Manchester High School - Somanhis Yearbook (Manchester, CT)

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20 SOMANHIS EVENTS the women that the crops which fed the soldiers at the front were harvested. In short, they have engaged in every kind of work possible for them to under- take and have succeeded admirably. In many cases the overwork and the over- strain proved too great, and they gave their lives for the cause of France. Anxiety, the heaviest of all their burdens, they bore courageously. They de- iighted in the sweet work of doing good and their hearts were just as staunch as those of their loved ones with whom they had parted. This fact may be well illustrated by a story told of a French officer who was obliged to announce to a poor old lady the death of her son.. Trying to calm the grief-stricken mother the officer told her that she must remember that her son died saving France. ‘‘Ah!” she replied, “only tell me Monsieur L’ officier that we shall save France and I shall weep no more.” This touching story goes to show that even the supreme sacrifice was willingly made if it were only done in supporting the noble cause. Nevertheless, under this heavy veil of optimism a certain seriousness existed and exists even today. The French realize what the disaster of war has cost them. In approximately every home there is sorrow. They know only too well what the deaths of those valiant soldiers mean to the nation in the future. They mourn and weep for them, but console themeslves with the knowledge that they died for France. Now that France has emerged victoriously from this great war it is the sincere hope of all civilized countries that she will attain her former prosperity and be the beacon light for the cause of justice and democracy throughout the world. Helen F. Kelleher, ’19. K OUR NATIONAL SPORT ATTER-R-R-UP!” | The ring of the umpire’s voice echoes around the Bh field. The crowd gathers closer, anxiously awaiting w hat come next. The masked man behind the bat bends low, his eyes on the pitcher, while the pitcher with great precision fingers the ball and sizes up the man at the bat. This latter stands impatiently awaiting the throw. Some of the men on the field are hurling encouraging remarks at the pitcher, while others, support the batter in their enthusiasm. Everyone, spectator and player, is much excited and watches with amazing interest the movements of the players. “Play Ball’— yells the umpire. Swift as a streak of lightning the ball whizzes from the pitcher, the batter tries to hit it and fails, for the greedy hands of the masked catcher hold it fast. “One strike!” bawls the umpire. There is no need to describe the game any further, for there is no one who does not know baseball and who has not seen, if not participated in, a game. But when baseball started about sixty years or so ago, the game looked very different. A newspaper in 1859 reports a game that was played at Hoboken, N. J. So much was thought of it at the time that a two page picture of the game was printed also. In those days, something unusual, like a Fourth of July celebra- tion, had to take place, as a cause for a game. The reason for this game was to entertain some Englishmen of high rank who were visiting here.

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«4 SOMANHIDIS EVENTS 19 American steel in the form of bullets and bayonet, or shaping that same steel into ships for the great navy that made it possible for us to win our victory. Art has in these various ways helped to make the world a safe place to live in. It has helped to destroy the most contemptible and stupendous dream that ever stalked forth from the nethermost caverns of human imagination. We have wrestled with that dream and overcome it. We have our own vision of human rights with justice as a master, and everywhere room for the free flower- ing of all that makes life worth living. For this high ideal many have sacrificed their lives, and art, I think, has done her best. Leonard H. Johnson, °19. K X £HAG SPIRE OF FRANCE INCE the invasion of France by the Hun in that memorable August of 1914, ) the unconquerable spirit of France has won the admiration of the world. Although France has made bitter sacrifices during the recent war, never- theless her spirit has been indomitable. And what is the French spirit? It is an inborn love of liberty, an unyielding courage to bear suffering without com- plaint and, under all vicissitudes, a manifestation of cheerfulness. They have proven themselves a people with a soul above suffering, and i t is with this quality and their veneration for their own glory in arms that France was resolved upon the defeat of Germany. Though unprepared, she thoroughly understood the task set before her and did not rest until it was accomplished. Frivolity gave place to seriousness of thought and action. She became a bigger France, a more powerful France, a France ready to make sacrifice but resolved upon Victory. At the outset of the war the armies of invasion overran France spreading ruin and desolation over that fertile and peaceful country. Although gallantly defended by every ounce of strength that she then possessed, the loss of life, and the destruction of homes were appalling. Was the spirit of France broken then’ No, girding together the remnants of their battered forces, the French made one supreme effort at the battle of the Marne, and hurled back the in- vaders now broken and dispirited. Thus Paris, the heart of the nation, was saved, and new life and hope was given to the French army, and, above all, the world-wide cause of Democracy was saved. The spirit of France was again displayed at Verdun when for six months the flower of the German army with forty years of preparation, backed up with all the genius of German science and deviltry was successfully withstood. It was the spirit of France which turned the tide and gave birth to that immortal epigram, “Thou shalt not pass.’ This spirit was not confined to the noble defenders of France alone, but extended through all grades of social life. Every French patriot was inspired with the desire to do or die. The sacrifices of the French women are symbolic of this quality. They have proven themselves a thousand Joan of Arcs. They offered themselves as laborers in the factories and on the farms. It was largely due to the efforts of

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SOMANHIS EVENTS 21 The editor of the paper thoroughly explained the game and in the course of his account we read: “If the fielder cannot catch the batted bail and thus put the man ‘out,’ he may hurl the ball at the runner. If the runner is struck in this manner he is ‘out’.” The editor was not wrong when he made this state- ment for that was an actual fact. After the game became more popular, how- ever, this rule was abolished. The illustrations which accompanied this report showed to a greater degree the difference between modern baseball and baseball in the fifties. All the spec- tators are standing with the exception of those who occupy a few carriages. The umpire, however, is sitting calmly in the middle of the field, his chair tipped back, his legs crossed, appearing utterly oblivious of whatever remarks the onlookers may make. ‘The basemen instead of “playing off,” are standing with one foot on the base, and a base runner is “glued to third,” even though the pitcher is preparing to deliver the ball. Indeed, the entire scene would greatly astonish the baseball captain of today. Since then, the game has spread rapidly, not only over America but to Europe, Asia and Australia. Our national pastime is the greatest sport in the world! The war through which we have just come, has done much towards the spreading of baseball. The French adopted it as a means of improving their hand grenade throwing. When the Americans arrived in France the “‘poilus” noticed that our “dough boys” were able to throw grenades with much more ac- curacy and skill than they. So they decided to go to the root of the matter and find out where the reason for our superiority lay. They found the answer in “Baseball.” The Americans had been throwing baseball since they were big enough to hold the ball, and when it came to throwing grenades they found it an easy matter to prove superior to the French men, for the French are not natural throwers. The French, however, decided that their men must learn our way of throwing. Johnny Evers, who taught baseball “over there,’ says they learn very quickly, and he holds our bright prospects for the future. On the other hand, Christy Matthewson thinks that Mr. Evers is too optimistic. He does not see such a brilliant future for baseball in France. The French, he says, don’t like the idea of playing ‘‘catcher.” There seems to be something formidable and repulsive to the man who wears the mask and chest protector. “li you want the French to play a game” says Matty, “‘you’ve got to furnish the catcher.” They have shown ability at base-running, but you’ve got to put them on the bases to give themachance torun. “They can’t bat!” Despite all the difficulties, however baseball has worked its way into France, and it has made an impression on the French people that is bound to last. As a result of the war, England also, has been invaded by our national game. The English play stiffly and have a very dignified aspect. This is due to the English game “cricket”? which is played in very stately fashion. Last Fourth of July, the United States Army and Navy teams played a game in Eng- land. There was much cheering and yelling during the game, which the Navy won, with the score of 2 to 1. When the final stroke was given, the “rooters” for both sides filed on to the field amidst the yells and cheers of the crowd. Suddenly by some mysterious force, the lines of soldiers and sailors stood still