Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

Page 14 text:

12 THE SPECTATOR was thrust into the tire of one of the front wheels, they re- alized then that something had to be done immediately. Mr. Sumner tried to speak, but his voice was drowned by the shouts and curses of the mob. Then the mob drew back for a final assault upon the car. Ralph seized a large wrench and Mr. Sumner caught up a crowbar. With a yell the mob advanced. Mrs. Sumner and her daughter screamed and Ralph and Mr. Sumner grew strangely pale as they gazed into their fierce faces. Three yards—two yards—one yard —steadil)', the mob advanced. Just as they prepared to charge the car a voice in the native tongue cried “Halt!” and a man elbowed his way thru the crowd, which fell back respectfully before him. He turned his back to those in the car and faced the mob. “Men,” he began, “I, the Mayor of your village, de- mand that you do not this thing. You ask me why; 1 will tell you. One year ago I was in a strange land. 1 wished to go home I asked for my money. The dogs laughed at me, but one did not. He was a man. I came home and rescued my family from starvation. You made me your Mayor. I therefore command you not to harm these peo- ple. That boy was the one who was kind to me. Michael John Popovich does not forget a friend!” And Ralph Sumner’s bread cast upon the waters had returned to him. FRANK m. BRENISER, ’09. Dedicaton of Book. -ipOLLOWING the introduction in some books, preceding JJ it in others, we may find a page of dedication, con- taining a complimentary address to some one whom the au- thor delighted to honor. Spenser dedicated his “Fairie Queen” to Queen Elizabeth, Van Dyke his “Poetry of Tennyson” to his wife, Duerr his “German Grammar” to his father, and Green his “History of England” to two of his early instructors in English history. The custom of dedicatory books was in use in Rome in the Augustan Age. Horace, Cicero, Virgil, and Lucretius were among those who practiced it. Maecenas, Asinius

Page 13 text:

THE SPECTATOR it New York; tomorrow ketch boat. I must hurry, mebbe little girl die, then-” By this time the young man had filled out all the nec- essary papers, and giving them to the foreigner he bade him goodbye. The foreigner replied: “Goodbye, Herr Mister, you very kind; some day 1 pay you back. Good- bye. Michael John Popovich forgets no friend.” With that he was gone, and the young man resumed his lunch. He was a tall, slight fellow, with dark brown hair and eyes, a refined face and a pleasing manner. He was working here during the summer. His uncle, one of the superintendents, had obtained the position for him, but he was a Junior at the local High School. Then one of the timekeepers sneeringly remarked: “Is that the kind of fellows they turn out of High School—soft- ies, that any Ginney can work? It must be a peach of a place.” The others assented eagerly, but Ralph replied: “Well, maybe I am soft, but I think during working hours we ought to attend to our work, and not keep anybody waiting because we’re too lazy to attend to them.” Just as he spoke the whistle blew twelve, and that was the last time Ralph Sumner ate his luncheon at the time office. The next summer Ralph was graduated magna cum laude, and his uncle proposed an automobile tour thru Eu- rope. Accordingly, Mr. and Mrs. Sumner, Ralph’s uncle and aunt, and their daughter and Ralph started from Naples for Vienna. They had a delightful journey as far as the Austrian frontier, but here they noticed the people looked at them sullenly. For several days they journeyed on, until finally they discovered that a child had been run over and killed by some reckless tourists. This accounted for the strange behavior of the villagers. One day about noon the car stopped for water at a small village, and a crowd as usual surrounded the car. This time their looks were not of wonder, but of anger. Just as they were ready to start a mob came running down the road brandishing clubs and pitchforks and howling at the top of their voices. They surrounded the car, and the occupants at first did not realize what was the matter. But when a stone gashed Mr. Sumner’s head, and a pitchfork

Page 15 text:

THE SPECTATOR 13 Pollio, and M. Valerius Messala were three of the most im- portant patrons of literature at that time. Pollio was the earliest patron of Virgil’s genius. Horace dedicated his “Odes” to men of high official station and ancient family; as, Sestius, Munatius, Sallustius Crispus, and Aelius La- mia. At the period of the revival of letters in Europe, few books were printed without dedications. More dedicated his “Utopia” to his master, William Cecylle. We do not find dedications in Shakespeare’s works, for his dramas were written to be played on the stage, and not printed in book form. The prolog in some of his plays, as “Henry V,” is somewhat like a dedication. The dedication of Spen- ser’s “Fairie Queen” is very beautiful as well as interest- ing. It is as follows: To The Most High, Mightie, And Magnificent Emperesse Renowned For Pietie, Vertue, And All Gracious Government ELIZABETH By The Grace Of God Queene of England, Frabnce, and Ireland, and of Virginia Defender of the Faith, etc. Her Most Humble Servaunt EDMUND SPENSER Doth In All Humilitie Dedicate, Present, And Consecrate These His Labours To Live With The Etemitie Of Her Fame. Many of the English writers affixed dedications to all their books. Spenser, Dryden, and Johnson did so. Some of the most beautiful dedications in English literature are those prefixed by Addison to the diflerent volumes of his “Spectator” essays. The dedications preceding each canto of Scott’s Marmion are full of interest. Of modern dedications I like that of Clark’s Study of the English Prose Writers. It reads: “To a man and a woman who denied themselves a thousand luxuries and many comforts that they might give their children a liberal education this volume is reverently inscribed by one of the children.” What a fit return for son to make to parents ! Dr. Van Dyk’s dedica-