Clifton Springs High School - Cliftonian Yearbook (Clifton Springs, NY)

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24 THE CLIFTONIAN DANDELION Dandelion! Dandelion! What makes your color so bright? I know! I know! You stand in the cheery warm sunlight. The fiery sun drops the gold on you Shining down the whole day through. But after you have stood so long You put on silver, then some down. Along comes the wind and blows you away. But we’ll expect your return on another bright day. —AINSWORTH BENNETT, Grade 6 -------------0------------ WANDERING This man expresses his desire: “I like home and a cheerful fire, But I place first the golden trail. This trail. I think, will never fail To keep me happy—I’ll never tire Of wandering.” The next old man is telling me: “I have a home down by the sea. It is pleasant—I like it there— To sit alone and dream how fair ’Twould be to cross the sea— Thus wandering.” A woman thought of dreams come true, Of friends who were now but very few; She thought of home and fireside bright, And sat and dreamed far in the night Of love, home and friendships true— Her wanderings. I, too, care for home and friendships true, I place these before the wanderer’s view. Each person has his own choice, But I must now strongly voice That I like my home, old or new— Not wanderings. —HELEN TAYLOR, Eng. I. --------------o----------- “ ’TIS ONLY DAYLIGHT THAT MAKES SIN”—Milton The thought that Milton means to put in Comus’ mouth by this meaningful excerpt is that sin committed at night is not sin because the darkness covers it up. Now—about our beliefs concerning sin today—if you were told that Comus’ belief is held today—not altogether, but in varying degrees—would you believe it? “How childish”—“How absurd,” you might exclaim. But, is it? Let me explain. Take any person—Timothy Hay, for example: He goes out some night and gets drunk, and, as is the usual case, he repeats the good time. Now. has he sinned, or hasn’t he? Presumably he hasn’t. The crowd has given its verdict—not in words, but by smirks of approval, slaps on the back, and a certain degree of popularity. (By the way, a more detailed accounting of this can be had in any book on .mob psychology.) His act no longer bothers him; his conscience having died of misuse. Those who care for him are usually those who are blessed with the sort of ignorance that is bliss, and those propagandists who would back up his tastes say that he is merely pursuing happiness as is his constitutional right. (?) Summarily: He hasn’t sinned because his act is ignored by some, enlivened l- others, unknown to others, and “ ’Tis only daylight that makes sin.” —H. ROTH. Eng. IV. ------------o------------ Miss Trautman: “Laura, I’ve told you to stir the cocoa three or four times.” Laura: “Well, I’m sorry, Miss Trautman, but I have cotton in my ears.”

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THE CLIFTONIAN 23 SIXTH GRADE The sixth grade celebrated Christmas in the usual manner—party, Christmas tree and exchange of gifts. They also had a Valentine party. Some interesting work in original poetry and stories has been done by the class. Booklets were made on Abraham Lincoln which contained poems, a short biography, a detailed incident and a dramatization of an episode in Lincoln’s life. Some of those dramatized were produced before the class. Grover Taylor won first prize in the Lincoln essay contest. Poetry anthologies and nature study note books were made and an interesting Colonial project was also carried on. -------------o------------- SEVENTH GRADE During the year we have had twenty-four pupils registered. We have enjoyed the school year with its many activities. The transportation project which we developed proved to be very interesting We learned the methods of land travel throughout the world, also the development of water travel from galley to steamer. In connection with this work the boys made two miniature airplanes, a speed boat, a cruiser and a battleship. We have kept in touch with the news of the world in our “Morning News • Club”.; also enjoyed many jokes and stories. For our assembly program at Christmas time we presented the play “An Old-fashioned Christmas.” We have enjoyed attending all of the assemblies. We have had the Health Banner several times during the year. Our study of birds during the Spring months has taught us to be more observing and to appreciate nature. We have seen fifty different kinds of birds. -------------o------------- EIGHTH GRADE School opened the first of September with the usual chatter and excitement. At the beginning of the year our attendance was twenty-four but it has now increased to thirty pupils. The girls in our grade Were allowed to take, as one of their subjects, Home Economics II, which is a high school subject. December the seventeenth, we gave two plays, “Getting Experience,” and “Wanted—a Wife,” as our part of the assembly program. In January we were allowed to take the regents in the following subjects: Arithmetic, Spelling, and Silent Reading. After we had passed these subjects we were allowed to take new subjects. (Algebra and Civics.) In spite of the fact that we have had so many absences because of vaccinations and epidemics, we have one girl, Isabel Adams, who has had perfect attendance up to the time of this writing while three others have missed this mark only by a very few absences. -------------o-----------— THE MOON Last night when I went up to bed Peeping through my window was a round gold head. I stopped. It seemed as though it winked at me But then I thought, “That can not be The moon out there winking at me.” I snuggled down into my bed But there it was when I uncovered my head. I jumped to the floor and ran to the sill But the moon was sturdy and standing still. I was satisfied and surprised as could be For a swinging branch made it wink at me. —BLANCHE FOX, Grade 6 -------------o-----------— Miss LeGrand: “How would you punctuate this sentence: A pretty girl walking down the street turned a corner just as I saw her?” Park Wright: “I would make a dash after her.” -------------o------------- Russ Burgess: “My dad is an Elk. a Moose, a Lion, and an Eagle.” Bill Fox: “How much does it cost to see him?”

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THE CLIFTONIAN 25 The following essays, written in English IV class, show how different people have very different ideas on the same subjects. “EYES” The most expressive of human features are the eyes. Through them words can be spoken, thoughts transmitted, inspiration offered. Through them also can be shown hatred, love, coquetry, innocence, faith—in fact, practically all human emotions. In most cases eyes are beautiful. There are few whose organs of vision do not attract attention. Crossed-eyes are fascinating, but in a different manner from that in which a clear-straight-forward eye commands attention. Bright, sparkling, vivacious eyes, alert and wide-open, commandeer comments of admiration no matter what sort of features accompany them. In short, oculistic beauty depends upon alive, healthy eyes, and this in turn upon health. Nearly everyone has eyes. Everyone can study them. We can only express deep regret for those whose eyes cannot function as they should, and hope that perhaps some day they, too, will be able to see gorgeous visions. —HELEN WHEDON. BROWN EYES There are dark blue eyes, light blue eyes, green eyes, gray eyes, black eyes and hazel eyes, but the most beautiful of all are brown eyes. Not a tannish brown or a greenish brown but the real color brown. What is more beautiful than a pair of large brown eyes set in a frame of long dark lashes? The eyes sparkle and reflect the light, so that one can see himself in them. They show the thoughts and feelings, and moods of the owner. When he is happy his eyes seem almost to smile and to light up his whole face. When he is sad they have an expression of hurt which makes one sorry if one has caused it. The eyes seem to know when something very funny is happening, because they twinkle and laugh as though they perfectly understand the joke. When their owner becomes angry they become almost black and flash and sparkle so that sparks of fire can almost be imagined coming from them. All eyes have these moods, but not all of them are capable of showing them, and none of them are as beautiful and expressive as brown eyes. —R. BUCHAN. PENCILS Pencils are used for many things. Of course their primary use is for writing and what a variety of things they do record at the hands of a high school student. They are also used as a sort of teething ring. We see many people going around chewing on their pencils, especially in moments of deep thought or when they are disturbed and have to find some way to show their anger or agitation. Others sometimes use pencils as a kind of decoration. We often see boys with pencils of bright colors in their coat pockets. Most of these that are used for show have passed their age of usefulness but as they still have their clasp can be fastened on the coat and tend to give a prosperous look to the wearer. Pencils give the high school student a chance to leave his desk in study hall, stroll leisurely to the pencil sharpener, sharpen his pencil, gather any late items of interesting news from the students whom he passes, perhaps borrow a stick of gum, or some late magazine, and return to his seat with his recent collections. So you see, although we think that pencils are very ordinary things they really play quite a part in the life of a modern student. —N. QUIGLEY. PENCILS You may never have thought how valuable a pencil is to you, but what would you do without one? Think how horrible it would be for a high school pupil whose head is just crammed with ideas (?) if he didn’t have any pencil to scribble them down with. And just try to imagine, if you can, the plight of the person, who is unable to think unless he is chewing on a pencil, if the pencil supply suddenly ran out. He might even have to start chewing gum and this is not generally encouraged in high schools. Just think what the world would have missed if I hadn’t been able to borrow a pencil just when the inspiration for this—choose your own name—struck upon my mind (very small, if any)! I tell you, the world does not appreciate the value of having or not having (as the case may be)—pencils. —P. WRIGHT.