Norway High School - Caduceus Yearbook (Norway, ME)

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THE CADUCEUS end, and challenged by human nature to create something better than ever be- fore. Will we meet this obligation and challenge by casting aside petty differ- ences and individual tasks and joining so that we may forge a set of reins to harness these powers, or will we stand individually to get the best seat on the wagon while the horse is running away? Will the world be left at the beginning or the end of the day when we leave it? Is it dawn or midnight? -Stephen Bradeen, '50. WHO WILL SUCCEED? Thoughtless, cruel remarks some- times will cause adolescent girls and boys to have inferiority complexes the rest of their lives, or will give them a determination to succeed in life. Sometime ago a boy in our neighbor- hood preferred to play dolls, with his younger sister, rather than to play base- ball and other boys' games, with the boys in the community. They called John a sissy and listed him as queer and finally excluded him from all school ac- tivities. These thoughtless boys didn't know that John, from a very early age, had a desire to cure the sick and help- less. He not only bandaged his sister's dolls, but if the pet dog or cat was ill, it was John that always nursed it back to health. John was a very studious type and regardless of the other boys' jibes he graduated from high school with ex- cellent grades. On graduation day, as John was walking down the auditorium steps, he heard Peter, one of his class- mates, talking with a group of boys. He spoke loud enough for John to hear and this was the cruel remark that he made. There goes John, the sissy, 29 now he can spend all his time making dolls' clothes. Fourteen years swiftly passed and Peter, a filling station attendant, be- came violently ill. The family physi- cian was called who told Peter that a serious operation was necessary and that the only surgeon that he thought was capable of performing such an op- eration was practicing in a city fifty miles away. Peter had a very large familyg therefore, he didn't have the financial means to employ such a fa- mous surgeon of his circumstances. Peter's doctor wired the surgeon, with- out Peter's knowledge, giving the pa- tient's name and case history and finally told him about the financial circum- stances. Peter's doctor got an immedi- ate reply from the surgeon telling him to bring the patient immediately and that money was a minor problem in a matter of life and death. Peter was given the anesthetic with- out having seen the surgeon. The oper- ation was a success and as Peter re- gained consciousness, a white clad fig- ure stood by the bedside. Peter studied the face of the figure for a time and exclaimed, John, how did you get here! John replied, Peter, I was your sur- geon. The operation was a success and you will be back with your family soon. Peter clasped John's hand and with tears in his eyes asked John to forgive the cruel remark he had made about him on that day long ago. John told Peter that he was forgiven years ago and that the only fee that he was charging for the operation was for him to bring his children up to defend all sissies because one might have a future goal in sight. -Donald McAllister, '51

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28 THE CADUCEUS majority do not go to college. Most eighteen-year-olds regard voting ser- iously and would carefully study the qualities of the candidates and cast their ballots to the best of their ability. An eighteen year old is considered old enough to serve in the army. Many people say that this is no reason why he should be allowed to vote because, they say, the fact that he is capable of serving in the army does not mean that he is qualified to vote. I think it does, Army mental tests are very strict and no one is going to be taken into the army unless he is reasonably intelligent and capable. If a boy can pass these tests, he must have a mind that is in- telligent enough to vote. The voting age may never be changed to eighteen in Maine, but if it is I think that the young voters will prove sat- isfactory. -William Holden, '49. A LIBERTY BELL SOUVENIR When the Liberty Bell was in Den- ver on its way west, the authorities made special provision to enable the children to see it. Many of them hand- ed to those in charge of the Bell, var- ious articles for them to touch against it with the idea of carrying away the articles, so hallowed, as souvenirs of the occasion. Among the children was a small boy in trousers that were much too large for him. They hung in folds about his thin body, supported by a blue cotton band that was held in place by a large safety pin of age and experience. His shirt was faded to a nondescript color, and he was bare-headed and bare- footed also. As he saw the other children pass up pocket pieces, coins, knives, lockets, and trinkets of various kinds, he search- ed his pockets eagerly, and his wistful little face grew more anxious when his explorations revealed nothing whatever that would serve. But necessity had made him a boy of resource. Gathering up his trousers with one arm, he passed up the crook- ed safety pin. The oflicial made it clink against the side of the venerable Bell and then handed it back to the boy, whose face beamed as he restored it to its position of responsibility. In spite of his poverty he, too, has his souvenir of the Liberty Bell, he is prob- ably the only boy in the world who has a gallus that for one immortal mo- ment chimed with the Spirit of '76. Beverly Patten, '51, DAWN OR MIDNIGHT They say that it is always darkest just before the dawning, but it is also very dark just before midnight on a stormy night. 'Right now our earth seems to have an outlook as dark or darker than it ever has had before. Is it the darkness before a new day of pro- gress or is it the darkness before the stormy midnight of self destruction? Have the shortcomings and evils of men begun to overcome the good that has been done so that recovery is im- possible, or will man save himself and the world from complete destruction? Has man unleashed forces of mind and matter that he cannot control or does he merely hold the reins slack so that he may mend the weak spots before he loses complete control of these forces? Will he repair and strengthen the reins quickly enough and sutiiciently to de- rive the full potential benefits of the forces he is lax with now, or will these forces take the bit in their teeth and run wild beyond restraint before the repairs are Hnished? The first con- dition would be the sunrise of a nearly perfect day, the second, the hours before- the midnight marking the end of hu- manity. Man is in possession of the means to place himself at either ex- treme with the same ease. It seems fitting to me that we should make this the beginning instead of the end. It seems that we are obligated and chal- lenged to do so, obligated by the trust and faith placed with us by our pre- decessors who strove to accomplish this

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30 THE CADUCEUS CD I- 'TS' CCD I-Q N E R THE SEASONS In Fall the leaves so scarlet Look like a boniire's flare. Soon they'll all come tumbling down To leave the branches bare. The trees so bare in Winter Are statues in the snow. The moonlight casts a shadow And all is still below. Soon the snow begins to go Now Spring is here again. A Leaves and buds so fresh and green Are washed by springtime rain. Breezes with the Summer come, And leaves are gently kissed. Fall will soon come 'round again And leaves will then be missed. --Glenna Wight, '52 - FUTILE WAR Have you forgotten us Who yesterday walked among you Stalwart, strong and glad? Today we sleep beneath the green And watch with futile tears A world gone power mad. What price this which we have paid In agony, grief, and death For freedom mocked and greed run rampant While our brothers die with us in other fields? More crosses to show the wasted wealth Of nations in ageless struggle. Tomorrow whose sons will join Our growing legions? What crosses Mark the regions of man's eternal war? And this I say to you, Who hold the torch, There is a way that is not death For war shall breed war And love shall lead in life. -Janice Conley, '49 CON FESSION - How can I sit in my prison cell Awaiting death, you say? I'm not afraid now, as before, That I must go my way. I'll tell you why, tho' strange it seems, A priest I saw today Who changes my fears to heartfelt dreams: My mind no more will stray. I fought and stole, but worst of all I killed a good man, too. His wife and children left behind Because his life is through. Do I regret these things I've done You ask of me? Oh yes! If I could live my life again I'd change I must confess. A priest came 'here today and said, God forgives a friend to him. Would God forgive a man like me Who's committed such a sin? Then lightning struck, and thunder, A sign before the end. And now I'm on my way to see The Lord who is my friend. -Barbara Swett, '50 TO THE CLASS OF '49 Each year it's never quite the same, here at Norway High When all the grown-up Seniors have said their last good-by. There's always something sad about gradua- tion day, Like part of Norway High School, itself, had gone away. Some people think a Senior is apt to be a snob, Who laughs at underclassmen and never does his job. Tl?-sg people are mistaken, for who could ever in A group of kids much liner than the class of '49? -Mary Noble, '51 CLOUDS The sky is blue and the clouds are white, Just look! What a beautiful sight. I love to Watch them skip about, Like lambs a dancin' in and out. Of course, when skies are dull and gray It chases the fluffy clouds away. At night when all the sky is black, If you look hard you'll see they're back. Cynthia Bartlett, '52 THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH Macbeth was brave, Macbeth was bold. But his ambitions, he could not hold. He slayed Duncan, which was enough And then the family of Macduff. Meanwhile Banquo met his doom, And all over Scotland spread the gloom. Malcolm fled to England great, While Donalbain went to Ireland's gate When Macbeth was received and crowned Even now his lady was unsound. Malcolm raised an army strong: With which to correct Macbeth's great wrong. Nevertheless, Macbeth was the same 'Till Birnam Wood to Dunisinane came Malcolm's army, ten thousand strong, Came to Dunisinane and brought Birnam along. Macbeth then tried a childish bluff. And yet, he died on the sword of Macduff. -Kenneth Dullea, '50 THIS THING CALLED CURIOSITY All persons have possession of itg This thing called curiosity. To use it as they may see Ht Is part of our democracy. The wonder seed of man's intellect, This thing called curiosity Was planted to help man detect The wrong of any atrocity. It is developed by firm resolve, This thing called curiosity. Into capableness to solve The problems of bureaucracy. It is said to have -killed a cat , This thing called curiosity. Yet it has ousted many a rat Our enemies of responsibility. Marguerite Tracy, '49