Lyman Hall High school - Singer Chronicle Yearbook (Wallingford, CT)

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THE CHRONICLE 7 THOMAS DOWNEY. Three years ago last September, when the class of 1917 entered the Wallingford High School, it seemed at first to an inexperienced teacher like a large group of boys and girls more or less alike. Almost immediately however, the very good and the very annoying, the conscientious and the careless differentiated themselves. Of that one hundred and twenty strangers the knowing individual personalities was a slow process. I remember that one of the first of those strangers whom I noticed as an individual was a boy who always looked happy and smiling. I remember that he, Thomas Downey, came to me one day to talk over his work. What he said, I do not recall, but I do remember thinking almost with surprise—because I had been struggling with the careless ones— here is a boy who cares to do good work, who wants to learn and who Avill put his best effort into learning. That impression made upon me then, Thomas Downey made upon each teacher who was privileged to know him. He was faithful and ambitious as a student, which characteristics alone would have made him a valuable and happy member of our school. But beyond that, his influence among his fellow students and with his many other friends was powerful because of his good nature, his cheer, his love of fun and his strength for the right. His comrades knew him ever ready for fun, willing to help in the clean jokes that are an important feature of school life, but withal his teachers found him frank, sympathetic, helpful, appreciative of legitimate fun and a boy

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6 THE CHRONICLE Ihere was, of course, a host of those who criticized, who condemned Mary Lyon. The cry was then as it is today: “This will take womc«. away from the home.” But she knew better. She knew the joy that comes from lives which are lived widely, strongly, nobly and she kn w. loo. that anything that leads women upwards can not but be better, that life on the hill-top is better than life in the valley. It is difficult for us to think of a time when education was a thing denied to women, when a girl who had ambition to better herself, to rise above her environment was scorned, laughed at. There was not opportunity given to women for culture and self-improvement. The only -chools open to them confined their curriculum to a pattering of French, a smattering of music and a dab of painting. For a girl who seriouslv wished to improve herself there was no chance. We for whom education made so easy, so pleasant, do not realize our advantages, we do not thuik how much we owe to those pioneers of education. Mary Lyon was fortunate in her time of life. She had the good fortune to be born just at the right time to accomplish her ambitions. People were just awaking to an interest in the every day world, a second Renais-j'MW- They were beginning to question, to experiment, to advance and Mary Lyon was the one to lead the way in her particular line. She saw that women could not hope to take their rightful place in the world unless given equal opportunities with men. Before her time woman had been loied upon as something useful, certainly, in the home, and perhaps ornamental. but having no ability or desire to take part in the larger scheme of things. But even at that period, Marv Lyon was so much ahead of her time in ner ideas that she could find few who could fully appreciate what her aim «'a- and what it meant to women in general. But no obstacles were too great for her will power and perseverance. Her magnetic personality won many people who had come to criticize, to go away fully convened to the higher education of women and to contribute largely to the advancement of her plan. But even Man,- Lyon’s endid optimism sometimes came in contact with small-minded people who are often those who could accomplish the most. Once she had made a ong journey to lay her plans before a family of wealth and influence. On her return, empty handed, she said thoughtfully. “Yes, it is all true. J-: as 1 was told. They live in a costly house, it is full of costly things, they wear costly dothes.—but oh, they’re little bits of folks!” How much he spent of herself, her time, health and money, no one v, eve- know. But at last she saw Mt. Holyoke open its doors in 183,“, a pioneer institution. Mary Lyon was not the first to hear the call for higher education of women but she was the one who gave it its first rea birth. She saw that women were face to face with a new period in tnetr growth, a crisis, and it was her purpose to prepare them to meet it. anc to fit themselves for the lives of wider service which lay before them. And - Mary Lyon lived her life: a life glorious in the light of service and devotion, a pioneer leading the way toward the highest goals in the rid i The gr wth of human souls. Man- Lyon and her work will live e as -ne'e - one institution for women and one woman who carries her high ideals of service and self-sacrifice in her heart. KATHERINE RIGGS

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8 THE CHRONICLE to he trusted. Many tributes to his strong and happy personality have been spoken by dozen of his friends. Again and again a fellow student of his has said to me, “I can not remember ever seeing Tom without a smile and a cheerful word.” That is a wonderful tribute that could be so sincerely given to very few people. The classmates and friends of Thomas Downey have a deep duty and responsibility of being worthy the privilege they have in knowing him. To be worthy friends of him means sincere effort to be faithful in work, to be frank, kindly, helpful to all and to stand firmly for the right. All the members of the class of 1917 should start on in the world at graduation with a nobler courage and a higher ambition because of the example lived by the friend they have made and loved and miss temporarily from their midst. ALBERTA N. LATHAM “SALLY LUNN.” The Senior Play, “Sally I unn,” was presented before an appreciative and enthusiastic audience Friday night, June 8, in the Town Hall. The cast, one and all, did full justice to their parts, and brought frequent applause. Harold Stearns, as the student, brought the house down with his “I am it’s.” Katharine Riggs as “Sally” seemed a born stutterer. Ben Altschuler and Katherine Pattee played their parts with real enthusiasm, and added much life to the play. Much praise is due to Miss Fowler, the coach and to Miss Droney, who assisted her. The cast of characters is as follows: Mrs. Randolph (Sally Lunn).........................Katherine Riggs Leo Randolph (a school boy of seventeen) .............Harold Stearns Marjorie Randolph (a Smith College girl) .........Katherine Pattee John Randolph, (a student at Yale)................John Hennessey Mrs. Winslow, Aunt Penelope..................... Frances Wooding Vivian Winslow, her daughter (a girl who never did a wrong thing in her life) ........................Grace Reilly Morton Glyn (John’s classmate at Yale) ............Motoh Altschuler Teacher to student who had failed in recitation: “Have you studied your lesson?” Student: “I looked it over”. Teacher: “By looking it over, you must have overlooked it.”