Brattleboro Union High School - Colonel Yearbook (Brattleboro, VT)

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there were a few individuals who believed it to be round. Could people live on the other side of the world? Did they walk on their heads? These were the questions commonly asked. They believed that if ships went too far they would slide down the slope and be unable to return. People told fanciful tales of the other sides of the earth. Later on they were convinced that the world was round and that one might reach the eastern coast of Asia by sailing westward. But who would venture on such a journey across the perilous sea of darkness? Yes, there was one man, Christopher Co- lumbus. He was born in Genoa and as a boy he watched the stately ships sailing in and out of the harbor and he finally re- solved that he would become a sailor when he was a man. When he was a man he obtained permission from the Queen of Spain to sail eastward with Spanish ships and sailors. For a time, all went well, then the sailors wished to turn back, but Colum- bus' only answer was, Sail on. At last, land was reached and there was great re- joicing. When Columbus returned to Spain, he was received with great honor, but'not even to his dying day did he know that the land he had discovered was not the Indies but a vast new continent! That dauntless and courageous pioneer had paved the way into a new world. Another group of pioneers are the Pil- grims, that little band of pilgrims, who struggled so hard to get to America and then after arriving had sickness, and end- less conflicts with the Indians, They founded churches, schools, a strong govern- ment, and other institutions. Their primary motive for coming to America was free- dom to worship God. This they accom- plished but it was not all. The country which was the fear of some and yet the hope of others has grown into one of the most powerful nations on earth, Its aim is for a square deal at home and free- dom and justice throughout the world. Then, again, we have the forty-niners who suffered hardships and trials to get to Oregon and California, They paved the way westward and settled on land which hitherto had been barren or inhabited by Indians. There are a great many pioneers of re- ligion. The first ones were the early Chris- tians, many of whom died martyrs to the cause of Christianity. But for them we might still be worshipping idols and the sun. Then there were many leaders of the Reformation Period in Europe, such as Martin Luther who dared to defy the old ideals of religion and founded the Protes- tant Church. Later on were the first founders of the different Protestant sects, thus making the principle of worship ac- cording to the dictates of one's conscience The tal 9 more freely applicable. As for the pioneers in the scientific field, one of whom we have all heard a great deal is Louis Pasteur. Pasteur, laboring under many difficulties, discovered the germ theory which has been proven to be so important. He also made discoveries about the causes of dis- eases which made it possible for his fol- lowers to carry on his work. One of his students, Sir Joseph Lister, worked out the methods of antiseptic surgery against much opposition and reproof. Walter Reed, the Chairman of the Yellow Fever Commis- sion, devoted his life to studying the causes of the fever. Many of his workers sacrificed their lives to prove the cause of the disease. On the surface of the subject it may seem to some as if those men were not pioneers. Yet without the work of such men, many things today would be impossi- ble. They literally paved the way into that vast field of unknown scientific facts. From time to time, in the history of America, we have had various opposition to the government. Of course not every reformer's ideas will benefit the govern- ment. But without the pioneers in the cause of the American Revolution we might still be governed by England. With- out the person who first opposed slavery, today we might not be able to boast of the freedom and equality of our country. Sometimes when we become bored we think that there's nothing to do. But when we stop to consider things which have been accomplished in the last century and think of the problems which are yet to be solved there is plenty to do. There are vast prob- lems confronting us today. There are the problems of society, industry, religion, science and government, all of vital im- portance. Physically and mentally we are no greater than our ancestors. We live more comfortably than they lived merely be,- cause each generation has added to what it has been bequeathed. Evolution has un- doubtedly ceased. There will probably never be a higher typeof life on earth than man. Yet there are many things to be ac- complished in order to make the world better. That same dauntless and coura- geous spirit that enabled our ancestors to endure such hardships has been handed down to us. That is their gift to us. May we today be inspired by the stories of the pioneers in all phases of life and may we become pioneers in some cause to make the world a better place to live in. Have the elder races halted? Do they clroop, their lesson ended, wearied over there beyond the seas? Let us take up the task eternal-and the burden and the lesson. Pioneers-oh Pioneers. -DORIS E. ROBBINS, '26 AN INCIDENT OF MEDIEVAL TIMES The great hall was silent, a weird, fore- boding silence, broken only by the loud snores of the great nobles, who had fallen into a deep slumber following their drunk- en revel. The torches had long since gone out, and the only light came from the beams of the full moon, riding high in the cloudy heavens. It was the last day of the Duke of Navarre's great feast, and the mighty nobleman had made it a success. For all of the guests had vowed their alle- giance to him who was vassal only to the king, and then only vassal in name, for the king bowed before him when he so much as spoke a word. And now the king lay awake in deadly fear, for Navarre had ordered every knight in the marchise to be present at the feast, armed in full, and the act had its significance to the king. It was in that tumultous century, after the death of the powerful Charlemagne, and since the breaking up of the empire, no ruler's crown was secure overnight, and still less secure was the head that wore it. In the great dining hall there was a rustle. A spectator might have seen a figure staggering to his feet. In the light of the moon, one could see a tall, awkward fellow, wearing the cap and bells of the clown, gazing stupidly at the sleeping forms about him. One of the bodies moved, and as it moved the jester became suddenly active. He threw himself behind the draperies, and listened. The man who had arisen, was a giant in stature. He was dressed in the native garb of the Franks, but the gar- ments were of superior quality. A ray of the moon, falling on his jeweled breast- plate, brought into view the design of the House of Navarre. The Duke, for he it was, looked about him, and finding the per- son whom he sought, reeled over to him and picking him up as if he were a child, carried him without ceremony to an inner room of the donjon. The lord lit a torch, and shook his charge violently, until he came to life. To life, Sir Phillip, said the Duke gruffly, tomorrow we attack his majestic holiness, our King, and he laughed at his intended sarcasm. The man before him cleared his eyes and then, Wake the others, when you are ready send for me, and he fell asleep again. The Duke kicked him with his mailed foot, and went back to the hall where the others still slept. The jester stepped into a niche. From his position at the door, he had heard the dialogue. It is better to be steward to a King, he soliloquized half aloud, than to be jester to a lord. With this utterance, the fool left his place, and thence out into the courtyard. From there he ran to the stables, saddled the finest steed, and rode out into the forest. Q r - ..-L-L-- -L . L 4.4

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8 The ial FRENCH DEPARTMENT FRENCH IN B. H. S. French has long been taught in High School. It is only recently, however, that it has played such an important part in outside activities. There is a splendidly organized club, known as the Cercle Fran- cais. The members have very good times at the seiances and incidentally learn to speak French more fluently by using it al- together at their meetings. Two columns of the DIAL are devoted to French, either composition or translation. This inspires the students to work harder in their free prose composition and translations. To be able to converse freely in French takes a great deal of practice, so in the advanced classes the recitations are being carried on entirely in French. And the students in French 3 and 5 are taking the Petit jour- nal , a French paper published twice a monthg so, besides learning the French language, the students are becoming ac- quainted with French ways and customs. -ALICE DARLING, '26 AU BORD DE LA MER Cet ete je suis allee au bord de la mer. ,Vai fait beaucoup de choses. Mais je vais vous dire du premier jour que je suis allee me baigner. Vers midi le soleil etait si ardent que le sable nous brulait les pieds, mais l'eau etait si froide qu'il fallait sauter et danser pour nour rechauffer les jambes. Nous etions dans l'eau jusqu'a la ceinture quand une vague nous enveloppa et nous repoussa vers le rivage. Mais mon ami et moi, nous nageames a travers. C'etait la premi- ere fois que je me baignais at la mer et j'ai trouve cela bien amusant. -GABRIELLE TURGEON, '27 THE DIAL Pour le bien de tous les lecteurs nou- veaux du DIAL je desire le leur expliquer. Le DIAL est le meilleur journal ecolier de l'etat. Il se publie par les eleves de l'ecole de Brattleboro chaque mois. Le journal se divise aux departements de litterature, de francais, d'histoire, d'echanges, de sports, de plaisanterie et ainsi de suite. On obtient les histoires pour le DIAL des classes en Anglais. Les plaisanteries sont prises de la salle de classe. Cett annee le DIAL sera mieux que ja- mais mais il ne le sera pas sans votre aide. -DORIS WOOD, '27 TRANSLATION FROM LE BON- HEUR I-Iuit Contes Choisis, de Maupassant Five years ago I traveled in Corsica. This wild island is less known and farther from us than America, although sometimes, as today, they see it from the coasts of France. Imagine a world still in-tumult, a whirl- wind of mountains which separate narrow ravines where great rivers roll, not a plain but only huge billows of granite, and great undulations of land, covered with a thicket or with lofty forests of chestnut trees and pines. It is a virgin soil, uncultivated and deserted, although occasionally one sees a village similar to a pile of rocks, on a mountain top. No culture at all, no indus- try, no art. One never comes across a carved piece of wood, a bit of sculptured stone, never the reminder of ancestors' taste, childish or refined, for graceful and beautiful objects. That is the very thing which is most impressive in this noble and hardy country: hereditary, indifference to- ward that pursuit of attractive objects which is called Art. -CLARA CROSIER, '26 LA PARURE La Parure est une histoire d'une jeune fille, Mathilde, qui etait tres jolie et charm- ante, mais elle n'avait pas de dot, et elle ne pouvait pas esperer at epouser une homme riche. Par consequent elle s'est mariee avec un homme pauvre, Monsieur Loisel. Elle desirait demeurer dans une grande maison et elle desirait de belles robes et des bijoux. Elle desirait etre seduisante, enviee et recherchee. Une fois, on l'a invitee, elle et son mari, at assister a une soiree at l'h6tel du ministre de l'instruction publique. C'etait une belle occasion! Mathilde n'avait pas une belle robe 21 porter mais elle travailla fort et elle fit une tres, tres belle robe. Mais elle n'etait pas con- tente parce qu'elle n'avait pas de bijoux. Tout it coup son mari avait une idee. Il dit, UVa a ton amie, Madame Forestier Celle etait richej et lui prie de te preter des bijouxf' Elle alla a son amie et lui dit sa distresse. Son ami lui dit qu'elle pourrait choisir le bijoux qu'elle voudra et elle a choisi une riviere de diaments. A la fete Madame Loisel eut une enorme succes. Elle etait tres jolie, elegante et gracieuse. Tous les hommes la regardaient et voulaient valser avec elle. Apres la fete Monsieur et Madame Loi- sel sont retournes chez eux dans un vieux coupe noctambule. Quand Madame Loisel ota ses vetements elle decouvrit que la riviere n'etait pas autour du cou. Ils la chercherent mais ils ne la trouverent point. Ils acheterent une autre riviere et la ren- derent a Madame Forestier. ' , Monsieur et Madame Loisel devenaient tres pauvres, par consequent, et ils travail- laient dur il y a dix ans a payer la riviere. Au bout de dix ans ils avaient tout restitue. Madame Loisel etait vieille et sa jupe etait fi travers et elle avait des mains rouges. Un jour quand elle vit son amie, elle decida, maintenant qu'elle avait paya la dette, qu'elle lui dirait tout. Elle lui dit toute son histoire- et Madame Forestier lui dit que la premiere riviere etait fausse! Monsieur et Madame Loisel ont passe toute leur vie en travaillant pour payer la riviere et maintenant quand il etait trop tard, ils decouvrirent leur erreur. Ne sacrifier pas toute votre vie pour un seul instant de plaisir. . -DORIS ROBBINS, '26 TRANSLATION FROM UPECHEUR D'ISLANDE A great racket in Paimpolg ringing of bells and chants of priests. Rough and monotonous songs in the tavernsg old mel- odies to lull the sailors to sleep, old ballads collected from the sea, of unknown origin, from the dark night of that period.-Groups of sailors shaking handsg groups of girls in the white headdress of the nun, the old houses of granite enclosing that swarm of peopleg old roofs telling of their struggles for many centuries against the winds of the west, against the sprays, the rains, against everything impelled by the sea. -ALICE DARLING, '26 L'ORCHESTRE DE L'ECOLE SU- PERIEURE A BRATTLEBORO L'orchestre de l'ecole superieure at Brat- tleboro promet beaucoup cette annee. Il y a vingt membres et de cette nombre, huit en sont violinistes. L'orchestre est sous la direction de Madame MacArthur, le chef est Walter White. Il y a, au moins, un recit par semaine qui dure une heure et demie. Bientot, des nouvelles pieces de musique seraient employees. Cet Orchestre sera organise comme l'annee derniere. -CLARA CROSIER, '26 HISTORY DEPARTMENT PIONEERS The obsolete meaning of the word pioneers is somewhat different from the association that we now have with it. Originally, a pioneer was a soldier who repaired roads and paved the way for civilization. The modern association with the word is a man who is the first to go into a new locality. Perhaps many of us when we hear the Word' pioneers say 'AOII yes, the forty-niners who went west for gold. But the word pioneers has a broad- er meaning than the modern interpretation. A few of the pioneers are, the explorers who by exploring often pave the way for civilization. There are the pioneers of re- form in society, religion, government and the pioneers of industry, woman suffrage, and science. One of the greatest pioneers, in whom we are all vastly interested, is Christopher Columbus. Many, many years ago it was a common belief among the people of Europe that the world was flat. However,

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! ! ! 10 The sun was at its height when a long cavalcade left the castle of Navarre and made its way to the north. Every man was armed to the teeth. The effeCtS of their revelry had not worn off. At noon they halted in the forest. The Duke d1S- mounted and the others did likewise. Pages served food, the noblemen eating with their hands. In a half hour they started, and in three hours they paused before the chateau of- the king, the dissipated grand- son of Charlemagne. After a short rest, the Duke dismounted, and standing before his men said, We will attack, Sir Phillip. Besiege the left drawbridgef' Witl1Ol1f a further command, they divided, and skirt- ing the edge of the forest, emerged sud- denly before the two drawbridges, and waving their long lances, attacked the gates. They were met by a ShOWC1' Of arrows, and streams of melted lead. With cries of surprise and pain, the knights fe' treated. f'We have been betrayed, cried Phillip, they are prepared. On the other side the Duke gnashed his teeth. Only yesterday his men were at Aix-la-Chap- pelle, he has been warned. The battle continued, and it soon b6C211HC apparent that the Duke was losing. With a sudden elatter the drawbridge came down, and over them rushed the king's lancers, putting to rout the Duke's forces. Inside the walls, the king threw himself weakly upon his couch. I am saved, he muttered, and repeated it again and again. A door opened and the Duke's jester ap- peared, The king greeted him profusely, showering him with blessings. You shall be rewarded as befits a lord,', said the king, and you shall be my first minister. In this way was saved the crown of the king, not once but many times. But 'fl1C time was to come when there would be no traitor, and the king would be defeated. For this was the age of Feudalism,,when the king was only king in name. -MAX Gissuv, '26 THE MOHAWK TRAIL A pathway cleft beneath Old Hoosac hoary! I How few will climb the mounta1n's weary t ' 5 Ands fifiliure years will hand its troubled story I H From child to child as olden legends are. This was written many years ago about the Hoosac tunnel, and the mountain's weary stair that few will climb iS the Mohawk trail! If the author could to-day see the stream of automobiles which go over Old Hoosac, undoubtedly his surprise would be unlimited. The trail was originally the Mohawk warpath. ' In 1774 the English used this short cut to take their prisoners from Deerfield and Charlemont Over the mountain. At the time Qlibe tal of VVolfe's capture of Quebec, a rough road was made over the trail, where at the western gateway stood Fort Massa- chusetts. A short time later the state or- dered a turnpike built, but the steep moun- tain road wore out so many good horses and men that a tunnel under the mountain was proposed. The trail was still open in 1848 and Williams college boys often ran up it ahead of the Williamstown stage. VVhere the paths crossed at the top of the mountain was an inn and a school house. At the foot of the mountain was a signboard on which could be read NValk up if you please and on another at the summit, Ride down if you dare. At one time the trail was a famous route for mountain climbers. Henry David Tho- reau crossed it on one of his walking tours and said of it- I reached the summit just as the sun was setting, and Overlooked the woods. I was up early to see the day- break. As the light increased, I discovered around me an ocean of mist. I was float- ing on the fragment of the wreck of a world, in cloudland. It was such a coun- try as we might see in dreams, with all the delights of Paradise. The earth beneath had passed away like the phantom of a shadow. But when its own sun began to rise on this pure world, I found myself drifting amid saffron-colored clouds, in the very path of the sun's chariot, and sprinkled with its demy dust. Mr. Tho- reau liked his scenery best just as it came from the hand of Nature, and doubtless would have much preferred the rough trail of his time, to thc smooth highway of to- day. -LOUISE A. PIER, '26 THE FRESH MAN BLOWOUT The Freshman Blowout was held in Odd Fellows' Temple, October 2nd, at eight o'clock. The following cast and chorus made the evening enjoyable by a short' play The Unknown Quality which was writ- ten by the east: Marion Rice, Franklin Sears, a poor bewildered Freshman, Linn Hoadley, Wayland Nichols, Doris Robbins, Francis Gabree, who certainly made things spooky, and Helen Booth, who dances well, Katherine Locke, Winston Brasor, Mar- guerite Wellman, Catherine Ferriter, Frances Bennett, Doris Porter, Reuben Prouty, and Robert Coombs. The first scene of the play was laid around a camp-fire. The second scene was in the house of the aunt. The music for the dance which followed the play was furnished by the Green Moun- tain Serenaders. Refreshments were served by Isabel Moreton, Marion Underwood, Katherine Haus, Doris Wood and Robert Coombs. llllfl H . ' BREEZY BRIEFS Sept. 8-Joyful Tidings! School's begun. Sept. 10-From the main room We see in the hallway Ascending the narrow stairsg The pallid palest of Freshmen, Too frightened to have any airs. Sept. 16-Our exchequer is growing! Sept. 17-Annual Eddy Expedition con- ducted by M. E. Bagg Co. Sept. 24-First call for the Bandg five men out. Sept. 29 and 30-Did you see Queenie and her forty-four babies ? Oct. 1-Radio Club-Static predominat- ing. Oct. 2-Frankie Gabree, angel-child? The Blowout slams taken gracefully by Freshmen. Oct. 6-B. P. C. Bordeaux Port Cham- pagne? No-Business Practice Club. Oct. 7-Le Cercle Francais. Miss Pease demonstrates etiquette of eating grapes. Oct. 10-Greenfield' suecumbs to our tennis team a second time! Oct. 12-Praises be to Columbus for giving us a holiday. Oct. 12-Booming Business for Brattle- boro Stables. Causesg Miller, Clapp, Mathews, and Dimlick. Oct. 14-Buzz-a rumbling changes to the roar of shuffiing-Fire Drill. ASSEMBLIES A Freshman Assembly was held Thurs- day, September l0th. As the Freshmen entered the main room door they were greeted with cheers and applause. Gray Coane, president of S. A. S., greet- ing the new members of B. H. S., read the S. A. S. constitution and explained trafiic rules. Mr. Stevens added his welcome to that of Mr. Coane. He also mentioned the high record which B. H. S. has and urged the Freshmen to maintain that record. A special assembly was held September 17th at which Mrs. Lucia Meade spoke on the Fallacies of VVar. She opened her speech by asking a question- Do yo'u know how many American men have been killed in the last five foreign wars? The answers which she received were far from correct as we were not informed on the statistics. She brought forth, among other points, the idea that the people who fight are not the ones actively interested in warfare but that politicians are the chief promoters. Li 1