. Six hundred years ago the Germans went up to Norway and tried to take away Norway's flshing business. Along the dock is a long line of houses-the homes of the invaders. We went into one house. There were secret passages everywhere. They lead to secret rooms which we never suspected. Oftentimes there were secret passages between the houses. These were necessary in case the Norwegians raided the Dock Section. The beds were the queerest ones I had ever seen. They were like boxes in the wall. You pulled out the door of the box and crawled in. We spent a couple of weeks out in the deep farm country. It took a whole day of steady hiking to reach the little mountain village of Hallingdal from the station of Aal. The only means of getting to Hallingdal were walking and riding horseback. While we were there we made goat cheese. My cousin took out a large kettle about four and a half feet in diameter. We poured goat's milk into it and built a fire under it. It ml1St be stirred constantly for days. This was not such a hardship though, for we all took turns. Our neighbors helped us. When there are fifteen children and three maids in a family, there is plenty of stirring-power. Finally the cheese was brown and creamy. Then we poured it into moulds and let it cool. One of our most thrilling experiences was riding on the same train on which the royal family traveled. The King, Haakon VII, walked to the train on a long golden carpet which was laid on the station platform. Others of the family are: Queen Maud, their son, Kron- prince Olav, Princess Martha, his wife, and their children, the lovely princesses, Astrid and Ragnhild, and the new little Prince Harald. In Oslo, the capital, there is a large castle. Each Norwegian boy must serve as a castle guard at some time. We went to see the castle. While the rest of the family were talking about how large and beautiful it was, I decided to do some exploring for myself. I went around the corner of the castle and was inspecting an unguarded entrance. Suddenly, from nowhere, a guard popped out. He leveled his bayonet and commanded me to tell him where I was going. I didn't wait to answer. I turned around and fled. In September it was, Home again and home again, America for me. I am now looking forward to another wonderful trip to the beautiful country of my ancestors. We shall sail on the S. S. Bremen, on the 22nd of May. l