Easthampton High School - Echo Yearbook (Easthampton, MA)

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In the central hall-an apartment sixty feet wide, seventy feet long, and sixty feet high-we looked speechless at the statue-the collosal figure of Abraham Lincoln, seated in a curule chair facing the entrance, his eyes looking out through the columns to the Monument and Capitol. This statue was carved from crystal- line Georgia marble by Daniel Chester French. In the features, we could all depict those Qualities of the man which most have endeared him to us, in the serene gaze, we were conscious of his power and confident of his strength to per- form whatever task might have been laid before him. lVe observed that the shrine is divided into three sections, the central hall .fm each side of which a row of Ionic columns fifty feet high screens the north and south halls. In the south hall, a few of us paused to read the Gettysburg Address inscribed there. On the wall above, in the center, we discerned symbolical paint- ings of Freedom and Liberty-a group in which a figure is holding the sword of Justice and on her lap is resting the scroll of the Law, supporting her on each side are guardians of the Law holding the torches of Intelligence. On the left, at her feet, are two sibyls interpreting the Law and a group on the right symbolizes Im- mortality. The central figure is receiving the laurel crown and about her are Faith, Hope, and Charity. The vessels are of wine and oil-symbols of life ever- lasting. In the north hall, lettered inthe stone of the wall, is the Second In- augural Address. The paintings represent Unity, Fraternity, and Charity. Unity is -symbolized by the Angel of Truth holding the hands of the North and the South. Fraternity embraces within her outstretched arms the Father, the Mother, and the Child-typifying the Family. Charity gives the water of life to the blind and cares for the orphans. The inner ceiling of the entire building is supported on a framework of bronze beams decorated with intertwined laurel leaves. As we recall our visits to the Memorial, we feel that not only is the material form a temple, but also its atmosphere is that of a sanctuary. Considering the stately column, and painted symbolism, it is beyond a question that architect, sculptor, and artist have contributed their best to give it this character. The monumental inscriptions on the walls are also most impressive as they seem to bring us closer to the real Lincoln and to Lincoln's day. lVhether one visits this shrine in the afternoon and sees its splendor in the sunshine, or beholds it like a gigantic apparition looming up in the darkness Cas we were fortunate in doingj, it matters not because the sight will always cling to the memory. IIPALII It was a wet, dreary night with pools of water everywhere except where the person didn't wish to walk. Smoke lazily warmed its way out of a barn window and was immediately beaten down by a thousand spheres of water. The rain stopped and started as if deciding whether to stay or go, and, between times, when water drizzled upon the lone barn, the moon ventured out for an instant, glanced upon the earth, then disgustedly dived behind a cloud. Fourteen

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if-v LITERAR C 1 Iffzqlqowslci l 5 1 THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL 'tl,ook, the Lincoln iXl0IIl0l'i2lliM was the exclamation throughout, our bus. It was not necessary for our guide to point out this splendid edifice to any ot' ush- because we immediately recognized it by that which We had already read and heard. As we made our way over the Arlington Memorial Bridge and approached the grandeur of the shrine of Abraham Lincoln in Potomac Park, a sudden silence lcll over our enthusiastic group while we gazed in awe at this exquisite memorial of imposing size and beauty. This white marble temple, surrounded on all sides by open space, is indeed a conspicuous object-seen from such points as the Capitol, the Soldiers' Home zmd the hills of Virginia. We learned that it is placed on the axis of the Capitol and the Monument, and on the same line as thc Arlington Memorial Bridge. Our guide explained to us that Henry Bacon, the architect who designed the Mem- orial, believed that it should be composed of four features-a statue of the man, a memorial ot' his Gettysburg Speech, a memorial of his Second Inaugural Ad- dress, and a symbol of the Ynion of the Ifnitcd States, which was Lincoln's para- mount object to save-wand which he did save. - As we left the bus and proceeded to mount the steps that led up to the en- trance of the sanctuary, we noted the immense marble pillars surrounding the hall, which, in comparison to them, made us feel most insignificant. These col- ums, of which thcrc are thirty-six, express the Union-that is-one for each State in existence at the time of Lincoln's death, and on the wall above the colon- nade, with decorations of carved memorial festoons and Wreaths, are inscribed the names of the forty-eight States which now make the Union. The colonnade is one hundred and eighteen feet wide. The columns are seven feet four inches in diameter at the base and forty-four feet in height-the largest of their kind in the world. The capstones are the largest single pieces of marble ever quarried. Thirteen

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In the barn, where no occupants except professional bums had leisurely spent their everlasting days, was now assembled a group of the happy-go- lucky fellows. A roaring fire slowly wore itself out as one of the patched mem- bers started to unfold a dog story. A fewof the sleepy fellows laughed in mirth as they turned over to seek a more comfortable position in the drift of hay piled in the corner. I met Pal exactly three years ago next Friday, and I'll never forget that day. I was comin' through a gate of a neat little house in Jacksonville where the kind old lady that lived there always had somethin' for me. I seen her go out the house about fifteen minutes ago, so I had no fear of her broom or mop she usually brushed me coat wid. Sometimes she had a chunk o' coal or bone to fling at me and so I never went there unless I knew beforehand. Wal, I walks up to the door an' a sweet little housewife comes out, almost knocking me eyes out. O' course I mean her appearance almost did my eyesight a turnover. She was the best looking little wife I ever seen in me life. I swallows the atmosphere a couple of minutes afore I finally clicks and asks her if'n she had somethin' to eat for a pore old man out 0' work. The fellows roared here, for Sam, the speaker, had been offered work about two places out of three everywhere he went. Sam waited until the jokers calmed down, then, letting a stream of tobacco juice flash through the air into a corner, he continued in a dignified manner. As I was sayin' afore you guys interrupted, I was askin' fer eats. The little birdie chirped, 'I think I can find something for you if you go into the barn and chop some wood for me'. I suppose Sam just couldn't refuse the chance to chop wood fer a birdie, squawked another one of the hoboes. Well, I consents, says Sam, and I goes into the barn and wears the axe handle down a bit, and then I returns to the house. I walks up the steps, opens the door, and halts. Behold, there stood me pal, the old lady. feeding a box full o' pups. I throws myself in reverse and backs toward the door, but no use, she spied me wid her glassy eyes. Her artillery comes into view from behind her, a pinkish blue saucer ready for Hight. Somethin' stopped ner and she said, 'How many times have I told you to stay away from here, you loaferl' At first, I thought it was a squeaky door swinging, but it was her voice. I finally picks up courage an' starts to tell a story. Meanwhile, me hand had turned the door-knob and opened the door a bit. She sees me actions and stops meg then she picks me out a pup and asks me if I needed one to keep me company on me journeys. Me being scairt to death, I say, Sure , She gives him to me wid a sigh of relief, and the birdie comes in wid a hunk 0' pie to boot. I wanted to give the pup away after I left the house, but no use, no one wanted an ugly duckling, so I held onto him. Finally I decided to drown him but when I ties up the bag with him and a rock fer a companion in it, I hears him whine kinda soft-like and me heart ain't no heart no more, so I can't proceed further. i Fifteen