Dexter High School - Signet Yearbook (Dexter, ME)

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18 THE SIGNET used again. There were thirteen stars at the time of the Revolutionary War, fifteen in the war of 1812, twenty-nine in the Civil War, forty-five in the Spanish Ameri- can war, forty-eight in the World War. There are seven simple facts we should bear in mind as we handle our beautiful flag: 1. The flag should not be hoisted be- fore sunrise nor allowed to remain after sunset. 2. When the National and State or flags from other countries fly together the National flag should be on the right. 3. When the flag is used as a banner the Union should fly to the north in streets running east and west, and in the east in streets running north and south. 4. The Hag should never be fastened to the side of a building, platform or scaf- folding. It should never be used as a cover over a table, desk or box or anything set or placed upon it. 5. The flag should never be allowed to touch the ground. 6. When a flag is flown at half staff it should be first hoisted to the top of the pole and then let down half way. 7. On Memorial Day the flag should fly at half staff from sun rise to noon and full staff from noon to sunset. During the life of Old Glory half of the nations of the world have become re- publics and increased in liberty and rep- resentative government. To-day our flag' is the sign of peace and prosperity of a hundred million people. The flag certainly must have been a beautiful sight in war as well as in peace. It must have been thrill- ing to the soldiers in France during the World War and to soldiers and sailors who fought in other wars to have seen the flag still flying. It is no wonder that Francis Scott Key was inspired by the sight of Old Glory riding on the breeze and en- abled to write the words that are always on the lips of Americans And the Star- Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave 0'er the land of the Free and the home of the Brave. James Clark '26. SUSIEYS COMPOSITION Susie Smith came home from school and had no sooner entered the sitting room than she burst into tears. What is the matter, my dear child? asked her mother, draw- ing her daughter to her side and smiling. O, Mother, matter enough! Sobbed Susie. All our class must bring a composi- tion tomorrow morning and I never, never can write one! We must write twelve lines at least, and I have written only a few words, after trying nearly all the after- noon. See what work I have made of it! Mrs. Smith took the rumpled tear-stained paper which Susie held in her hand, and glanced at what she had written. She had written only a few sentences. Now, said Susie, I can't think of an- other word to say. I know I shall have to go to school without a composition, for I won't copy one or ask you or papa to write one for me. That is right, my dear, said her mother. You will be far happier with a poor one, if it is all your own, than with a good one written by somebody else. But cheer up! You have not begun right. You have been trying to write on a subject you know nothing of. Run into the garden and play. I will call you in half an hour. But my composition, began Susie. Don't think about your composition while you are gone, said Mrs. Smith. Play and forget. It seemed but a few minutes to Susie be- fore she heard her mother's voice calling her. She went into the house at once, her hands full of flowers and her cheeks rosy with exercise. Now, Susie, said her mother. I want you to sit by the window with this sheet of paper and pencil, and write something about everything you can see. But my composition, mother, said Su- sie. When shall I begin that? Never mind your composition, my dear. Do this to please me, and we will talk about that by and by. Susie thought her mother's request was a strange one, but she knew that she al- ways had a good reason for everything she

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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

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THE SIGNET 19 did, so she took the paper and pencil and sat by the window. Do not talk to me at all, said her mother. Look out of the window, and then write everything you see. Susie wrote about the sunset. As she went on writing, she forgot all about the composition. She wrote about the appear- ance of the distant hills, the trees, the river, the garden with its gay flowers and the birds flying past the window. Just as she had reached the bottom of the page, her mother came in. Well, Susie, inquired her mother with a smile, how is that composi- tion coming ? Composition, exclaimed Susie, you told me not to think about it, and I have not thought of it once. I have had such an enjoyable time writing about what I saw from the window. ' Mrs. Smith took the paper and read what Susie had written. There Susie, said Mrs. Smith, that is a very good com- position. A composition! exclaimed Susie. Is that a composition ? Yes, my dear, and a very good one too, said her mother. The next morning Susie copied her com- position very neatly and started for school with a happy heart, saying as she kissed her mother good bye, Just think how fun- ny it is that I should have written so long a composition without knowing it. Lois Pendexter '26. A TRUE Oh Marie, Marie, you've come back. You old sport, I could squeeze you to death. The girl who spoke threw her arms around Marie Delmont, who had been the recognized social leader of the college the last two years, and this was her third year. Are you going to have your same room, Marie? asked a tall dark haired girl. Marie suddenly sobered. No Amy, I can't have that because Daddy has met with some heavy losses and I'll have to work my way now. What are you going to do ? inquired Amy coldly. Marie bit her lips and tried bravely to smile. I'm going to wait on tables and Prof. Brown's wife has asked me to help her, and-there will be other ways. With the exception of Amy all of the girls were very sympathetic. Marie found many ways of earning mon- ey. She tutored some, did typewriting on themes, notebooks, etc., however, with all of her new duties she found time for some athletic sports. She was a star at basketball, and had won prizes at tennis. Amy was very jealous. In truth, they had been rivals from first, and now that Marie was poor, she tried in every possible way, to become the leader. SPORT She finally succeeded in dividing the group. Just after Christmas, Marie's father met a second loss due to heavy speculation in oil stock. Marie had a hard time as the school expenses increased, but she was de- termined to finish her college course. Only a few of the girls knew of the sec- ond loss but Amy was not slow in spreading the news, and in less than a month Marie had but few friends left. I think Amy is a snob, declared May Brown, You ought. to ignore her, I would if I were you. Marie smiled, No, I don't agree, I be- lieve that the only safe way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend, Don't you think so, girls? The college had a swimming race once a. year, and a S25 prize was given the winner. Marie being an excellent swimmer decided to enter the contest. She was chosen cap- .tain of one side and Amy was the other captain. Marie was the better swimmer. The day before the race Marie was away from her room nearly all dayg she returned just in time for practice, and rushed to the closet for her bathing suit. It was gone, she could find it nowhere, neither could she find her room-mate's so finally she had to borrow Mary Brown's. This delay made her late for swimming practice and she received