Emmerich Manual High School - Ivian Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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A Study of a Character HAT Baxter was unpopular was evidenced very early in the semester. Boys and girls, alike, regarded him with disfavor and were ever on their guard to repulse his slightest advances toward friendliness. They assumed a frigid air when speaking to him, which if he noticed, and he certainly must have, for it was ridiculously apparent at all times, surely caused him to lve through long, dark hours of pain and despair. He confided in no one, however, but bravely struggled on, facing the conflict alone, like a true knight who expected no reward while on earth. Born in an earlier age he might have become a knight of King Arthur ' s Round Table, for he was so persistent in the heat of battle and so daring in the face of impending wrath. Perhaps this was due to his guileless faith and implicit trust in those about him. Nothing seemed to hit him, and one wondered if he realized that his classmates took infinite delight in playing upon his trustful nature, ' r Winning honors in several different intellectual fields of the school, Baxter gained a surprising amount of confidence in his own ability that was beautiful to behold, though this same confidence was destined to be a misguiding beacon up the hillside to popularity. Aided by his inborn persistence and lured on by this newly acquired con- fidence, he energetically pressed his suit among the young ladies of his class. Now, as a rule, young ladies wish to be sought after with all the dash, daring, and persistence the young man can muster up for the occasion, but Baxter unfortunately seemed to be an exception to this, as he was to most rules. Some of the leaders in Baxter ' s repulsion wormed out of the proposition by declaring that he never knew when he was n ' t Wanted, though others frankly said that he was too tall, or too slender, or that he used some unpleasant perfumes on his clothes, as the case might be. He may have been open to one or all of these criticisms, but the sum and substance of his unpopularity was simply this, he had started wrong from the beginning. He wished to please and it became known, so consequently everyone did his best to illustrate that wishing and Uoing are two different things. As time went on, however, he began to be accepted as one of the necessary evils of this world. Through many a class party dance, he wandered around the hall asking girl after girl for the honor of the dance. Some were often unfortunately seized with fits of coughing, or were tired out. Others simply shook their heads and dropped their eyes in order not to be drawn into dancing with him through sympathy. In fact, affairs were in a tragic state, and Baxter ' s fate hung in the balance. He, however, remained calm and imperturbable through all these buffets, like an evening constellation n the dark blue sky, beautiful and bright. Unloved, unsought, but ever hopeful, he ked out his daily problems by himself, helping those whom he could, though he mained urithanked for his efforts. Steadily, gradually, like the revealing of fairyland scenes on the stage by lifting the curtains, the eyes of Baxter ' s classmates began to open and they beheld something strangely new and admirable about him. Some pinched themselves in order to be sure they were awake, for they began to realize

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the Weird Sisters, because these witches did not put wickedness into men ' s hearts, but if it is there they bring it out and lure men to destruction. Also, when Macbeth is hailed as he that shalt be king hereafter, Banquo says, Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair? It is but logical to conclude that Macbeth was very much surprised and startled to hear that which he had secretly thought and which he supposed was known only to himself. Next is pictured a man who has plotted, but who does not have the will-power to carry out his plans. How weak he is ! How he tries to persuade himself that the end justifies the means! But Fair is foul and foul is fair , and the murder is committed. After the deed is done, his conscience is even more active than before, and it is now that the reader is introduced to Macbeth, the sufferer. It is here that the conscience- stricken man says, The innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The death of each day ' s life, sore labor ' s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature ' s second course, Chief nounsher in life ' s feast. After one murder is committed, how easy it is to commit another ! How easy it was for Macbeth to kill the two chamberlains who guarded the king ! But neverthe- less, Macbeth is afraid of his own thoughts. What a lengthy speech he makes after he has killed the two chamberlains and is asked by Macduff, Wherefore did you so ? He talked to forget his own thoughts. He is crowned. He has realized his life ' s ambition ! But in so doing he has lost his soul ! In his unrest and troubled state of mind he causes the murder of Banquo, then follows quickly the flight of Macduff, the murder of Lady Macduff and son, the madness of Lady Macbeth and the retribution that is sure to follow. Macbeth wel- comes death, for he feels the same as Lady Macbeth did when she said, Nought s had, all ' s spent, Where our desire is got wtthout content ; is safer to be that which we destroy lan by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.

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that Baxter was really a factor in their school world. Words or riraise surged to their lips, yet they repressed them, remembering with shame how oWeXtkey had sought to repulse him. By this time Baxter himself began to see clearly arid, P analyze the meaning of things. Doubt as to his worthiness chained him within himself until one day, amid the hearty praises and congratulations of his classmates, he found, and thrilled with joy at the finding, that he had been chosen vale ALif re Lesso (Wilh apologies to Mr. Riley I THERE, They ' ve given you a D, I know; And a C con, too, And you feel blue, And wish you had died long ago ; But report card troubles will soon pass by There, little gir There, little girl ; do n ' t cry ! The soup tastes flat, I know ; And the coffee, too, Has a muddy hue. And the sandwiches taste like dough ; But the small toothpick you did not buy — There, little girl ; do n ' t cry ! There, little girl ; do n ' t cry ! You were late for the first hour, 1 know ; And the street-car sta With dear Mr. Hall Was a story of long ago ; Vacation holds all for which you sigh There, little girl ; do n ' t cry !