Mount Vernon High School - Forum Yearbook (Mount Vernon, OH)

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THE FORUM 11 A Favorite Book VER since the time we have been able to read for our- selves, there have been those books that stand out before all others as those we most enjoyed. Even in our child- hood some of the Mother Goose rhymes seemed to awaken our imaginations more than others. At first it was the incidents that made books enjoyable to us, but as we grow older, we begin to look more into the character of the actors, though not losing sight of the action altogether. We read one book depicting one phase of life and we are thoroughly delighted by it, we read another describing another phase and we lose sight of the first, for the time be- ing, in our enjoyment of the second, and so on until before we realize it, we have a long list of our favorite books. It would be impossible for me to tell you about all of my favorites and at first I thought it equally impossible to pick out just one. But perhaps one of the most fascinating books you can read is Dieken's Tale of Two Cities. Few books retain their fascination so long after they are finished. The sorrow and Wretehedness of some of the scenes are indelibly stamped in our minds. Who could keep from shuddering at the sight of those old women sitting be- side that instrument of death, calmly knit- ting away the life of many an innocent person? And then the utter pathos of the scene where the poor, half-starved men, women and children are lapping from the street like dogs the wine that had be-en spilled from a cask in front of the De Farge wine shop. Who could forget the crouching figure of the girl, gazing for the first time upon the form of her father who from her babyhood, had been No. 105 North Tower Bastile, now a mental 22 and physical wreck as a result of the many years spent in prison. The book has many interesting charac- teristics: for instance, Doctor Mannetle and his daughter Lucy, the vicious Madam DeFarge and her more human husband, and the one for whom the reader has the most sympathy and who furnishes the crowning interest of the story, Sidney Carton. All through the book one can easily see he is a self thrown away, poor, drunken creature, conscious every hour of the shame of his existence, fast sinking lower, but not having the courage and out of the mire power to lift himself up into which he has fallen. Compelled by his wretched, wicked life of sin, he when yet a young man left his home in France and came to England. Instead of begin- ning his life over again in his new hom-e, he continued in the same old way, caring for no man and no man caring for him. He did however, after some years form the acquaintance of this Dr. Mannette, and in frequenting his home, won the friendship of his daughter Lucy. In his degradation he was not so degraded, but that the friendship of this lovely girl stir- red old feelings long since dead. Since knowing her he had been troubled with a remorse that he thot would never re proach him again, and heard voices im- pelling him upward that he supposed for- ever silent. He had vague ideas of start- ing anew, shaking oif sloth and sensuality and fighting out the abandoned iight, but it was all a dream that ended in nothing. He felt he would give his life gladly to keep her from sorrow. A few years had passed, the French Revolution had broken out. The people were like those who had undergone a ter- rible grinding and regrinding in a mill

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10 THE FORUM broadened by peace. Merchant houses, both great and small, thrive and progress in a peaceful atmosphere. Great steam- ship lines are developed, whose vessels pen-etrate into every corner of the seas, car- rying back and forth, without fear of mo- lestation, those products which are neces- sary for each particular community. Un- der these conditions which are possible only when nations are in harmony with each other, prosperity, and from prosper- ity, world-wide happiness is developed. Hand in hand with this military peace goes arbitration, which is rendered pos- sible by the fact that it is backed by power. Several years ago the Hague con- ference was established at which each na- tion is represented. It has become the ac- knowledged custom that all international controversies shall be referred to this tribunal, which tries in every possible way to meet and settle each case with justice to all concerned, thus making war the last resort instead of the first as here-to- fore has been the case. Carrying out this same plan, a few months ago Andrew Carnegie gave ten millions of dollars toward the establish- ment of an international peace fund and many men of high financial standing are contemplating the addition of great sums to this already large fund. But what does all this signify? Simply, that the nations, together with the leading men who com- pose them, both in and out of political life, have come to the realization of the fact that the time for bloody controversies is past, that prosperity and happiness can only reach their height during an era of neighborly feeling and good will on the part of all nations, This sentiment has been adequately ex- pressed in a little poem, written by George Huntington in the same meter as our nat- ional hymn, America, and presented by him to Mr. Carnegie upon his establish- ment of the international peace fund. Two empires by the sea, Two nations great and free, One anthem raise. One race of ancient fame, One tongue, one faith, we claim, One God, whose glorious name We love and praise. What deeds our fathers wrought, What battles we have fought, Let fame record. Now, vengeful passions, cease. Come, victories of peace, Nor hate, nor pride 's caprice Unsheath the sword. Though deep the sea, and wide, 'Twixt realm and realm, its tide Binds strand to strand. So be the gulf between Gray coasts and islands green With bonds of pe-ace serene, And friendship spanned. Now, may the God above Guard the dear land we love, Both east and west. Let love more fervent glow, As peaceful ages go, And strength yet stronger grow, Blessing and blessed. John S. Gotshall.

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12 THE FORUM that makes young people old, turning out children with ancient faces with hunger written on every feature. In the despair- ing minds of the people the thought was growing of turning against their old op- pressors, like wild animals at bay. They were fast becoming desperate and could endure it no longer. The aristocrats were soon being put to death by the scores, judged by a self-appointed tribunal. Charles Darney, who bears a striking physical resemblance to Carton, though very different in character, has in the meantime married Miss Mannetteg on ac- count of his connection with the old fam- ily of Evermonde, he has been tried and condemned to death. So intent were the people on exterminating the-ir old oppress- ors, that no influence could save him. Alone in his cell the doomed man was walking to and fro, his arms folded on his breast. He had now regained his self- possession and saw with calmness the hours pass by that brought him nearer his death. But he was young and his hold on life was very hard to break. Footsteps were heard in the passage outside his door, they stopped at his cell and in an instant he was face to face with Sidney Carton. There was something so bright and remarkable in this Cartonls appear- ance that the prisoner thought him a ghost of his own imagination. In a few words he unfolded the plan of substitut- ing himself for Darney who could make his escape from the prison, while he re- mained behind to die in his stead. There was a hard struggle between the two men, the one determined to lay down his life for the only two persons he cared for in this world and the other determined to meet death with heroism. Darney refused to yield but through Carton 's masterful strength he was soon stretched senseless on the ground. Hastily dressing himself in the prisoner 's clothes, he called the guards, who had helped him gain entrance to the prison, and the un- conscious man was born into safety. Car- ton then sat down at the table to await his doom. This was the noble end of such an ignoble life as Sidney Carton 's. So hasty a review of such a book as this is very unsatisfactory. Characters that would intensely interest you can not even be mentioned, but I hope this much of the story will give you an interest in so that you will wish to know more about it. It is very different from Dickens' usual style of writing and even those to whom Dickens does not generally appeal, I am sure would enjoy this one. Helen K. Chew.