Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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To the Seniors The invention of the alphabet was the greatest cultural advance of mankind, for not until man had mastered the art of getting the sounds of v ords into recorded symbols could he communicate his thoughts and feelings to men beyond the reach of his voice. Primitive picture-writing was useful for recording facts: so many enemies killed, a certain number of animals taken in the hunt; but in order to preserve for all time an adventure of the spirit as it might be told by one man to another, an alphabet was essen- tial. Mastery of the alphabet led to the production of books, although before the fifteenth century the ability to read them or to write them was limited to a few learned men. Books were all lettered by hand, a laborious process which made them infinitely precious. Their great spiritual heritage was not for the mass of people. Next to the alphabet, printing is probably mankind ' s greatest achieve- ment. The invention of printing caused a great increase in the number of books and a consequent increase in the ability to read them. Through the printed page recorded thought can be communicated everywhere and forever. Books are more than depositories for facts. Books contain the spiritual adventures of the men who wrote them. Man today is heir to all the thought of centuries. He need not begin his life in the pre-historic cave — he may start from yesterday. In turbulent periods of history when true and life-giving ideas have often been suppressed, men have recorded their experiences and con- victions on the printed page which has protected and preserved the kind- ling flame of their spirits. The keeper of books has the duty of preservation end interpretation of this spiritual heritage of the past; he is responsible for making this heritage available to all mankind. The keeper of books who realizes the significance of his guardianship is a potent force for de- mocracy. Cora M. Vining.

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Class Ode The columns standing straight and tall. The vines enlivening the wall. The beacon burning through the night, And shining from its tower height, — For all is beauty we have known And, knowing it, have richer grown. The memories we all hold dear. The loyalty of friends sincere. The trials and tasks we gladly met. The noble standards you have set, — For all is love that we have known And, knowing, it have richer grown. Laura Von Bergen ' 41