Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Schu- bert, Mendelssohn, Wagner, and many others. I wonder if there is any other country that can equal Germany in producing the most wonderful music that has ever been heard. Scientifically, Germany gave to the world Leibnitz, who invented calculus; Schieiden and Schwann, who established the cell theory in plants and animals; Pander and Von Baer, who worked out the his- tory of mammalian embryo: and the most recent of the scientists, who has recently visited this country, is Ein tein, about whom we all know. There are also many chemists, phy- sicists, and philosophers of the first rank who are Germans. Germany’s rich literary contribu- tion is almost a hidden treasure to some. The popular epic of medie- val times, the “Nibelungenlied,” which portrays Teutonic life, is still, however, a favorite classic among us today. More recently the name of Goethe, one of Germany’s most distinguished poets, and also that of Schiller have thrilled the world. Among her educators may be mentioned Von Holst, professor of American history in the University of Chicago, who has left an endur- ing monument in his “Constitutional History of the United States.” A very recent development in education should not fail to receive mention, that of the interchange of professors, a practise greatly en- couraged by Emperor William of Germany. This has led to the ex- change of teachers and students as well and is being todav advocated as a means of promoting interna- tional peace. Passing from the highest grade of education to the lowest, but by no means the least in importance, we come to the kindergarten, a German institution, founded by a lover of the young, Friedrick Froe- bel. The first kindergarten at- tempted in this country was in Wis- consin by a German woman in 1855. Now there is a kindergarten in al- most every town and state. Gymnastics were introduced in Germany in the first quarter of the eighteenth century by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. He wished to see men independent and vigorous in body and in mind. Beck, one of his followers, having been exiled from his country, arrived in Ameri- ca and was appointed a teacher in Northampton, Massachusetts, and under his direction there was erect- ed at once the Round Hill Gymna- sium at Harvard. Now every col- lege requires that a student take physical exercise for at least one semester. Thus the beginning of gymnastic work in America was by a German. Thus the German traits have united the various formative ele- ments of the people more securely and more harmoniously. As one writer states, “In common with Eng- lish stock of England and America, ism, the origin of education, music and art; he shares with the Scot a keen sense of duty: he touches the Irish with his emotional nature, his joy of living, and his sense of hu- mor; and thus linking the great na- tional elements together, the Ger- man provides genuineness, virility, and aspiration.” ART IN OLD IPSWICH Ruth W. Beals Many of those persons who vis- ited the new Burnham Art Galleries last summer were surprised to learn 25

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on industry, sound learning, and ' high morals. It is sad to see the scorn of this generation for that generation of 1631 which was cho- sen by God to be the rock on which American life is built. The concep- tion of progress has changed. The classical education fostered, devel- oped, and sustained English and American Puritanism. Their educa- tion sent them out to battle for ideals, social principles, and a new theory of life. Is it too late to knit into a glorious whole the heritage of the past with the accomplish- ments of the present? As we go forth into our modern world, let us take with us the facts which we have gathered here these last four years, given us with patience and generosity by those who have in- structed us and adding to them a desire to use them, not as ends, but as means, to attain to objectives as high as the Puritan objectives and by so doing we will live worthy of those sturdy men. whose descend- ants we are, fulfilling and not be- traying their traditions. Judged by his own standard the Puritan was imperfect. Judged by ours he was imperfect, but he came closer to his than any other group has come to its standards. In his- tory it is unfair to judge other peo- ple and times by our ideas. In con- demning the Puritans as a whole we should be more intolerant than they and much less intelligently so. Peo- ple may say, “Thank God the Puri- tans are dead,” but they know lit- tle about the true Puritans. Let us hope that the Puritan spirit is still alive. If we can ask ourselves, “Shall we do as we ought to do and not as we want to do?” and feel a strong affirmative response stirring within us, we are Puritans. The Puritan spirit is still alive, and it will be a disastrous day for Amer- ica and for the rest of the world when it ceases to be. GERMANY’S CONTRIBUTION TO CIVILIZATION Fabian S. Ciolek With the reinstatement of the study of the German language in the schools and colleges of our land and the softening of the bitter feel- ings against Germany resulting from her part as played in the World War, the time has perhaps now come when it may be well to forget our hatred and to review the great and lasting contributions of Ger- many to civilization. Who has not heard of the famous scientist Ein- stein, or of the world-renowned “Zeppelin,” or of the famous musi- cians, Beethoven and Mozart ? Thus Germany has shown her influence in the social, cultural, and political fields. The social influence of the Ger- man element consists in the cultiva- tion of those arts which divert from the narrow path of selfish interest and material gain and which ele- vate, enoble. and increase the joy of living. Of all the influences of Germany, the influence of music has been lasting and supreme. She had founded an empire of music before she created a political em- nire. The civilized world of today is more deeply indebted to Germany than to any other nation for its rich heritage of classical music. The first orchestral director in Boston was the German pioneer, Graupner, often called “the father of Ameri- can orchestral music.” Some of the well-known figures from the assem- blage of musical geniuses which have never been equaled are Bach, 24

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that Ipswich claimed so many ar- tists. It is no wonder artists are attracted to this historic and beau- tiful town, for there are natural beauties here which must appeal strongly to a person of artistic tem- perament. Our Puritan forefathers, strug- gling to gain independence, had lit- tle time to think of art. Their seeming neglect of the fine arts is often attributed to the harshness and austerity of Puritan nature ; yet as a matter of fact they did not ne- glect art. They were lovers and creators of beauty. Within their old homes we find beauty every- where in such things as the hand- hewn beams, the paneled walls, the simple beauty of the staircase, and even in the slope of the roof. They might not have recognized art as we understand it, yet all these things they did prove our forefath- ers were lovers of beauty. Art as art, however, was some- thing entirely new to the Ipswich tradition, appearing for the first time in the latter part of the 19th century. As late as 1850 house painters also did portrait painting. It is reported that when artists first started painting, the assessors tried to levy taxes on the artists’ sketches, asserting their work was a trade. The French art schools learning of this thought Ipswich a survival of the Da rk Ages, for they did not know a community could live with- out knowledge of the fine arts. Professor Arthur Wesley Dow was the first in Ipswich to adopt art as a profession. After several years of study in the French schools, successful exhibits in the Paris Sa- lon, where he received honorable mention in competition with such men as John Singer Sargent and James McNeil Whistler, and this followed by several years of suc- cessful teaching in colleges and uni- versities, he returned to his native Ipswich and here began his summer school of art. Professor Dow was fortunate in possessing the art of teaching art. Thus his influence was greatest in training teachers of art, and his methods have done much to revolutionize the teaching of art in schools and colleges. For several years his summer school was conducted with great success, pu- pils — both students and teachers of art — coming from all parts of the country. There are still several hundred art teachers who received their training in Ipswich. Mr. Dow’s first classes were held in a little studio in the Caldwell Block, and his pupils were taken in an omnibus to the outlying dis- tricts to sketch. Mrs. MacArthur, late wife of Dr. MacArthur, was a member of this original group. She became an artist of considerable merit. Before her marriage Mrs. Henry Kenyon also studied at the summer school. She has since done excellent work as a painter of por- traits, especially of children. The Misses Bates were also pupils of Professor Dow. They settled in Ips- wich and built their home, “Red- ledge.” Also of this group is Miss Harriet Condon, who has devoted her life to art. Later as the classes increased Mr. Dow took up his quarters in the Old Emerson House on Turkey Shore Road. One year ago the late Mrs. Dow conveyed this property to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. It was in that quaint old house that the classes were continued until finally Mr. Dow built his studio on Bayberry Hill. A group of artists not Ipswich - 26