Lyndon State College - Northern Lights Yearbook (Lyndonville, VT)

Page 33 text:

31 THE VERLYN UNITS Before I came to Normal School my range of intelligence was very limited. 1 had never become acquainted with a unit. The unit we encounter in Normal School is a monstrous and terrifying Polyphemus scowling down at us out of his one awful, blood-red eye (which is the central theme) and defying us to come on and tackle him if we dare. An unusual, valiant Ulysses with a courageous spirit will now and then bravely plunge in, accepting the challenge, but most of us timidly ap- proach the giant’s hiding place with mortal fear in our hearts. If we are so fortunate as to blind this Polyphemus before he de- vours us, we still have to fear the boulders which the monster will hurl at our gallant ships when we are out at sea. In this case we are “out at sea’' in the teaching profession, trying dras- tically to apply these units we have made. To complete a unit means hours and weeks of bitter tor- ture — utter desperation, perspiration and resignation. I go in search of another girl to go skiing with me on a beautiful Sabbath afternoon. Nine times out of ten she is hunch-

Page 32 text:

THE VERLYN 30 CLASS POEM The time has come to say adieu, To Sanborn, Bean and school. Let’s pack our clothes and shut our books Our golden school days now are through. We lay aside our every tool And take our coats from off their hooks. Now let the year ring out its knell, These rooms our secrets ne’er will tell. For months together we have met In serious thought and aims so true But now we leave our well known tasks To follow out the path we’ve set. We’ve many things in life to do. So why not smile and go I ask? These happy years will not be lost In other work what e’er the cost. B. W. M. A. H.

Page 34 text:

32 THE VERLYN ed over her desk working on one of those infernal units. Furi- ously tearing at her hair and muttering wild ejaculations, she glares at me, the intruder, while I make a timid, yet hasty re- treat. I go home for a week-end, anticipating some degree of peace and rest. Saturday afternoon finds me sitting on the floor, submerged by a stack of magazines of all sizes and descriptions. With scissors in hand I am viciously slashing across the pages. My father enters the room and asks, “What are you doing?” Meekly I reply, “I am collecting pictures for my unit ’ “My great grandmother! What is a unit?” Stunned by his question I vain- ly fumble in my mind for the definition given for a unit. “A unit is” — I began confidently — “a unit is —” I stammer, “a unit is a big piece of work!” My father agrees with me. This giant Polyphemus has several brothers who are all alike in one respect. They each have the one glaring eye. How- ever. their bodies are very dissimilar. The Problem Polyphemus carries on his massive shoulders a gigantic head which is swelled far out of proportion to the rest of his body. He wears robes covered with a design of question marks. His forehead is deeply furrowed with dark wrinkles from much heavy pondering. Even more terrifying is the Fusion Polyphemus, with his bewildering scores ol arms ami legs, all of which are in motion at once. His clothes are of a motley and of gaudy hue. Never knowing in which direction to travel, he usually strides in dizzy circles. Undoubtedly there are other Unit giants we will meet later, but Ulysses is weary now and must return for rest in his native land. Before he launches forth on another voyage to attack a new Polyphemus he will need a gallanter crew and swifter ships. Ruth Walker