Dexter High School - Signet Yearbook (Dexter, ME)

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16 THE SIGNET At home Betty found that Alice hated ironing traycloths as much as she did so she decided to abandon the theory that someone else liked to do the tasks she dis- liked. She planned to iron the traycloths and work in the detested ohice during the summer. About the middle of August her uncle called her into his office. He told Betty that she had been doing such good work that he dreaded to lose her but an old friend of his was looking for a young lady to tutor his children till the middle of Sep- tember and to teach them how to swim. And I thought you might consider the position, he said. Uncle Joe, gasped Betty with shining eyes. You aren't fooling? Is it really true ? Of course it is. And the salary is quite adequate. So, after all, Betty, you haven't lost much this summer. Lost very much, Betty repeated the words and then suddenly her arms Went around her uncle's neck. Why, I haven't lost at all, she cried between laughter and tears. Alice and I are chums at last, and you've been a regular old dear, and now I know that this is the best summer in all my life just because everyone has taught me that it's worth while to do work well. Bless your heart, said her uncle gruffiy, and then with twinkling eyes he added, I think I'll give Miss Knowles a vote of thanks. She's earned it, Betty admitted dimp- ling. ,Y Ruth Lawrence '27. A MIRACLE Scientists predicted the eclipse, newspa- pers proclaimed it, and everyone prepared eagerly for its arrival. This phenomena occurs but once in approximately two hun- dred years, so naturally I was interested especially since I had hoped for the last fifty years to see the wonderful sight. Therefore, I determined to travel toward that spot on the globe which was to be to- tally dark as a result of the reunion of Sol and Luna. So I left home and went to a small town in Connecticut to await the event. The morning dawned bright and clear, and I could scarcely curb my impatience until the time for the eclipse. While wait- ing, I walked to a hilltop in order that I might gain a better view of the reunion of the ancient lovers. Finally, I perceived a faint shadow ap- proaching old Sol. This dim shape seemed to move slowly but within a few minutes it had obscured the sun from my sight. A great silence settled on my soul as I watch- od with fascination the most superb heaven- ly display upon which mortal eyes were ever privileged to gaze. All around me was a clear white light resembling moonlight only more glorified. Surrounding the velvet-black spnere, ap- OF SCIENCE peared, a dazzling golden aurora. This halo threw its beams outward and downward rather than upward. In the darkness, every star was visible, shining with a soft illumi- nated glow against the broad expanse of darkened sky. As I watched, the black spot on the sun, which I knew to be the moon, flamed with color, first a faint rose then gradually a magnificent shade of ruby. For a brief second, my gaze left this ruddy surface, and looking across the valley, I 'beheld this riot of color refiected everywhere on the milk-white snow. Glancing upward once more I saw a startling resemblance to an engagement ring. The golden halo consti- tuted the circle while at one end flashed a blood-red ruby. Softly and reluctantly Luna departed from Sol, her steadfast friend and lover, who cast a path of bright light before his beautiful lady-love, a mute symbol of his love and protection. Through the still twilight day, I slowly retraced my steps. My heart was filled with awe because of the miracle which I had just witnessed, but my soul glowed with an inner warmth at the wonderful and glorious creations of God. Beatrice Titcomb '27.

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THE SIGN ET 15 runs the girls' camp in Muskoka, wants a young girl to teach swimming and diving. I've applied for the position and if I get it I shall be away during July and August. The girls are going camping the first two, weeks in June so you see I won't have much time for the office. All right, but remember the position is always open, her uncle said, smiling. Three weeks later a party of five girls boarded the steamer at Mayfield for the long sail up Lake Muskoka to Fairy Cove, where they were to stay. They were met by a gay party, and a tall girl with quan- tities of fair hair and dancing blue eyes acted as spokesman. I'm Emily Richards and these are my cousins, Billy and Francis. We've been dying for company and as soon as you are ready we want all of you to come over to our house for dinner, she announced. As soon as they reached their own cot- tage Dorothy collected her flock in the big living-room and a schedule was drawn up so that each girl would have her turn at different things. Betty protested because she could not cook but the girls said it was time for her to learn. To her dismay, she found she was to cook the first two din- ners. While they talked a mischevious look flashed into Betty's gray eyes, for she had just thought of a plan which she believed would soon end her cooking for the rest of the time they were in camp. When the girls started on trips of exploration next morning Betty was unusually cheerful, and warned them to be back by one. Sharp at one o'clock the girls filed into the dining room and found the table neatly set with a dish of scalloped salmon at one end and piles of tea biscuits adorn- ing the sides. When the girls had been served there was a moment's silence be- fore Dorothy choked suddenly and reach- ed for a glass of water. What's the matter, Dorothy? A bone ? Betty asked anxiously. Elizabeth Thompson, how much baking- powder did you put in those biscuits? she sputtered. Several tablespoons, returned Betty meekly. Wasn't it enough? The rest of the food was just as bad so the girls decided to appoint Betty bedmaker- in-chief rather than be martyrs again. Billy and Francis planned water sports for the last Saturday the girls were in camp. There were to be canoe and swim- ming races, diving stunts and supper around a bonfire afterward. In the canoe races Betty and Francis Richards came in lirst and Phyllis 0'Connor won the swimming race, beating Betty by a yard. In the div- ing contest, however, Betty found herself without a rival. The sports over, Betty had finished dress- ing and was ready to join the others on the shore, when Helen came flying into the cottage. Betty Thompson, she cried excitedly, Miss Knowles was here all the afternoon watching us and left just a few minutes ago. I guess you have made sure of that position this time, you lucky thing. I guess I have, Betty smiled bliss- fully. When Betty sank lazily into the sand beside Emily she noticed a distinguished- looking woman sitting beside Mrs. Rich- ards. Mrs. Richards asked what Betty had contributed to the feast. Not a thing, Betty confessed. I hate cooking. I'd rather do other things and so I determined to make the girls hate my cooking. I simply doubled about half the ingredients in the recipes, put in an extra dose of salt and pepper and baking powder so that the food was horrid. It worked like a charm. I haven't done a scrap of cooking since. She laughed delightedly, then suddenly became aware that the impressive-looking lady with Mrs. Richards was looking at her as if she were a sort of criminal. After the girls reached home Betty learn- ed that her rival, Phyllis 0'Connor, had received the coveted position. Phyllis did- n't' want it but Miss Knowles had said that Betty couldn't have it. Some thought it was because she had heard Betty's remark about cooking for Miss Knowles had not gone home, as the girls thought, but had been the impressive-looking lady with Mrs. Richards.

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THE SIGNET 17 THE NEIGHBORS An inquisitive disposition is charcteristic of most neighbors. If you have a. new coat or hat, they must know where you bought it, how much you paid for it, how you can afford such an expensive one, or why you don't pay more and get a better one. They love to borrow things and ask for anything from a safety pin to the automobile and always seem to borrow the article that you most need. They take more of an interest in your afl airs than you yourself feel it necessary to evince. When their children and yours get into trouble, it is always yours who have led theirs to do wrong. But whenever anyone is sick, they are the first to offer aid. Their best cooking is none too good for the invalid. They fill the furnace night and morning. Their tele- phone is at your service any time that you need it. Ttey are glad to spend the night at your house so that you may sleep. They return a hundred fold any inconvenience that you may have undergone for their sake. Therefore, when they annoy you with their trifles, just try to remember their good qualities, their willingness to help you in your troubles, their generosity and kind- ness. Remembering these things, tolerate their faults, not with grouchy frowns, but with indulgent smiles. You will not only make matters more pleasant for them, but you will give yourself that satisfying feel- ing of magnanimity which comes only from generous acts. Clarence Boyd '25. OUR One day as I was walking to school I noticed Old Glory flying at the top of the flag pole in front of the school building. I glanced from the flag to the copies of history and commercial geography that I had under my arm. It occurred to me that these texts contained much about my coun- try but little about the flag itself. I won- dered if it had a history. I drew from my pocket a pencil and paper and wrote all the things I knew about the flag. In the afternoon I decided to take advantage of my study periods to look up about our em- blem. I took what I already knew about the flag and what I did not know before and put the facts into the following words: The United States is one of the young- est countries in the world yet there are but two countries, Denmark and Russia, that have had a flag or national ensign longer than we have had. It seems rather strange that the United States has had a flag long- er than Spain, France, England, Italy, Japan, Germany, Portugal, or China, coun- tries years older, but never the less, it is true. America as well as England can boast that the sun never sets on the flag. While the sun is rising over the Vergin Islands it is just going below the horizon in the Philippines. More than that, the Stars and F LAG Stripes can be positively indentified at a greater distance than any other flag. This is due both to color and arrangement. Our first flag made in 1776 was called the Grand Union Flag. This had thir- teen stripes and in the corner was the Union Jack. We must remember that at first the colonies did not fight for their independence but against taxation without representation. Washington crossed the Deleware with a flag of this design. The Declaration of Independence marked the beginning of the new American flag. It was decided that there should be thir- teen stripes and a star for each state in the Union. This plan is still followed. When a state enters the Union a star is put on the flag the following Fourth of July. The honor is given to Betsy Ross for making what is considered the first Ameri- can flag. This was in June, 1776. The house in which she worked is still stand- ing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and over the door there is a sign which reads Birthplace of Old Glory. This is an ob- ject of interest to tourists. In 1794, and until 1814, the nation adopted a Hag with fifteen stars and fif- teen stripes but later the old method was