Bellows Free Academy - Alpha Omega Yearbook (St Albans, VT)

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THE MERCURY Plagiarism An invention is the product of someone's ingenuity, and nearly every- one will admit that in most cases the inventor deserves all the rights and profits of his creation. A story is one form of invention, and the writer of the story deserves the same protection as any other inventor. If a person copies a story or essay and tries to pass it in to his English teacher, it is just as bad as to copy the invention of another and pose as the original inventor. If it is handed to the staff of his school magazine and is printed, he involves not only himself but also the magazine and the school which it represents. So diliicult to detect before publication, and yet so quickly noticed after it has been published, plagiarism, as this practice is called, is one of the hardest nuts we have to crack in the school magazine field. This is probably what happens: A student has an essay or story due, or perhaps he wishes to have something in the school paper. He has no ideas, so he takes the easiest way out. He copies. The teacher, never having read the original article, accepts it, or in the other case it goes to the staff. When the writer is questioned to make sure of the originality, he is between the devil and the deep blue sea. If he admits his plagiarism, his reputation will suffer, and his article will not be printed, if he does not admit it, the article will be published, and the school and the magazine, as well as he, will be disgraced. There is, however, a chance in the second case that it will not be noticed. The student takes the chance and does not admit his guilt. This is what makes plagiarism such a problem. The only way to remedy this situation seems to be to develop a spirit of responsibility among the students and to provide heavier penalties for the offenders. It would be interesting to learn how the other schools deal with this problem. sf :of :sf wk ak In regard to the story The Inferior, which appeared in the October issue, it is probable that the Exchange editor spoke a little too hastily in the April number. Indications are that the plot was taken from Liberty magazine, and we regret that we failed to notice the similiarity before publication. 1: af Pk ak Pk We regret to say that there was an omission in the April issue. The words, d'apres O. Henry, were entirely omitted from the story entitled Deux Surprises. This was an adaptation of O. Henry's story The Gift of the Magi. It is quite a noteworthy accomplishment for the average student in high school to master French sufficiently in three years, or less, to be able to retell an English story in French, of course, it is a greater accom- plishment for him to write an original story in French. It should be an inspiration for French Students to try to think in French, and then to Create in French.

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MAR JORIE MCKENNEY Ebe ercurig Vol. II ST. ALBANS, VT., JUNE 1932 No 5 EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR - - - - - - MANAGING EDITOR - LITERARY EDITOR - FRENCH EDITOR - NEWS EDITOR - ALUMNI EDITOR - - - MARVIN COURTNEY JOSEPH MACDONALD - ELIZABETH CORLISS - DOLORES GUAY - - EDITH DAILY ATHLETICS EDITOR EXCHANGE EDITOR SHIRLEY RALSTON - - - - ROBERT MOORE BUSINESS STAFF BUSINESS MANAGER - - - - WILLIAM RENAUD CIRCULATION MANAGER - - - - PERSIS START ASSISTANT CIRCULATION MANAGER - - EUNICE MCCLEERY ADVERTISING MANAGER - - - - JOHN LARRY ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER - - - HAROLD HUNT FACULTY ADVISERS MISS CHANDLER MISS BARTON MISS HEFFLON MISS CATLIN Entered as second-class matter Dec. 5, IQ3O at the post office at St Albans, Vermont, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Published five times a year, October, December, February, April, and June, by the Students of Bellows Free Academy. Rates: I dollar per yearg 25 cents per copy. EDITORIAL Graduation i This June, as in many other Junes, thousands of young men and Women go forth from Schoolg some looking for their life Work, others for opportunities to earn money to help pay their college expenses. But this June they have to meet a new and different situation. The business World is not going to receive them With Open arms. It is going to require that they prove their Worth and their ability to meet changing conditions The graduates must go into an unexplored territory. They must have keen Vision and a readiness to adapt themselves to Whatever work they see at hand if they Wish to make a place for themselves. This is a chal lenge to the resourcefulness of the Class Of 732- Best of luck to you!

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THE MERCURY Next 'Yeafs Staff The present stafi has chosen, With the approval of the faculty ad- visers, the following to carry on the work of THE MERCURY next year: EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR ............ ............... . . ROBERT MOORE ,33 MANAGING EDITOR . . . . . . VIRGINIA NORRIS ,313 LITERARY EDITOR .... BARBARA FOGG ,33 FRENCH EDITOR .. . ..... ELLA BOISVERT '33 NEWS EDITOR ..... . . MARGARET CORLISS ,34 ALUMNI EDITOR .... . . . SHIRLEY RALSTON '33 ATHLETICS EDITOR CLAYTON CARROLL ,34 EXCHANGE EDITOR . . . MIRIAM WISE '34 BUSINESS STAFF BUSINESS MANAGER .................... HAROLD HUNT '33 CIRCULATION MANAGER ........... . . . EUNICE MCCLEERY ,33 ASSISTANT CIRCULATION MANAGER . . . .... MABEL START '34 ADVERTISING MANAGER ........... .... R OGER CHASE '33 ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER .. ...... RICHARD RAYMOND ,34 Hk Pk lk lk Dk THE MERCURY Wishes to thank the proof-readers, Agnes Jennings '32 and Barbara Fogg '33g the Typing department of Bellows Free Academy, the Messenger Company staff, the faculty advisersg and the contributors, for their splendid cooperation and interest. ff Pk :sf :se af The Literary editor Wishes to extend her thanks to Elizabeth Dewart ,32, who typed the material for the Literary department. Pk lk :sf ak wk THE MERCURY extends to Adele and Marguerite Laselle, of the Class of ,32, its sincere sympathy in the loss Of their father.