Manchester High School - Somanhis Yearbook (Manchester, CT)

Page 20 text:

20 SOMANHIS EVENTS of the four class presidents, the managers of track, baseball and basketball, the presidents of the boys’ and girls’ debating clubs, the editor and man- ager of “Somanhis Events”, and representatives from the rifle club and or- chestra, have met with the Principal to talk over and discuss problems which confront the school and which concern the welfare of every student. It seems just and fair that the students should have a voice in the government of the school. This year we have made a start on a democratic form of government, but a great deal is left undone which we hope will be taken up next year and carried out successfully. Underclassmen: All this year you have worked shoulder to shoulder with us, each with the same objective: to make S. M. H. S. a winning school, mentally, morally and physically. See to it that when you stand where we are standing today, your conscience be not troubled because of a weakness or backsliding in study. No doubt there are many in the class of 1922 who regret not having done their best while here, and who would like the chance, if it were possible, to do better; but it is too late. You have that chance still open to you: do not hesitate; choose the difficult but higher course, and you will not regret having done so when your opportuni- tv comes to leave the school. Freshmen: Your class has shown great promise this year. The spirit you showed throughout the year is the right kind to produce a winning school. Keep it up next year, Sophomores: You have met and fulfilled your duties this year with credit. Next fall vou will take up the responsibilities of upper classmen. Be prepared to fulfill those responsibilities to the best of your ability. Juniors: Your support of the school in the last year has been highly commendable. Next year you will be handing on your Senior responsibili- ties to the class below, therefore give serious thought to the duties before you. Try out for the teams next year: give them financial aid; attend the games; be a real sport, and S. M. H. S. need never fear defeat. Remember that our school paper, “Somanhis Events,” represents our school in all the leading high schools in the country. We are justly proud of the high standard it has attained, and we rely upon you for its support in the future: subscribe for it; contribute to it with articles, poems, and jokes. It must have the support of the school if it is to continue. In keeping up the stan- dard of the school you will be fulfilling a serious duty, which will give you a feeling of pride and satisfaction at the time of your parting from S. M. HS: Classmates: We have only a short time left together within the friendly old walls of S. M. H. S. All our lives we shall look back, and talk over the good times we had in our four years of high school. We have planted the ivy today, a symbol of growth and expansion. As in the ivy, a single tendril starts its life in the world, growing and climb- ing to greater heights, so we shall soon begin our career in the world. And, classmates, as we depart let us resolve to keep ever before us the standards we have maintained during the past four years, that we may be a credit to our homes, our friends, and our school. Collis Goslee '22.

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SOMANHIS ‘EVENTS 19 CLASS SONG 1922 Now after four years of study, Four years of work and of fun, We leave these dear walls forever, Our duty here being done. Ne’er shall we e’er forget you, Here life has always been gay. Sometimes our tasks seemed perplexing, But happy were we each day. Here's where we never knew troubles, Never knew sorrow or care, But now as life’s pathways we travel, Each his own burden must bear. Here's where we built our foundation Whereon our future depends. We'll think of you e’er with devotion As the path of life for us asce nds. CHORUS The Class of '22 must leave you We now have new work to do. But classmates whatever you undertake We will be loyal to you; At every game and for every cause You'll find us staunch to the last; So keep the standard always high As ’22 has in the past. Words by: Music by: Beulah Brown ‘22 Dorothy Hanson 22 Clifford Symington ‘22 Fred Rogers ’22 IVY ORATION. Undergraduates: It is with both joy and sadness that the class of 1922 takes its farewell of you. In a few days we shall be leaving the familiar halls of South Manchester High School to join the ever increasing ranks of the Alumni. During our four years in this school we have endeavored to keep clean, and to raise the standard of the school, both in school work, which should always come first, and also in our organizations; the Debating Clubs, Glee Clubs, Radio Club, Rifle Club, Dramatic Club, and the Hi-Y Club. Of ath- letics little need be said, for we all know the remarkable record which the representatives of our school made in the basketball season. Although they have not made such a brilliant showing as our basketball team, the base- ball and track-teams have worked faithfully this year with noticeable suc- cess, and we hope to see a wonderful season for both track and baseball next year. As further proof of our endeavor to expand and grow, S. M. H. S. last fall adopted a plan of student government. A student council comprised

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SOMANHIS EVENTS 21 THE ART OF APPRECIATION You may not be an artist, but if you are capable of appreciating a real work of art, you do possess a genius which is very much akin to art it- self. There are persons whose unfailing sympathy and understanding make them generally beloved by all with whom they come in contact, and, with- out doubt, these people are the salt of the earth. What pleasure would there be in painting a splendid picture, in producing beautiful music, in giv- ing relief to those who need it—in doing anything worth while—if there were not someone who appreciated it! A little observation will reveal the fact that most artists are unappre- ciative. They frequently appear bored to the point of rudeness when the work of some fellow artist is being discussed, and are apt to receive an es- pecial favor with the merest thanks, accepting it only as a matter of course. The necessity of continually thinking about himself, and of how he is going to gain more recognition, and of what he is going to do with himself should anyone else get ahead of him, makes an artist a trifle self-centered, egotis- tical, and blind to the merits of others. When we consider the thousands in the profes sion, each with his own ambitions and jealousies, we wonder that he can withstand this tremendous amount of rivalry and competition and keep any of his fundamental good-nature! Then, too, the artist is markedly tempermental. Tradition assigns him this trait; but what makes him so? Do we realize the enormous amount of energy, enthusiasm, and stick-to-it-iveness needed to complete a picture of genuine worth? For weeks the artist has to search for inspiration and fill his mind with visions, and even while transferring his impressions to can- vas he must keep his emotions at white heat, or the work loses life,— ex- pression. Naturally all this leaves him worn and fagged, and without the surplus energy to enthuse over another's talents. Thus his power of ap- preciation is dulled thru sheer fatigue. He needs someone without jealousy or biased feeling to give the praise that is due. That “someone” is the non- professional confidante who possesses no art but that of appreciation. Dolly Madison was a woman of this desirable type. She was exceed- ingly popular in her vast circle of friends and acquaintances because of a good-natured, compassionate, self-forgetting trend of character. It made her a great help to her husband, James Madison, who was burdened with numerous duties and affairs of state throughout his political career. After a par ticularly harassing day he would attend one of Mrs. Madison's informal little drawing-room parties, listen to her animated chatter, and “emerge refreshed,” as he put it, to begin another round of duties. Everyone today knows more or less about music; nine out of every ten persons can play at least one musical instrument or sing to some kind of an accompaniment. But a comparatively small percent of the people of the United States enjoy or understand the classics. There are the familiar “orchestra circles” at concert or opera who at- tend mainly to keep up appearances or to show off their clothes. After se- curing the most expensive and conspicuous seats in the house, they give themselves over the pleasure of being bored. Think of the trills, and