Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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NORMAL OFFERING 25 in warm tones, took up the gifts brought by their sister-dancers and scattered them broadly, as if using powers attained. With 1915, the procession of the School of Today began. With few exceptions, the ideas expressed by the department groups were evolved by the heads of departments, and the phases of the newer education illustrated by the grades of the Training School were the choice of the teachers, all plans came to the committee, and the color-scheme deter- mined the order of appearance. The largest group was the Kinder- garten-Primary, which showed little children growing as do flowers in a garden, in response to rain and sun, visited by birds, bees, and but- terflies, this was one of the fine things of the Pageant. But it is so manifestly unfair to mention a few, where all these groups were so well done, that we must refrain. After the stirring salute to the flag, as the last of the grades joined the massed group of the present, B. N. S., as a surprise to Mr. Arthur Boyden, called for the leader of to-day, and he was made to take a place on the dais only a little lower than the guiding spirits, and how the Alumni applauded! A dimmed time-dial, and veiled Hours dancing, suggested the future. Patriotism led in a group of foreign-born children, and B. N. S. pledged to train all for individual efficiency and for service to the state, that America, the beautiful, may live forever. Then we sang America, with quickened imaginations. From their stations came the notables of the past, the patriots, the graduates, the states and countries, down the Pageant path to the east, to the north, then past the dial up toward the school. The Pageant moved off in the order of its appearance, only the chief spirits being left on the dais. Then they walked up the Pageant path, between lines of dancers, until Enlightenment was the last figure to pass from sight, and the Pageant of the Bridgewater Normal School was over. To the author, it was a dream made to liveg a vision realized in color, action, music, and dance. To us all it proved that a Pageant is a gathering of many talents, a fusing of many arts into one vivid, beautiful whole, which, though it passes, yet lives on in the enriched experience of all whom it has touched. ' FLoRA T. LITTLE.

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24 NORMAL OFFERING come, more than five hundred stout hearts sank at the thought of losing the glory of out-door color and space. But the reward of sunshine and successful performance was ours, as several thousand spectators can say. Do you care to have the story retold? The main theme was this: the Spirit of Enlightenment shows that page from the book of time which deals with the inception of normal schools, and with the past growth and present strength of the Bridgewater School. Enlighten- ment was the first pageant character to enter, in stately blue, then the Hours danced gracefully, sounding all the notes of the color-scheme, and leaving the little years in place to keep the dates before us. With Massachusetts, Enlightenment saw the normal-school experiment argued, tried, and proved, under the pioneers, -Carter, Dwight, Brooks, and Mann. The climax-of the first episode was the dedication of the first normal-school building in America at Bridgewater. B. N. S., clothed in rich maroon, then summoned her early princi- pals, Mr. Tillinghast and Mr. Conant, with students, all in old-time cos- tume, to show that earnest devotion to duty characteristic of the form- ative period. The Alumni Association joined the graduates in a circle of friendship about the School. The meaning of this period was expressed in the lovely interlude dance Consecration. In quiet colors, the dancers came with ceremonial step, bearing gifts which they laid on the dais. As the dial showed 1861, the third episode opened with boom of guns, and Patriotism came appealing to Enlightenment. Before the altar of the Union loyalty was pledged. The young men came runningg we saw them armed and march to warg we saw the girl students doing for them through the years, and singing songs together. At length Victory, with reversed torch, brought in the Roll of Honor, and the episode ended with the Battle Hymn. A short musical motif introduced Service, in rose-color, who gave the School its motto, and urged study of the child. We saw the school- building growg we saw many students and graduates gather for the fiftieth anniversary, we saw many states and countries interested. We saw all bow in silent tribute to the memory of the third principal, Mr. Albert G. Boyden. Then the wide reach of the school was symbol- ized by the beautiful seven-armed Wheel of Influence, pivoting about B. N. S. In the spirited interlude dance Attainment, the dancers,

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26 NORMAL OFFERING Earralaurvatr Hvnpvrz. A very impressive feature of our graduation week was the bacca- laureate exercises which took place on Sunday afternoon in the Assem- bly Hall. Friends and teachers had already assembled, and, as the Glee Club sang Forward be our Watchwordf' the graduating class marched solemnly into the hall. Mr. Arthur C. Boyden read the beautiful Twenty-fourth Psalm and followed it with a prayer in which he asked that the class might be helped in their life's work. Dr. Albert E. Winship, who was invited for the occasion, gave a very interesting talk, in which he explained, in a very pleasant man- ner, the difference between 6' to dominate and to domineerf' The class will always remember that they are to dominate. Dr. Wi-nship's text was the following: He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth. After the bene- diction by Dr. Winship, the Glee Club completed the program with the beautiful response, Twilight, M. J. P. 'l5. Cfrahuaiinn Bag. What a feeling of mingled sadness, joy, anxiety, excitement came to us when we arose on the morning of our graduation! We were sorry to leave dear old Normal, yet glad to step out into the world to make our own way, anxious to have all of our relatives and friends with us there, and excited because the hour which meant so much to us was near at hand. June twenty-second was idealg the sun shone brightly, and its light and cheer were reflected on every face. Surely it was a happy day. We spent the first part of the morning busily greeting fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends, each group a joyous reunion. We gathered once more in the Assembly Hall, hushed with awe when we realized that this was our last meeting together as a class. Mr. Arthur C. Boyden led us again in our devotional exercises, and the Glee Club sang. Then Mr. Boyden introduced as our speaker Dr. Felmley, of Illinois. Dr. Felmley recalled to us the diderence in con-