Manchester High School - Somanhis Yearbook (Manchester, CT)

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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

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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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22 SOMANHIS EVENTS thrills, and exquisite marvels of sound that pass “over their heads,” so to speak! There is the pale, nervous amateur critic who rumples his hair with one hand and scribbles furiously with the other; near by is a sophisticated, ex- perienced one; farther back, perhaps, is a row of boarding-school girls all of whom are there because they are required to attend. Not so with the true music lovers to whom it is an incentive, a source of inspiration. They are the struggling musicians, composers, and teachers who will take any seat that circumstance affords. Blissfully unconscious of the stuffy, perfume-laden air, and the surrounding throng of spectators, they remain breathless, rapt, and eager throughout the performance. Theirs is a perfect, voluntary attention which allows nothing to escape unnoticed or unheard, Last, but not least come the tired ones who, although they may not be familiar with technicalities, are appreciative of the mental relaxation it affords them, Reinald Werrinrath, a noted baritone, recently said, “The most import- ant work to which the Musical Clubs of America can devote themselves is to educate the American people to a keener appreciation of good music, of whatever form or nationality.” Right here in school we have a course called Music Appreciation and Harmony, which seems to have just that aim. It is not only an understanding of the fine arts that helps to make us the type of men and women we want to be. Daily occurrences must be met with intelligence, kindness, and courtesy. Every day someone does some- thing for somebody else; it may be a good word put in at exactly the right time, or it may be an obliging little self-sacrifice. Everyone likes to know that his or her efforts are valued. It is up to us to stop criticizing others, and to begin to express our appreciation. The person who can see the funny side of things is not easily discour- aged. He may suddenly be plunged into a sea of troubles, only to bob up smiling. We know that every cloud has its silver lining, and that the black- est misfortune often cloaks a rainbow-spangled hope,—a truth that we do not, however, appreciate until later. “T met a real optimist the other day,” said a physician, “a fellow to whom I certainly take off my hat. He had lost a leg in a railroad accident, and, when they picked him up, the first thing he said was, ‘Thank God, it was the leg with the rheumatism!’ ” Most of us who are familiar with the author, Bret Hart, recognize, as an outstanding trait, his habit of selecting characters of bad repute and bringing out their redeeming points. He knew that people are apt to judge each other too hastily—to jump at conclusions that have no foundation whatever. We often meet a person whom we instinctively dislike, and whose faults we magnify and dwell upon so incessantly that the being cre- ated in the imagination becomes grotesquely out of proportion to the original. We never take the trouble to discover in that person an admirable trait beside which his faults would fade into the background. You may bewail the fact that you have not as much money as you would like to have, nor as many influential friends, and wish that you were born anywhere but in a small town. Perhaps it is well to resign yourself