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

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THE AXIS Qtbe Banquet HAT? This the twenty-fifth anniversary of the North Adams Normal School? Surely such an uncommon event in the history of this institution could never be allowed to pass without something to record its memory. What would 'this be? A banquet! A banquet! was the cry. Early in the year the faculty com- menced making their plans for this wonderful event. Speakers for the day were engaged and the menu was worked out. However not much was heard by the stu- dents about the plans and regulations as the arrangements were completed entirely by our untiring teachers. Invi- tations were sent out to all the Alumnae and many were expected back. For was this not to be the best reunion ol the whole twenty-five years? Yes, indeed it was. About a week before the day on which the banquet was to be held, the Juniors were called to-gether and given all the necessary instruction about waiting on table, for as usual on such occasions, this was to be their share of work for the day. We Seniors were numbered among the in- vited guests. Of course, we were much pleased at this and not one was absent. After we had been patiently waiting for four weeks to see what it would all be like, the morning of,the great affair came at last. Our faithful Juniors certainly did work that day. Everything was hustle and bustle at the school where the tables were being set up and the room in general was being decorated. At the dormitory the alumnae were beginning to arrive. Ah, what fun it was to see them chatting together with dear friends that they had not seen for at least two years. When they were passing by the different rooms in the dormitory such snatches of conversation could be heard. That used to be my room. Let's go in and see how it looks now. Didn't we have fun in this room? At last came one o'clock the longed-for hour. The alumnae, guests and faculty formed in line and we, the members of the class of '22 fell in at the end. Then we all marched over to the school where the banquet was to be served. As we entered the school we could hear a faint strain of music, then as we drew nearer, we saw that it proceeded from the corridor just at the entrance of the Assembly room. It was interesting to learn that this was the same orchestra that played for the first banquet of the school in 1897. The Assembly Hall! No one would ever recognize it as the same one we used for exercises, every morning. For it was just filled with handsomely decorated tables and around its walls were hung the banners of all the classes beginning with the first class in 1897 up to the present class of 1922. When all were seated and had plenty of time to inter- view their former classmates, the cheering and singing be- gan. Hardly a moment passed without hearing the ting- ling of the glasses which announced a new cheer or song. The speeches were very interesting features of the day. After the President's welcome, Mr. Smith the present principal of N. A. N. S. was introduced as toastmaster. The others who took part were Mr. C. Q. ltichmond, n former member of the Board of Education: Miss Mary A. Pearson, our beloved art teacher who has so faithfully given her services throughout the twenty-five years of the school: Mr. Murdock, our former principal, who has won the hearts of all the members of the class of '22: Dr. Payson Smith, the Commissioner of Education. Thus ended the program of the day. All were agreed that our twenty- fifth anniversary was the best banquet that they had ever attended. Gwendolyn Purcell '22 56IIiOl' :Sores One night, not long ago, the Seniors felt mysterious, so they immediately advertised a Surprise in the Reception Room, at 9 o'clock sharp, with the added command, Bring fifteen cents, for that was before the Boston Trip. At last the fateful hour arrived, finding the girls all as- sembled ready for the entertainment. Some of the audi- ence wore evening gowns, some brought their best girl, but all were intensely curious. Soon the strains of a distant wedding march were heard as the player tried in vain to keep time to the sound of many feet -did you ever hear of a bridal party that did keep time with the music? There have been several weddings at Taconic Hall, but this, I believe, was the most unique, This union took place between Miss Sarah Louise Pal- mer and Mr. V. I, V. Berry. The ring was carried in on a very precious, red denim pillow by Lorrie Tobin while the fiower girl, Miss Clara Thurber, followed with a huge armful of pussy willows. The bride herself blushingly beau- tiful as she came in on the arm of Mr. D. O. T. Reynolds who was the best man. Her bridesmaid, Miss Sauter followed with the happy groom, while the bride's mother, Mrs. G. Boyden, with several intimate friends completed the bridal party. Before the fireplace, they were met by Rabbi D. Chapin who performed the ceremony. The bride wore a charming gown of white cotton with real Curtain Lace veil which has been handed down from class to class for the last four or five years. The bridesmaid wore a suit of many colors with hat to match, while both the ringbearer and the fiower girl were in white. Mr. and Mrs. V. I. V. Berry left immediately after the ceremony fora short wedding tour up three flights of stairs to their suite in Taconic Hall where they now reside. At last the Seniors went on their Trip. They had, in the course of five short months decided on at least as many places, in which to spend the Spring vacation, but Boston was finally chosen as the best place. Half the party, with the chaperones started from North Adams on the eight o'clock train while the other half got on singly or otherwise at the various stations between North Adams and Millers Falls. It seemed tio time until they were duly installed inthe Copley Square Hotel. There the program which thty followed for the next few days was announced by Mrs. Van Etten and Miss Baright. Saturday afternoon the girls visited the Boston Public Library, dined at Ginters and spent the evening at Km-ith's. Sunday the party divided, some going to the services at Tremont Temple, others to the t'hristinn Science t'hurch and the remainder to St. t'ecclia's. That afternoon they went to the Museum of Fine Arts, heard the Messiah at Symphony llall that evening, with dinner later inthe Shantung Restaurant. Monday there was a wallt thru the Commons to the Capitol where they niet the Govt rnor before going on the 'lttilibcr Neck tour thru t'ambridge, Lexington. and Concord. tlintcrs was again voted as the place to dine for it was near the t'olonial 'l'ln-atre wln-rc reservations had been made for Sally 'Tuesday nas devoted to seeing Ilistoric Boston. and shopping, ended with light lunch at f'hild's Restaurant So greatly was this program enjoyed that, t-'er thc Rifle had said their farewell, they had planned another trip a year from this June to celebrate the completion of their first year out. 'l'hc Class of 1922 wishes to express its appreciation for the fine co-operative spirit manifested by the Juniors

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,x. ,Ii Wi ,' i a'1-a iff is ' i 2 l li I ,iii t ,ii l ,Q ,lf N We ' K ' 071 l , ' 1 -I' F i ,xii J I' , 1 ' e 03 wr . A ' VEYESTW L34 4 r' i ri ,I - iixigf 3: 12 L - ' 5 .I f nf GLEE CLUB 1922 Glee Qlllub Qloncert THE Weather Man was not particularly gracious to North Adams those days preceding May, nineteenth. Small wonder, then, that the Glee Club Girls were anxious when they awoke the very morning of the Concert only to find it still raining. But as the day wore on the faithful sun came to their rescue sending his brightest beams on our Normal. That night they looked upon the world and saw that it was good. The hall was well filled with an appreciative audience, the selections were sung with more spirit than ever, while the instrumental solos by the Messers. Paul Padden and Emil Calvacca were given as they alone can render them. The Finale, a Cantata entitled, The Fairies Festival was especially interesting because of the variations introduced by Miss Rosa E. Searle, the director, and Miss Kent, the leader. The latter took the part of the Fairy Queen admirably. During the evening, Miss Searle was presented with a large basket of Tea Roses by the Glee Club in acknow- ledgment of her work with them this year. Lorclfa Tobin '22

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THE AXIS throughout the year, for their loyal support both financial and otherwise, but most of all for the many friendships which are priceless. The Juniors also deserve much praise for starting the Axis which thc present Editorial Stafill' carried successfully thru its first year. We extend our hearticst congratula- tions and best wishes to the new Stall: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUTH Cmnku HELEN O'Ntcn. ELIZABETH Cooks ELIZABETH Hunnnv KATHERINE DRENNAN BLANCHE O1.s'rED BUSINESS MANAGER SCHOOL NOTES SENIOR NOTES JOKES ASSISTANT ALUM NAE Y. W. C. A. Nanking, China, April 29, 1922 Greetings to N. A. N. S.'ers! I hope you won't think I am sermonizing to you. I am prompted to write this letter merely that you may have at the outset of your work some of the thoughts that have come to me after years of casting about for a philosophy that withstands the sudden attacks circumstance can bring about. To begin with, I think a great share of one's troubles in this world are based on attitude. So while these Chinese teachers, minus method, minus the tools of teaching Wes- tern teachers have, are handicapped, they are yet followers and admirers of Confucius. their great ideal teacher. They are teacher worshippers! And no man or woman fails when she worships her task! When one has real respect for her vocation, something evolves which brings her safely through the diflicult situations she gets into. Such a person often proves the truth of that wise saying, if my job won't reflect honor on me, I must reflect honor on it. Despite the fact that certain isolated positions in the teaching pro- fession seem unworthy of the efforts one must expend to master them, the profession itself is worthy of the highest, finest spirit she can give it. The greatest people in the world have been teachers, and the mantle of their great- ness falls on their worthy followers. Dignity, and respect are innate qualities of the profession. Out by the Ming Tombs, beyond the South Gate of Nanking City Hall, is a Confucian School. I speak of it because it is the only one of its kind I have visited yet. The teacher, an elderly man, sits day in and day out, crosslegged on the floor or on alow stool, chanting the classics to a roomful of small boys. They chant them after him over and over, swaying from side to side as they chant, memorizing hook after book. It is a desultory process to get your education by such method when you are a boy full of life and spirit and energy. Many a youngster has to be fairly pulled to school by the older members of the family. Yet when a boy has gone through the years, mem- orizing the truths sifted from generation to generation and culled by classics, his life centers about those truths and something evolves which is quite distinctive from our Western conceptions, a passion for schools and the passing on of knowledge. Out of this attitude has come a proverb which is commonly on the tongues of the Chinese. It has no equivalent in English, but means that ten men inherit knowledge from one man, one hundred men inherit knowledge from ten men, one thousand men inherit know- ledge from one hundred men, and so does the nation attain to general knowledge. The nucleus of the idea is a respon- sibility to pass on to your children what you have. Now, when you read of the multitudes in China that remain uneducated, you will think my statement at odds with report. Uneducation in China means the lack of power to read and write. But the merest urchins on the street. have heard from the tongues of their elders in the homes, the teachings of Confucius, they know proverbs by the score, and while they cannot read or write, they can bargain shrewdly, they know how to use their hands, the country children and many of the city children know the secrets of soil, and rotation of crops, and all those things which make for self-support. It seems to me as I watch them that the Chinese aim and ambition is to arrive at truth, to recognize truth, in whatever guise. And in their moving toward this objective, they have called in not so much a system of methods as many illustrations, stories, parables. One of my teachers last week electrified me Cas many another has before himl by giving an illustration that was far richer and more striking than the ideal wanted to ex- press. We were talking about youth, and education, and attitude. I said, Lien, Saing-Sen, the youth does not restore to the parents or the teacher what he gets! The youth is often ungrateful for his benefits simply because he does not know the pains others went through that he might be benefited! The teacher's black eyes shone, and he leaned across the table saying, I will show you what you mean! I will give you an illustration! It is night. You have a lonely road to travel. It is the only road that leads to your destination. You have no companion. But you travel this lonely road in the dark, and when you are in the narrowest part of it, you stumble over a great stone that has fallen there. You hurt your- self, fall into the ditch, eat bitterness, and are much in- convenienced. You decide that those who follow may be saved such humiliation, so you call a helper, and at no small pains and expense, the two of you remove the stone, and go your respective ways. Later a gay youth comes skip- ping over the same road. He does not stumble nor fall! Nor does he thank you that he finds the road open! He has not eaten your bitterness! How wouldihe think to thank you! Do you want thanks! Is it not enough for you that in the nature of things that virtue is to your credit whether men know it or not! And as he talked I looked at the dowdy old gentleman, and recalled a statement read just the night before, All truth hurries home to the heart that loves it, and will lodge in no other. And I knew this old man recognized the truth underlying the situation. Although he had not superstructure of method with which to enrich my thought, the very essence of desire in his heart gave him the power to evolve something to do it with. And I believe that might be true of every teacher in the world. When studied methods fail to meet the need, the deep-lying passion of the heart to en1'ich the thinking of mankind and clinch a truth by some strong association will lend power to meet people at the very door of their need. When I came home we had a Chinese lady visiting here. She isateacher. As we talked, she said, I will tell you what I think of the ideal teacher! Whereupon she read from Isaiah,- If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday. And they that shall be of thee shall build up old waste placesg thou shalt raise up the founda- tions of many generationsg and thou shalt be