Manchester High School - Somanhis Yearbook (Manchester, CT)

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SOMA. NHIS I7 the monuments. Often it i very difficult to declpher the old written words. I can Instant- ly recall one old message which ran llke this: As you are now So I was once As I am now, you soon will be So-Prepare thyself to follow me. MUSIC WITHIN OURSELVE'S By Rum Tivnan, '31 Shakespeare has said, The man who hath no music in himself, nor is moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is dt for treason's stratagems and spoils. Of course when he said this, he said it in an inspired moment, when some sweet strain was flowing easily and rhythmically through his mind. Such a great mind as Shakespeare's, weighted with such powerful thoughts, must have known and ap- preciated the uplifting and soothing qualities of music. Something more than sleep, rest, and activity are needed for the well-balanced mind. That something is music. By mus- ic I do not mean a certain composition of a certain author or the ability to play difficult works with correct interpretations, but rather my rhythmlcal intonation that tends to alle- if lk viate the tension of the mind. In my opinion everyone has music in him- self or in his soul at some time in his day. If he ls happy, he walks with a light, springing step, probably whistling, but nevertheles walking with a certain expression or implica- tion of rhythm. Most of our actions, I think, whether we are aware of lt or not, are influenc- ed by and coordinated with that music within ourselves which is so difficult to make under- stood. Who in his life has never, without thinking about it, started to whistle or hum a tune or part of a tune? Whether it be part of aBeetho- ven Sonata or the latest blues song lt does not matter. It is music, and music which came forth from the mind involuntarily. Who has never stood on a hill with the wind blowing through his hair and leaves blowing against his face, who has never sung or bummed or whistled, or at least felt the music in his heart? Even the grumpiest of persons, whether he shows it or not, is forced to smile, at least in wardly, when he hears a good orchestra or singer. I nnd that I am forced to agree with Shakes- peare, and hope with all my heart that no one will receive the maledictions as written by him. e Ik COURTESY lsn't it unpleasant, W'hen you're walking thru the halls, To be suddenly confronted And bumped against the walls? Isn't it disgusting, When you're going thru a door, To have it slammed back in your face By the one who went before? And doesn't it distress you, When after you are wronged, To hear a. mere Excuse mel' And Und that they are gone? Now wouldn't it be better, It whom you chance to meet, Would walk with care and dignity And not trample on your feet? . Edith. Adams, '31

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ml 16 SOMANHIS Guilty, of course, I answered, without thinking. Then the law must take its course. The sentence is chopping the wood, Career, with the axe, Ignorance, night and day, all the years of your natural life. Before I could also become guilty of con- tempt of court at hearing this, two horribly de- formed creatures came up to me and while one put handcuffs on, the other fastened a chain with a ball of iron to my ankle. I was then led from the scarlet room into ans other passage that was even more gloomy and horrifying than the flrst passage I had been ln, for here were skulls and skeletons of the vic- tims who had done as I now was doing. Finally after what seemed hours, I was tak- en into a colossal room in which there seem- ed to be hundreds of trees. The ugliest of the creatures removed my fetters and told me to start chopping the trees into kindllng wood and that when I had chopped all the trees more would come down the chutes. I thought to myself, You're making a mis- take there, old thlng, for when you are gone, I'll just sit down and take it easy. I was the one who was mistaken, however, for a giant named Necessity, such as I had read about but never had seen, came in. In his right hand he carried a whip that would have reached half way across the I'00lJJ. With this he threatened to lash me 20 times if I tried to stop chopping. I could not t.ry to escape until either the day or night guard should fall asleep. .Two days later my silent prayers were an- swered when my guard lndulged too heavily in his pocket flask and fell into a deep sleep. During these two days that had seemed a life time, I had warlly examined the room and now, without having to waste time, I quickly ran to the rear of a large tree where I had seen some loose stones in the wall. I had these out in a very few minutes and I crawled through the opening I had made into the court yard-Opportunity. Just then the guard- Obstacle-awakened and to my dismay lost no time in giving the alarm. Figures seemed to spring from every conceivable place in the court. My only hope was to reach the moat- Safety-before my pursurers. Running as I had never done before and never again want to do, I reached the moat with scarcely a yard of space between the foremost guard and me. Before I had entirely crossed the moat I felt it beginning to rise. I was desperate, and being very hot and weak from loss of sleep, it seemed a vain effort to light on. Just at this time I saw a heap of soft leaves piled on the shore. I leaped from the moat into them and great was my surprise to land in my own com- fortable bed at precisely 5:45 o'clock, on Wed- nesday, September 3. I don't have to tell you but I will fjust to bore youy that I never again want to enter Nlghtmare's castle and that, to postpone that dreadful sentence of life, I have come back to finish my last year in High School. REVERIE I By Margaret Schubert, '31 Way back before you or I can remember, we we were all destined to the same end. After flourishing on top of the World, enjoying and basking in the beauties and warm sunshine, we must forsake all this for a damp cool grave, six feet in the earth. To me, a sense of calm, deep emotion ensues when I listen to people discuss graves and cold, still things. Perhaps you are dismlsted and discouraged. I relish the effort it takes to overcome any un- pleasant reaction caused by these horribly truthful facts. I can extract genuine enjoyment in visiting a grave yard. Old, forsaken ones wherein one can dream on unmolested by fellow mourners or a casual passer-by. Here, where lichen flourishes on the tombstones, where long swaying, singing grass and musty odors pre- vall, one can weave the most intricate tales like lacy silken spider webs. Soft, spongy, grassy mounds, some raised, some flat and some sunken, all show evidence of neglect and abandon. The tombstones, those last chinks of memories, display their respective epithets through the ages. Some are crumbling and overgrown by trees. Yet, all are equal in their purpose and value. So it should be. Man has endeavored here and there throughout the ages to have equality. Yet, where else does it ex- ist as in a grave yard? Some may have mon- uments more elaborate in design but real value is equal. The body is treated with all meas- ures of equality. Pauper next to nobleman may often be the romance. . Much knowledge and queer satisfaction may be derived by the reading of the inscriptions on

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AL. 4 ,., - W .- Famer: .- , ,Xxx v V xx 'XA V 1 VISITORS TO HUGO Alice Grant Rosman Alice Grant Rosman's new novel, Visitors to Hugo, is strikingly original in its concep- tion. It is marked by at'reshness,acharm, and gay humor that delights the reader. Hugo, to his great disgust, is a pampered invalid recovering from a serious accident that may leave him permanently crippled. He is in perpetual gloom until Bunny arrives. Bunny doesn't treat him as if he were made of China as his mother does. It is she who tells him things, and before either of them realize lt, they are in love. Then Bunny and Hugo become involved in an exciting plot. Hugo's friend, Paul, had been imprisoned on a false charge and had, therefore, been ostracized from his friends. Paul, Hugo, and Bunny battle against these odds and llnally win happiness. Hugo over- comes his crippleness and ls reunited to his father, who, during the boy's illness, had stayed away for' fear of giving his son a severe shock. Virginia Lowell, '31 THE LUCKY LAWRENCES Kathleen Norris The Lucky Lawrencesj' Kathleen Norris's latest novel, is thestory of ilve poor orphans who were left alone in the world with only a shabby ranch-house for a home. ' ' Gail, the eldest, unfortunately misunder- stood her own heart at one time in thinking that she loved Van Murchison. However, she later found out that the man she must marry was Dick Stebbins, her life-long pal. Ariel, the youngest, complicated matters by running away with Dick that he might help ther to marry Van. After three years, they returned to llnd Edith dead, Gail still unmarried, and Phil wedded to a widow. However, Dick and Gail were happily united, and Gall at last considered herself a Lucky Lawrence. This story ls true to life, pointing out the mistakes of those young girls who, like Ariel, run off and get married secretly. It is very in- teresting, its charm lying inits realism and ln- timate style of writing. Irene Skinner, '31 OF HUMAN BONDAGE W. Somerset Maugham This is the story of a brilliant but deform- ed boy, who had a difficult time choosing his life's occupation. His father had been a doc- tor. His uncle with whom he lived after his parents' death, was a Vicar, and each desired that Phillip Carey follow his occupation. However, Phillip had his own ideasg nrst he tried being an accountant, but since he could not keep his mind on his work, he was Bred. He tried his hand at several other positions, and after a series of efforts, Philip tlnallydis- covered his llfe's work. This book has been acclaimed the most brilliant of the autobiographical novels which the present century has produced. It is widely accepted as a classic. Doris Rogers, '31 MANSLAUGHTER Alice Duer Miller Manslaughter , written by Alice Duer Miller, is the story of a rich and wilful so- ciety girl, who discovers that her social posi- tion and even her clever friends cannot save her from the inevitable clutches of the lawf, which is represented by a determined district attorney. Fate strips her of her power, breaks her indomitable will and throws her into pris- on. The climax comes when she falls in love with the 'man by whose initiative she was jailed. ' The author's gift of-expression is brought out by the vivid pictures she paints with but a'few words. At the same time the conversa- tion is never stilted. The most interesting part of the book is the change and develop- ment of Lydia's character after the prison ex- perience. Dorothy Fraser, '31