James Madison University - Bluestone Schoolmaam Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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Having the modern spirit, we began in the middle, the Junior year. Therefore we cannot trace our origin to that aristocratic, though often shamefully abused, body called Freshmen. However, we can sympathize with them in all their sorrows; and we have tried this year to be their friends and protectors. We came as Juniors; but the responsibilities thrown upon our shoulders, as upon those of an elder sister, created among us at that early age the Senior spirit, which has only prepared us to bear the greater burdens and duties of real seniorhood. During our Junior year we were few in numbers but many in organi- zations. The Professional Class took the lead in organizing, as it has done in many other things. The Normal Class early demanded awe and respect for their scholarship and philosophical bearing. We soon learned that the Household Arts Class could do other things besides cook and sew. The Manual Arts Class was distinguished as well for its hand- some members as for their beautiful paintings, while the Kindergarten Class surpassed us all in the envied art of story-telling. Of the individual qualities which contribute to the strength of a body, our class has showed great variety as well as excellence. Minds philosophical, scientific, musical, artistic, literary, practical, and pedagogi- cal, have all been blended in the work for a common cause. Though some came with greater talents than others and their achievements have been greater, we have all labored with that which we ha d, and we who had least have gained a bountiful reward. Quicklv the first session had passed, and commencement day with the Governor came and went. Then at last we turned our faces homeward, leaving a few behind us to protect our rights at the Normal School dur- ing the summer term, and incidentally to revel in the hidden treasures of Colaw and Elwood ' s Advanced Arithmetic and other things equally de- lightful. Surely a vacation never passed so quickly, for almost before we knew it we were again entering the doors of Science Hall. After one night of picture-hanging and letter-writing we became adjusted to our Senior position. Indeed, it was a pleasure to be introduced to a new girl with the explanatory remark. She ' s a Senior. or to be eved with awe and reverence; for Seniors had never before been known in these regions. But we soon found that Senior life means work. Seniors must preside at the meetings of literary societies, must lead the devotional exercises of the Y. W. C. A., must direct the work of the Athletic Associa- 24

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What Vv e Have Been HE past is the firm ground in which the roots of the future have their holdings. When in the rush of the on-coming years we shall pause in life ' s battle to draw a breath of power from what lies behind us, no period of our past will stand out more vividly, perhaps, than these two years of school. It is here that many of our highest purposes have come into being and our chief plans taken form. It is here that we have changed from the chil- dren of yesterday into the women of today. Even our difficulties, trials, and failures here, surrounded by a splendid halo of old associations, will one day shine out as blessed memories. To live ami learn and he All that nut harms distinctive womanhood — this is fhe ideal that has hovered before us. In older to move toward this end, mentally, we have found our way through innumerable texts on psychology, mathematics, and science. Morally, not trusting in those unconscious forces of which we hear so much, we have attempted the text- book plan in ethics, with what success our neighbors can assure you. Physically, we have spent hours either in the gymnasium, pacing the board-walk, or on the basket-ball and tennis courts. Practically, we have gone into the schoolroom day after day and directed those plastic minds into the right channels though we always lived under the fear that our minds were benefited more than were the children ' s by the experiments. Our aim has not been altogether selfish, for in striving towards it the welfare of our beloved school has ever been the controlling thought. The majority of us came at the beginning; we entered school-life on the same day with our strong young Alma Mater herself; we have seen and had some share in the initiation and growth of many of her largest plans and most progressive movements; hence we have enjoyed a sweet sense of comradeship winch is entirely consistent with the deepest reverence. When we entered, on that beautiful day in September, 1909. out- school was new, our instructors were new, and we were new. After a few days of becoming accustomed to these novelties, and especially of getting used to the strange new thing of not living at home, we went to work setting up a standard for ourselves and for our sisters-to-come. 23

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tion, and attend various other meetings at all hours of the day and night, besides getting up all the lessons specified on those relentless program cards. The beautiful fall days found us now crazy over basket-ball, now helping to win the loving-cup in the tennis tournament, now lining up with the rest of the clammy-handed, white-sheeted ghosts at Hal- lowe ' en, now dancing at the German Club, or attending a down-town party, until at last there came a very cold morning in December when we again turned homeward. Never was a Christmas vacation so welcome, for with many of us the word rest had come to signify only a brief pause between two difficult Swedish gymnastic exercises. After the holidays we wer e at it again, paying respect to our fore- fathers in colonial garb on Washington ' s birthday; toiling over The Schoolma ' am as Editor-in-Chief, as Assistant Editor-in-Chief, as Business Manager, and in many other capacities; planting on Arbor Day trees that have managed to live in spite of the mass of jokes and sentiment that we buried with their roots; solemnly adopting the school-seal as a badge to be worn hereafter by graduates only; throwing our concen- trated efforts into the practice of the Professional play, Esmeralda, and then being thwarted at the last moment by the illness of old Mr. Rogers. Now that our work here has been completed and the goal of our school-life has, in one sense, been reached, it is with sincere reluctance that we turn our footsteps from Bluestone Hill. Although we can never know the true significance of this period of our lives, we know at least that we are further towards our great ideal. The value of those indescribable forces which have come to us during this time we can vaguely measure by trying to picture ourselves without them; but the picture is such a blank that we turn from it. Finally, as we go forth let it be with the great thought in which we have worked for two years: Not for the gain of the goal, for the getting, the hoarding, tl e having; But for the .joy of the deed; but for the duty to do. 25