Fryeburg Academy - Academy Bell Yearbook (Fryeburg, ME)

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4 THE ACADEMY BELL iflitnrarg SALUTATORY. ln the early days of our country, much of ceremony and form entered into even the everyday things of life. Today in oriental lands great pomp and show is considered a necessity to properly meet- ing or parting from friends. Tt has al- ways been the custom to cling to oriental or ancient customs in occasions like this, though in other things the spirit of the times is straight forward simplicity. Today the pleasant duty is mine of greeting you here assembled, and T wish to do it in a simple twentieth century American way. Honorable trustees, teach- ers, parents, undergraduates, friends: we appreciate the interest which you have long shown in us, we appreciate your presence here this afternoon, and in be- half of my class T most heartily welcome you to our graduation exercises. THE IMPORTANCE OF CHEMIS- TRY TO MAN. Q In the beginning of n1an's life upon earth he was little different in any dis- cernible way from the animals among which he lived. lie became vitally dif- ferentiated from these, his early com- panions, principally because he began dimly to grasp certain scientific facts. Through untold centuries his progress was infinitely slow, because that progress a knowledge and science was ever dependent upon and application of science, never has revealed her secrets satisfac- torily save to keen, deep minds-minds capable of great concentration and pa- tience. The worldls debt to scientihc research is best understood when we remember that the aboriginal man, clothed in the skin of an animal tstruck down by a clubj, living in a dark damp cave eating as do wild animals, the uncombined, un- prepared products of mother earth might have been enjoying all of the advantages of twentieth century civilization if he had been possessed of the scientific knowl- edge which belongs to this century. Cf the many branches of science wh'ch through the ages man has studied and applied, all others combined have not yielded such practical fruits for his com- fort and happiness as has chemistry. it is a thought as fascinating as it is fearful, as interesting as it is awe inspiring, that all material which the wizzard-like chemist of today is so marvelously using, has lain ready and waiting since the be- ginning of manis earth life, and he knew it not through the passing of countless ages. Thirty centuries have passed since the chemically prepared mummy of King Tut-ankh-amen was tucked away in its chamber of splendors, and for thousands of years before this men had been apply- ing chemical facts. A history of this and of later research holds for the think- ing person a fascination unequalled by the most thrilling tale of fiction, but we pass it by untouched because we wish to deal with modern chemistry. Between early and modern chemistry there is no positive line of demarcation. Routledge speaks of the discovery of gases as marking the beginning of modern chemistry, and Henry Smith Wfillianis. in his great five-volume history of science,

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THE ACADEMY BELL 3 shall indeed be in flower but in a way as yet hardly dreamed of. for chivalry shall be founded on equality. Already young manhood and woman- hood, standng practically on the sam: level, are shaking hands in preparation for entering their tasks together in this needy old world. Civilizations on another basis have long teen tried and have fallen as Rome in all her glory fell. The thing which can save the civilization of today is the united working of man and woman. The world is waking up to this vital need and the chivalry of today is the gradual accep- tance of womanhood into her rightful place as fellow-worker and helper of man in the business, political, social, and religious fields. Doius FiaRN.x1.o, Qi. LIFE. Life is the greatest gift God can be- stow. Our destiny, which He alone knows. is planned by Ilis wisdom and carried out under His perfect guidance. How do footsteps patter when by con- fidence they may be stayed by that ever willing and helpful hand? We say life is a burden. This is not so unless we make it so and this surely was not God's intention. VVhy should we make it this xx hen He has made it possible for life to be such a wonderful revelation from be- ginning to end? For even in our darkest hours and deepest grief we can always feel confident that by trusting that Divine power we shall be shown the silver lining which is always just beneath the blackest cloud. HOW OUR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES PREPARE US FOR THE FUTURE. There is no better way to prepare us for the future than by our school activi- ties. We are as a people famous for good sportsmanship, and as a school we should keep these ideals. Often in ath- letic meets there is a chance to Hget by with unfair playing. This is not the idea we have of sportsmanship, for we take the penalty and profit by our errors. Not only in athletics but by debating we are prepared for the future. This was successfully introduced in the acad- emy this year. It enables us to think quickly and be alert. LEONA MCINTLRE. WKQ WAP

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THE ACADEMY BELL 5 says of the discovery of atoms two hun- dred years later, Upon this wonderful theory tof atomsJ the Whole gigantic structure of modern chemistry is found- ed. Xlfe are inclined to agree with the laier writer. for chemistry without a r..cogt'ition of atoms certainly not quit: modern. Chemistry is the fundamental science of the tfanslormation of matter. or we may say it is the sc'ence of analysis and syrthesls, that is. the taking apart and putt ng together of compounds and ele- n1e.1ts. For instance, take water. Anal- ys's is separating it into its elements. hydrt.-gen and oxygen. Synthesis is com- b.n'rg ogzygeii and hydrogen to form water. 'lite last hfty years chemistry lias lst-gn prfiicpaly synthesis or combining oi compcunds and elements to make new cc mpounds. many of which are not found in nature. linen season we see things changing from dead to living and from llving to dead. 'l'11.s is one manifestation of the cyce of substances in nature. All ele- nients and cotnpounds are consiantly uiiilergofng changes because the atoms are con:-tz111t'y rearringing theinselyes. Thus, the tr es and shrubs of one gen :ra- tion may ne it turn into soft call. and tl'at into hard crxali the hard coal into giaphtei and hnally. under proper candi- tors, rgrapltlte fnto diamonds. llut there w u'd be less graphlte thin coal, beiausc much gfeater pressure is neided for t'rs c' a gg to talze ylace. Only a very small part of the graphite would turn to d'a- munds Iiecause this crystallization occurs only under tremendous pressure, more tfan lIi'ClilfIZl'lly exists on the earth. No matter is lost or gained in the world. For illustration, when wood is burned. it may seem that matter is de- stroyed. l?ut if one could collect all of the liberated gases and moisture and weigh them together with the ashes he would have the exact weight of the origi- nal wood. Chemistry makes for order and com- fort. The natural arrangement of things on the earth is chaos. All sub- sttnces have been mixed in the earth for us to sort out and fmd a use for. This is what chemistry does. Its natural or- der is cosmos. For an ihustration take metals. We do not find great sheets of iron or great lumps of gold free in the eargh. 'lhese metals are in tiny pieces. or chemfcally combined in their ores uith other ClSIHfHfS. Chemistry has de- vised means to get metals from their ores and purify them for our use. Most of the organic compounds have lzeen analyzed. llut as yet no way has lzeen found to combine the elements fornrng them. Sugar. starch, fruits. celulofe, and many other compounds omntafn nothing but carbon. hydrogen and oxygen-elements found abun- dantly in nature. The only difference be- tween them is a differerce in arrange- ment of their atoms, but as yet the science of properly arranging these ele- ments to produce a required compound has evaded the chemfst. Fortunate is the man vxho discovers the art of com- bining them. All he will need to do is to have a well equipped factory, plenty of carbon and water. Then by the proper combining of these he will be ready to meet the demanxfslof the world