Manchester High School - Somanhis Yearbook (Manchester, CT)

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SOMANHIS EVENTS 27 by anything which nature may throw in their path, but many past the prime of life. Have they come to seek “nature’s unpolluted pool’, in order to wash away the discouragements of everyday life? To these older people life has meant a long, hard struggle, as can be discerned from the worn expressions on their faces, and from their eyes that have become slightly dimmed by look- ing down at their tasks instead of up at some cheerful vision of hope. Their tongues have gone through the ordeal of learning a new language, their minds, of trying to fit themselves to new social and political conditions, and even their hearts, of learning to love a new country. In spite of the many years thus spent, their work is only half completed, and some invisible cord ties them to their fatherland across the sea. At the first note of a well remembered folk-song their eyes begin to shine, their heads to nod, and their feet to tap with the music of a recollected folk-dance melody ; they are carried back to the days of their childhood when their mothers sang to them, or when, perhaps, they were dancing on the green with dark-eyed Tina or blue-eyed Alice. Perhaps it is the same Tina or Alice who is now seated beside them, and by close observance one can see that her eyes are often dimmed with tears, not with the sadness of re- gretting, but with the joy of remembering. These were, most likely, the came tunes that cheered them at the altar. comforted them in time of need, lightened their burdens, gave them courage at sea, and encouraved them to enter the battle-field with a shout for king and country. These songs have been their companions all through life, and now have helped to link the pres- ent with the memories of the past. In these melodies are “visualized all in- timate aspects of their own past and their souls are granted one of life’s re- cesses in which precious memories are gathered up in a golden cup and offer- ed to lips, longing it may be, for jvst one refreshing draught.” Such an audience is musically unspoiled. It does not like a song be- cause its neighbor does, nor does it owe its musical tastes to education ob- tained from the daily newspapers; while one group may favor the melodies of its own native land it maintains an attitude of neutrality toward the pro- gram as a whole. ; The war awakened a keen inte-est in the life and thoughts of alien peo- ple, and the study of folk-lore has helped to open up new paths for under- standing the immense groups of foreigners forming the population of our crowded cities. It seems curious that just at this time when a civilization, a century old, seems to be tottering on the brink of an abyss, caused by com- mercial jealousies, imperialistic greed, and racial hatred, when music, art, and literature without the least resistance are hecoming expressions of a world governed by materialism and machinery, there should be a revival of folk: songs. This may be the reaction of the world grown timorous by the dis- appearance of some of its accustomed things. and now reaching for some- thing fundamental in which it can obtain a firm grip, and which in some measure it finds in the “supremacy of the imagination.” There is at any rate something significant in the revival of the folk-song, for while some. persons may think that such a movement is emphasizing the spirit of nationalism for the elimination of which much money and effort is expended here in our country, there is another side te the question which shows that by means of the folk-song there is a possibility of creating a “binder of songs” between foreign groups in search of a better understanding of the national character- istics and racial psvchology. Nevertheless this is certain, that however the nations of the world may differ in character. speech. manners, and customs, the folk poetry and folk songs of all countries are based upon lasting human traits. It is in the folk song that we hear the harmony of the folk soul, and the finely attuned ear may catch the faint overtones as they come forth from the depths, coloring and enriching the mother tongue but leaving no doubt as to its basic origin. Henrietta Kanehl ’23

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26 SOMANHIS EVENTS cago and San Francisco. It has landscape gardeners completing an immense park which is one of the most ‘beautiful in New England. This park also has its well equipped club houses and courts of every kind. The Aetna Fire Insurance Company, not to be outdone by its competi- tors, has purchased a large tract of land a mile from the business section of the city. Here a new home office is to be erected which will have every rec- reational advantage. The young officials of the company, who have had school and college training in athletics, are working hard to help this movement. Manchester is just as wide awake with its three recreation centers, its athletic grounds, and playgrounds. Cheney Brothers have recently donated a new athletic field which is entirely enclosed and has stands with a seat- ing capacity of 2,000. Manchester also has its Child Welfare Workers who are accomplishing a great deal. These workers help the poor to care for their children and teach the foreigners how to bring up their children in the American way. It takes money to do this, but Manchester is responding to the call. It always has done well, let us continue to give our support so that it can do more. It is worth while. Mildred Seidel ’23. THE PURPOSE OF THE FOLK-SONG It is strange that musical historians have been content to pass over the subject of folk-music with very few words. Almost all composers have gain- ed inspiration from their own people or “folk” from which this class of mus- ic derives its name. These melodies were made by musicians, most of them anonymous, whose names do not appear in history, but whose songs have lived through generations, have brought comfort, healed sorrow, and have brought about a better understanding and brotherhood among men. — The oldest folk songs are of unknown authorship; after they were memorized they were passed on by word of mouth. We receive these melodies just as they were given to us; just as we accept anything which nature has bestowed upon us. Although, perhaps, we do not realize how beautiful they are, they be- come a part of our thoughts and lives. By considering these melodies we find that they are expressions of the people in general, rather than of an in- dividual. The real folk-songs traveled from father to son, sometimes even disappearing from the place where they originated and springing up in an entirely different part of the country. Because of the fact that they were not printed, and owing to faulty memorizing and the varied vocal ability of the performers they were often changed. Whatever was beautiful and worth while, however, remained, while that which was not necessary disappeared. Finally these songs came forth from the severe tests of time, a symbol of the people, rather than of any particular individual. Health and simplicity are the two qualities that make these folk songs so beautiful. They are the main sources of beauty in any music; they are priceless qualities that cannot be imitated. Health is the adjustment of the parts of a song without friction, whereas simplicity consists of freedom from manners and ideas which are not necessary. Unlike the songs that come and go, having moments of popularity and then being banished in the dim reces- ses of the mind, these songs will live.forever. Even today it is not unusual to hear a medley of folk-melodies played or sung. These songs and folk-legends are termed by some “nature’s unpolluted pools.” In an audience of foreign-born people brought together to participate in folk-songs there can be found not merely the young, who are eager to profit

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bo 72) 2 OM AUNGEL TS» EVR NES THE VALUE OF APPRECIATION Have you ever spoken a word of appreciation to a tired person, and seen his face light up with gladness? Have you ever noticed how good you feel and how much brighter the world seems when you have either given or re- ceived a few words of deserved appreciation? There is great value in praise. Like mercy, it is a quality quick and keen to bless both giver and receiver, for the giver of praise is bound to feel a thrill when he sees how the other person responds to his words. Moreover, the power to praise is an indica- tion of true manhood. It is not possible for a criminal to praise—he may ap- plaud, but praise is something that the whole heart participates in, whereas a criminal is like a house divided against itself—his conscience against his purpose. But actually to praise, he must employ his whole being, and there- by he becomes no more a criminal, but a man of virtue. You may differen- tiate between the big man and the little man by their capacities for praise. The little man is the man who is not sure of himself, who is so little convinced of his own greatness that he is afraid to recognize that attribute in others for fear that they will out-shine him; the big man is not afraid to praise unhesitat- ingly and with his whole heart. Once a young man named Keats wrote a long poem which has since be- come famous. Unfortunately, he wrote it in an age of censors. He was told to go back to the shop and stay there. There has been much discussion since as to whether or not this criticism really harmed the poetry of Keats. But it must ever remain a matter of speculation as to what would have happened had he met with praise from other writers. It takes a man who can praise to blame. There is a deep principle in this, a principle of life. It is possible to save a soul by praise when no other method could avail. There is a belief, which is really the truth, that if you see a friend pale and ill, you may send him to the grave by advising him of the fact, whereas you may save him by proclaiming his robust appearance. Another and a very important phase of appreciation regards the praise bestowed upon children. A few words heard in childhood may remain in the mind forever. How necessary it is then for these words to be words of praise rather than of punishment. The most prevalent idea of training children is the idea of prohibition and punishment. You say to a child, “You are not to do that.” If he does, you punish him. If he doesn’t, you don’t notice it. The great mistake made is the heavy stress laid upon negative virtues, and the fact that punishment follows when one does not do a re- quired thing, but no reward is offered and no words of praise bestowed for refraining from doing it. A child may spend hours preparing some sur- prise for you; he may deck your room with flowers, or tie scarfs to the ban- ister to represent flags to greet you. “Very pretty, dear,” you say, and the child notices that you scarcely look, “and now clear it all away nicely, won't you?” The child clears it away, but loses confidence in your sense of jus- tice. In the world of men, the rewards for active virtue are money and praise. But there are deeds for which money cannot pay; these are rewarded by medals or paragraphs in the newspaper—not at all the same thing as being rewarded by the spontaneous praise of your fellow men. After all, apprecia- tion is what men work for, not gold. In Illinois, in 1906, a man named Backus formed a society to reward the courteous, pleasant public servant. When a member of the society came in contact with a person who impressed him as being courteous, pleasant, yet business-like. that person’s name was given to his employer as deserving of promotion. In this way Mr. Backus made courtesy pay. The creed of this society reads: “If your friend is a help, a joy, an inspiration to you. tell him so. There are so many discouraged hearts everywhere, just hungry for ap- preciation.”