Catholic Central High School - Banner Yearbook (Fort Madison, IA)

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MUSIC

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CON J ECTURES ON FOOTWEAR One day, while in the basement of a large department store I happened to glance out of one of those small windows that we frequently see toward the front of the building. Seeing only the feet of the passers-by I fell to musing, while wait- ing for my sister to complete her numerous purchases, just what sort of people belonged to the various kinds of footwear passing to and fro. First there was a pair of sensible-looking oxfords, black, military heels, neatly polished and stepping along in a very decided manner. To complete this picture, I could think only of that sort of woman who lives for business and business alone, tall, gaunt, spectacled. I A pair of short-vamp, high-heeled, rose-blush kid pumps brought an image of a vivacious little flapper, overdressed for the occasion, but blissfully unconscious of the fact, and tripping along in an I am mistress of all I survey fashion. A tiny pair of black Mary Janes -what else but a darling little miss of four golden locked, blue-eyed, rosy-checked, and dressed - well, what matters that, when the little thing was overwhelmed merely with the joy of just being alive on this beautiful spring day. But, ah - a shabby, nondescript pair of old, old shoes, torn, patched, and torn again - a man - but. merely a tramp? Or - one of those creatures who have tried again and again, but are seemingly buffeted down at every trial by life's misfortunes - my mind here seemed to refuse to form a judgement and I turned away lest any more of this fashion bring to my mind thoughts-well, thoughts not to be entertained on such a glorious day - and I willingly accompanied my sister 'in continuing her search for - a dress for Mary, a toy for John and - footgear for her tiny Ann Marie! -ROSE GOCKEL, ,25 -ll-Tl ' MEET THE FAMILY The FATHER of SUCCESS is WORK The MOTHER OF SUCCESS is AMBITIONN. The oldest SON is COMMON SENSE Some of the other boys are: ' PERSEVERANCE HONESTY THOROUGHNESS FORESIGHT ENTHUSIASM CO-OPERATION The oldest .DAUGHTER is CHARACTER Some of the sisters are: CHEERFULNESS LOYALTY COURTESY CARE ECONOMY SINCERITY ' The BABY is OPPORTUNITY Get acquainted with the old man and you'll be able to get along pretty well with the rest of the family. N. J. ROSE, '28 FIFTY-NINE

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MUSIC p Music is the exponent of tl1e Beautiful, and beauty is the food of the finest and highest aspiration of the soul. The purest and sweetest of music is the gift of nature. It is these wild untaught melodies that arouse oul' fancy, stir our inner consciousness and set vibrating one of the thousand harp-strings of our being. The power of the tempest, the aspiring pride of lofty mountains, the dreary languor of summer clouds,---all these and a thousand other sights and sounds speak to us with familiar voice of feelings, experiences which are or have been ours, recalling the highest and most intense moments in the past when for a brief span of time we saw beyond the dust-cloud of the commonplace. There is nothing so interesting as such an uplifting of the soul,-the essence of life, and the interest is universal, permanent and inherent. Music is the interpreter of life. Its message is a high and precious word of authority about this mystery. Music more than any other thing in the range of our human knowledge opens the heart of man. It is the best interpreter of the heart in the heart's own vernacular. We know but poorly what we'are or what we might beg we have a very imperfect conception of our possibilities and aptitudes. It is the office of music to reveal these things to us and to awaken noble emotions, to stimulate us to noble efforts. We stand by the side of the masters and try to look into life as they saw it, we become familiar with their range and beauty of vision, we listen to their charming tone conceptions and through them we learn the best ideas of life, those noble love-inspiring, thoughts of things which constitute the deepest and grandest reality of human life. The most evasive, most subtle, most undefinable of arts teaches us, and raises us from the low drone of labor and toil, from the everlasting creaking of the wheels of commerce to the appreciation of a wealth of sound that cannot be surpassed. Music is the great influence, the grand influence and we cannot place too high an estimate on its powers for good. For the purpose of inculcating a sincere love of the beautiful no other study can surpass that of music. There is as much of inspiration and genius in a tone poem of Beethoven, VVagner, Lizst or Schubert as in the finest words of Shakespeare, Longfellow, Milton or Scott and it is time that the cultured person know the great masterpieces of musicians as well as of great poets. We study mathematics, science, ancient languages-then proceed to forget much of what has been taught us. Music is the heritage of life, it accompanies us from the cradle to the grave. We cannot escape if we would. The wider a person's ac- quaintance with good musical literature, the greater the mead of deep enjoyment that will be derived from life. . -HELEN CAPWELL, '28. SIXTY-ONE