Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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THE AEGIS 19 This, is the history of the name of our annual book, published under the guardianship of the Goddess of Wisdom. lt records, as a Judgment Book, the tales of your deeds and misdeeds. However, we sincerely hope that, although this book naturally surpasses all others in quality, wit, and beauty, you may not be turned to stone upon beholding it in all its splendor. A TRIBUTE BIARII-I N1i4:RoA1x'i'H AND IJITCILE G11,1,1-:sP11-: In our wish for this new High School NVe are fully gratified, NVe have everything we yearned for, We are now quite satisfied. And our hearts are filled with gladness As for this, our school, we cheer. Let us all join in to praise her, Our 11ew High School so dear. NVQ are 011 the road to honor, On the road that leads to fame. Oh! that all will take advantage And win for this sehool a name. But in looki11g toward the future May we always bear in mind, How the old school did befriend us, The sehool we leave behind. L'ENVOY CWith apologies to Mr. Kiplingj Lois CASEY NVhen all my lessons are over, And my peir is rusted and dried, When the old school house is deserted, And the Juniors and Seniors have died, I shall rhyme-and faith I 'll enjoy it,- I'll rhyme for an aeon or two, 'Till Dame Fortune, or some other goddess, Shall set me a task anew.

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18 THE AEGIS So it is all over the United States. Big executives of enormous corporations are literally begging for men for big positions. ln Boston, in February of this year, a certain firm advertised for a General Manager. Salary 350,000 to start, and one hundred thousand after making good. Yet many young men go around complaining, and as an excuse for their idleness, say that there is not a chance, any more. Instead of lacking the opportunities of our forefathers, we are much more fortunate. The rebuilding of Europe, awakened China, the wonderful riches of South America, the virgin Mexico, the undeveloped Alaska, the wealth of Australia, the natural resources of Africa-all-await the ambitious young man of today. Never before has apportunity been so great, never before has for- tune smiled so sweetly upon the youth starting out to make his way. The last generation has opened the path, it is for the young men and young women of the present to finish the work which has already been begun. Thus, of the class of 1917, who will be the great public leader, who the power in the financial world. and who the famous writer? I wonder. I wonder! THE AEGIS HAROIID GREENE Perhaps to the overburdened minds of our readers, there has been vague uncertainty as to why our deep thinking predecessors imposed the name Aegis upon the recording book of many generations of High School students. lt is my avowed purpose to remove this state' of uncertainty from your minds. Herein I will give a short synopsis of the Aegis's life history. Those of you who have been exposed to Greek mythology will doubtless recognize The Aegis as being the sacred shield of Jupiter, who was king of all Gods. The Aegis was made for him by Vulcan, the God of fire. This shield derived its name from its covering Aegis which is the Greek word for Goat Skin. tlt might be well, gentle reader, to inform you here that our Aegis is not of goat skin, although it may skin. some guufs.J As God of aerial phenomena Jupiter could, by shaking the Aegis, produce storms, tempests, and intense darkness. Now it was well known among the gods that Minerva was the favorite daughter of Jupiter, consequently she was subject to the envy of the lesser gods. Jupiter seeing this, bestowed the Aegis upon Minerva as her protection from all danger. She was permitted to hurl the thunder, control the elements, and lastly, but greatest of all, to pro- long the life of man by guarding his truthfulness, character, and all virtues. So it was that she was the Goddess of Wisdom, with the Aegis, the eternal protector of wisdom and virtue. Minerva always used the Aegis against tyrannical oppression and for the general welfare of mankind. In the center of the famous shield was the head of Medusa, bordered with serpents and covered with dragon scales. Upon looking at the Aegis, the observer was instantly turned to stone by the influence of the head of Medusa.

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20 THE AEGIS A CRUISE IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA . Hicsrna Mrznwizv Leaving New York p lt was a cold, bleak February day in 1917 when we steamed out of New York harbor, on the good steamship Pastores, bound for the southern seas. There was a sharp, biting wind that seemed to pierce to the very marrow of my bone and everyone on board was bundled up in fur coats. l leaned over the railing, looking down at the cold, grey water with huge blocks of ice floating on it, and I shivered as I thought of a possible submarine experience and how horrible it would be to end one 's life in such a sea. Jamaica All passengers in the dining room for the doctor. This was our morn- ing awakening when we landed in port. It seemed foolish to me and a waste of time that we had to go through this silly performance before we were allowed to land. Not that I objected to being examined,-the doctor didn 't even look at our tongues, but it was the unearthly hour at which we were called,-Six 0'clock! On this particular morning I woke with the particular feeling that l wished I had a particular something to throw at the particular steward who called me. However, why grumble on such a wonderful morning? It had now been almost two weeks since we had left dismal New York towering in its greatness, black against the sky, and the cold grey water had given place to the clear blue waters of the Caribbean, dotted with its group of fairy islands of feathery verdure. The air was sweet and balmy and the sun shown brightly. Suddenly I remembered that we were in port,-I had for- gotten for the moment where we were. I jumped out of bed and ran over to the window and looked out. VVe were in the beautiful little harbor of Port Antonio, Jamaica. lt was lovely to behold with the surf rolling in, dashing up sprayg the lovely green rolling hills covered with palms and tropical plants, and the mountains in the background not snowpeaked as our Rockies, but enveloped in soft, fleecy clouds. There were no piers to mar the shore lille and no large factories or smoke to dim the clear atmosphere but here and there among the hills were sprinkled tiny thatched dwellings. All this added to its charm and it seemed to me that I could have stood for hours looking at it. A few minutes later when I reached the deck, everyone was leaning over the railing and laughing. Down in the water there were scores of black Jamaican boys diving for coins. They were shrewd fellows and knew from ex- perience, that if they refused to dive for a three-pence they were sure to get more. It was too funny to see them go after the money. The minute a eoin struck the water, all that you could see were black, shiny legs and when the upper portion of their bodies did appear there was always a gleaming tri- umphant face. I noticed one thing particularly, they never fought for the