Fryeburg Academy - Academy Bell Yearbook (Fryeburg, ME)

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18 THE ACADEMY BELL having a good time. The movie drew to a close and the group of girls filed out of the hall, and each started for her respective home. Good-night, Betty and Bill! Be good. See you in the wash! And then quiet, except for the little girl with the brown curls singing, as she entered the house, Show me the way to go home. AUDREY E. PENDEXTER, '31, JAMES J. AUDUBON This great American naturalist was born in 1780 at Mandeville, Louisiana. He was educated in France but re- turned to this country and started his study of birds. He would sit for long hours in the forest watching his feathered friends, and as he was something of an artist he started to draw them. His father lost his money, and the family was so poor that James could not buy real paints. He made a brush of cat hairs, and the Indians showed him how to mix the juices of plants to make diiferent colors. One day the man that had taught him in France came to visit James. He saw the young man's ability to draw, so he gave him a set of paints with real brushes. James then began to draw the birds in earnest, and in 1826 he went to England to exhibit his drawings of birds. As these met with great favor he had his 435 paintings made into a book called The Birds of American now selling at 552,000 a copy. Returning to America he started work on a second book, Ornithological Biography. Audubon kept up his work until his death in 1851. The Audubon Society, an organization for the protec- tion of birds, was organized after his death and named for him as he was the founder of bird study. WILLIAM BERRY, '32, NATURE IS FILLED WITH POETRY The view from my study window was very entertaining. In a sunlit space on the edge of the forest a fire burned brightly, over it swung a pot, boiling and bubbling. Be- side the cracking legs stood a tall, slim girl in corduroy trousers, leather leggings and a much worn jacket. She might easily have been mistaken for a boy, had not her cap been thrown on the ground, letting her hair fall down over

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THE ACADEMY BELL 17 A ROW OF GIRLS AT THE MOVIES The movie house was partly filled with people, both young and old, all waiting expectantly for the movie to be- gin. More people were coming in and seating themselves in the nearest place possible without having to parade the hall. Soon a laughing, giggling, and rather noisy bunch of girls entered the hall, and seated themselves in the last row. Everyone turned to look as they filed in, and smiled in a knowing way at what they termed the flaming youth of the present generation. As soon as the girls were com- fortably settled, the lights went out, the music started, and the movies began. The pianist, who was playing a popular song, was quite surprised at hearing the hum of girlish voices keeping accompaniment to her playing. The girls, however, soon tired of this, and began to talk among them- selves. Oh, sugar, I've seen this, and it's terrible. I'd rather attend a dog fight, said one girl. Why don't you go home then? asked another one with bright red hair. I've paid my money, and besides, this is better than going to bed. I'll try to stand it out, although it's doubtful if I can. We wouldn't want you to see anything that you dis- liked, Betty, darling. I'll go out the door with you. Cat! snapped Betty. Don't worry, my dear, I'm not going home now. All you want to do is get a chance to walk home with Bill. But you Won't! I'm going to stay right here until this movie ends! After this outburst came a silence-and then- Oh, girls, look at that leading man! Isn't he adorable! And can't he ride horseback! I don't think this movie is half bad! He's not half as good looking as my brother ! growled Betty, who had not fully recovered her good nature. My soul, your brother must be a regular Apollo! sighed the sentimental little girl with brown curls. My brother is all right, best brother in the world. Hold everything! Look at that runaway girl on horseback! and Betty had fully recovered her good nature. See that leading lady? Well, that's me! Yes, that looks about as much like you as a rose is like a walnut ! Thanks, thanks, my worthy friend! I adore your compliments! So characteristic of you ! And so they went on, slamming at each other in every possible way, yet

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THE ACADEMY BELL 19 her shoulders. Towering around the open space in the wilderness were mighty peaks, snow crowned and glistening against the clear blue of the autumn sky. LEAH MCINTIRE, '30. CHARACTER SKETCH OF CICERO There is a great controversy of opinion regarding Cicero, the man, for, by some Latin students he is greatly praised and by others he is considered altogether con- temptible. By citations from Cicero's letters, where he ex- pressed his passing thoughts as well as his settled opinions, we can draw the conclusion that he was unpatriotic, coward- ly, and disloyal to his friends and family. But, truly, what public man of today could stand such a harrowing test of character? Many just biographers, however, after separat- ing his real and lasting sentiments from his false and fleet- ing ideas, agree that we was indeed a great and noble man. Cicero's worst enemies never accused him of vice. Al- though he was by nature timid and mild, he could, if neces- sity urged, become very heroicg While he was vain, he could not be called ungenerous or jealous of others, and through his worthy praise, many of his contemporaries were made more illustrious. In society, he was a great favorite because of his wit and genial nature. He was af- fectionate and true to his friends, and always ready to help them with advice, political or personal influence, and money, when they were in need. At home his family life was very unfortunate, his last years spent with Terentia were unhappy, his only son Mar- cus, was often a source of anxiety because of his inclination to be wild, his idol, his daughter, Tullia, caused him much sorrow and disappointment, but his loving and affectionate nature is well shown in his treatment of his slaves, who truly adored their kind and merciful master. He was al- most a brother to Tiro, one of his faithful servants, who was also his general right-hand man. As a boy Cicero was tall and slender, growing to man- hood a tall, graceful, and dignified being, making an im- pressive and inspiring appearance while standing on the Rostra delivering his orations. In summing up the characteristics of Cicero we con- clude that he was witty and congenial in society, kind to servants, heroic where occasion called it, by nature timid, mild and vacillating, vain, generous to friends in need, and, impressive and inspiring to behold. Plutarch described Cicero thus, He was by nature framed for mirth and jestsf' RUTH VVILEY, '29.