Farmington High School - Laurel Yearbook (Farmington, ME)

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THE LAUREL 19 HONOR STUDENTS OF CLASS OF 1938 Valedictory ........ CONSTANCE MCLEARY Salutatory .,... ......... N ORMA Voss Third Honor ............ MYRTLE Fos'rE.R Fourth Honor ........ LAURA WORTHLEY Fifth Honor .... IACQUELINE GREENWOOD Sixth Honor .,.......... GLENYS GOULD YT CLASS DAY PARTS Address of Welcome . NORMAN BLANCHARD Will .............,.,..... BERNICE Cox History .... .,.. D ARRELL BRYANT Gifts .,... .... B ARBARA RoBB1Ns REINO RAY Prophecy . . . . MABEL HAGERSTROM CARLTON WADE Oration .... .....,.... E LDEN I-IALL, IR. TT VALEDICTORY Reverie O almost every person comes, that sen- sation at one time or another of drift- ing, in which the body is helpless but thoughts active. It usually occurs when one is half-asleep or drowsy. Pictures flash un- summoned before your closed eyes or ideas spring unbidden into your brain. This essay is based on such an experience. Though inherently it is a fantasy, nevertheless there is a delicate stencil of truth tracing its subtle design. Off the tip of Florida is a small island with a narrow strip of white sand on one side. At the time of which I am speaking, very little was known of it, and I was de- termined to swim out and explore it. Thus it was that one morning found me in the tepid water slowly headed for this same piece of land. It happened to be the first time I had been in a bathing suit since I had reached Florida, and it certainly was a change to have my cares forsake me with each wave that washed up over my shoulders. Even so, I began to think that my strength was not equal to my zeal. Tiring, I flipped over on my back to gaze dreamily at the clouds drifting above like tufts of snowy cotton. Suddenly another object drew my attention, a motorboat tossing up the spray as it sped toward me and leaving a trail of white be- hind it. Didn't they see me? I moved into sudden activity, waved one hand and shouted,-a rather difficult procedure when in ten fathoms of water. Nearer and nearer. Ah! the fellow saw me and at the last minute swervedg but the foaming wake which followed the launch caught me in its grasp. I struggled, sank, and came up gasp- ing, choking for air. My arms and legs Hailed. I lost my senses. Gallons of jade- green water seethed over me. My sight was blurred now. Down and down, and the farther I sank, the lighter and happier I felt. My body was apart, impersonal, I could even breathe well. No cares, no worries, only this mass of water, boiling and swirling, forming all sorts of pictures. I began to dream. What else could it be called, this detached feeling which brought me a clearer perspective than 1 had ever had before? And as the water bubbled around, in its magic, mystic depths I could see the coral just below and the glints of color as the fish swam about. But even as I looked, the rest- less waters were stilledg and the crimson, topaz and emerald reflected from a source like the setting sun changed and melted in together. Then, as if an unseen hand had waved a magic wand, the liquid darkened to an ebony-black with an irregular stain of crimson like a spilt goblet of wine or- and I shuddered to think of it-the scarlet flowing from an open wound. I saw a line of trenches filled with men, and in front a The air mass of barbed wire and posts. was suddenly filled with the screech of a shell as it burst near by. Two orderlies were carrying a youth, who, in his tattered khaki, seemed barely twenty. Irregular spurts of blood were gushing from a vein in his wrist. He barely had had a chance to fight, and now, his once-proud body maimed, he was lying there. To make the world safe for democracy, they had said,-and yet there are fewer democracies now than before the war. To what purpose this mad rush to reach military supremacy? Did there not

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T H E L A U R E L WH ITTEN, VERA ELISE Home Economics fr VEE U Motto: While we live, let us live. Traffic Officer 45 Hi-Life Board, Columnist 2, Business Man- ager 3, 45 Freshman Reception 25 Senior Play, Business Man- ager 45 Girls' Glee Club 1, 2, 3, 45 F, G. S. and F. H. S. Con- certs 1, 2, 3, 45 Cabaret 25 F. S. N. S. and F. H. S. Concerts 1, 25 Handel-Bach Concert 25 Thanksgiving Concert 2, 35 Hi-Life Minstrel 35 County Fair Booth 45 School.Fair 35 Students' Day, Student Teacher 25 Junior Prom Committee 35 Bacca- laureate Program 35 LAUREL Board, Editor-in-Chief 45 Usher, Class Day and Graduation l, 25 Chorus 1, 2, 3, 45 Fair Concert 4. Comment: Knitting and withal ringing, and it seemed that her voice comforted her hands to work. VVILBUR, MAYLAN CHARLES General RED Motto: It shall be done. Comment: A blush of modesty. WORTHLEY, LAURA M. College Preparatory TILLIE Motto: Labor is but refreshment from repose. LAUREL Board, School-Calendar Editor 3, Class Editor 45 Public Speaking 3, 45 University of Maine Contest, First Prize for Seri- ous Reading in State 45 Tie for Second Place in Junior Speaking Contest 35 Executive Committee 45 4' Dust of the Road 35 Echo 4, First Prize One-act Drama for This Section of Maineg Librarian 45 Countess in Amateur Play 45 Address to Undergraduates 4. Comment: Grace silently orders her actions. YEATON, LEON ALBERT General Motto: One is never too oldi to learn. Comment: More thoughts than words.

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20 THE LAUREL exist in European countries the glow of dis- contentment which might easily be fanned into the Hame of war? VVhy pour forth the prime of American youth to satisfy petty strife and burden future generations with extravagant war debts? But look! the water was changing. Circles of gold and silver appeared against a background of green and faded away in the rippling water. A pano- rama of sights passed. I glimpsed the gaunt, tear-streaked faces of small children as they begged for food in the slums of New York. . . Breadlines. . . The despairing faces of farmers as they learned of the new low on crops. . . The tense strain in Wall Street as stocks and bonds sank to rock bottom. . . The closing of hundreds of factories and mills on which numerous workers were depen- dent. . . Strikes, violence, and the destruction of property as dissatisfied people revolted. All this I saw, and more, before the waters finally cleared, this time to reveal an old man with a child on his knee, and as I strained to hear, Yes, my boy, the elder said, it's a hard journey to reach success, and many fall by the way. Wars, depressions, and other trials must be survived, but the really worthwhile things in life are those obtained with diffi- culty. I've lived in times of strife when people all about me were in despair, but I never ceased to hope. I knew that depres- sions werenit a novelty to the United States, or even to our toil-worn world. Civilization had survived before, why not again? They sayf' and he chuckled, that we're in a depression now. Is it a depression of affairs alone or partly of the mind? I'11 warrant that business is poor, but isn't it perhaps be- cause so many are afraid? Afraid to buy, to spend, to look forward to times of prosperity? They seem to think we're in an impossible rut. Nonsense! H and he laughed again. The waters cleared now and were filled with myriad colors, like a sunrise, or a rain- bow after a storm. . . She's coming to,,' they said as they looked at the girl gasping on the hard planks of the motorboat. I felt a new strength come into my body, a new courage quicken my senses. No matter what might come, I felt I could face the future bravely. I might not reach my goal, yet I knew that I would at least have the satisfaction of knowing I had tried. Members of the Faculty: It is now too late to prove but not to express our true appreci- ation for your help and patience. At times welve been exasperating, but you have en- countered those difficult situations with the sympathetic guidance of a friend and the wise understanding of a counselor. We wish to thank you for all your efforts in our be- half and for the penetrating interest you have shown in each of us. Classmates: The world we face tomorrow is one tinged with gloom. We know that. We realize that jobs are scarce and wages poor. We face dangers caused by hatred, greed, and strife. We cannot reform the world, nor do we wish to. Yet beginning with ourselves, as individuals, let us strive to become more tolerant, wiser, and clearer thinking. May we, the Class of 1938, go forth determined to do our best in the face of all opposition. And now the moment draws near for us to say farewell. I say goodbye to you with, regret and express in Long- fellow's words the feeling of you, the mem- bers of our class, for one another: Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee, Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith triumphant o'er our fears, Are all with thee,-are all with thee! Constance McLeary '38. TY SALUTATCRY Parents, frierzds, teachers and fellow school- ?7'lllfC'5.' In behalf of the Class of 1938, I wish to extend a sincere welcome to you on this occasion which means so much to us who are about to venture into a world which is al- most foreign to us. This evening will be one which will be long remembered by us. This is an event which we can look back