Eastern High School - Echo Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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BACKGROUN D AND FOREGROUN D Ruth Henss, '2 2. VERY picture must have a back- ground as well as a foreground. The background serves to bring out the objects in the foreground more prominently. Let us con- sider Milletis picture of the An- gelus. This painting represents a peasant scene, in which the peasants stop to pray at the sound of the bell. The bell in the background of the picture helps to bring out the reason for the toiIers in the foreground stopping their work and bending their heads in devotion. So every life also has a background and a foreground. Take as an illustration the life of Abraham Lincoln. When Abraham was a boy, he did not have the many advantages and priv- ileges which we have today. He had hardships and strenuous tasks, and was unable to attend school regularly or long. What IittIe educa- tion he received cost him tremendous effort and perseverance. In the evenings he would try to write with charcoal on the shovel, and it is said he would walk for miles in order to get a book to read from the nearest neighbor. But his love for reading and his desire to prepare for the future did not cause him to neglect the simple duties of each day. As he grew older he was a trustworthy and energetic young man, doing his best for his neighbors, his state, and his country. Through the love and prayers of his parents, his own willingness to work and his honesty and uprightness, he became a man of fame, a President of the United States, and one long to be remembered. The sacrifice made by his parents and himself helped to bring out into the foreground of our natural life his worth and his character. We, the students of today, are still in our early years, determining the thoughts and hab- its Which will be the background of our future life. Let us, too, put our shoulders to the wheel, and work to be more useful in our sphere, even though it be but a limited one. Let us strength- en our sense of duty and' our character and thus form a good background for our future 1ves. H GQSQDDE-m MT. VERNON Irene Habnicht, ,22. I O mansion on the fertile banks of the Potomac, You stand majEStic, calm, As in days that have long since passed. Now, as I traverse your shady walks, And smell the fragrance of your blooming Howers, And gaze on the thought-inspiring stream, A cloud passes over the sun's knowing face. I stand alone in your beautiful garden; I see still your columns gleaming white; I see still the river, reHecting, glowing; But standing in your stately doorways, Fair dames, courteous men of old, I see. Out on your lawns of shining green To me they come laughing and dancing. Bright fans are waving in measured time; Brown eyes, blue eyes, under sweet tresses, Roguishly gaze into manly faces. Night comes creeping over the earth; There,s a path of gold upon the waves; Indoors some dance the stately minuet; Into the garden two lovers steal. I see your windows sparkle with light; 11 I watch with eager eyes the fair sights. I see you in your old time glory; When, after darkness comes the dawn, Alone, I stand in your sweet bowers, The fairy vision has faded from me; I am in the light of my own bright day. Still you remain majestic and calm, O mansion, on the fertile banks Of the ever peaceful Potomac! But where are your friends of yesterday? These now have passed silently beyond. I tenderly tread on the ground they hallowed; I see the same sky they often beheld; Stiil Hows the same river, on and on. But 0! stately walls, come whisper to me! The romance which you saw, let me see!

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THE EASTERN Then came the departure. One last look at the Potomac from the hill, one last look at the old mansion, a buttercup, a piece of ivy to take home, and we went slowly clown t0 the boat. The return trip to Washington was very pleasant. Lunch boxes were opened, and all kinds of goodies appeared. We enjoyed our- selves t0 the highest degree. When we got off the boat, we found special cars again waiting for us. After a short ride and a long walk we reached our destination, the Zoological Gardens, but what was a little fa- tigue to a merry crowd of girls, accompanied by the best chaperons that ever lived? There were so many strange and unfamiliar things in the Zoological Gardens that we were obliged to keep our eyes open very wide, so as not to miss anything. The one animal which interested us most was a huge manlike chim- panzee, a probable ancestor. its peculiar antics, we went away less inclined than ever to believe in a certain theory! After Visiting the Zoological Gardens, we were taken in the Royal Blue Line buses through the principal streets of Washington. The homes of well-known people were point- ed out to us ,and many other places of interest, the trip ending at the Congressional Library. Before entering lVlr. Flowers told us to keep together so that we should not get lost. While we were in the library we realized fully the wisdom of this advice. The Library is gorgeous, but, like the dear old garden at Mt. Vernon, it is indescribable. It would take many weeks to become fully ac- quainted with the numerous rooms and their precious contents. The Mosaic of Minerva was especially impressive. After watching I ECHO We left the Library wishing we could stay very much longer. Nobody got lost, but we were obliged to go after a few girls who were loathe to leave. From the Library we were taken to the depot in the buses. We had some time to spare in the station, so we wandered around. Many girls visited the soda fountain, and the balloon man must have made a good deal of money. A surprise awaited us here. Lady Astor was about to board one of the trains and gra- ciously agreed to speak to us. She was very anxious to give us some good advice and did so. Now we have the privilege of saying that we have seen a real lord and lady! When the gates were thrown open, we ran for our train. Once on it, coats, boxes, cam- eras, and other articles were quickly deposited in some convenient place, and we settled down to enjoy our return trip. We had a splenclicl time coming home. Everyone was in a good humor and ready to partake in any merriment. There were songsp feasting and even a make-believe wedding, which ended with a solemn uAmen. As the train slowed down at Mt. Royal Sta- tion, such ejaculations as uVVherels my coat? , uMartha, have you my kodak? and even Home, sweet home! were heard. We were all tired but happy, and as good-nights were said, all agreed that they had had the most wonderful time ever. It will re- Even more last- l922 will never forget that trip. main in our memories forever. ing will be our remembrance of those who made that wonderful trip and glorious time possible for us. SUMMER MEMORIES Ada French, Do you mind the time we wandered here? ,Twas on a summer night; The nightingale sang from yonder tree, And the moon was still and white. A night moth Buttered to and fro, The crickets hummetl a song, The flowers boWecl to the sweet night wind That carried their fragrance along. 1923. But you could sing like any bird, Or dance the moth to shame; And the wind that went a-whispering by Made music of your name. And still your feet go dancing on, As you lift your bird voice high To challenge the trilling, unseen lark That's singing in the sky.

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INTERNATIONAL PEACE HOW WE CAN PROMOTE IT Adele Ballman, ,22. tFirst Prizel MACINE yourself living in the I year 2022. The world is in- deed in an era of prosperity, unemployment is practically un- known, the cost of living is moderate and reasonable, mane ufacturers End an unlimited market for their goods, higher education is general, crime is very rare. The reason for all this? The na- tions have settled their disputes by arbitra- tion rather than arms. All this is the result of international peace. However, it is 1922. The world is just emerging from all the horror and bitterness of war. To it nothing could be more desirable than some practical suggestions, some definite plans for the prevention of future war, for the preservation of future peace. World peace must be a world movement backed by world sentiment. These conditions are nearer fulfillment now than at any other time in the world's history. The significance of this great popular participation of the people in the establishment of permanent peace can scarce be overestimated for it is nothing more or less than the beginning of a new and saner control of vital world relationships. The late Viscount Bryce expressed a great truth when he declared that' iithere arise certain broad and simple issues on which the judgment of the people is more likely to be right than that of the ministers who are conducting the negotia- tions.n Out of this great desire on the part of the people for lasting peace, three big ideas for the furthering of this great ideal have come. They have been proposed before but now they bear greater meaning, for the world's people are try- ing to see beyond their narrow national boun- daries and pave the way, by trust and confi4 dence in each other, to greater and more sub- stantial things. The first two of these sugges- tions can be accomplished by the governments of the various nations. The last must be done in the school, the church, and the home. In the first place, if there is to be interna- tional peace, the world must disarm. With the limitation of armaments comes limitation of the thoughts of war, limitation of greed and national hate. When a nation is armed to its limit, it is eager to try out its strength and ability. They reason thus: iiWe have put a great per cent. of our revenue into armaments. In a few years they will be useless, out of date, and new ones will have to be bought. The neighboring nation defeated us in a war some fifty years ago. We have the material now, both in men and munitions. Why not vindi- cate the victory of half a century ago. So the petty quarrel goes on. Other nations, afraid of being invaded as a result of the rage of the combatants, arm themselves for protection. Large standing armies are simply a threat against the peace and prosperity of the world. Nations that maintain them will be under sus- picion. Moreover, a standing army does great injustice to the people who live in the country which supports it. The money that the people pay out in taxes, instead of being spent for their own interests, such as more beautiful cities, better roads, improvement of the educa- tional system, and so on, is spent to rthe up- keep of a large army; for experimenting in the discovery of poison gas; for new types of guns; for battleships; and for salaries of countless workmen who are needed to carry on this cle- structive work of warfare. ' Going still further, nations often spend more on armaments than their revenue justifies. To make up the deficit, they unscrupulously issue inconvertible paper notes. It must be clearfly understood that the reduction of prices and the restoration of prosperity is dependent upon increase of production; and that continual ex- cess of governmental expenditnre over revenue is the most serious obstacle to such a produc- tion, as it must sooner or later involve further inflation of currency, further depreciation of the purchasing power of domestic currency,