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

Page 26 text:

Htnjtttta JFlmurr ' Twas in the springtime, fair to see, When o ' er the hill and o ' er the lea The soft, sweet breath of Life beguiled From sleep each blossom of the wild. Out from a dark and shady bower, Where mightier trees did o ' er it tower, Reached forth the dainty dogwood flower To sip the nectar of Life ' s kiss, And, sipping, fill the woods with bliss. The chaste, sweet beauty of the flower Is symbol of our State ' s high power — Her faithfulness to that clear call Of peace, love, liberty for all; Its lifted blossoms, purest white, Leaning ever towards the light. Call, On! Virginia, for the right! Some day shall come that fairer spring When every man shall be a king! Ykrlie Story

Page 25 text:

An Apyrrriattmt Senator George N. Conrad has been identified with our school since its beginning. From 1909 to 1914 he served as a member of the Board of Trustees. A frequent visitor to the school, and Superintendent of a Sunday School attended each year by a very large number of our girls, he has been thoroughly identified with the life of our institution and has endeared himself in many ways to both teachers and students. As a member of the State Senate in the General Assembly of 1916 and again in 1918, he has ever been foremost in all movements for social and moral welfare, and for the ad- vancement of public education. An eloquent speaker and an untiring worker, possessed of determination and persever- ance without limit, he has made for himself an enviable posi- tion in the public life of Virginia. In the Senate he has always taken a deep interest in the normal schools, and he has fought for all four of them, with all his might. As to how well he has succeeded, the records will show. Our new dormitory — Spottswood Hall — the com- pletion of our Dining Hall and Library Building — Harrison Hall — the additions to our equipment in various directions, and the other improvements soon to be made on our grounds, are largely the fruit of his labors in behalf of our school. We honor him for all he has done for us and for all hs means to us.

Page 27 text:

Planting tlie Snnuumn There on the edge of the woods by the Frogpond stood our tree, slender and straight. When we saw it, all feeling of ill-humor because of the mu 1 and slush we had encountered in our search, gave place to visions of nodding white blossoms on our campus when spring should complete the awakening of our State flower. Prompted by a wise forethought of possible stubborn roots and rocky ground, we had prevailed on Mr. Little to go along and help us untangle the one from the other. Apropos of the tree, we Juniors tried our hand at versifying. For several days we had a dogwood renaissance, wherein facts and bits of sentiment and legend, centering around this American tree, were collected here and there, some of which were distilled into poetry. So worthy a theme caused even the humblest of us to call up a bit of past experience related to our old-time friend, and to fit it to metre. One evening at twilight a long line of white-clad Juniors formed a pro- cessional and encircled the tree. We planted it, various wishes and remin- iscences being sifted in around the roots with each shovelful of earth. Every- one ' s thoughts went back to the old woods and to her own particular dog- wood tree that had served as a spirited steed in childhood days. This led the way to other memories — the first bloom as a signal for corn planting in the spring, and the abundant red berries in the autumn as a warning of a long, hard winter. The deepest impression of all seemed to have been made by the dogwood switch, used occasionally in lieu of the proverbial hickory by the schoolma ' am to force the erring into the straight road. Then amidst all the good wishes for our tree ' s long life, a dog-lover bit- terly yet humorously reminded us that the same Legislature that last winter adopted the dogwood tree, almost abolished the dog forever. Perhaps the law-makers intended the State flower as a memorial of the forsaken Virginia dawg — bark and all. The old legend was brought to mind of the bad little elf, intent on mis- chief, who once pulled the white petals off and scattered them all over the ground just before the children came to see the dogwood tree. A good fairy was distressed, for she knew that it would never do to disappoint them. So she stuck the petals all on again with magic, but in her haste she put them on backwards; and that is why they always have the little brown points on their edges. Virginia chose wisely her symbol — a tree that shuns all things low and dark and leans always towards the light, a tree with flowers as pure as Vir- ginia ' s name, and limbs as strong as the deeds of her men. Now this slender tree, waiting to ensnare all the magic of the moonlight in its white blossoms and all the strength of the sunlight in its straight branches, stands on our campus, first to meet the eye. a symbol of Old Virginia and a memento of the Junior Class. Mamie Omohundro