Morris High School - Yearbook (Bronx, NY)

Page 29 text:

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

Page 28 text:

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

Page 30 text:

The Triumph of Education Learning: Qcalling out in dismayj Mother, Sister, come here quickly! Galahad is no longer willing to stay with us! Instruction and Reputation come running up. Reputation: What, Galahad, do my charms no longer please you? Is it not your ambition to stand high in the eyes of the world, to have all men bow down at your feet? You have been a faithful pupil to my sister these last two years, continue so two years longer, and I will lead you to an earthly throne, amid the plaudits of all. ' Galahad: Cscornfullyj I care no longer for your empty show. There are better things in life than mere selfish pride and ambition. Instruction: Galahad, does this garden not give you, do we not give you, happiness? All others have remained with us, and have gone out, knowing all things, and standing high in the eyes of the world. VVhat could one seek that is better than that? Galahad: Nay, Madam, this wall hems me in, the garden has lost its beauty for me. Others may have been happy here, because they knew of nothing better, but last night, as I slept, I had a vision of another garden, which is boundless in extent, and which always keeps the beauty of spring, where earthly things are forgotten, and where one lives in higher and purer regions, I will not rest content until I have entered that gar- den. Oh Thought, please come and deliver me from here. Immediately a cloud appears, deposits Thought, and van- ishes. Instruction, Learning and Reputation draw back in fear. Thought: I heard your prayer, my son, and came here straightway. Know thou that whenever thou wishest Thought, she is right at hand, ready to help thee. The vision of last night is that of a real garden, the garden of Education. It was sent by me to make you tired of lying here in a rut, to make you wish for something better. This garden can offer you nothing real, see how they cannot stand against me C pointing to the three fig- ures slinhing sullenly awayj-But come, enough of this, we will pass into the garden of your dreams. 26