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

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WI-IY NOT A I-IIGI-I SCHOOL SKI TEAM? N the same manner as our School has football, base- ball, basketball, track and tennis teams with regular schedules and interscholas- tic competition, why should we not have a ski team? Why should not the splen- did sport of skiing be equally recognized? The craze for skiing is spreading over the country like wildfire. What could be more fitting than that a school located in one of the winter sports centers of the East should take the lead in promot- ing skiing as an interscholastic sport in Vermont? You can't hold down skiing. Why not ride in on its ever grow- ing popularity? We already have a nucleus of skilled skiers in school, many of whom are already members of the Brattleboro Outing Club, Inc., one of the pioneer ski clubs of the East. The school could count on the enthusiastic coopera- tion of the latter. Until the school could afford its own ski coach, coaching assistance could be secured from the Out- ing Club, which has among its members several men qualified as ski instructors according to the very strict re- quirements of the United States Eastern Ski Association. If other Vermont schools can be interested to organize ski teams, the idea of Interscholastic competition could be introduced by the State I-Ieadmasters Association. What are the good features of skiing which entitle it to recognition? First, it is a clean sport and a good one. What is the definition of a good sport? My answer is that any sport which challenges every ounce of courage, intelli- gence and ability in a man is a good one. Since I first began skiing when a junior in B.H.S., I have seen skiing meet these requirements. Much as we all like football and ac- knowledge its attraction, we find on analysis that to be a proficient skier, it takes every bit as much skill, coordina- tion, study, practice and intestinal fortitude as it does to be a good football player. Over three hundred come out for football at Dartmouth, but those who dare to take the big ski jump at Hanover can be numbered in the dozens. I confess that when I saw Mezzy Barber hurl himself r- . 1 out into space on our ski jump last winter never to touch the snow again until he had soared over 200 feet, I had as much of a thrill as I ever had in seeing a touchdown made by the completion of a successful forward pass in the end zone. Although skiing does not have the same team play features as does football, it can be carried on for years after graduation. After leaving school, skiers do not have to stop taking part in the increasing number of competi- tions. Some ask-is skiing a fad? Will it go out like parlor golf? I have watched skiing develop for 30 years and I wish I were as sure of many things as I am that skiing is here to stay. Although some ill-advised commercial ven- tures will probably end in the hole, the sport itself is fundamentally sound. It converts what might be dreary, winter days into days of joy and health. What has caused the recent great increase in popular- ity? The introduction of the Slalom and Down Mountain Races has had a great deal to do with it. Ski jumping ap- peals to the hardy and daring few. Cross country racing represents a gruelling grind beyond the physical endur- ance of many. The winding, downhill Slalom race under controlled speed through a series of vari-colored flags is open to all. The down mountain races have many fasci- nated adherents. Another cause has been the development of the modern ski technique of the Arlberg type with variations. Un- der this new method, the beginner is able to learn how to make the various turns in a week and likewise how to con- trol his or her speed. This has opened up a world of inter- esting possibilities. Girls have proven very adept at the making of turns--and Oh! Yes! girls, the stylists have designed the most attractive of ski costumes for you! Better than any of the competitive races are informal cross-country ski trips. With a knapsack full of grub, the swish of snow under your feet and a blue sky overhead, a day in the open on skis is a joy indeed. There is a spirit of adventure in skiing between snow-laden evergreens, along old wood roads and down the open trails. Ski trips take you into places you never see in summer. With impunity, you can ski over a frozen marsh into which you would not dare penetrate in summer. Iffmztirzued on page .202 Ca! by Cora Terrcri 39 xx- 9 Q gf, 14

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CLUBS AND SUCH ITERARY CLUB! The first meeting of the year. As the whole club was all Lit., it was decided to elect ofii- cers for the present year. After a hot campaign, the electoral returns showed that Muriel Ingalls was president, Charles Mur- dough was vice-president, and Isabel Tupper was the secretary- fwhat, no treasurer ?j . After the main business was over and the details of the next meeting had been de- cided, parts of The Contrast, by Royall Tyler, were read-and what a comedy it turned out to be! ak Sl! Pls SIC Drama! Organization! Put 'em together and you have the DRAMATIC CLUB organized. Ruth Helyar was made president, with the power to select a competent committee for their programs. They have big expectations! A pro- gram for each meeting or bust! That would be something! Perhaps it's just a conspiracy to give the club secretary something to do! Ethel Crawford writes the memoirs. Maybe this is the reason. How about putting on some snappy plays for us in assemblies? Or must we wait im- patiently for the big event, the school play? PK Ik 'lf if By the shores of Gitchee Gummee! My error! It's at the home of Mr. john Gale, in Guilford-the meeting of the LITERARY CLUB on December 7. Mr. Gale showed the members all manner of Indian articles, from beads to bones! He told the club about several tribes and their cus- toms, and brandished all sorts of war implements. Many of these oddities Mr. Gale found himself not far from his home and below the Vernon Dam, on the shores of the Connecticut. The Liter-rarities found the relics unusu- ally fascinating, and Mr. Gale's stories very entertaining. Oh, in case you're contemplating a perfect murder, there are all kinds of clubs which would do a very neat job. We might borrow one the next time class dues come up! But don't worry! NITIATION! All new members please bring a blind- I fold! At ALPHA EPSILON'S first meeting on Oc- tober 27, candidates were welcomed into the order. The meeting was held, through the courtesy of the Legion- naires fthanks again!j in the American Legion rooms in the Community Building. Cats, owls and witches played havoc over the gay Halloween decorations, shrouded in weird yellow and red lights. After the twenty-four candi- dates were initiated, and the business meeting adjourned, the club was entertained by a musical program. This constituted a piano and a saxophone solo, songs: Maggie, Yes Ma'am, She Sat in Her Hammock, At the Cod- lish Ball, and, imagine our astonishment, a musical revue of our own B. H. S. quintuplets! We recovered immedi- ately when the refreshments of sandwiches, punch and cookies appeared on the scene. When the lights went on Qup to now we had been more or less in the darkj we were very glad to see that many of the alumni club members were present. We hope that you enjoyed our meeting and that you will come again! Pls 214 tk Pl! Attention Please! We have a rip-snorting new club in B. H. S. The Agriculture Department met Wednesday evening, November 17, and organized a sizzling new society. It's the AG CLUB. During the business meet- ing fthey're in business alreadylj the Middlebury con- ference delegates gave an account of themselves, and the new officers were elected. john Wright is the first honorary president of the club. john Stark is vice president. The secretary is Rudolph Hammarlund, and Lester Clark is treasurer. Ralph Morse is club reporter. What a lineup! With Mr. Ralph Granger to coach them, they should go places! Uust where we d0n't knowlj Anyway, we wish all the Ag -ers all the best. AND don't forget your nickels ! Music! Carmi Squires, baritone, the first in a series fwe hopelj of programs in ASSEMBLY, entertained us with a variety of songs. Mr. Squires, accompanied by his brother at the piano, sang several well-known pieces, which literally brought down the school. This program was financed by a little system sponsored by the teachers: Brother, can you spare a nickel ? This is the first of its kind fthe program, of coursej that we have enjoyed this year. We hope it's not the last! as wk an ak Speech! Speech! Two of our loyal alumni, Mr. Gibson, and james Boyden gave us their views on our team and their hopes in the all-important Keene game in AS- SEMBLY on November 10. They have both followed the gridsters faithfully and have a yen for our supremacy over our best rival, Keene. Coach Draghetti frah! rah!j and Coach Johnston fdittoj got us a little scared, but our confidence returned when co-captain Carlson fFrankie didn't come, must have known what was comingj and Broutsas put in a word. When we went to classes after a few rousing cheers, we all felt ready to mop up Keene with about 40 to O! Here's to the big game! ! !

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SCI-ITEM ALONG! -SKI I-IEIL! SPRAY of snow! a puff! a grunt! and a groan! shot a roly-poly man, clad in a red mohair suit, down beside me on the terrain. I imme- diately came to the conclu- sion that something had to be done, for the poor fel- low could scarcely be seen, only the red tassel on his I cap and the points of his skiis protruded from the snow pile. As I helped him to his feet, I noticed that from his sack valuable presents had been spilled all over the ground. I started to pick them up and to hand them to Santa Claus. In my hands were four of the best looking ski books imaginable, and I was almost ready to ask him if I might borrow them for over- night when he laughed and said, Don't bother about re- turning those. They were for you, anyway. I thought that you would like them, since your next DIAL is to be about winter sports. With that, he started on down the course. Ski Heil, Santa! Thanks loads! By this time those books are nearly worn out from use given them not only by my eager eyes, but also by their being passed around-and they leave everyone excited. It takes a good solid book to enthuse anyone for anything! These have done it! If you spend a solid evening tripping through one fI'll promise you pleasant dreams and a per- fect landing!j just pass it on the next morning and then certainly that person can't blame you if the Latin line doesn't measure to a dactyl hexameter, or if your income tax doesn't balance for do they balance?j. You and that person won't mind, because you'll be thinking in tele- marks and waxes. Don't blame each other-blame Santa Claus! And if you want to delve further into the origin of this pleasure- A little office on Main Street will fur- nish a clue- where the best books on skiing are pub- lished. You're right! It is the Stephen Daye Press, of Brattleboro, with its energetic and enthusiastic ofiice staff ! And by the way, they're not only enthusiastic about the art of printing and its side tracks, but also about the art of skiing. You'll immediately recognize this by one tiny glance at these fine editions. My favorite fbecause it is most helpfulj is old faith- ful -Modern Ski Technique, published last in 1935. Chapters from this same book have appeared in the Dart- mouth Alumni Magazine-here we have them all! You'll know it because there is a man stemming down the cover. Doesn't it look like fun? You'l1 be sure to know how to stem, after you have read and digested the contents of this little book fthis is a perfect example of one which j 15 really should be treated in just this mannerj . You'll obtain the best results, if you really want to rule over your ski and poles fafter you have read which ski to use, how to wax, and the proper length of poles--oh yes! You'll find all thisj to find a gentle slope with good soft snow and to open your tiny book to the first skiing lesson. There are some grand stills, taken by the authors, which will help you immensely. Read and then try! If you have any trouble, read again and consult the pictures. You'd better have your hand between pages forty-four and forty-five, because you may find yourself down. But you'll soon be up, and brushing yourself off, if you follow the directions given you upon getting up. They help, and everyone has to use them! After you have become an accomplished meister, you'll wonder how so much valuable information could be tucked away in such a tiny book, but it was written by Otto Schniebs, one of the best masters of the ski in Amer- ica fLucky Dartmouthlj and J. W. McCrillis, the first pupil in America to study under the great master. It was published by the Stephen Daye Press-now do you still wonder? Track! Track! American Ski Annual with its New ski lines for skiers - Terrain, Technique and Equipment appears. Here it is! Everyone should clap it into his col- lection of the finest ski books and pamphlets. A book- friendly, vivacious and sparkling! I can't begin to men- tion all the grand articles and advice, because it's over- flowing and oozing out onto the cover. Three cheers and good luck to Stephen Daye Press! The assistant editor of this lively press has contributed an article which you'll want to read. Shall I tell you my favorite, or keep that for last? I'm going to keep you guessing. Anyway, there are others nearly as good, such as New York Thinks It Can Ski, written by Eugene Du Bois, who should have ample reason for, and justification in writing this article, as a result of his editorial position on The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. H15 article is rather amusing but very true. The author -I-seems a wee bit skeptical about the outcome of this national fad, or is it a fad? I'm not sure! This account includes amusing paragraphs taken from some of the leading papers, which ran sport columns for the benefit of their eager but ignorant sportsters, who thought that they might be keen on skiing. Here is one which aptly defines slalom in a definite sort of way: Slalom it a type of Jki context. It if downfall work on the long wooden runners. Pole: are allowed ar acces- .rorier or accelerators. A slalom event it marked out hy the flags. The flag: are usually red in color, though this