East Hartford High School - Janus Yearbook (East Hartford, CT)

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votion to his faltering countrymen gave his eyes and mouth a Winsome, compassionate expression, and his constant sorrow because of the horrible strife and warfare going on rendered him a haunted, tragic appearance, which caused all his asso- ciates to stand in awe before him and admire the beauty of the character of this man who, in all truth to his foresight of what was to be, acted against overwhelming opposition. In the fine arts may this truth in beauty be readily recognized. A real poet is one who expresses his innermost feelings in his finest words. His soul is his dictator. If he fails to reveal truthfully that soul's dictation, the poetry will seem artificial, out of place. It will not contain the reality and originality that are the stamps of the best literature. Shake- speare felt within him an unsurpassed understanding of human nature and with his divine gift of poetry expressed this knowl- edge in his immortal dramas. Robert Burns, Scotland's great- est poet, led a life of hardships and sorrows. Nature was his chief companion. The greatest quality of Burns's songs, of his love lyrics, of his interesting, sympathetic appeals to na- ture, and of his humorous verses with their underlying pathetic element is their sincerity. Carl Sandburg finds beau- ty in the rush and bustle of the city,--in the jostling crowds and noisy vehicles--, and he has gained his reputation for just that new and original point of view in his poems of his ex- pression of truth as he sees it. But Carlyle said of Byron that he would never retain fame as a genuine poet, because he did not express the sincerest feelings of his soul. And Carlyle's judgment is true for all poets who fail in their sincerity. Regard music in a different light, not as to the composers. but as to the way their pieces are played. As the church or- gan and choir blend together in holy praises, the congregation feel a warm deep response within their hearts. And this music is beautiful. For it is played to reveal a truth of wor- ship and devotion. If the hymns were played in the light, frisky notes of Chopin or the wailing, heart-rending melody of Beethoven, would they be beautiful? No, they would be ruined, for they would be lies, lies. And if the compositions of Beethoven, the tale-bearers of a sorrowful, tragic life, were played as hymns or frolicksome pieces, would they be beauti- ful? No, for tragedy is neither devotion nor happiness. And thus would Chopin's light, gay creations lose the intended beauty if produced in any other than a light or joyous way. We love and praise music which truthfully expresses some emotion we recognize and may have experienced. We call this music beautiful, and so it is. Some of man's most excellent beau-ideals in the arts are theipaintlngs of Raphael, Velasquez, and Durer and the sculp- turing of Michelangelo. The same inevitable reason is that they are among the sincerest and truest in their representa- tions of life. So, may it be seen that whether it be nature, a Grecian urn, a human personality, poetry, music, or art, if it is beautiful, it is truthful, and if truthful, beautiful. 26

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SALUTATORY BEAUTY AS TRUTH Trustees of the school board, faculty, parents, and friends of the school, we, the January class of 1929, cordially welcome you to witness our last East Hartford High School activity. We also make this an occasion upon which to thank our par- ents and teachers for the time they have spent in aiding us to earn the written reward of a high school diploma, and the un- written reward of broadened minds ready to better appreciate and contribute to the beauties of the world. We started out from the beach just before sunset, and, un- fortunately, missed that colorful panorama lauded by poets and artists, because of a thick forest which left to sight only a section of the vast heavens above. However, as hill suc- ceeded .hill and the trees thinned down to bushes and open fields, we reached a summit where the remnants of a previous, glorious scene furnished an almost equal splendor. The whole horizen, prominently the western part, was dyed in a deep scar- let. The outlines of distant hills, of lonely pine trees and ma- jestic elms, of tall, stately church spires towering above mas- sive oaks appeared more conspicuous with this crimson back- ground. It was a silhouette of nature painted by herself 3 and what artist is there to excel nature? As twilight approached and we neared the city, the bor- der of scarlet became dull and rusty, turning to pale greenish yellow on the top and melting into a now dusky blue heaven. One faithful little star faintly glimmered in the west, the only beacon between the periods of the setting sun and rising moon. It was like a ray of hope assuring the world of a new guidance to come. In the dark valleys below various little lights flick- ered gaily, looking like stars fallen from the heavens and beg- ging to be raised again. And then the new guidance, the moon, shone forth. It became the watchful shepherd of a rapidly increasing flock of little stars, some huddled together in love of company, others remote, alone, coveting seclusion. 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,'-that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. So said John Keats in his poem Ode on a Grecian Urn. He found beauty in an old time- worn urn, one faithful little herald of past days, a relic of former splendor and glory in Greece. Thus does the exquisite beauty of nature spell out the great truth. Truth of what? Why, the truth of God's love of man. And this most beautiful sight seen by man portrays that most wondrous truth known by man. In life this declaration of Keats is least consciously recog- nized. Truth lends a warm rounding glow to the eye. and re- flects on the entire person in such a way as to compel admira- tion of a deeper sort. Abraham Lincoln possessed a lean, awk- ward figure, shaggy eyebrows, a large long nose, prominently huge ears, a thick lower lip, leathery, yellow skin, and a pro- truding Adam's apple, but he was really beautiful. His de- 25

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Then should life and the world around us seem broader and fuller and more worth while. Then should pleasure in life grow in proportion to our recognition of this truth. For as Keats also remarked, A thing of beauty is a joy forever. ' DOROTHY GOULD. Tune of Angela Mia East Hartford High School, You've been our guiding light, For four short years we've worked for you with all our might. East Hartford High School We've had four pleasant years, And tho' We part in tears, We have to say good-bye. You've brought us gladness, We must confess, And we tried, to do our best. East Hartford High School, We've thought a lot of you, We hope you've liked us, too, East Hartford High. MARION TOMS. Tune of Beloved Our dear old school With the grand old name, East Hartford, East Hartford. It's always been a school of fame, East Hartford, East Hartford. Though we now from you must part We'l1 always love with all our heart That dear old school With the grand old name East Hartford, East Hartford. DOROTHY DUNHAM. Tune: Ramona Dear High School we're sorry that we're leaving you Dear High School you've been so fair and fine and true We'll miss you and need you no matter where we happen to roam. We'll always remember whether away at school or at home. We're sorry to leave these halls we hold so dear. We'll love them no matter whether far or near. We dread the day when we must say adieu to you. Dear High School, East Hartford High. Tune: Song of the Wanderer Where shall we go, when we leave you tonight. Dear old High, East Hartford High. What shall we do after we've said good-bye That's being said tonight. Where can we find the friends so true and loyal Friends we will miss when we leave your portals royal. The time has come for us to say good-bye. So farewell East Hartford High. HELEN SMAGLIOTIS. 27