English High School - Brown Owl Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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beaten. Avalanches of Historic Dates checked their progress, and the monster English still followed closely, darting out his fatal fangs. The pilgrims had organized their company, and completed their journey under the wise commands of their chosen leader. Nevertheless, the Mighty Leader was always present to protect the little band against danger. Mount Senior was very steep, and the climb was hard and long. Halfway up the mountain side was a beautiful mossy terrace, and the pilgrims rested there for a few hours. So happy were they to be within sight of their journey's end, that they forgot their Weariness, and danced in the terrace until the Mighty Leader, who reckoned a late hour from the stars, sent them to rest. As the days wore on, the pilgrims became more eager and zealous. Some- where just before them was the Pearl of Wisdoinig somewhere in the City of Desire, that bright gem was to be found. Ever higher loomed up the gates of the city, and the walls seemed to become thicker as they approached. The Mighty Leader conversed with the Keeper of the Gates, and then to crown their success along the English High Road, the wearypilgrims were welcomed by others who were on the same quest for the Pearl of VVisdom. ' The massive gates were closed again. The pilgrims had been guided into a broader, wider sphere of experience than they had ever been in before. A great wave of gratitude swept overthe pilgrims, as they reviewed their four years' journey, for the higher ideals which they had been taught to follow, for the wisdom they had gleaned while on the quest for the Pearl of VVisdom, for the strength and manhood those trials had caused to predominate, and for a broader insight into human nature. 'A brighter pearl lies further onf they were told, and a few prepared for the second quest. The hoary head bent lower over the papers and the sleep of weariness enveloped the writer. Thelstained quill fell from his hand, and as it rolled back and forth over the papers, it left the mark of a star. May it be the Star of Hope, a happy omen, for the class of january 1911. ' 51

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for all. The keeper pointed to the west and told them, that there they would find a small hamlet with a little tavern. Keeping the sinking sun in view, the still hopeful pilgrims found the tiny village and its one inn, built on a barren mesa, and overlooking the beaten path which led to the City of Desire. The tavern was uncomfortable, the place was crowded, the way, rugged and dis- couraging, but what were such trivial circumstances to those eager searchers? Their disappointments only served to teach them their first lesson, that they must humble themselves and be subject to superiors. A few messengers brought news from the Great Tavern, but they only increased the longing of that little band to join their comrades. Before those Wanderers reached their first goal, they were forced to strug- gle with the treacherous monsters which hindered their progress. Dragon Al- gebra, known to all who passed that way was overpowered, and deceiving Lady French's enticements to bring unfortunate way-farers under her influence, had to cease. They buried, for a short time, the unconquerable monster English under the dust which was raised during the strife. The victorious band again stood before the Great Tavern, and boundless was their joy when the keeper admitted them. After a short rest, the united band set out for the City of Desire. The barren mesa and the little tavern of 1907 were left far behind, and the way grew steeper and rougher. Ever higher and ever mightier rose the mountains before them and at everyturn in the trail monsters had to be overcome. Never- theless under the stern command of the Mighty Leader, almost all overcame their difficulties, but when they stood at the foot of Report Mountain, a few turned back, for they had lost sight of the Pearl of VVisdom on account of those great barriers before them, Freshman Hill was left behind, and as they gave a parting glance at the first mile-stone on the English High Road to Suc- cess, all seemed very trivial in comparison with what was before them. The road between the first and third mile-stones was pleasant, for the pilgrims were by that time accustomed to difficulties and disappointments, and they looked about for pleasure in the midst of their upward toil. They gath- ered herbs and roots, and dyed their socks and ties, as they were lured away by the Twins, Miss Goodtime and Miss Social. They had grown careless and did not notice how the wily serpent English was creeping so closely, and a hard struggle it was in the end, before they were ready to leave Mount Sopho- more and Mount junior behind them. Only a few were left behind, victims of the treacherous Swamps of Study. The third mile-stone on the English High Road was passed, and the pil- grims daily approached the city of their quest. The last great mountain lay before them steeper and more rugged than the others had been, and the trail less T 30 I A

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f6ENfi QD O . 3 93 10 o HE opening day of the school year of 1907 found a number of unso- phistocated children seated expectantly in the spacious hall of the English High School. VVe, the now brilliant class of June, 1911, after learning our fate, quietly adapted ourselves to our new surroundings as so many had before us. Qur freshman year, spent in solving unknown quantities, passed like a bird on wing. After the long vacation, we came back to school ready to take up the more elevated duties of Sophomores. Here we proved our first perplexing proposi- tions in geometry, and as for physics, why we were able QPD to operate any kind of machine. Wfhile in this year we compiled a class paper, called The Echo, which showed a spark of ingenuity that we hoped might develop into a flame before we published our Brown Owlf' Next came our junior year, which we enjoyed to the fullest extent with only one dark cloud crossing our path, that being the passing away of our classmate, Susie 'Weaver It is needless to say that we felt of some importance at this stage of our progress, for in this year we held our first class meeting and also our junior Social. It was a gay assembly that graced the hall of Qld English, which was decorated with the school colors and clusters of palms, on this occasion. But. lo! it is September again and now we enter rooms 1 and 11 as Seniors, full of anticipation of those Senior joys which we hope the next historian may have the pleasure of relating. JANET M. BOURN. 32