Athens Area High School - Athenian Yearbook (Athens, PA)

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 TIIK ATHENIAN Then there is the exaggeration that is shown in funny papers. I really cannot see anything so very funny about them however, for no real live person ever said or did the things that these people are supposed to do. If people can actually appreciate and enjoy them, it does not show very high ideals. Everyone likes to laugh, and no one should spend a day without having a laugh, but it is best to have some joke or funny thing that would be natural. We must keep up the standard of American humor and not let it be lowered. Katherine Russell ’20. TREES IN LITERATURE Since the earliest times trees have been used as symbols of strength and sturdiness and many fancies have been woven about them in both poetry and prose. Lowell gives us a pretty idea in Rhoecus by telling us that a beautiful woman is the soul of the oak. For sturdiness let us quote Holmes who says:— “In fact there’s nothing that keeps its youth So far as I know as a tree and truth.” Pryant calls the forest the first temples with mighty columns in which men worshipped before they learned to hew and fashion them into shelters. The elm is called the most beautiful of trees. In Tongues in Trees, we find: “1 he elm in all the landscape green Is fairest of God’s stately trees. She is a gracious-mannered queen, Full of soft bends and courtesies.” The wind blowing in the pine trees is usually associated with sighing or moaning. Longfellow says in the Song of Hiawatha: “Heard the sighing of the pine trees Heard the moaning of the branches.” Whittier does not make the pines so melancholy in My Playmate, when he says: “The pines were dark on Ramoth Hill Their son was soft and low.” Many writers write of trees for themselves, drawing no lesson from them or relating them in any way to human life. As an example we have Mrs. Broughton, who writes: “The blowing of the summer trees Made a murmur in the land.” Some trees in America also have histories. Among these are the Charter Cak and the Elm under which Fenn made his treaty with the Indians. Anna Smith ’20. ADVICE TO THE JUNIORS The class of 1920 wish, before leaving the school, to give the Junior class a little advice which, I am sure, they will be able to profit by. We do not think it wise to allow you to enter into the realm of seniorhood without having first given you the advice of which you are so sorely in need. We have often wished to reprimand you but have been able to keep silent only in the hope that some day you would mend your ways, but alas! you do not. The class of 1920 has few faults; in fact they are so small that they are scarcely noticeable in comparison with those of the Juniors. We know that you are a very remarkable class but why so independent ? Your class average is not so high but that it could be higher, and I think that if you look back a little you will see that the Second Year is steadily gaining on you. Your class has a few politicians, but why don’t they talk a little about class interest and awaken your class to the fact that it is living ? Theodore, in regard to politics, don’t you think you should be a Progressive next year ? I’m sure you would be an aid to the party with your oratorical ability and it might help you to get over your retiring nature.

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THE ATHENIAN 7 Although Irving does not give us any tedious moralizing in his works, still in Tom Walker and the Devil he cleverly satirizes the selfish man who works only for his own good. A modem profiteer might well profit by reading this satire. Tom Walker gets more than he bargained for. Cartoons are sometimes rather sarcastic but the better ones carry no bitter sting. One cartoonist shows how to stop the H. C. L. He pictures crows in the nest labeled H. C. L. flying down into the cornfield called United States Industries. No words are needed. We all see that to lower the H. C. I., one must find its sources. Lowell in a Fable for Critics criticises not only his friends but also himself. He is broadminded enough to see faults even in himself. “And his failures arise (though he seems not to know it» From the very same cause that has made him a poet,— A fervor of mind which knows no separation, Twixt simple excitement and pure inspiration. There’s Lowell who’s striving Parnassus to climb With a whole bale of isms tied together with rhyme.” What is the use of scolding, making everyone unhappy, when one is able to correct faults in a much better manner ? Let us not embitter people by our sarcastic remarks, but help them by our kindly humor in correcting some little fault. Mary C. Moore ’20. The humor of making light of any serious matter is the humor of “grin and bear it.” Even when facing death more than one soldier who just escaped being hit by a shell would jump up and shaking his fist say, “Fritzie didn’t have my number on that shell.” It is this atit-tude which helps to guide us over the rough paths and finally makes us come out victorious. We would not care much for one who w'ould allow himself to become dow nhearted at the first sign of defeat. Many things of very great importance have been ridiculed in such a way as to make them very insignificant. It is impossible to pick up a magazine or newspaper without finding one or more cartoons. Often these cartoons ridicule some important national question or some of the heads of the government. Even our President doesn’t escape the cartoonist’s eye and very often he is found the object of the cartoonist’s pen. But they are depicted in such a way that it brings a smile to our lips and perhaps to the victim himself. Mark Twain brings this out in Innocents Abroad. The guide attempted to show the wonderful bust of the statue of Columbus. “Santa Marie! zis ze bust! zis ze pedestal.” This is the reply that he received from the American tourist: “O, I see, I see,—happy combination—very happy combination indeed. Is—is this the first time this gentleman was ever on a bust ?” We cannot help but see the humorous side. It is part of our life and it should not be denied. The old saying, “Laugh, and the world laughs with you,” is an assurance which we really need to help us throughout our daily life. Beatrice Warren ’20. The humor that is best liked by American people is perhaps that of exaggeration. In Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain wept over the tomb of Adam. He said, “How touching it was, here in a land of strangers, far away from home, and friends, and all who cared for me, thus to discover the grave of a blood relation. True, a distant one, but still a relation. The fountain of my filial affection was stirred to its profoundest depths, and I gave way to tumultuous emotion, and wept.” Then when the guide pointed out the mummy of an Egyptian, they very soberly asked, “Is he dead ?” The guide lost his temper and cried, “Yes, yes, ten thousand years dead!” Then there is the humor of exaggeration shown by cartoons. These are usually drawn for the purpose of bringing before the public in a ridiculous way some event of national interest. An example of this is one of the many cartoons upon the worldwide prohibition. One is a picture of a small town that is supposed to be inhabited by bugs. There is an army of them dressed up to represent real people, and they are marching Mr. Toad to jail. The charge for his arrest is—he is full of hops. This brings before the public a serious subject in a funny way.

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THE ATHENIAN 9 Leroy, we all appreciate music, but still it sometimes gets monotonous to hear the same song, “When Lillian came along she stole my heart away,” even if it is your favorite. And, Sarah, why idly sit and dream, why not put more time on your lessons even if these well-known lines come frequently to your mind ? “The plowman homeward plods his weary way.” And your class president, Dan, we advise that an easy way to glory is to attach himself to Mary’s little lamb. And say. Ida, what’s the attraction up River street ? I think you should be looking up someone in your own class to take that walk with because there is bound to be a graduating class every year. We know, Stanley, you are very popular with the fairer sex, but don’t let them turn your head because they are tricky and will surely pull the wool over your eyes. Beatrice and Arline, your continuous chattering may cause the death of your friends. Why not buy a music box and let this serve the purpose ? Florence S. and Florence C., why not try writing another Caesar book, one that requires more study ? I’m sure it would be appreciated by all. And, Nora, I think you should purchase a megaphone because you have such a delicate voice we are scarcely able to hear you. Gertrude, I think it would be wise if you would pull down your curtains because some evening you are liable to be frightened by ghosts. Berth and Hilda, isn’t there room for another in your wagon ? Why not bring Joe Weil along with you ? Mary H., why not sleep those hours you waste by coming to school so early ? And, Dorothy, I don’t think it quite fair for you to have the back seat at the Morley always reseved. Marie, Emma, Nina and Ruth, we know you are excellent basketball players, but why not spend a little of this energy in forming a football team ? I know you would be able to compete with the regular team. Louise, I advise you to take a business course next year so that you will be able to keep track of the many little Shakespearean verses which are so brilliantly written by our poet, I. eon William Rogers. Ina, why not build a bungalow instead of air castles ? And, Joe B., I think you should purchase some cleats so that you will be able to retain a full portion of your class dignity by remaining on your feet, the next time you are at a dance. Robert, I know you are interested in electrical experiments. Why not arrange some apparatus for Mr. Raub’s benefit so he will be able to get to school without the aid of a bicycle ? And Paul, as a special favor, I wish you would try to pull all your courage together and endure toe orchestra for at least one year more. Leslie, I hear you are interested in the Second Year class. Why not patronize your own class? Aren’t they good enough for you ? Mildred, why not add a few more hours to those six or seven hours which you spend each day on your lessons ? And. Wayne. I hear you have a great liking for jewelry. It must be you purchase it on the instalment plan. Keith, I think you should ask Mrs.Farmer to make out a diet for you, as you are getting altogether too large for any seat in the Senior room. And, Mary, when you pack up your duds and move down where the River Shannon flows, don’t spend all your money on “Parker” Huose rolls. Beryl, we understand that you have acquired a really famous violinist to accompany your flights in music. Why not write a song entitled, “The Gale is soothing to a broken heart?” And now, my dear Juniors, as time is becoming short, I will close, hoping that none will take offense since this advice was written to benefit your class, and when you enter upon your duties as Seniors it is my earnest wish that you keep these various ideas and suggestion in your mind. Akita Thoip ’20.