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

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6 THE (i R E E N AND WHITE OPERETTA PRESENTED The operetta “The Flower of Venezia” was presented by the school on May 10th and 11th under the direction of Mrs. M. Theresa Donovan. With fine scenery, good music, colorful Venetian costumes and acting that could not be excelled, the production was one of the best staged in recent years at Colt. The story centers around the Doge of Venice and his family. The Doge, ably portrayed by Joseph Druno, is heavily indebted to the Duke Di Bomba, played by Nathan Eisenstadt. In order to have the debt cancelled the Doge wants his daughter. Fioretta (Jean Tobin), to marry the Duke. Fioretta, however, much to the displeasure of her mother Paulina (Doris MacDonald), has fallen in love, with Victor Carrara, a young captain in the navy (Raymond Bullock), and is not interested in tiie Duke. The Doge’s other daughter, Lavinia (Elizabeth Warner), has meanwhile become acquainted with the Duke and secretely loves him. The Doge plans to get rid of Victor by foul means and for this purpose calls the family assassins, Orsino and O’Brien, portrayed by I.loyd Smith and William McCarthy. The two erstwhile assassins figure that the best way out of the situation is to poison the Duke, not Victor, whom they like. Accordingly they place a “pestilent potion” in the Duke’s glass at a banquet and the Duke, drinking it. falls insensible to the floor. Lavinia rushes to his aid with an antidote and revives him. When the Duke recognizes his saviour he realizes her charms and falls in love with her. Since Lavinia is also the Doge’s daughter, the Duke obligingly cancels the Doge’s debt, thus leaving the coast clear for the complete happiness of Fioretta and Victor. In such a brief sketch as this it is impossible to adequatelv describe the good singing oi the large sailor chorus or the chorus of beautiful Venetian girls, or the pleasing duets sung by the principals. Minor characters in the operetta were played bv Olivia Andrade, Addison Hill and George Wilson. H. Me GUI GAN, 34. ------- -------- COMING EVENTS You must’s mind the finals—, They’re really lots of fun— Just keep on writing all you know Until the paper’s done. They’re sure to ask just what you know. They’d hate to see you fail—” Besides, it might affect your health And leave you weak and frail. So when you’ve finished your exams, Go home content and gay. No matter what mistakes you’ve made. You’re sure to get straight “A.” Somehow these words don’t comfort me, I don’t know what they lack— But I feel a horrid shiver Come creeping up mv back. EXCHANGE. OPTIMISM Optimism is the hope of the earth, the will to look forward and to believe that all is well. Everywhere there is pessimism, a belief in the doom oi all things, and in the destruction of humanity; but faith, based on reason, refuses to hold life as an empty dream. The optimist believes in earnestness, reality, in the purpose for which he exists. The difference bet wen the optimist and the pessimist, between faith and cynicism, is largely the difference between knowledge and ignorance. How true this statement is! Sentiment may influence us to believe that the world is following the path of distruction, of ruin, but history replies that good will come. Let us. therefore, if we are to be optimists, base our convictions on solid facts and reason; in short, let us know why we believe. The foundation of sane optimism is found in history, which shows us. that in spite of dark periods of ignorance and evil, which go hand in hand, men has risen to higher things and greater powers. Look at the world of today! Is it not beyond all the dreams of yesterday? Accordingly, will not the world of tomorrow lie even farther beyond our imaginations? The past is a prophecy of the time to come: the promise of what man yet will do. is in the things that man has done. A vision of a sea without a battleship, of nations with- » out armies, of universal peace is certainly no wilder than a vision of the world we live in would have been to Caesar or Hannibal. Our present civilization is a proof that there was a world of which the ancients did not dream. Indeed, do we not live in that world? What right has any man to say that there will not be a greater world if such a case is true? The vast power of the human brain, the mighty processes of chemistry are illimitable. Man does not even know whether he is alone in the universe. He has no reason to be surprised if tomorrow the mighty atom should suddenly release its power and banish poverty and weariness from this earth. New powers derived from cosmic rays, from the untapped resources of the ether need not astonish him. Only extremely dull persons will show disbelief is such startling events should happen within the next century. A single man in a laboratory may do more for his race than all the parliaments of Europe may do in a generation. A man in a scientific workshop may give us some day means of investigation, production and transportation that are inconceivable to us now. Only an idiot doubts whether the movement of the world has been toward good or evil. The world needs no defense or vindication. The illimitable promise of the future lures us. and optimism paves the wav. GEORGE H. SPRINGER. ’35. --------- -------- After Mr. Walker had explained a lesson in electricity to the P. A. Class he said. “Has every one sufficient equipment for the next experiment ?” Proto Mr. Walker, give me current.”

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8 run i r e n n and whi t n RHODE ISLAND The spirit of Rhode Island, founded upon the principles that moved Roger Williams and his little band of hard. God-fearing folk to christen their first place of refuge in that State “Providence,” is best exemplified by the State watchword, “Hope.” Through the years, that spirit, coupled with a profound faith in God and mankind, has inspired the inhabitnats of that little State, and spurred them on to turn seeming defeat into overwhelming victory. Just as value cannot be judged by mere superficial appearances, so the true worth or importance of Rhode Island, fondly called Little Rhody” because of its status as the smallest State in the Union, cannot be estimated by concrete standards. For how can one set a value upon a State that has given to the Nation. and to the world, such men as Captain Benjamin Church, General Nathanael Greene. James Franklin. Stephen Hopkins. William F.l-lerv. Captain Robert Gray. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Daniel Jackson. George H. Corliss, and General Ambrose E. Burnside? Surely a State that performs such a service incurs the immortal gratitude of mankind. Since its colonization in 1636 Rhode Island has been an exponent of the ideas and ideals that have made the Nation comprising these United Staes the greatest on earth. As one of the original thriteen colonies, she fought side by side with her sister colonies for independence, and for the right to establish a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. In 1812. as a part of a growing, thriving nation, she fought to establish the freedom of the seas: and in 1917. as a part of a great nation, and of a great alliance of nations, she entered into a war to end war, a war to make the world safe for democracy, a war to crush forever the scourge of tyrannical despotism. In the midst of all this turmoil, when racial and national differences were forgotten, staunch, firm, and selfsacrificing stood Rhode Island, giving her share of men and resources for the common good. In the darkest hours of trial and tribulation. Rhode Island, led the wav. like a shining light, with one word. “Hope. emblazoned in the hearts of her people. However, the service that this little State has rendered to mankind has not all been in the past: now. as in former times. Rhode Island is doing her part to establish nation-wide prosperity, and is putting into practice more and more the principles of optimism heralded bv her watchword. “Hope.” Rhode Island has always been an important factor in the industrial and intelectual life of the Nation. The State as a whole is one of the greatest manufacturing districts in the country, and is famed far and wide as a thriving industrial center. Small though it may he. this State harbors within its narrow precincts an imposing group of schools and college, graduating their annual ouotas of young men and women trained to take their positions in the affairs of the State, the Nationa, and the world. As a center of social and sporting acitvity, Rhode Island is unsurpassed. It is a noted summer resort, and has achieved world-wide fame for its yachting activities. As striking panorama of beauty, history, commerce, industry, and social activity, this State is deserving of our utmost and heartfelt praise. So let us pay tribute to Rhode Island, the smallest, yet one of the greatest States in our Nation! GEORGE C. WILSON. '34. ------- -------- ORCHESTRA NOTES This year, as in the past. Colt has a fine orchestra. It is made up of fourteen members, and has been holding rehearsals in the auditorium on Monday afternoons, under the direction of Mrs. Theresa Donovan. The members are as follows:— Violin :— Herman King. Esther Hazen. Peggy Math-erson. Angelo Russo, and Joseph Borges. Cornet :— Merideth Hawes. Maurice Smith, Jr., and Joseph Securo. Clarinet:— Lloyd Smith, and Frank Campagna. Piano:— Barbara Huestis, Bertram Bullock. Drums :— Anthony Bruno. Xylophone:— Anthony Bruno. A new addition, the xylophone, was entered th:« year bv Anthony Bruno, and he made quite a hit with it. ------- -------- SPRING Spring, with her golden suns, and silver rain, Is with us once again. To lift our thoughts, and soothe our pain. And make us happy men. Spring with her cresting floods, and budding trees. And willowy fields of green. And soaring birds in a fitful breeze. Faced in the bright sun’s gleam. Spring, with her azure skies, and pretty sights. And her crispy, tangy air. With exuberant days, and bracing nights; Ah. and a day in June is rare? Spring, with her leafless bow'rs. and dark lagoons. And the crocus peeping through. And twinkling stars, and, cold, white moons — 'Tis enough for me,—and vou? V. C. OTTEX, '34. ------- -------- Miss Robinson after asking unanswered question!—“McCarthy, it's a sh-nv some of you can’t get an idea once in a while. McCarthy—“I have an idea.” Miss Robinson—“Let us hear it, then. McCarthy—“I have an idea 1 don't know the answer.