Mary Baldwin College - Bluestocking Yearbook (Staunton, VA)

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The Maty Bald ' d ' in Scminaiy. 17 share her fortune. This obliging personage was, Petrucio of Verona. Hortensio and Lucentio now saw a chance to win Bianca ' s love. Baptista had said that he wanted teachers for Bianca. Hortensio, under the assumed name of Licio, became a musi- cian, and Lucentio having changed names and clothes with his servant, Tranio, became tutor to Bianca. Petrucio now determined not to waste anytime and started out in search of Baptista. He had no sooner been introduced to Baptista, than he began to tell him of his errand. Baptista, having first learned that Petrucio was a very weathly gentle- man of Verona, willingly consented to give him Katharina for his wife. Now came the tug of war. How should he ever gain Kate ' s consent to marry him ? Petrucio, however, had quite as strong a will as Kate, and he went to her with the firm resolve to win her. After quite a struggle, he left her, declaring that she would see him hanged before she would marry him. Petrucio, however, informed Baptista that Kate had consented to marry him , and that the following Sunday he would return and claim her for his bride. At last the appointed day had arrived, the bride was waiting, but no bride-groom. Everyone had come to the conclusion that he was not coming, when a messenger came rushing in announcing the arrival of Petrucio. Why Petrucio is coming in a new hat and an old jerkin ; a pair of old breeches, thrice turned ; a pair of boots that have been candle cases, one buckled, the other laced and an old rnsty sword ta ' en out of the town armoury with a broken hilt and chapeless with broken points. His hor.se is hipped with an old raothy saddle and stirrups of no kindred. Everyone Was surprised to see Petrucio dressed thus, re- monstrated with him, offered to lend him clothes etc.. but all to no avail. Petrucio paid no attention to them, but asked for Kate, his, lovely bride.

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1 6 The Annual of O Sestius, thou art happy now, But on thy brow, The icy hand of death is laid, And soon thou ' lt be in Pluto ' s shade. In that dark realm, no more thou ' lt sing, Nor, careless, fling The dice, no more thou ' lt be, The King of wine and revelry. ROSELLE MERCIER. April 1 6, 1897. Augusta, Ga. TAMING OF THE SHREW. Taming of the Shrew, one of Shakespeare ' s most popular comedies, is a very amusing account of the taming of a wild, self-willed girl. The scene is laid in Padua. Shakespeare seemed to be fond of laying the scenes of his plays in Italy. There was a rich old gentleman of Padua, called Baptista, who had two daughters. The elder of these, was Katharina, or Kate the Shrew, as she was more commonly called , and Bianca her sister was noted for her beauty and gentleness. How diiferent was Kate ! Her very name, the Shrew, shows for what she was noted. Bianca had very many admirers, but Baptista, father-like, would not consent to Bianca ' s marrying, until her sister was married. For, was she not the elder? Bianca ' s suitors, Gremio, Hortensio, and Lucentio, were in despair. They certainly could not recommend Kate to any one for a wife. She thought nothing of railing at one and pulling his ears for him, or striking him with anything that happened to be near. Now, although she did treat people in this style, she was quite jealous of the attention paid her sister. At last some one appeared on the scene, who was willing to marry Kate with all her reputation, in order that he might

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1 8 The Annual of How strange it was for anyone to be married after this manner. But Petrucio had some purpose in view. Immedi- ately after the ceremony was concluded he and Kate started for his country home. Poor Kate, how little she knew what was in store for her! Were all shrews tamed in the same way ? Her life was made miserable. For some time she was not allowed to eat nor sleep in peace. What she liked, Petrucio disliked, what she was pleased with, he found fault with. At last she decided that the best thing for her to do, was to agree to everything he said. She soon saw that she had found some one with as strong a will as her own and after having tried to resist, she finally gave in. When she returned to her father ' s home, they could not believe their eyes. Was that mild, gentle woman the same Kate that had so lately left them ? She was even gentler than Lucentio ' s beautiful wife, for he had married Bianca. Every one decided that Petrucio had gained the day, and he was fully rewarded by having the obedient, gentle Kather- ina for his wife. Eva Baker McCue. Staunton, Va, HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Feb. 27th, 1807. The house in which his early childhood was spent may be seen to-day, in outward appearance very like the many houses around it, but ever to be held sacred to the memory of one of our greatest American poets. At eighteen years of age, he graduated at Bowdoin College ; the next year, he went to Europe chiefly for the sake of study. On his re- turn, at the end of several years, he accepted a position as professor of modern languages at Brunswick University, where he remained until he was offered a position at Harvard. He