Lee Academy - Crescent Yearbook (Lee, ME)

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THE CRESCENT 15 spite of all these ditiiculties, the Canal will be opened during the Exposition this year. How many of us could ascertain from read- ing Milton's works that he was blind? It was only by sacrifices and privations that he was able to get his education and it seems that all his life he was handicapped in some way. He had literary inclinations but, because of his poverty, he could not devotemuch time to this. His domestic relations were very unpleasant. He worked almost day and night, and at the age of forty-four he lost his sight. lt was after this that he devoted all his time to literature. Even though handicapped with this burden- some misfortune, he dictated some of his most effective and most beautiful poetry to his daughters who were exceedingly unkind to him. Do we find any hint of discouragement in his poetry? iiAlthou5h not always cheerful, he was never melancholy. Who has not heard of Helen Keller who so miraculously surmounted the greatest of mis- fortunes? ls it not wonderful to say that al- though deaf, dumb, and blind, she has, with the help of Mrs. Macy, succeeded in taking a regular course in Radcliff College? XVhen Miss Keller was yet a child, Mrs. Macy taught her to converse with her hands. This was her me- thod of communication for many years but now she has learned to talk and goes around the country giving wonderful lectures. Of all the Americans who best represent Han nibal, what one is a better life for a model than that of Abraham Lincoln. Rearcd in the wilderness, living in poverty, and out of reach of the meagre schools the country then afford- ed, he grew into manhood. His mother taught him to read and he nursed a desire for books. He thought nothing of walking many miles to .U borrow a book,-for they were very scarce a- mong the poor people of those days,-and, after finishing his dayfs work, he would read by the fireplace until way into the night. In this way he acquired knowledge and was fast paving his way to fame. Because of his honesty he was called 'iHonest Abe, and it was the possession of this trait of character that lcd him to favor the slaves, who were being so cruelly treated at this time. He, as president of the United States, wisely led our country through the Civil War, which abolished slavery. This was a dark period for our nation, but Lincoln could foresee the results and made his plans accord- ingly. What man with right ideals could not raise himself to meet his ambitions? And how many, with much better opportunities than Lincoln had, are merely existing, and accom- plishing nothing worth while? We are all standing at the foot of high Alps, let us face our difficulties cheerfully, keeping in mind not our prevailing llardships, but the rewards that a1'e sure to come to the pcrsevering. HELEN JANE Tnask. 51112 Qllzws Qillllill. E IT remembered that we, the Senior class of Lee Academy, in the county of Penobscot, and state of Maine, being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be our last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by us made. First.-To our teachers, who, by their un- tiring work and interest in our welfare, have helped in so many ways to make our school

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14 THECRESCENT East Winn, and have the best of success as he will be his own chef. Let'sall patronizehim, for we will get our money's worth. Fate indeed, has been kind to me, for the French Fortune Teller has revealed to me the future of my nine classmates, all well settled in lifeg and thus I will leave them. LUDA GRACE HANscoM. Trans Qdpes I st Qltzrlizr. 'I ANY of us remember the story of Han- ' nibal's march through Spain and Gaul, Af! 7h across the lofty Alps into Italy. As long as there were no difficult passages, his soldiers marched along willinglyg but in order to get his army across the mountains, he was obliged to urge and encourage them almost con- tinually. Who, in the most favorable time of year, would attempt to climb these almost per- pendicular slopes-and least of all in the chill and snow? Yet Hannibal always borein mind his purpose, and thought, not of the difficulties he must overcome in reaching Italy, but of Italy itself. Encouraging his men by verbal pictures of the wonderful country, and explaining to them that the best known method of surmount- ing a diiiiculty was persistency, he kept them on the march, and almost before anyone was aware that the task was accomplished, they were standing on the top of the Alps, the great Acropolis of Italy. The Hannibal of the great war which meant independence to our country, was George Washington. Would we have held out against the English as long as we did without his advice? We all know the answer. There was no encouragement whatever in a winter like the one at Valley Forge, yet Washington seemed to be able to see a favorable outcome and he never despaired. When at last the turning point came, he did not lose his he td over the success, but still workecl for the nation's benefit. After being elected president, he set to work to pay off the war debt and better the conditions of the people. A little more than a century and a quarter has rolled by and our nation, like a wise Hannibal, is leading all other nations. Only a few centuries ago, it took weeks and weeks to carry messages across our conti- nent. Man after man devoted his entire time to an invention by which we might communi- cate more quickly with people thousands of miles away. Many years were spent in devis- ing the electric telegraph which at first extend- ed from Washington to Baltimore. How won- derful that seemed to people in those days! Now we not only send messages across the conti- nent. but also the oceans. We must not, how- ever, think this was easily accomplished. Mill- ions of dollars were spent, and often in vain, before encouraging results were obtained. An event in which we are all intensely in- terested is the opening of the Panama Canal. As early as 1520 much talk was made about connecting the Atlantic and Pacific, butnothing of any consequence was accomplished. But how eager the United States was to get posses- sion of the rights of excavation! Roosevelt seemed to see what could be done. In 1903, he purchased the rights, and immediately sent thousands of men and all kinds of modern ma- chinery which might hasten its completion. But, on account of the climate, it has been difficult to get laborers to go there. Iiandslides have often filled in a part recently excavated and the work must be performed a second time, perhaps only to be filled by another slide. In

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g 16 THE CRESCENT work not only pleasing but beneficial, we will and bequeath our highest praise and admiration Second.-To the trustees, who by their u- nited efforts have made our Academy course possible, we will and bequeath our respect and appreciation. Third.-To our parents, who have showed their greatest interest in our Academy training and who have deprived themselves of many things for our benefit, we willand bequeath our highest affection. Fourth.-To the Freshmen of said Lee Academy, knowing what that term signifies, we will and bequeath the green crepe paper-a part of our class colors-used in decorating the hall at this, our commencement. Fifth.-To the Sophomorcs, who are boast- ing of the biggest and best class in school, we will and bequeath one tube of Le Page's glue, in order that said class may be able to hold firm- ly to the masculine members of said class who are rapidly disappearing. In addition to said bequest, we will and bequeath the second edi- tion of Hawke, Luby and Tout-on's Algebra for post-graduate work, knowing the fondness of said class for this book. Sixth.-To the Juniors, who have been looking with anxious eyes at ourformer position in the Assembly room, we will and bequeath the first live seats in the Senior row, the re- maining section of said row to be reserved for all those of the opposite sex whom you, by your united efforts, are able to induce to join your lustrous class. Seventh.-To Mae Mildred Farrington , who since her arrival among us this year has broken all records for being tardy at said institution, we will and bequeath our large clock in the main room, together with two bottles of nitroglyee- rine and a stick of dynamite, with OU1' sincerest hopes that hereafter she may at least be present at the Friday morning exercises. Eight.-Having an unlimited supply of musical ability in our class,-especiallyin Page, Josie, etc..-we will and bequeath all said abil- ity tothe Sophomore boys, feeling that said boys are the only persons in school worthy of such a bequest. Ninth.-To the Freshmen boys, who in the past have worked diligently to gain places on the basket ball team, we will and bequeath ftllll'-SCVGI1tllS,7iZlllS being our share of said team,-to said Freshmen boys with the request that, if said Freshmen cannot fill those places, they be given to the players of the second Mod- el School team. Tenth.-To Verne NVilfred Lindsay, who lately has been climbing Mt. Jefferson once each day to recruit his failing health, we will and bequeath one large bow and one dozen ar- rows whicl1 will enable him to keep from being clawed ftllaudel by the lions fliyonsl whose abodes are in said mountain. lCleventh. 'l'o Minnie Alice Flanders, who this past year has taken so much interest in her English work,-especially the classics,'we will and bequeath all the remaining copies ofiilvan- hoe,'l feeling that she is the most trustworthy person upon whom to bestow such a bequest. Twelfth.--Because ofthe interest of some members of tl1is class in the other classes in school and because those interested will not be present hereafter to ca1'e for their interests, we will and bequeath Hazel Ardell Spencer to Robert Weatherbee, with the request that when he gets tuekered fTuckerl out, he spend all his leisure moments in caring for said bequest. Thirteenth,-'l'o Lillian Elsie Young, who