Canaan High School - Lasso Yearbook (Canaan, CT)

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judge a book. Perhaps we could read at other times, but do we? There is a tendency to neglect books since the movies have become so popular, and since the increase of radios in the home. Both of these are entertaining, but they do not take the place of a good novel. ln one of Denys Wortman's recent cartoons, a young lady was complain- ing to her companion, Didn't do nothing last night-no date and the radio was broke. So l picked up a book, and first thing l knew it was twelve o'clock. Gee, was l burned up to waste a whole evening like that! Because of this and other evi- dences, it is no wonder that people get the impression that American people are becoming lazy and are losing both the taste and the ability for reading books. Perhaps we can say that this is due largely to the ra- dio, picture magazines, and other more exciting things which demand less concentration. We can not say that Americans do not know how to read, because they do. lt can not be that books are not available, because there are new books published every year, and near- ly every town has a library. l really think that people do not know books are entertaining. We spend a great deal of time reading newspapers and magazines which are both very helpful, but there is no sat- isfactory substitute for a well-written book. lam sure that no Junior, after reading some of the marvelous novels that we are able to obtain in school, will say that reading books is a waste of time, but on the contrary will con- sider his time well spent. M. Bailey, '39. ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY The Arlington National Cemetery is America's Military Valhalla in which more than thirty-thousand American soldiers are buried. On a brow of a hill which over- looks the cemetery stands the Arling- ton Memorial Amphitheatre, a white shrine of patriotism. lt is built' of white marble at the cost of one million dol- lars. The seating capacity is five thou- sand and the standing capacity in the colonnade is several thousand more. Directly in front of the amphithea- tre is the interesting tomb of the Un- known Soldier. This Tomb is also made of white marble and the sym- bolic features of Peace, Victory and Valor are on one end. On either side are three panels in each of which is inverted a wreath. An inscription fac- ing the Amphitheatre reads: Here an American God. Guard- ing the Tomb is a soldier who paces rest in honored glory soldier known but to back and forth each day and night and as one walks through the hallow- ed grounds, he experiences an inspira- tion which he is likely to remember all of his life. Frances Bate, '38. THE CAPITOL As the Capitol is approached from the front, it is very noticeable that it has three definite sections. The sec- tion in the center, that which supports the dome, is set back farther than the I4

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match. In the midst of all this the dog barks and downstairs Cwe are clean- ing upstairs, you know, someone calls, Oh, Mrs. Gray, anyone home? l think that it is one of our fre- quent callers and call to my sister to tell him to come on up if he can find his way through all the junk, but sis- ter doesn't think it is who I think it is and parades down the stairs in her bright regalia with the the white pol- ka dots fthe whitewash, to see who the visitor may be. ln the meanwhile I run, stumbling over the furniture piled in the way, and look out the window, see the minister's car parked out in front, and do I laugh! Then I hear the many apologies for the dreadful clothing and that we are housecleaning. l arise early the following morning and run in to peep at the ceiling. For looks white and it is streaky in a short distance it smooth and again places. It reminds me of some people's lives, smooth and clean in some places and then rough and streaky in other places. Well, sister got out the whitewash brush again and did the ceiling over. This time the whitewash boils and the ceiling comes out a very pure white with no streaks. I can't say whether it was be- cause the whitewash didn't boil the first time or because sister was an am- ateur at such things that made it streaky. Anyway, it's white now The papering is the next procedure, but l don't have much to do with that as sister has the pleasant job of plastering on the paste and sticking the paper on the wall. CI wonder how long it will stay on?Q Later I hear her complaining of pains in her knee. When sister finishes, I wash the floor and the furniture. On Thursday the mattress is put back on the bed and everything in the room straightened out and made liv- able again. You may be surprised, but it did look very nice. I suppose all this didn't sound so very delightful and believe me-it wasn'tl I can think of loads of more interesting ways to spend one's vaca- tion, but when a family doesn't feel that they can afford to have a dec- orator it's the best way out of the sit- uation, I think. I admit it is a lot of hard work, but now when I enter my room it looks so nice and clean, and they say cleanliness is next to godli- ness, that I can't help being glad I spent my vacation housecleaning. Catherine Southwell, '40, BGOK READAIJG After telling of our extremely in- teresting novel course that the Juniors are having in English, this remark was made: Why do you spend school time reading novels? You can read those any time. We are not merely reading noVeIs, but we are learning how and what to read, that is, we are reading our books in much greater detail. In this course we have a variety of all types of books, from which we study the type of plot, which is character, set- ting, or plot: the style of author, which is a very detailed subject, in which we must study the whole book thoroughly: the qualities of suspense or surprise: and the topic the author has chosen. Through a thorough con- sideration of these we are able to I3

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two additions, one on either end. This is the original section of the Capitol. As you mount the steps leading up to the entry of the middle part, two large bronze doors attract your at- tion. These doors are the work of Randolph Rogers. lnside is the rotun- da, around the walls of which are S large paintings. Four of these show important early historical events while the others depict Revolutionary War subjects. The Statuary Hall is also interest- ing, containing a statue from each state. Throughout the structure large paintings and beautiful statues may be seen, most of them by famous artists and sculptors. The Supreme Court room, which is not being used at present because of the recent completion of new quar- ters, is also interesting. ln one section there is a corridor which is the long- est of any government building in the world. High above the rotunda are the marvelous paintings of Brumidi, a famous ltalian artist. The Capitol to me was the most impressive building in Washington. Willis R. Blodgett, '38 THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL Everyone has heard stories of the beauty of Mount Vernon, the impres- siveness of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington, or the wonders of the museums and art galleries. How many people, though, hear similar stories of the Lincoln Memorial? To me this white marble structure was the most impressive, beautiful and wonderful of all things in Washing- I5 ton. The dignity of the approach of wide marble steps and beautiful ter- races and the thirty-six massive, Doric columns representing each state ex- isting at the time of l..incoln's death, which rise all around the building, give the first feeling of extreme im- pressiveness. On the inside of the temple is a very spacious room which contains a single object. That object, a gigantic statue of President Lincoln, stands in the center of the room against the wall. It seems to me that a person would have to stand still in awe and amazement at the first glimpse of the statue not only because of its size and beauty, but also because of the reality and character found in it. It was very interesting to note that two moods, one sad and one happy, are reflected in the face of Lincoln. On one side of the room is a mem- orial tablet containing Lincoln's Get- tysburg Address and on the other side is one containing his Second Inaugural Address. Above these tablets are two large paintings. One is Emanci- pation and the other Reunion It is my opinion that the Lincoln Memorial stands in the most fitting place possible. A large reflecting pool flanked by beautiful shrubs, lies be- tween it and the Washington Monu- ment and the classic outlines of both are mirrored at all times. To the rear of the Memorial is the new Arlington Memorial Bridge which spans the Po- tomac River as a tribute to George Washington, and is in itself, a beauti- ful piece of work. The Lincoln Memorial is truly an impressive and great tribute to a great