Morris High School - Yearbook (Bronx, NY)

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The Triumph of Education Galahad: Camazedj What is this? Thought: This is the realm of Instruction, Where we make our first halt. After that we will pass beyond this wall into the garden of Education. Keep your wits about you, Galahad, for upon the choice you make now depends your whole future. Galahad: C more amazed than beforel Are my high school days, then, so important that my whole future depends on them? I thought they were merely meant to prepare me for college, or a vocation. Thought: Nay, my son, that is the mistake so many make, to their sorrow. Your high school days are a preparation for life -even more, they are a great part, perhaps the sweetest part, of life itself. Galahad the boy will be moulded into Galahad the man in one of these two gardens. Take heed that the charms of Instruction do not overcome you, we must see Education before we make our choice . Her warning falls on deaf ears, for Instruction, spying the youth, comes forward with her two daughters smilinglg to greet him, and Galahad is oblivious of all else in regarding the charm- ing group. Instruction: Welcome to our kingdom, young Galahad. Here will you find the greatest happiness, for many have found it here before you. Be obedient to me and my daughter Learn- ing: Reputation, too, will help to make your days interesting and profitable, and then your sojourn here will be one of end- less bliss. Learning: Cextending her hand to Galahadj Come, my young friend, I will teach you all the things worth knowing in this world . If you but spend your four years in this garden in my hands, you will leave it well equipped to take your proper place in the world. Reputation: Ctahing his other hand, and laughinglg drag- ging him forwardb Do come, Galahad. We 'll play together, and have such fine times here. You'll like me, I'm sure you will, everybody does. CGalahad follows them in a dazej 24

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Uhnsliiriumph nf Ehuratinn A PLAY IN THREE ACTS Characters Galahad . Thought Enthusiasm Caution Instruction Learning Reputation Education Intelligence Friendship The Soul of Man Daughters to Instruction Daughters to Education ACT I. Scene-A small garden surrounded by a high circular wall All over the smooth-shaven grass are bright white daisies, with sparkling buttercups liberally sprinkled among them. Here and there are bushes with roses in full bloom. At the largest of these bushes, in the center of the garden, are seated three figures, wearing rose-colored garments. Instruction, in the center, is a charming matron, whose golden hair, blue eyes, and fair cheeks have not yet lost the lustre of youth. At her right is Learning, a maiden with a comely, but expressionless face 5 such a one as is chiseled out by artists, which lacks the feeling of life.. At her left is Reputation, a bewitching damsel, whose bright, laughing eyes and pretty dimples have won her many slavish followers. Through a small door in the wall at the side of the garden enter Galahad, Thought, Enthusiasm and Caution. Galahad is a lad of thirteen, rather small in stature, with' dark hair, a well-formed face, and the hope and idealism of V youth shining in his deep brown eyes. Thought is a kindly, grave spirit and follows Galahad about like a faithful nurse- It is impossible to describe her, for her appearance is always chang- ing. Enthusiasm and Caution, though sister and brother, are direct opposites. The one clad in bright gold, romps about playfully, and all who see her cannot escape from the con- tagion of joy in her lively eyes. The other is groomed in sombre brown, his pace is stately, almost melancholy, his frown chills the happy feelings of those who are near him. 23

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1 ' The Triumph of Education Thought: Cwhispering to himj Remember my Warning Galahad, do not choose to rest here until you have seen the other garden, or you may pay dearly for it. Enthusiasm: Cinterrupting in a loud uoicej Go, master, I fol- low. Who could wish a betterplace to live in than this, where one has helpful Learning and mulch sought-after Reputation! Galahad disregards Thought, and walks on, closely dogged by Enthusiasm. Caution lags behind. 'Thought exits, discon- solately shaking her head. After her exit,:the one door in the garden vanishes, leaving a solid wall. Curtain ACT II. Two years later Scene I. -The same garden, but greatly changed. Most of the grass has died away, the little that remains is yellow and .shriveled up. The daisies droop their heads, and the buttercups are faded. The roses have all disappeared, and the bushes are now nothing more than bare twigs. Against one of these are seated Learning and Galahad. The latter looks tired, disap- pointed. Enthusiasm sulks away to one side. Caution looks unusually grave. Caution: Cto Galahadj Alas, Galahad, see what you have done to my sister! Instruction and her daughters no longer please her, they have crushed all the spirit out of her. You have suffered in her an irremediable loss. Why do you not break away from your prison here, and go with her to brighter climes? P Galahad: Indeed, Caution, I am tired here. The smallness of the place oppresses me, and its beauty has vanished, as you see. I can no longer find pleasure in the garden nor with these women. CTo Learning, impatientlyl Come, cease your talk. You may be valuable to me, you may develop my brain, but man is more than a mere machine for cramming facts. There is a deeper spirit, a more holy Hame in man, which struggles for existence, and which you do your best to stifle. I wish I had never chosen to rest with you. 25