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

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I 1 LOQUENCE has been defined as being the art of speaking with fluency and elegance. One imagines that this art had its origin away back in the age of the cave dwellers. Its ascent to its proper place in our civilization of today has been due in part to the need for pacifiers and instigators. The person who is able to express himself in a fluent, clear and straightforward manner has had and always will have a decided advan- tage over a less fortunate individual. He is the possessor of the proverbial golden spoon. It would be a difficult task to estimate the degree of infiuence the orator has had in the history of the world, but I can truthfully say that the triumphs of the sword have been rivalled by those of the tongue. Every period or age gives evidence of the miracle wrought by the meritorious power of eloquence, I might say the Unecromantic power. The great nations of Greece and Rome had as a master-spirit, eloquence. Plutarch tells us that Thucydides, when Archidamus, King of Sparta. asked him which was the best wrestler, Pericles or her,-replied: WV hen I throw him, he says he was never down, an.l persuades the very spectators to believe him.' Demosthenes devoted himself to becoming a good public speaker. At the outset his speaking was very poor because he was af- flicted with stuttering. To cure this defect he is supposed to have gone to the seashore and with pebbles in his mouth practiced speaking. It was Demosthenes' belief that Athens was the rightful leader of Greeceg and that King Philip of Macedon, to whom he was in opposition, was a barbarian and not a Greek. The Macedonian monarch saiil of Demosthenes, that had he been there at the time the orator aroused the Athenian popu- lace against him, that he would have been persuaded to take up arms against himself. For thirty years Cicero studied oratory and searched for models of eloquence. Vlfhen Cicero and Demosthenes were silenced, Despotism triumphed in Rome and Greece. Daniel VVebster has said, VVho can doubt that in our own struggle for independence, the majestic eloquence of Chatham, the pro- found reasoning of Burke, the burning satire and irony of Barre, had influence on our fortunes in America? They tended to di- Tldli DIAL IVY OTRATION THE POWER OF ELOQUENCE minish the confidence of the British ministry in their hopes to subject us. There was not a reading man who did not struggle more boldly for his rights when those exhilarating sounds, uttered in the two houses of Parlia- ment, reached him across the seas. The British lfVrits of Assistance were de- nounced by James Otis in Boston in 1761. So forceful was the denouncement that the audience was aroused to the illegality of these VVrits. It may seem incredible to some of us when we hear of the miraculous effects wrought by impetuous speeches. This probably can be attributed to the fact that we have never heard the weighty words or the ringing, passionate voices of the speakers. The question has often been asked, Is oratory a lost art ? As oratory, in the true sense of the word, is the product of national unrest, the day of the fiery orator has been relegated to history. Everyone knows the type of legislation our Congress is concerned with at the present time. Although there is dissension in nearly all matters brought be- fore our legislative bodies, the situation does not call for a great pacifier or instigator. The party spirit has become very strong and individuality is being suppressed in such matters. Due to the fact that the speaker of a political party is responsible for his party pledges he must, of necessity, speak under a restraint. Consequently, he does not express his own personal views on the subject, but those of the particular party he represents. I do not mean to say that oratory is a lost art, because the volume of demand for ora- tory is practically the same as it was in the past, but it calls for a different type. As the mode of civilization changes so does the human viewpoint. Men and women of today are more interested in the presentation of logical facts than in outbursts which are the product of imagination. The speaker of to- day acts by degrees and with logic, while the ancient orator gave headstrong addresses that were intended to arouse deep elemental passions rather than logical conclusions. Some people are of the opinion that ora- tory's high throne has been usurped by the press. I agree that this has been so in part, but I do not concede the point that oratory is on a lower level than the editorial. It is inevitable that an editorial should not arouse its readers as the words of a truly 7 great speaker arouse an audience. At one time the circulation of the editorial would have been so wide as to reach far beyond the scope of spoken words, but with the inven- tion of the radio and the talkies this has been changed. One of the most important factors in judging a speaker is character. Usually the impression created by a speaker is the result of what he is, though this does not always hold true. To be able to express ideas con- vincingly in words, one must put expressive feeling into them. Therefore, thoughts and feelings of the inner self find expression in the voice and action. The degree of enthusi- asm, sincerity, interest, and sense of propor- tion can be found in the underlying thought of the speech. If a speaker appears to be opprobrious, he has little chance of success. It is an utter impossibility for some peo- ple to put their thoughts into words, but for others it may be natural and may he taken as a matter of course. To speak naturally a person must have self-control and self-con- Fidence. It is absolutely essential that the mind have command over body and voice. To obtain this command one must practice continually and keep ever in mind the funda- mentals. An argus-eyezl individual has a better chance of success in this line than one less observant. An important factor largely determining the heights a speaker can attain, is the way he speaks. His use of the English language must be such that it will enable him to sell his idea to his audience. It has been said. Language is merely a medium for thoughts, emotions, the intelligence of a finely wrought brain, and a good mind will make far more out of a bad medium than a poor mind will make out of the best. Public speaking is being taught in nearly all the high schools in the country, and languages are major subjects. By diligent study it is possible for the student of today to be adept not only in the use of English language, but in foreign languages as welll Obviously it is advantageous for us, as high school graduates, to be able to speak con- fidently before people in all walks of life, for as long as we have human existence the art of public speaking will never become extinct, no matter how many new ideas and discov- eries are brought into our civilization. --BERTHA WHITNEY, '3l.

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6 HIS Adventure of Life is a game. Wfe play it with the hope that, by chalice or good luck we will be the winner. But what- ever our life becomes, it is Adventure that leads us,-guides us onward,-sometimes up and sometimes down. VV here would the United States have been if some adventurous Europeans, in crossing the treacherous waters, had not braved death and the thought of falling off the edge of the world to come over here and discover a great and beautiful continent inhabited only by red savages? Our forefathers struggled on through hardships, and cruelties, to create our coun- try. As Pilgrims and Puritans they de- veloped the East, and then as Pioneers, they traveled across the mighty Mississippi and unfolded the wealth of the land of the setting sun. The result is the United States-the richest, most modern, most envied nation in the world. If someone had told our a rate of 250 miles an hour in an automobile some day, they would have fellow was mad. probably in years doubled. It takes of grit to whiz knowing that such grandparents that would be attained whisperedithat surely the but it has been done, and to come, this speed will be courage, nerve, and plenty along a track at that rate, a small thing as a branch in the road might mean instant death. VVhy, twenty or twenty- five years ago it was considered an adventure to ride in one of the new-fangled horseless buggies. Everyone rushed to the windows when he heard one roaring down the quiet street at the wicked pace of ten miles an hour. Onlookers shook their heads and pre- dicted an awful death for the ones daring to ride in such contraptions. Then some courageous soul thought of the idea of flying, and again people shook their heads sadly and predicted an early death. True, it has meant death for those fearless ones who have risked their lives to perfect this invention, but in time these men will be lauded for the help they gave their country toward facilitating transportation. Now the parachute has been invented to enable pilots to jump from their disabled planes into space, by only pulling a little ring to loose the parachute. Ifhthat isn't adventure,-hurtling through space, at a terrinc rate of speed,-what is? An army pilot tells the story of how he THE DIAL CLASS ESSAY THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE CLASS POEM Beneath Vermont's bright azure skies, Among green crested hills, here lies Our school. 'Twas builded here for us to gain Fruits fairer than our fertile plain Can yield. VV e would that time could give us grace, Reflecting in each eager face Truth firm as is the granite base, Of this, our school. The friendship found within its halls Is symbolized by ivied walls Serene. Like faithful trees that keep its door It shall, indeed, guard us e'er more VV ith truth. It shall in scenic beauty stay A monument to this, our day. It but remains for us to say Farewell, Oh, School. -NVILLIAM IXIUNDELL. Jliluxir by E-zfelyn Perry FY. saved himself by a parachute jump, when his plane accidentally struck another one in mid- air. The impact of the terrible speed sent parts of both wings of the plane to the ground, and the plane itself went into a violent diving spin. The pilot had to crawl out over its side, and when he unfastened his safety belt he pulled the cord of his parachute, realizing the second after doing it, the danger of the chute catching on the tail of the plane. As all adventurers are want to do, he prayed for a streak of luck, but was disappointed. For a few seconds he swung like a pendulum from the tail of the dropping plane. The ground was beginning to loom up before him and he seemed to be falling into Death's open arms, but as luck would have it, the parachute suddenly tore loose from the plane, and he landed in a soft patch of sagebrush. Another army officer watching said he bounced ten feet, and the only injury he received was a sprained back. The hearts of the onlookers, no doubt, turned to stone when he fell-but as long as Death didn't take him then, he'll probably do it again and again-until sometime- Death will claim him. He is termed a dare- devil-but he loves it-it's his life, and he can't stop. That's the way with Adventure. Its spirit takes one, clutches him, holds him in its grasp,-until, tiring-suddenly lets him down -hard,--bringing him back to reality with only a shattered dream left. Luck is the pass-word of the adventurer. If he's let down hard, it is just his usual bad luck, but if he's still soaring and fortune is his, to have and to hold in his grasp, it is good luck, and joy and happiness are his. One of the greatest types of Adventure is the stock market. Man will risk his all- home, comforts, even his family-in the chance that a stock will go up two points. He becomes like a madman-frenzied, hys- terical,-watching the ticker. Then it goes up-throwing into his outstretched hands a Fortune. Comfort, fame, riches, are his. Life becomes once again a pleasure., Family life is again a joy. He is, perhaps the proud father seeing his beloved son graduate from a wealthy college. Always he is conscious of being looked at, sought for by reporters as the great financier and society man. Then- then, Adventure drops him-hard-and CContinued on pxge 135

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8 ET us go forth and dress the wounds of the warriors, be they friend or foe. So spake Haldoro, the Dane, to the women wl1o were assembled at her home on the eve of the battle in the year 1000 A.D. The women were eager a11d went forth at once to do what they considered was their duty. Of Haldoro herself, it is said that she found the enemy chieftain badly wounded and nursed him back to l1ealth. This incident is the first recorded manifesta- tion ot compassion and mercy i11 war. This 1IlSt1l1Ct, which looks beyond race, creed, and cause, and sees in a wounded sufferer only a soldier to be made less miserable next found expression in the Knight Hospitalers of-the medieval orders and later in the sisters of St. Vincent de Paul, who, in 1654 a11d 1655 we11t to the battlefield of Sedan and Arrasf' Florence Nightingale, who lived during the 19th century, also firmly believed in help- ing those who were unfortunate. She went to a British hospital during the Crimean XVar and revolutionized the care of the wounded. It was not in the actual saving of life, however, nor i11 tl1e lasting reforms in sanitary service that Florence Nightingale rendered her enduring service. Her two epoch-making contributions were first, the establishment of the modern profession of nursing, and second tl1e value of her example in service to the wounded and sick in war. One who followed in Miss Nigl1tingale's footsteps was a young Franco-Swiss, Henri Duna11t. He was born in Geneva in 1828. At the age of 31 years he witnessed the battle of Solferino at Lombardy, Italy. Forty thou- sand men were killed and wounded on that field. Monsieur Dunant desired very much to help them. He gathered together, from the surrounding towns a few women, and with this little band he did what he could to relieve the suffering of the wounded. It was then that Monsieur Dunant realized the in- adequacy of medical service 011 the battle field and in the hospital. In 1862 he pub- lished a magazine entitled A souvenir of Sblferinof' in which he raised a strenuous objection to war and the loss of human life which it involved. I11 conclusion he asked, VVould it not be possible to found and or- ganize ill all civilized countries permanent so- cieties of volunteers which in time of war would render succor to the wounded without distinction of nationalitv? 11 THE DIAL IVY ESSAY NTHE AMERICAN RED CROSSw + ' 4 .... IVY ODE Wfhat majesty your strength portrays, Oh, Ivy, plant of heart's desire, How many most ingenious ways, You find in climbing ever higher. lVhat mighty force inspired you To gain some high a11d worthy end? VV hat just reward will be your due? On what does your great strength depend? Oh, Ivy, may we learn from thee To gain success by patient strength M ay our ambition ever be To reach such lofty heights at length. -IYTARGARET CRAM. Muxir by H ende1l Dix .Wi This question may be called the root of the modern Red Cross System. This pamphlet resulted in immediate ac- tion on the part of the European countries. A conference was held i11 Geneva on Oct. 26, 1863 at which Representatives were present from fourteen European governments and seven philanthropic societies. Resolutions, which recommended the formation of na- tional committees in each country to volun- teer relief in war, were draw11 up and passed. The choice of the insignia-Red Cross-was in deference to the Republic of Switzerland, for the Red Cross Flag is the Swiss Flag with the colors reversed. Another meeting was held at Geneva i11 1804. It was attended by accredited Govern- ment representatives from,-13 European na- tions alld the U. S. The deliberation of this convention resulted in the signing of the famous Articles of Convention now known as the First Treaty of Geneva or the Inter- national Red Cross Treaty. The reason the U. S. did not take active official part in the Diplomatic Convention of 1864 was because the Civil War was occupying all its atten- tion. The primary object of the convention was to give recognition to the principle that the sick and wounded in time of war, the am- bulances alld hospitals i11 which they are placed, and the Medical and auxiliary staff attending them are to be regarded as neutral. The Convention laid down that it is the duty of belligerent to collect and care for the sick or wounded soldiers irrespective of their na- tionality. The Convention also established the Red Cross on a white field as emblem of neutrality. When the Convention adjourned a report was submitted to Secretary of the State Seward. It embodied the aims and text of the Treaty of Geneva. The Government paid 110 heed to it at that time. But the leaders of tl1e Sanitary Co1nmission, a commission which had been organized to better the con- ditions of the people, had seen the inade- quacy of their own organization. They de- voted their powers to infiuence the A1nerica11 GOW'CFl1mCl1t to accede to the Treaty of Geneva. They were the leading spirits in the organization on July 20, 1866 of a so- ciety, The American Association for the Relief of Misery on the Battlefields, to further this end. Its existence and develop- qContinued on page 443