Bristol High School - Green and White Yearbook (Bristol, RI)

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THE (i R H E N AND WHITE 21

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20 THE GREEN AND WHITE A SUMMER’S DAY—FROM DAWN TO DUSK A flicker of pale pink on the eastern horizon glittered across the drab, gray sky. It was the forerunner of dawn, and announced that soon the sleeping world would awake to behold a beautiful day. The prediction rang true, for in a short while the eastern sky was a mass of shining gold, and the rest of Mother F.arth’s ceiling was taking on a light bluish tint. Then, midst the chirping of birds and the rustling of the breeze through the trees the sun burst forth in all its regal glory. The picture was glorious! The dewdrops, glistening on the velvety grass, the leaves sparkling and fluttering in the early morning freshness, and the azure sky, swept clear of even a wisp of cloud formed a portrait far beyond the scope of an artist’s brush. As the sun rose slowly into the clear blue, the world detached itself from slumber, and prepared for the busy hours to come. A milk-cart rattled and clinked its way over the wet cobblestones. People rushed out of doorways, remarked about the beautiful weather as they passed each other hurriedly, and hastened on to hide themselves in a stuffy office or workshop. The hum of the early morning rush increased, and cars whizzed by only to come to a screeching stop as some hurrying pedestrian dashed across their path. Children laughed and joked as they strolled leisurely to school, and early shoppers rushed headlong in their haste to be the first at the bargains. The day’s work was on! The pace, although somewhat slackened, continued throughout the morning and lunch time found the participants of this great game of life seeking out their homes or some quiet spot for the pause that refreshes. The day had become sultry, and the world seemed to wilt under the oppressive heat. The silence of the noon hour was terrifying. The deserted streets were void of any activity except possibly when a feeble puff of wind stirred up the numerous papers lying everywhere. With a somewhat modified performance, the early morning rush was reproduced, and once more the business world was on its feet. However, the sweat ran, the punch was gone, and the efforts were only half-hearted as that glaring ball beat down relentlessly. The struggle against the heat continued all afternoon, and there were weary souls who turned homeward at the completion of their labors. A change had suddenly come over the world. As the shadows lengthened and the last repast of the day was being enjoyed, a freshening breeze swept over the land. While the sun was being tucked in for the night by the purple hills, the birds took heart, chirped, and then burst into full song. Its weirdness was entrancing. The tired folk, forgetting their weariness. stopped to listen, until, finally, with the last ray's of twilight glimmering across the darkened sky, the song ended. V. C. OTTEN. ’34. THE FORUA4 The Forum is a club organized by the Class in Problems of Democracy with the purpose to discuss current problems, promote citizenship, have social activities, and to increase friendly relationship among the members of the class. The first meeting of the Forum took place on Wednesday, December 6th, 1933, at 3 :30 P. M. The president of this club, Miss Muriel Aston, introduced, as our speaker, Mr. Fitzgerald. The significance and the purpose of social science was explained by Mr. Fitzgerald in his talk. Social studies are understood to be those whose subject matter relate to the organization and development of human society. These studies aim to develop social efficiency. Social efficiency is an appreciation of the nature and of the laws of social life; the will to participate effectively in bettering this society. Social science includes history, civics, economics, etc.” Mr. Fitzgerald then gave an account of the development of social science in the public schools of Bristol, Rhode Island. He concluded his talk with the purpose and aims of Problems of Democracy. The purpose of studying Problems of Democracy is to give a more comprehnsive and deeper knowledge of some of the vital problems. This includes the materials of all social science. You should strive to learn that which will aid you to become beter American citizens. Know and understand your government. Problems of Democracy is an explained repetition of life as it occurs day after day,” concluded Mr. Fitzgerald. At the close of the meeting Court Whist was enjoy'ed by' the club members. First prize for boys was won by Fortunate Caruso. First Prize for girls was won by Miss Lucv Ferrara. Consolation prizes were won by Gladys Rishe and Sereno Perroni. Refreshments were served by the committee. The committee in charge included the Misses Bertha Roderick. Christine Russo, and Mr. John Grav. The officers of the Problems of Democracy' Class I2C are President, Muriel Aston; Vice-President. Betram Bullock: Secretarv, Rose Campanello: Treasurer. Catherine Ebbits. The officers of Class 12D are: President, Edward Sousa; Treasurer, Emily Xavier. OLIVIA ANDRADE, ’34. -------- -------- Scarred and battered, Creaky and cracked. Witness of a thousand Hidden pranks. Container of the world’s knowledge And support to vouth’s ambiton— A school desk. V. C. OTTEN, ’34. -------4=-------- Miss Robinson—“Let’s see now; the next topic is The Rise of-- McCarthy—“The Goldbergs.’’

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22 THE GREEN AND WHITE LITERATURE IN “THE ROARING 40’S” That period between 1840 and 1850, more gen-eraly known as The Fabulous, or the Roaring Forties, included what was probably the greatest era in the history ot American literature. Although much sentimental, romantic, adventurous trash of the penny dreadful type was wirtten during this period, it is here that we first hear of many of the men who were later to become leading figures in the history of English, and even of the World’s literature. It is at this time that we find Bryant, Holmes, Lowell. Whittier, Greely, and others contributing to the many periodicals of the day. Longfellow was widely, if not popularly, known for his EvangelineWashington Irving shared his international fame as a writer with Cooper, who was no less known; Herman Melville had written some books about the South Seas, and was a very popular author; Hawthorne had done some writing up to this time, and was writing what was destined to become a masterpiece, The Scarlet Letter; Edgar Allan Poe was writing his incomparably fascinating stories and poems for well-known periodicals of the day, and had practically become a national idol; Emerson, too, had done quite a bit of writing, and was also very popular. Henry Ward Beecher was writing treatises and sermons, while Calhoun, Webster, Clay, James Hent, Joseph Storey and John Marshall were writing volumes of speeches and political writings. Prescott had a popular appeal at this time, and Mr. Parkman’s “The Oregon Trail,” was a classic of the day. The humorists of the Forties” were Cornelius, Mathews, Longstreet, and Hooper. Peter Parlev and Hans Christian Andersen wrote children's books. This period abounds with such paper-backed, dime novels as “The Fatal Feud, or Passion and Piety;” Ellen, or Forgive and Forget;” “For Ivach and For All, or Saetitia and Mary;” “The Great Secret, or Flow to be Happy;” “Allen Lucas, or the Self Made Man,’’ etc. The style of these melodramtical novels is thoroughly stiff and artificial, and embodies none of the grace and freedom of expression that characterizes the literature before and since this period. It was an established rule that every novel should be composed of ten chapters, so many writers of the “Forties meandered through nine chapters of rambling, disjointed events, and then crammed an abrupt, untimely ending into the tenth chapter. Two novels, in particular, written during this period merit special recognition. Both these novels, “The Wide, Wide World, and “Queechy were written by the same woman, Susan Warner, whose pen name was Elizabeth Wetherell; and although these books are artificial and in no way true to life, they are good examples of the novels of this period. The children in these two novels behave in the regulation style of this period, being verv devout. and acting far beyond their years. Minni-gerode. in his book. The Fabulous Forties, says of these children, One cannot, in all reverence, avoid the suspicion that the children of that day were insufferable little prigs-----” Everyone in this period wrote poetry. New material was being developed to write about, and nearly everyone took advantage of the opportunity. The poets of this period whose names have come down to the present day are Byron, Poe, Joseph Rodman Drake, Fitz-Greene Halleck, Swinburne, Charles Hoffman. A few of the poets who captured the popular fancy during these Fabulous Forties, but were soon forgotten are Amelia Welby, N. P. Willis, Mrs. hrances S. Osgood, G. P. Morris, James G. Percival, William Wetmore Story, ad the greatest poet of the day, the man from whom Poe copied many rhyme schemes, Mr. Olivers. In spite of the artificiality of the novels of the period, Edgar Allan Poe declared N. B. Tucker’s “George Balcombe,” the greatest American novel ever written. There were, at this time many annual periodicals, such as “The Rose of Sharon,” The Token,” “The Gift,” and “The Fountain, to which such men as Whittier, Bayard Taylor, and that greatest of al newspaper men, Horace Greely, contributed articles. Many small books, beautifully bound, were written and published, designed to serve as gifts on various occasions. These books contained many poems appropriately written for the purpose which the hook was to serve. The important magazines published at this time were The Youth’s Companion;” “The Child’s Friend; Merry’s Museum,” all designed as children’s magazines, and such publications as “The Literary Gazette, The Literary World,” “The Knickerbocker Magazine,” “Littell’s Living Age, “The Dial, The North American Review, “Southern Quarterly Review,” “Southern Literary Messenger.” “The Dollar Magazine,” “Peterson’s National Magazine, “The Saturday Evening Post, Graham’s Magazine,” and “Godeys Lady’s Book. In spite of the great number of American publications, many English magazines were sent into this country. The English magazines were typically masculine, while those of America strove particularly to please the ladies. All the great writers of the day contributed to these magazines, and many of them were true literary masterpieces. It was in this period of “The Roaring” Forties that the newspaers wer established as an important element in the every-day life of the American citizen. As the West began to become more thickly settled, sectionalism sprang up and gave growth to hundreds of politically minded newspaers throughout the country. Important in the field of newspaper work was a man who. as I have mentioned before, was one of the greatest editors of all time, Horace Greely. In short, the literature of the forties, however varied in content and merit, was actually “the dawn of a new era in the literature of America and of the world. GEORGE H. WILSON, 34.