Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts - Mohawk Yearbook (North Adams, MA)

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18 THE AXIS Ilvy Qbratinn A rare old plant is the ivy green! NVIIAT could bc more appropriate and fitting than the ivy to leave to our Alma Mater as a living memorial of our class? The ivy whose qualities of independence, strength and courage should be examples, and are examples of the characteristics of our lives. We are about to go forth upon our first great adventure and if we can carry with us lessons and ideals gained from this littlc plant, what more could we ask? When we first entered school we seemed for a time to be groping in thc dark this little plant will be, butafter a while, we seemed to take root, as it were, and there we clung and, like the ivy, we soon began to grow in many directions, broadening our minds and our inmost selves in general while we grew familiar with the intricacies of lesson plans, project method, and socialized recitation. After all this growth, we are still seeking for more which will be gained by going forth from our dear Alma Mater to help others understand and appreciate ideals for which it stands. The ivy plant itself symbolizes the class as a whole and each little tendril stands for a member, who like this vine, will take a different pathway while she still holds in her memory the dear faces of the kind instructors and the pleas- ant memories of the happy days spent at Normal School. To every one there openeth A way, a ways, and a wayg And the high soul climbs the high way, And the low soul gropes the lowg And in between, on the misty Hats, The rest drift to and fro. But to every one there openeth A high way and a low, And every one decideth ' The way his soul shall go. Annc Curtin 1IvQ llbuem Upward, forever climb upward Symbol and emblem of love, Thrive in God's golden sunshine And His gentle rains from above. Tell those in the field we are coming To build up the movements so new Tell them we'll work to the finish And serve our profession so true. Onward and upward forever May we climb to a glorious height And be ever like this green Ivy, And help make the whole world bright. June L. Kerr Glaze ipisturp nf 1922 Was there ever a class like '22? Indeed there never was one! The teachers thot it too full of fun. Were they right? 'Tis doubtless true! Yet, here's to the good old class of '22! oN THE 14th of September, 1922, the North Adams Normal School witnessed the coming of a class, con- sisting of 28 girls, never equalled in the twenty years of its life. Have we not been told so by good authority many times since our arrival? Indeed we have! On the first day here, we were called upon to fill in some mysterious cards-incidentally becoming acquainted with each other. The girls at the dormitory found that much was to be learned about life at Taconic Hall. Oh, those rules- both written and unwritten that had to be observed! Were there ever so many must nots thrust upon a group of innocent girls at one time? Never! The worst of all to us seemed to be the one which read!- You must not go down-town without a hat! It is a certainty that that rule has received more than one blessing from the class of '22, in its two years at Normal School. After the rules and regulations were learned, the events which followed were much the same as those of any class during its junior year, here. First the Class officers. elected, were as follows, Ruth Carpenter, Presidentg Julia Salametry, Vice-presidentg Gwendolyn Purcell, Treasurerg and Lillian Kent, Secre- tary. After this was accomplished we felt like a really truly class. And then began the real work! When we were told that we were to have Geometry, Arithmetic, Music, etc., our first remark was,- Oh! we've had some of those in High School, and our expectations were- that they would be easy. Such a vain, deluded idea! We were introduced to the queerest Geometry of which we'd ever heard, and the Arithmetic! What was it we were supposed to do? Teach them, our future charges, how to play Store-arithmetic and Number Games? Truly this was the funniest kind of work, but before the year was over, it was indeed far from funny to our poor harassed souls! As the year went on, we were introduced to handicraftg one half the class working with Miss Lamphier, while the other half worked with Mr. Cummings or Miss Pearson and vice-versa. By the time we had completed our courses in these classes, we felt quite proficient in making raffia baskets t?J book-ends, animals for Noah's Ark and paper tearings. Such book-ends and animals-some of them even winning first prizes at the annual North Adams Fair. The Botany class, too, of which we heard much, altho it sounded more than dry to our uncultivated minds, proved to be especially interesting even when we were dragged to the garden to rake, hoe, and cultivate the soil, in which to plant the tomatoes and geraniums which we had guarded so carefully during the long winter. Occasionally a few of the girls felt that a vacation was necessary if it happened to be quite warm. They were, however, gently reminded by Mr. Smith that they had taken the vacation and would therefore have to go to the garden after school and con- tinue their work of trying to help Mother Nature along. They alone can vouch for the great pleasure derived from working alone and perhaps, doing double the work! Soon after we had become a bit accustomed to our classes and new-found friends, for they were friends,

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THE AXIS HUUF688 to the 3illl'll0l75 EAR Faculty, Friends, Classmates and Juniors. We have now completed the work of two years, one of which we have been together and shared alike in sorrow and joy. To-day, as we are assembled, we are happy and also sad. In the coming days, we shall miss each and every one of you and even though we are not here in person our thoughts will undoubtedly be with you fre- quently. Each day brings us nearer to the pathway which leads into a greater field of opportunity where if we put to prac- tice that which we have learned under the careful guidance of our beloved instructors, we shall make our lives more worth-while. Although many mistakes have been made by us in spite of the advice left by other classes and the efforts put forth by our teachers, it is now our turn and privilege, which we have anticipated for so long, to bestow a few words of counsel upon our Juniors who will so soon become Seniors. First-To the girls living in Taconic Hall: Always carry your hat when you go for a walk for you might happen to go a little farther than you had previously planned. g Never borrow anything from anyone. You might be mistaken for another person or you might forget to return it when wanted. Learn all the Council Rules so that if any Junior asks, Oh, aren't we supposed to do that? or Are wesupposed to do this? you will be able to answer, No , or Yes, the Council Rules say . . .'so and so'. Do not try to fool the Juniors by telling them that your bed has fallen from a third story window, because it may cause too much excitement. To the girls not in the dormitory: ' Be careful and not carry too many books home with you because it may result in Scoliosis or Lordosis. Try and not give the teachers and girls in the dormitory a nervous shock by arriving at the dances on time. Do not fail to have an interesting tale every morning, of the good time you had the night before. It gives us some- thing to talk about and stimulates the imagination of the dormitory girls. To all of the Juniors: Memorize the lesson plans that you have written this year so that you will have a model in every subject next year and this will eliminate some borrowing. Now we have given you the benefits of our experiences and we begin to realize that we can no longer assist your wandering foot-steps. Hereaftcr it will be our duty and pleasure to guide those of younger children. It is our hope that you will bear the nameSeniorseven betterthan we have borne it, and we are sure, when you enter the busy world that we are now entering, that you will make a success. Keep your class spirit, hang together and remember this motto at all times, Bc not simply good abut good for something. Viviun Berry Response to the Seniors EAR SENIORS: For many months you have planned and looked forward to your graduation. As you have striven onward and upward without murmur or complaint, we have watched you with a mingled feeling of happiness and sorrow. Time has marched gaily on and it has come nearer and nearer to us that you, our true friends and companions, are leaving us. As one band closely knit together we have had many gay times as well as a great deal of hard work. With your kindness and loving watchfulness as guiding stars, we Jun- iors have gained in ability and understanding throughout this most successful year. Seniors at the dormitory, you have been most considerate of us, although we have tried your patience most severely at times. ' When, next year, we are carrying on our duties as Seniors in social and business activities. we willthink of your splendid management this year. Victory has bten your reward for your spirit in work and play. You, as a class, have had a privilege that no class will know again. Your graduation marks the close of Normal's first twenty-five years of success. During these years, many golden ideals have been built up and your privilege has been to support them through to the end. When we return in September and a new era has begun, our one en- deavor will be to strive, in honor of you and all the classes gone before, to carry over the old ideals into our nt w regime. Your spirit of love and loyalty to Mr. Murdock and Mr. Smith will be the foundation upon which we will make our efforts. However far you may be from Normal Hall in the next year, we shall feel you are with us in spirit and we hope to hear of fine things accomplished by you. Our halls will ring with answering memories of you who have been so dear to us. Next fall when we return as seniors, our one regret will be that you will not be here to greet us. Yet, when we see many new faces, we will think of your kindness to us this past year and will try to be as helpful to the new Juniors. The road to success is a steady climb upward and onward. It may be rough in many places, but always remember that only a league behind you is the class of '23, ready to of '22 at any time, They're the best, truest and finest. .llud-'fine Tracy, '23 QUR55 50119 Tune Slcill Sony We're the Class of '22 At Normal, at Normal, at Normal. We'll give a rousing cheer or two For Normal, for Normal, for Normal. Here we've worked and laughed and played, Of defeat been ne'er afraid, Here felt your loving aid Oh Normal! Oh, Normal! Uh, Normal! So the Class of '22 Of Normal, of Normal, of Normal. Wish all success to you North Adams State Normal, State Normal We will ever hold you dear ln our hearts a light most clear We will remember you. Oh Normal. dear Normal, Uur Normal Joy is in our hearts to-day At Normal, al Nornml, al Normal We've reached the longed-for day Al Normal, at Normal, at Normal We have reached the parting way From your teachings we-'ll lll t'l' stray. Now we'll give a fond farewell To Normal, to Normal. loved Normal .l Louis' .lItlr..llo.-hrs

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THE AXIS we were given a pleasant surprise in the form of a reception during which we were supposed to become better acquainted with the teachers and seniors-and we did! Besides this entertainment many other social affairs followed, such as a Hallowe'en party given by the Juniors to the Seniors which was of course an enjoyable affair: a mock wedding by the Seniors: the Senior class play, The Light, etc., etc. Then, too, we were introduced to man-dances. When first we heard that phrase, with blank faces we said, Man- dances, why what on earth? Little did we realize how ignorant we were showing ourselves, but when we were told that each year the girls were allowed four dances to which they could invite men, our blank expressions turned to those of amazement, and needless to say, delight-for who does not enjoy a good dance? and these were indeed good! With all of the good times there were many occasions in which sad lessons were taught, for instance, that young men are to be entertained in the social room and not in the music and reception rooms: that going to the kitchen to recover a forgotten some-thing might prove alarming to all: that walking into a room after lights out, dressed in white and carrying an umbrella might be a Seri0US matterg that sleeping on the front porch, no matter how melted one is, is absolutely forbidden, and that the clothes- closets are most certainly not the places in which to try to conceal one's-self in a great endeavor to be a minus quantity- Trying and hard were all of these experiences to us but because of them we came back the next year all the wiser. We must not forget the Glee Club! After we had been well-started on our careers, as Juniors, we were told by the dignified Seniors that had we any voices at all we must not be surprised, if we received an invitation to join the Glee Club. Some of us were chosen, and with fear and trembling in our hearts, we went, but we must con- fess that our voices were meek and mellow at first. How- ever under the leader-ship of Miss Searle and Grace Cor- coran, our possibilities were developed. Twice a week we attended rehearsals which culminated in the Glee Club Concert on May 20th. Finally came commencement! What excitement on the part of the Seniors and almost as much on the part of the Juniors, for, were they not to assist in the exercises, which were impressive from beginning to end? What did we see? Were those tear-stained faces at the dormitory on the last day of school? Surely the Juniors were not weeping, for were they not coming back next year? But, yes, it was the Juniors! Why? Because they were grieved at the thought of parting from the friends they had made in the Senior class, for they had become indeed, our friends. Thus ended our first year at Normal School. During our summer vacation it was announced that Mr. Murdock, who had been principal of N. A. N.S.for twenty- four years, and whom all of us had come toesteem greatly, had resigned. Could this really be true? Yes, indeed it was true and to our great sorrow we found that we should have him no longer to help us over stony paths. Our deep regret was lightened a great deal, however, when we learned that our Mr. Smith of the garden, and Botany class had been honored by being elected principal. When we returned to the dormitory, it was with a tiny feeling of-shall l say superiority?-for, were we notthe dignified Seniors? This year, the girls of '22 found that they had no time in which to weep because they were away from home 'un they had done the previous year, for now, they must com- fort the new-comers and help them forget that feeling of homesickness. We have found the Juniors a jolly bunch of girls who have stood by the Seniors loyally-and incidentally they have become expert ticket-sellers, for affairs such as plays and Glee Club Concerts. The first thing that we did in launching our class as Seniors, was to hold an election of officers which resulted in Dorothy Reynolds, President: Sadie Murphy, Yice-presi- dent: Anne Curtin, Treasurer: and Vivian Berry, Secretary. For the Glee Club, Lillian Kent, Leader: Dorothy Rey- nolds, Pianistg Sadie Murphy, Secretary: Clara Thurber, Treasurerp and Jane Kerr, librarian. After the performance of our official duties, one thing followed fast upon another. First came the house-warm- ing given in honor of our new principal and his wife, on the second Friday after we came, all of the girls gath- ered in the gymnasium after dinner. From here, the stu- dents, carrying lighted Japanese lanterns, marched to Mr. Smith's home, around which they formed a semi-circle, and sang songs to those within. As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Smith realized what was happening, they came to the door and af- ter thanking us extended a cordial invitation to come in. We did so, and found that the faculty had arranged a very delightful evening for all. Refreshments were served and all felt that they knew both Mr. and Mrs. Smith the better when the time for leaving came. However if such an affair should ever occur again, future dormitory Seniors, let us, the wise class of '22, give you a bit of advice. Ncrxr believe after it is over and you have returned to third fioor-never, NEVER believe that a bed has fallen out of one of the windows! Then, of course, we felt that we must have an acquaint- ance social for the Juniors, believing that we should do unto others as we had been done by. In between these social affairs both Juniors and Seniors were becoming settled and accustomed to their new work- the work being entirely new to the Juniors-and the thrill of really and truly teaching being new to the Seniors, Could it possibly be that these staid, hard-working mem- bers of '22 were the same frivolous girls of the year before? Yes, indeed, it was true! and oh, Juniors, we hope that the incoming class of next year will never cxpre:-as them- selves about you, as Seniors, as we have heard you speak of us-the deadest bunch-never do anything but study! Wait, oh wait, until you begin teaching. There will be no chasing about the halls from 9:30 to l0:l5 for you then! Toward the end of October it was decided that it was time to introduce the Juniors to man-dances, so we plan- ned to combine one with a Hallowe'en party. The gym- nasium was appropriately decorated and there the dance was held. All declared they'd had the best time ever A Was it because it was lem: formal than usual or what? This was the first of the four dances which wc arc allowed yet each of those that followed was equally enjoyable They were given in the reception room which looked so pretty and homey with its pink-shaded lights, and glow- ing lire-placc. We owe our Mother Yan many thanks for trying to help us make these dances thc sin-11-sscs that they were and this is not all for which we are ghlh' ful. for was it not she that was forever proposing picnics and the like for our pleasure? Perhaps nothing more important happened, than when we decided that instead of the Normalogue. we would earn money enough to go to Washington we certainly worked to earn the money, but were able to accumulate only enough to get us to Boston. Warning to thc Juniors, if you de-