Guilford High School - Rostrum Yearbook (Guilford, ME)

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THE ROSTRUM 7 to laugh at the little old couple falter- ing down the aisle. They don't seem to realize that someday they will be old, too, and they wouldn't want to be laughed at. The man is so- gallant and polite, and the lady is so sweet and old-fashioned. They have candy, too and the little lady is wearing flowers on her shabby coat. Prob- ably this is a celebration of their an- niversary o-r a birthday. Anyway they are very happy. The lady in black looks sad. She must have lost someone, and by the way she looks at the tiny old couple, it must be 'her husband. How everyone likes Mickey Mouse! Even those who think it childish sometimes forget themselves and laugh as loudly as the pest over there with the hearty horse-laugh. One of the ladies in front of me has read the book , and it's really very annoying. Shels the bore who was telling that story before the movies. She must be very tiresome to know. And ho-w all the ladies gasp and sigh at the hero, from the little girls with the dolls to- the mighty social leaders. ' And how different and rested ev- eryone looks when he comes out of the theatre. After all, there are many kinds off people, but they are all a part of the same play. Betty Moulton '37 HAPPINESS This is something that many people wish for but only a few attain. It seems to me that happiness is the greatest thing in life. There are many different kinds of happiness. You can find happiness in a palace and you can also find it in the lowest Shovel you ever saw. Happiness can be found in the very simple things of life. The birds are happy in the summer time when there is plenty for them to eat, and their little ba- bies are fast growing up. The cows are happy when they are turned out to pasture and they can roam about exactly as they please. These are all examples of pure happiness. Of course when a person seems to be getting a whole lot M so called hard knocks , then it isn't quite as easy to be happy. My motto- is, however, face it with a smile . Let me show you some more exam- ples of this thing called happiness. It is about 7 o'clock in the evening. The scene is a very rich mansion in New York City. Let us look in for a minute upon Miss Helen Astor, who is in her dressing room with her maid preparing for her debut. She seems very happy as she powders her nose and sings, then laughs and 'talks to herself. This is happiness. The scene changes, we find our- selves way down in the suburbs of New York. Here is ia broken-down apartment house. There are chil- dren playing around outside the door, dirty and ragged. It is one of the worst slum sections of New York. We go up the long flights of stairs and finally knock on one of the doors. A nice motherly lady opens the door and asks me in. I look around the room and see that although it is very bare, it is clean. The children all seem happy and although rather poorly dressed are neat and clean. Finally she says, I am so happy , and all the time her face was beam- ing as she said it. Then she went on. Johnnie is better , and with he1' hands clasped together she said, Fred has got his old job back . Even in those surroundings happi- ness could be found. So you see it matters not where you are or who you are, happiness can be found. Marguerite Herring '35

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6 THE ROSTRUM to everyone I met.-Oh, you suggest that we end? All right, we'll end this nonsense. What could possibly be better than a big romping dog or a co-cky Scottie? Or just a playful mongrel? Or a big soft cat, lazy at times, very playful at others? They're nice, even at the cost of scratched or bitten hands, don't you think so? Or do you? Velma Brasier '36 PEOPLE This is my favorite seat-this one in the back row--Jbecause here I can watch people. It's fascinating to just sit back and watch the many varieties of folks that all gather here under the same roof for the same purpose, a few hours of relaxation. It is interesting to notice how they act under different circumstances, to imagine what these people would 'be like if I knew them. For instance, look at those little boys running up and down the aisle. They are just bursting with vitality and mischief. Their mother was probably greatly relieved to be rid of them for a little while. And how amusing those two little girls with the dolls are. But the poor little girl back of them looks so wistful and they know it, too. Chil- dren can be so cruel sometimes, al- most as mean as some adults. They might at least smile at her. The little brother and sister down there are cute. Their mother looks so embarrassed, but everyone else is laughing at them. She must be bringing them for the first time. There, that's-the third time those men have changed their seats. They wouldn't do that if they were alone, though. Did you ever notice that when anyone comes alone he usually makes a dash for a certain seat, and doesn't move again? I think he feels conspicuous for some reason. There come those two ladies that ignored us when we spoke to them to- day. They act as if it were painful to move among us common people, but I don't think they even see any- one below them. Look at their jew- els! And their furs must have cost a small fortune. Probably they're social leaders in this town. The hat that girl has on is new. I can just tell by the way she walks. People carry themselves so confident- ly when they have on something new, don't they? All these women in front of me are having a lovely time go-ssiping. They say she actually ..,... ...... and it had green silk .... We were going, but he ..,... What would women do, though, if they couldn't get together like that and gossip? The lady in the blue and silver hat is relating something that she seems to think quite interesting, but doesn't her companion look bored! Why will people, especially women, try to monopolize coversation with some- thing that is of no interest except to themselves? But of course, on the other hand, the lady who is listening should at least try to seem interested. There's a lot in being a good listen- er . The lady two aisles down is cer- tainly the soul of industry. She must believe in getting things done, even as far as bringing her crochet- ing to the movies. I know if I went into her house I would find it neat and run like clockwork. But it would be homey, too. She has such a warm, lfriendly face. The man reading a newspaper is a hurried business man. There is something in the way he sits which tells that he is tired, and that these few hours must be heaven to him. I think it is ignorant of those boys

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8 THE ROSTRUM WHAT IS TACT? Being only a high school student, I don't pretend to know all that there is to know about this very deep and complex subject. There are many angles and viewpoints to be consid- ered when one is writing on tact. It is impossible to say, truthfully, that tact is a good thing in every sense of the word: and it is as equally impos- sible to say that it is a poor thing. Where the exact truth of the matter lies, it is hard tzo say, but probably 'between the two extremes. One well-known fo-rm of tact is that which is employed in all politi- cal campaigns. Everyone is doubt- lessly familiar with the baby-kiss- ing politicians who go around all summer making rash promises. Most people usually believe that a large part of a politician's campaign sounds something like this: How-do-you-do, madam. My, what a lovely baby you have there! He is the living image off you. What's his name? Percival, you say? Why, what a coincidence! My own little son at home is named Percival. Dear little Percy! How I do long to see him. fAt this point he sniffs and wipes his eyes.J Do you mind if I madam? Csmack, smackl kiss him, Good-day, madam. I'm glad to have met you,-er, by the way, here is my card. Yes, I am running for Con- gress this year. If I am elected, Ii intend to see that all mothers are compensated for their trials and trib- ulations. I stand for the women's rights. And so he goes on down the street, muttering, Co-ntemptible brat! He drooled all over my necktie. Madam will proceed on her way homeward and will convince all the members of the 'household and of her fbridge club to vote for that nice Mr. So-and-So, whom she meets on the street. Then Mr. So-and-So stops his 16- cylinder car at a farm house and has a little chat with Paw Perkins. Of icourse, as Paw is the only one around there who knows anyt'hing about politics, Maw and Elmer, who has just passed 21, and the hired man and his wife will all vote for that city guy that was so interested in the crops, and who is standing for the rights off the farmers . Of course, when the gentleman is elected, it never occurs to him to keep the promises he made all summer. That form of tact is decidedly a poor thing. The person who employs that form o-f tact wherein he makes promises that he never intends to keep, is getting himself into deep wa- ter, because some day there will come a day of reckoning. Consequently, some people believe that tact is merely another form of lying, but it isn't and should not be classed as such. Tact, in the true sense of the Word, is an art. It is the ability of some people to persuade others to their way of thinking with- out arousing antagonism. They have that delicate sense of discrimi- nation that allows them to make their words and actions invariably agreeable to their associates. Tact in this sense, is a characteristic very rarely found in the common person. A person so gifted should consider himself indeed fortunate, for it is a trait that tends to make one success- ful in life, regardless of occupation. iThus, the conclusion might be drawn that tact is a desirable thingy but that the word is misrepresented, in that it is used to define graft and corruption that could more properly be called prevarication. Cleo Bishop '35