Greenfield High School - Evergreen / Exponent Yearbook (Greenfield, MA)

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4 THE EXPONENT wealth is its manufactures. The oldest watch-fac¬ tory in the United States and the largest in the world is at Waltham. Massachusetts is the greatest shoe and boot-making state in the union. Boston’s shipping trade is next to that of New York. All these facts merely point cut how import¬ ant Massachusetts is. But we must not forget that we are truly only a very small part and unit of the whole United States. As a unit of the United States we must work in harmony with the other units, and our laws should be in unison with those of our nation. As future citizens let us think of what Tenny¬ son has said: Not clinging to some ancient saw; Not master’d by some modern term; Not swift nor slow to change, but firm And in its season bring the law. ESTHER J. SMEAD, ’21 , VALEDICTORY American Humor To see nothing at all amusing in life is be¬ yond my comprehension; to live comfortably and happily without ever giving way to a laugh seems outside the range of possibility. The few people whom one meets with this part of their characters undeveloped should be tagged and catalogued as soon as they are found, for they are rare specimens. Like flowers they press well, being fairly dry in the first place. To be sure, they may lead orderly, contented lives, but they never realize what hap¬ piness they have lost, or what capacity for worry¬ ing they have gained; for laughter smooths out the rough road and is a sure antidote for trouble, as the farmer in the following story knew. A small New England town of the usual sleepy variety, was waking to the quiet hum of an early summer morning, when a stranger taking a walk about, heard a loud, hearty laugh. What was humorous in that self-concerned, little village he could not see, but a good-natured farmer gazing at an open field evidently saw something amusing. The stranger approached him and asked doubtfully, “What’s the joke?” “The other answered, “Why, every mornin’, I come down t’ look at Jem Todd’s field. ’Tisn’t very fur from my place, and it gives me a good laugh t’ start off the day with. Y’see, Jem’s wife is sort of one o’ these interior decorators, only she’s exterior, and goes in fur purty plants. Wal, some years ago, she sent t’ some kind of a plant grower fur a—wal, it had one o’ these high-falutin’ foreign names.” He paused and began his rambling laugh again, but the stranger interrupted with “Well?” “Wal, y’ see, the purty plant jest grew an’ grew ’til it spread t’ Jem’s best field o’ hay. Jem used t’ have the finest field in town an’ he boasted pretty much about it. Now he’s jest durn mad; he can’t root the stuff up and so now I got the best field. Makes me laugh every time I look at it an’ I feel better the whole day through.” Humor is such a satisfying quality. Its appli¬ cation even in small doses is warranted to cure an average man of the dumps for a day at the least; that is, if he owns up to a sense of humor. T have often thought what a blank, uninteresting thing life would be if I were one of those few who are humorless. But there are so many things to laugh at,—even common occurrences or subjects at some certain times arouse laughter. For instance, one day I was walking along the street when I met a dog that had a familiar appearance. For the moment, I was unable to think of his name, although I was on the verge of remembering, when I said without realizing it, “Hello, Potato!” His name was “Spuds.” Mark Twain or rather, Samuel Clemens, was the greatest humorist America has ever had. Wil¬ liam Dean Howells, who knew him intimately for over forty years, even had well-founded reasons for calling him the world’s greatest humorist. Mark Twain went through life smiling even when entire business ruin overcame him. At times, when some petty chain of events overruled and spoiled his wish of the moment, he growled and grumbled, but al¬ ways laughed at himself and his adventures in re¬ collection. It was, one might say, Mark Twain’s profession and creed in life to laugh and make others laugh at or with him. His various experiences in what was at that time the new West, brought him into contact with all kinds and degrees of people. If it had not been for his humorous view point upon life, his career as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi, a gold- miner, a newspaper reporter, and his holding of many other positions would not have made him sd successful when he finally settled down as a writer. His humor is so provoking and hearty, yet so kind and understanding, that his caricatures of different types of men and women can hurt no one ' s feelings. It is all generous fun that in its progress reveals the pathos of a life as well as its humor to •others. His sketches of Huck Finn and Tom Saw¬ yer are so very real and laughable that a good part of the interest lies in the fact that the reader may almost recognize himself (that is, if he were once a boy) as doing the things that Huck and Tom did.

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THE EXPONENT 3 -—-- leys fertile. As these valleys attracted the early set¬ tlers so they have held their attraction and use¬ fulness to the present day. The streams were what caused Massachusetts to become one of the first and leading manufacturing states of the new country. They now are the means of obtaining electricity, that all important factor of everyday life. On our eastern coast are the broad salt marsh¬ es, far less productive than the river valleys, but picturesque with their stacks of marsh hay. In spite of our “stern and rock bound coast” there are some excellent harbors, for Boston harbor is considered one of the finest in the world. When we think of the man-made beauties of our state we find that magnificent buildings grace our cities and towns, and slender, white church spires nestle among the hills. Nor are buildings the only things of note. Massachusetts is a perfect network of hard, fine roads of which there is an ■excellent example to the west of our own town. Our commonwealth contains many other things of natural beauty and usefulness but we must con¬ sider our state not only as a section of territory but also as an institution. First, as we contemplate the foundation and those who made it, into our minds instantly flashes the picture of a tiny sail¬ ing craft bearing sturdy men and women to an un¬ known coast; of the little settlement clutched in winter’s grip, and of the struggle with starvatior. I do not need to speak further of the Pilgrims, for you all know by heart, their part in the early his¬ tory of our commonwealth. Encouraged by their example more settlers came, founded Boston and other towns, and the state prospered. But it was always a struggle, and strong, true men were needed for the task. Then came the thickening clouds. But great men such as John and Samuel Adams, James Otis, John Han¬ cock and General Warren arose to the occasion. Samuel Adams was the one who pleaded with the governor to remove the British soldiers from the city after Boston Massacre. It is said that he was one of the “Indians” who threw the tea into Bos¬ ton harbor. As one historian expresses it: “To George Ill’s eyes the capital of Massachusetts was a center of vulgar seditions, strewn with brick¬ bats and broken glass, where his enemies went about clothed in homespun and his friends in tar and feathers.” Other Massachusetts patriots were Paul Revere, Elbridge Gerry, Robert Treat Paine, and Captain Parker, the commander of the Min- utemen at Lexington. Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, although his great life was spent else¬ where. On the other hand, Daniel Webster of a later period, whose early life was spent in New Hampshire, became most famous when working for Massachusetts. Our state also has the honor of being the home of John Quincy Adams. In the present day Massachusetts is no slacker in the political world with the vice-president of the Unit¬ ed States and the Speaker of the House of Rep¬ resentatives. In military projects, Massachusetts has also been first. The first battles of the Revolutionary war were fought on the soil of Massachusetts at Lexington and Bunker Hill; the Sixth Massa¬ chusetts regiment was the first to arrivq at the scene of action in the beginning of the Civil war; and in the World war our boys were first in bravery and prowess. Massachusetts has been active in literary lines as well as in the political and military. Massa¬ chusetts writers hold a very important place in the literary world. Who has not heard of that illustri¬ ous group, the members of which were such inti¬ mate neighbors? The kind, thoughtful Emerson; the nature-loving Thoreau; Bronson Alcott, the impractical; his daughter, Louisa, who was the sun¬ shine of the whole neighborhood, all blended into the atmosphere of Concord and Massachusetts. To another group belonged Longfellow, Whittier and Holmes, all writers of great merit. The famous preacher, Wendell Phillips, and the evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, may be mentioned with this lit¬ erary group. Future generations will see the merit of present day writers, although our contempor¬ aries show remarkable abilities. Some of the best known are Henry Cabot Lodge, Bliss Perry and the late Geo. W. Cable. Turning rather abruptly, but still on the sub¬ ject of books, let us consider the number and standing of our schools and colleges. When the Puritans came to this country one of the first things they did was to build churches and schools. As a result Massachusetts has some of the best schools and colleges in the land. In 1636, only six years aft¬ er Boston was founded, the Massachusetts legisla¬ ture voted 400 pounds to found a college at New- towne, what is now Cambridge. This was the first body in which the people by their representatives ever gave their own money to found a place of edu¬ cation.” Although Harvard is the oldest and largest, there are many others of high standard: Williams, Amherst, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe and Smith. There are several technical schools and innumerable high schools, seminaries, and acad¬ emies. Massachusetts may boast of ten normal schools. The public school system is not excelled in the country. Massachusetts is not naturally an agricultural state, only nine per cent of its laborers being em¬ ployed on farms. Therefore, its great source of

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THE EXPONENT 5 Yet, excepting our authors and considering only the common variety of American joke, the British, who should be the people if any to under¬ stand our slant of humor, think us very crude and coarse. Still, we -often have difficulty in understand¬ ing the English type of joke which seems so very fiat and dull. If environment has more to do with character rather than heredity, it must be our rough wilderness of a country with its elemental imperfections that has produced such a low-toned race as ours. Gilbert Chesterton, in speaking of Americans and their humor, cites the following anecdote w r hich he says, few Englishmen would appreciate. It happened that while he was traveling in this country during the recent World war, he saw a war poster depicting an American doughboy run¬ ning a bayonet through a great fat German. Under¬ neath the picture was the inscription: “Mr. Brit- ling Sees It Through.” Mr. Chesterton said that there were not many Englishmen who would rec¬ ognize that as the title of a book by a man of their own race, and that in addition, the apparent vul¬ garity of the joke would disgust them. Even among ourselves, there is a strange dif¬ ference of opinion as to what is really humorous. Our elders are comparatively unanimous in their consideration of “the giggling schoolgirl.” Her mind is filled with silly nonsense at which it is far too degrading to laugh. But on the other hand, what one of you, classmates, has not m-ore than once attempted to fathom some evidently face¬ tious remark of your parents? It is clear that an exact definition of humor depends upon the point of view. American humor, however, does fall into sev¬ eral distinct divisions, each popular with a certain class of people. One type of moving picture furn¬ ishes a rip-roaring entertainment to the admirers of an obvious joke. Charlie Chaplin and his throw¬ ing of custard pies is a standard laugh-producer. The very broadness of this kind of joke often brings laughter from people who ordinarily think it vulgar. A dry humor with a sharp tang to it pleases many. It is invigorating like fresh, salt air, and sometimes necessitates a close search between the lines in order to be found. Nevertheless, the re¬ ward for the hunting is a quiet, usually silent, laugh of enjoyment. Washington Irving, knowing the value of this sort of humor, gained an easy, dignified style part¬ ly because he dealt with subjects that were in themselves interesting, but for the most part be¬ cause he introduced into his stories an abundance of this silent humor. Oliver Wendell Holmes, fol¬ lowing in his footsteps, has inserted among his seri¬ ous paragraphs, dry chuckles which lighten the heavy weight of his philosophizing. A thorough search of practically any page in his “Autocrat of the Breakfast Table” reveals some suclv half- whimsical thought hidden among the more ponder¬ ous material. Quite different from this, is the simple joke that relies upon its narrator for success. It is not dry humor but dry humorist that causes laughter. The words, if spoken in an ordinary manner are entirely devoid of the comical; but when coupled with the serious features of the speaker and his apparent lack of humor, the situation becomes ludicrous. Then too, there is the anecdote whose suc¬ cess depends not upon the narrator, and not upon the words which are in themselves commonplace, but upon the circumstances that build up the back¬ ground. There is the story of the old Scotchman and his wife who were so pitifully poor that they managed to keep alive only by the strictest econo¬ my. One morning, the old man did not wake up at his usual hour, and his wife on trying to rouse him, found him dead. She stumbled out to the stairway and called down over the banisters, “Sary! Sary! Only wan egg this mornin’, please.” This illustrates also, the fact that some jokes are not always of a rc-of-raising humor—that they may even contain a pathetic element. There is something indefinable about a joke containing a play on words that makes its origin¬ ator much more adept at fun-making than the com¬ mon herd. Such a joke is most certainly one of the class which relies not on the setting but on the words themselves for its effect. As soon as the twist in meaning dawns on the listener, the sharp burst of laughter proves how sudden and unexpect¬ ed was this ' onslaught of cleverness. Sometimes rather deep thought is needed to get the full force of the humor, but the following joke is a very simple example of this type. One evening, a man and his wife were sitting by the fireside talking over the day’s events, when the man said, “Oh, by the way, I saw a stunning dress in a shop-window today. Just youi kind, I should say.” “Why didn’t you go buy it?” his wife asked. He replied, “I did go by it.” It may be that I have neglected to mention all of the types of our American humor, but when one gets right down to it, what does an enumera¬ tion of such divisions matter? Humor is humor, whatever its form and wherever it may be found. Its value as the seasoning of life cannot be too highly estimated; and its absence in any human being cannot be too deeply lamented.