Montana State University Billings - Rimrock Yearbook (Billings, MT)

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Class of 1928 The 19 2 8 R i m r o c k 15 Lenora Larson Outlook, Montana Mae Valentine Benchland, Montana Evelyn Kuhlmak Billings, Montana Willard C. Paulson Belmont, Montana J. J, Marshall Corinth, Montana France Christoph erson Joliet, Montana A. H. J. Seubert Marshfield, Wisconsin Margaret H. Callahan Lewistown, Montana Eva Mae Phillips Cushman, Montana Teresa Nigon Havre, Montana

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14 The 1928 Rimrock -------------------------------- Class of 1928 Lucille M. Cooke Klein, Montana Muriel McFarland Castagne, Montana Alice M. Carpenter Hillings, Montana Dorothy Leavens Hillings. Montana Edith A. White Terry, Montana Selena T. Paulson Helmont, Montana Lois J. McLeod Great Falls, Montana Cecii.e F. Stober Helfry, Montana Thelma Hamilton Lavina, Montana Eva Shevlin Hillings, Montana Florence Johnson Hillings, Montana

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16 The 1928 Rimrock «r T o4n Old Idea Made Alew Mr. Judson knew when he entered the little log school house that he had a fight on his hands. That is what he had been hired for—to wage war on the lawless, and bring them back to the straight and narrow path. The members of the school board told him frankly, at the outset, that the youngsters of District Four were a bad lot, and only an iron rule could check their deviltry. Mr. Judson did not look like a warrior. Rather he appeared to be a kindly, lovable old man. His hair was snow white; his eyes were faded gray; but his bearing gave no impression of infirmity—he seemed as strong as the great, tall pines that grew there in the hills; his face was calm, with an expression of serenity and peace. He had no direct plan of action; like all good soldiers he preferred to take stock of the enemy before deciding on a plan of attack. It was only a little school house situated where the diverging branches of the valley stretched away to the hills. The pupils numbered perhaps fifteen and they ranged in size from the beginners to the great over-grown hoys in the advanced classes. These were the boys who were the despair of the community. They had lived all their lives in the hills where they were born, and their young blood clamored for adventure not found in that quiet community. Not finding an outlet for their surplus energy they had taken to pillaging and foraging as their ancestors had done before them in the bonny Highlands of Scotland. For long days Mr. Judson pondered over the solution of his problem. He knew he could never hope to quell those turbulent spirits by any rule of text or scroll. They were so intensely alive—their very exuberance was the enemy of the community unless directed along constructive lines—but what could a man do? They were so quick, so confident in their ignorance, so elusive of any admonishing word. Then one day, quite unexpectedly, he hit upon the solution. He had been reading a bit of Sir Roger dc Coverly to a group of boys at noon, and the doings of that worthy old fellow seemed to intrigue the audience. They laughed delightedly at the picture of Sir Roger giving his opinions in the Coffee House. The charm of that society enveloped them. So Mr. Judson worked out a plan. He would instill in that hoydenish crowd a desire to emulate the higher virtues through the influence of Sir Roger’s Coffee House. He broached the subject, casually, asking the boys what they thought of building a Coffee House of their own. wherein they might re-live the gallant days of Sir Roger. They accepted the suggestion, as boys will, with varying degrees of indifference. But when it came to erecting the lodge-house from logs cut from the neighboring hill-sides—their enthusiasm kindled and they went to work with a will. They were justly proud of the result—a trim log cabin with a shingled roof and big windows through which glowed a friendly, welcoming light on nights when members of the new society met for a social hour. Here they met on many occasions to plan and discuss the events of the times. They became interested in sports, and in the spring, laid out a baseball diamond. Unconsciously the spirit of team work and fair play developed among them. Their admiration for the bad-men and gun-fighters of the old West gave place to the worship of athletes and adventurers of their own day. Their interest in Sir Roger de Coverly led them to buy other books, and these spread before them the panorama of life in different lands; they learned of science and invention; of customs and manners of people beyond the sea; and withal they gained an appreciation of their own world and the part they were to play. The teacher had accomplished his purpose. The modern coffee-house became the haunt of those restless spirits who had once disturbed the quiet life of the hills. Peace reigned where once were turmoil and misunderstanding. Young hearts learned to reverence a kindly old man, through whose guidance they came to distinguish the grain from the chaft in their lives. And through a “revival of the fittest” the youth of the hills came into its own. Margaret Williams ’29.