Rockland High School - Cauldron Yearbook (Rockland, ME)

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THE CAULDRON 11 The third and last major factor is the atmosphere about one. Absolute silence is most detrimental to the mind of the studentg it creates a gloomy and depressive spirit. A radio is the most practical solution to this problem. Soothing music is best. as it will not divert the students attention, but popular orchestra music will do. There are a few minor points which, though seemingly insignificant, are rela- tively important and should be consideredg for example, no lesson has ever been done to the teacher's approval unless the student is well supplied with refresh- ments . . . candy. gum, peanuts, apples, or popcorn, according to the tastes of the individual. The other small matters depend upon the personality of the student. When these things have been taken care of the actual studying is a very simple matter. The student picks up his boook and begins to absorb its contents intently. Of course, complications soon arise. His head begins to droop and his eyelids Hutter . . . a very plain symptom of sleepiness. but the ambitious student is not overcome by this obstacle. He turns to the index of his book, reads it over. def- cides he knows all about it, closes the book and becomes occupied elsewhere. One may ask. What has been accomplished by all this ?,' Well, perhaps the studying remains undone, but no great loss has been sustained. A sure cure for insomnia has been discovered. VIOLETTE GERRISH , BARBARA BROWN GOES TO SCHOOL Very few people realize the importance of the first day of school, so little Barbara Brown thought as she crept down the stairs at 5 :30 Monday, September 7th. She just couldn't understand why her mother had said, Barbie, I positively refuse to get up until 7 o'clock, and there is no reason why you should. If you want to stay up you'll have to be quiet so that your father and I can get some more sleep. But, Mummy, it's already half past tive and I have to be at school at half past eight. I've got to hurry or I won't be ready in time. - All right, dear, you go downstairs and get dressed, but be very quiet and don't get into anything that you shouldn't. Daddy and I will be down after we've had a little nap. Mummy ? What P May I wear my new pink dress ? Yes, dear, but be very careful not to soil it. When Barbara had left the room, Mrs. Brown turned to her husband and said, Honestly, Tom, you'd think she was going to have an audience with the King and Queen of England. Imagine. Five-thirty in the morning and she's up and half ready for school. Uh-huh, groaned Mr. Brown as he rolled over for his rationed nap. Bang! Crash! There went her new black patent leather shoes over the stair railing. I hope that doesn't wake up Mummy and Daddy. It seems to me the quieter I try to be the more noise I makef'

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10 THE CAULDRON sion on me. I never worry, I never hurry, but whatever task I start, I always finish. So I grin with my whole being because I love life and I intend to get the most out of it. And though his infectious smile dominated the entire room, there was no one there to grin back at him. N o one sat in the comfortable chairs. No one poured the fragrant coffee into the sturdy white cups. The room was deserted and yet it seemed as if the sailor's personality filled the room. The only noise to be heard was the snapcrack of the fire, and the fitful wind and rain at the windows . . . the storm that was sweeping the Pacific coast that night. But someone was outside! Someone dressed in black who was weeping wildly. Someone who walked up and down the beach with her face turned always to the ocean. It was a woman and her cries of grief vied with the shriek of the storm. The rain had soaked her through and through, but her tears came even faster than the rain drops. As she trudged back and forth, the wind blew harder and harder, it's voice a wail that blended with the anguish of the woman. The rain slashed down in sheets and the waves cast themselves upon the beach with unbelievable fury. In the woman's hand was a telegram, crushed into a wet yellow wad. As the storm reached its peak, the woman stopped her frenzied walking. She stood gazing through the storm far out to sea and her head was high. The wind whipped her coat about her, and as if she were saying a prayer, she whispered softly . . . I'll be all right, Johnny. Don't worry about me. Then she turned on her heel and walked steadily to the warm brightness inside the little brown cottage. MARGERY MILLS i1l.l. ON THE ART OF STUDYING There are, as every good student knows, very definite factors in the art of study- ing. There are several main points which must be considered, while the smaller supplementary ones are left to the tastes and habits of the individual. First, there must be inspiration, the zeal and determination to conquer one's studies, not let them conquer you. If suitable inspiration is lacking, fwhich is very probable, as it is the rule rather than the exceptionj then the necessity or the dread of facing the teacher with the lesson undone will suffice. The second important factor is position. Now, if one is really determined to con-- quer his studies, this can never be accomplished when one is seated in a straight chair before a desk. It is absolutely necessary that one be located in a comfortable chair, preferably one over which the ambitious student may drape his legs. There are a few questions which should be studied in regard to position: Am I facing the clock ? Is there any danger of my not falling asleep ?', Am I near enough to the phone to reach it without getting up ? If these questions have been suitably taken care of. one is ready to continue..

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12 THE CAULDRON When she went into the kitchen which was to serve as a dressing room because it was farthest from her mother's and father's room, she saw her new pink organdy dress hanging on a rack. Oh,'l she gasped and could hardly wait to put it on. When Mrs. Brown came downstairs Barbie was sitting in a kitchen chair with her skirt spread out so as not to wrinkle it, all ready to go to school. After they had eaten breakfast and had done the dishes, Barbara and her mother started to school. As Barbara walked up the steps and into the schoolroom she thought, Oh, what a pretty teacher! As she looked around the room she said to her mother, Mummy, look! There's some chalk just like I play with at home and look at that great big blackboard. School's going to be fun. When, after supper, she said, Mummy, I'm tired, she wondered why her mother smiled and said. Well, dear, after this maybe you'd better stay in bed until seven o'clock mornings. You know, the first day of school comes only once in a life time. GRACE BowLEY FATHER AND SON The sun was shining brightly, December 25, 1942, but it was a bleak winter's day for Thomas Williams, Sr. as he crumpled the telegram in his quivering hand . . . june 10, 1920, was an eventful day for Tom Williamsg his wife had given birth to an eight pound boy. The boy was immediately blessed with the name, Thomas Philip Williams, Jr. Thomas, Sr. was now called the old man by the gang at the office as they inhaled the smoke from the birth announcing cigars. lt is now September 19, 1925, and mother and son start down the street to the school house where Iunior's troubles will have just begun. Will he ever forget the looks on the faces about him as he sat stiffly in his seat? Some were crying, others were holding back inevitable tears, while he just sat there admiring himself for his bravery. Then came the day, the first real sad day, in the life of both father and song Mrs. Williams was instantly killed in a railroad accident. They were now left alone in the world, but not for long. Junior was now ten years old, and his grand- mother came to keep house for them. She was a kindly soul always doing some- thing to make life easier for her son and only grand-child. Then came the day of all days. Dad rolled out the Buick and said, Come on, Son, I need a chauffeur. junior grasped the wheel in a death-like grip, and through the patient coaching of his father managed to jump the car down the street like a grasshopper. Fine, you're doing iinef' was the comment from the instructor, now let's see you drive her right into the garage. The car lurched into the garage, none the worse for a dented fender, procured during the feat. The date has moved ahead to January 1, 1942. Pearl Harbor has aroused Jun- ior's eagerness to become a soldier. Of course, Dad wouldn't stand in his way