Farmington High School - Laurel Yearbook (Farmington, ME)

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'A' LAUREL ir Sophie was asked if she liked the idea of Frank- ie's going into the Army she replied, In the old country I hate soldiers, but here it differ- ent. Look what they do for me and my family -let us live here with no fuss. So it is right Frankie should be a soldier. Sophie's three daughters are Mary, Irene and Annie, she also has a granddaughter, Doloras, who looks exactly like her mother, Mary. Irene is married and she too, has a daughter. Annie wishes to be a career woman, but changes her mind when Sophie says, No woman should not marry. Other characters are brought into the story: Mrs. Sudder, who is chairman of the various war committees: Sophie's so-called Greenhorn cousins who come to live with her from the old country, Irene's husband Georgeg the saboteur Karl: and Sophie's war-time Romeo, Earnest there is Margie, Frankie's l-Iopkins. Also wife, but not through marriage. This girl Margie, plays an important part in Sophie's life, but Sophie finds a way in the end. I think Sophie is my favorite character-and reader's favorite. She is the would be every ideal American. Being foreign born she de- lights in all the opportunities of this new coun- try. Sophie is a good worker and becomes the ideal of her community, willing and always on the job no matter if it be war work or work for her daily bread. Some persons are made for drama and Sophie I-Ialenczik is one of them. She would always keep her listener in suspense until questions and coaxing were applied. Mrs. Halenczik proves her patriotism in the big event of the season-Victory Gardens! A prize was given to the person growing the larg- est garden and harvesting'and canning the most produce. Sophie grew and canned the most, but when the judge named her prize winner she refused the prize. Everyone was dumbfounded because each had tried hard for the prize. Sophie's only explanation was, When it's all the time it isn't extra. When people say my garden wonderful, I keep telling them it ain't no different from last year. They say I just modest and it nice. They say I should get the prize. Crazy, no? Mrs. I-Ialenczik is a true example of Americanism. She should be the ideal of all of us. 25 My comment would be that this is the best book I have read in quite a long time. It is short and easy reading. The author writes this book in diary form somewhat. Each Friday Sophie worked at the author's house so the author usually relates the events between the Fridays, in conversational style plentifully spiced with the humorous happenings of Sophie Hal- enczik. I recommend this book to all ages. It is up-to-date, truthful, and entertaining. Though a small book it is most appealing. Gloria lalbert '44 MY BROTHER IAKE fAn appreciationl I-IIS is a short story of a young boy in the Ozark Mountains who carried on the farm as his brother lake would have. It.is a sad, pathetic story of a boy's courage and faith and teaching. Upon hearing lake was injured, the young boy traveled alone to the coast where lake was stationed in a hospital. lake dies and his inde- pendent little brother takes him back to the farm to be buried on a hill nearby. While he is on the train, a young man strikes up a conversation with him. During the con- versation the boy learns that the man is a gam- bler and is going to set his stakes in a nearby town. ' . lake's brother talks of freedom and his love for America where everybody is free. The fel- low is ashamed and quite phazed at the wisdom of the boy's words. I-Ie offers to help with the burial and finally makes it clear that lake should have a real burial-minister and all. ' He' helps the boy harness up the horse and cart to h-aul the casket up' the hill- because some- thing such as kindness and patriotism has come over him. s ' I 'When he leaves lake's little brother to carry on alone, he carries on his work - new work - in an Airplane Factory, doing his duty and evi- dently liking it, realizing that if a boy as young as lake's brother can carry on a farm independ- ently, he too can at least do war work and not kick. A ' Although this story is pathetic, sad and touching, it brings out what the' people of Amer- ica are really made of-that it is not just- land,

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'A' LAUREL ir Tribune. During World War I he served for a time as Assistant Secretary of War under Newton D. Baker, a responsible position for a man of thirty years. Later he became secretary of an organization which was preparing data for the Peace Conference. This was an excel- lent opportunity for a literary man particularly interested in political affairs. Later still, he served on the American Peace Commission. Since 1913 he has published many books on world politics and I believe he is considered as one of the best in his field. Perhaps his most widely read book before U. S. Foreign Policy was a Preface to Morals, published in 1929. And now he adds another triumph to a long list of successful books, the difbcult, but never- theless convincing, U. S. Foreign Policy. In these days we are making up our minds in matters which will determine whether there is to be peace or war for posterity. Mr. Lipp- mann brings forth a worth-while solution to the problem of a suitable key to future peace. This book represents the convictions of many men all over the worldg' this was exemplified at the recent meetings of Messrs. Churchill, Roose- velt and Stalin at Teheran and of Churchill, Roosevelt and Chaing at Cairo, where they agreed on terms basically corresponding to the views expressed by Mr. Lippmann, primarily foreign alliances. The book begins with a frank and personal statement by Mr. Lippmann giving his idea and a most worthwhile definition of foreign com- mitments which adds greatly to the book's val- uable store of information. He points out that the United States has for nearly a hundred years held vast commitments, extending over a large portion of the world surface, and that we have made these commitments without the adequate military force or alliance with nations of com- mon interest and strength to support them. Next he brings forth the example to show us that our founding fathers were not the least bit adverse to forming foreign alliances, and that through alliances with the French we secured our independence from England. He points out that since the time of the Monroe Doctrine f 18231 we have had no foreign policy, conse- quently no foreign alliances. There has been since the early 1900's a need of definite policy and alliance ffor since that time England has 24 ceased to be mistress of the seasj whose joint support, through common interests, would help guarantee our vast commitments. Every nation should, as Mr. Lippmann says, have a policy whereby its alliances balance its commitments. If it does not, the nation is pointed toward serious difficulties. The concluding part of the book pertains to foundations of future peace and the countries which shall play the major roles in future events and their positions in regard to the rest of the world. Preserving the peace is the loom- ing problem of the future, already statesmen and diplomats prepare the foundations. To one who wishes to hold an intelligent view and knowledge of the coming peace, I sincerely recommend this book. Few people would be in a position to criticize this book and I feel greatly inadequate to raise my voice, even if I had any different opinion from Mr. Lippmann. His forceful style, col- ored by an excellent and choice vocabulary, makes him an interesting writer. His thorough knowledge of his subject is apparent through- out the bookg his sentences are factual and sometimes difficult to understand. He is an authority-a man whose ideas and writings will undoubtedly play a definite role in the future peace and rehabilitation. Iames Whitcomb '45 SOPHIE HALENCZIK, AMERICAN By Rose C. Feld OPI-IIE HALENCZIK is a little Czech lady who hires out in the various homes of her community to do the weekly house clean- ing. She takes part in all the war-time activity which now takes place in the little Connecticut town. All her time is given to growing a vic- tory garden, selling war bonds, taking in refu- gees, helping to catch a saboteur, and lecturing a Son of the American Revolution on Democ- racy. Besides all this she has time for a war- time romance herself, but decides to end it by staying friends because he is so different from Stefan fthe deceased husbandj. She has three daughters and one son. Frankie goes into the Army and overseas into active duty. Sophie is very sorry for Frankie's faults but still says he's her favorite child. ,When

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'lr LAUREL -A- grass, fields, woods, plains and hills, but some- thing intangible, intimate, something people, as simple as Iake and his brother, as selfish as the gambler, are willing to die for - something great and beautiful, something small people, as well as great, can have equal shares in. Ioanne Stewart '44 lite 90-nd and 9.amLZiwh. FAMILY PORTRAIT: GRAMP DINGLEY RAMP had high ideas about raising hens, taking care of gardens and religion. He also had high ideals and these came straight from the Bible. To tell the truth, Gramp didn't get along very well with his neighbors. He had his own ideas and such was the case of Ben Davis's cab- bage patch. Gramp and Ben were talking in Ben's garden when Gramp noticed the cabbages. Gramp told Ben that to have good cabbages the leaves should be snipped off. Ben ignored him and said it didn't make a bit of difference, so when Ben wasn't around, Gramp snipped the leaves off. This is the way Gramp would do things. If nobody listened to what he pro- posed, he would do it anyway. He went by the Bible and loved his neighbors, but that was no sign they loved him falthough they never re- spected a man more than they did himj. Gramp didn't believe in keeping hens in a coop, so he let them roam and this they did. Aunt Ella, who lived next door and was Gramp's sister-in-law, disliked the idea and wrote a letter to her lawyer, Mr. Holman, ask- ing him to write a letter to Frank Dingley and tell him to keep his hens in a pen. Gramp soon received a letter about the laws relative to domesticated animals. It was at this time that Gramp laid his own laws down, and the hens continued to roam. Gramp was very intelligent in mathematics. He could add or multiply as quickly as numbers could be snapped at him. He would do any kind of algebra problem that was set before him, except those of his children, they were told to do their own work. Gramp once owned a store. He trusted so many people, there was little profit, and this 26 profit was eaten up by Iosie and Mattie, his two eldest daughters. Gramp was an Advent and lived by their teachings. He wouldn't eat pork and he wouldn't eat highly spiced foods. He set Sun- day aside for worship, as the Lord had planned: his children went to three services-morning, afternoon and evening. Gramp knew his Bibleg he could recite page after page and passage after passage. Gramp always said grace before each meal and quietness was emphasized. f We have grace only once a year and that is at Thanksgiv- ing, or when Aunt Zilpha, whose husband is a minister, comes and makes a visit.j Gramp lived to the ripe old age of eighty- nine. On his dying bed he was singing his favorite hymn: My heavenly home is bright and fair- Frank P. Dingley '44 MY REVERED GRANDFATHER SHORT, white-haired man was my great- grandfather in appearance. Age-wrin- kles gathered about his mouth and eyes like children around the family story-teller. Very precise in appearance and speech, it seems he also had almost an obsession for his religion, the Baptist. Every Sunday morning his First query was, Well, how many are going to church with me today? He would attend church even if he had to walk many miles. Even at the age of 90 he walked two miles to attend. Another Sunday habit was to gather every- body about the table and read a chapter from the Bible before breakfast. It wasn't the short- est, much to the regret of the younger children, who became very uneasy. Before church each Sunday morning he would walk down to the wharf and admire the ocean for an hour. The beautiful and mighty work of God, he would say. Never were card games, dancing and other such amusements allowed. Strange as it may seem, everyone respected his request even to the children. Profanity was a major horror in his mind. Even the roughest men curbed their tongue in his presence. They seemed to sense his attitude.