Oakfield High School - Acorn Yearbook (Oakfield, ME)

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LITERATURE ROMAN ARCHITECTURE EFORE the conquest of Greece, the Romans obtained their architectural designs from the Etruscans. They made frequent use of the round arch and also the glazed tile or earthenware for finishing interiors. With conquest of Greece, the Romans added the Greek orders of architecture, the result being a combination of designs, which, in the reign of Augustus and the emperors following, made Rome the most magnificent city in the world. The Romans became masters in the use of the column and many of their structures were characterized by beautiful colonnades supporting light roofs, while massive- ness and size characterized many of their structures. The adoption of the Greek orders of architecture by Rome and the influence of the Roman Empire upon the civilization of Europe caused the orders to gain a firm hold upon the countries of the West, where they were considered standard types for countries. The distinctive feature of Roman architecture is the free use of the arch and the use of domes and vaulting, which are derived from the arch. Another feature of Roman construction is the variety of building materials used. Be- sides marble and other kinds of stone, they employed brick and also a remark- ably hard concrete made of volcanic earth mixed with lime. Easy to prepare and put in place, the concrete was as hard and strong as stone itself. Brick and concrete were often used for the main thickness of walls, and the surface was covered with thin slabs of marble. This made it possible for much of the Work of building to be done by unskilled laborers and slaves. Except for height, many of the buildings of the Romans would compare favorably in size with the largest buildings of today. At Rome, some of the palaces were more than a hundred feet high and many of the houses contained seven or eight stories. Louise Greene, Latin II. ...l+l- ROMAN PEASANT GIRL IN HER KITCHEN RAVELING back through the centuries, we visit the outskirts of Pompeii in the first century A. D. We see Trena, a Roman peasant girl of fifteen, carrying a jug of water to- wards her home. Her two-room hut with a stone step at the entrance seems to be kept very neat and clean. There is a large jar in front of her home and from it several plants of clinging vines are climbing to the tile roof. We see her put down the jug and begin to bake bread. Most of her kitchen utensils are made of clay. Among them are spoons, dishes, pots and bowls. The loaves of bread she makes are round and rather small with the tops marked off into sections. Roman bread is made of white fiour and some of whole wheat flour or bran. Trena often made her uncle's favorite cake, cheese cake. The following recipe, which she used, has been handed down to us from the writings of the elder Cato. Bray well two pounds of cheese in a mortar and when this is done, pour in one pound of cornmeal Cor, if wanted dainty mix one half pound of iiourj with the cheese. Add one egg and, beat well. Pat into a cake, place on leaves, and bake slowly on a hot hearth stove. Irene Di Fiore, Latin I. 32

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LITERATURE NOTRE CLASSE DE FRANCAIS Nous avons notre classe de francais dans la salle deux cent onze a une heure quarante-cinq. Notre professeur de francais est Mademoiselle Brewer, qui est un tres bon professeur. Nous entrons dans notre salle de classe et al- lons a nos pupitres, ou nous causons avec nos camarades, jusqu' a ce que le professeur nous dise de nous arreter. Puis nous avons notre legon laquelle nous avons preparee la veille. Si nous avons nos lecons bien, Mademoiselle Brewer est heureuse, mais si nous n'avons pas nos lecons, elle ne l'aime pas. Pius elle nous donne les devoirs pour le lendemain. Elle nous parle un peu- en francais et souvent nous ne comprenons pas ce qu'elle dit, mais nous essay- ons de sembler etre intelligents comme si nous comprenions chaque mot. A deux heures et demie, on sonne et la classe est finie. Puis nous lui donnons nos devoirs et quittons cette salle jusqu'a demain. Edna Rhodes, French II. 1l . Latin A ROMAN BANKER EXTUS HERRENIUS PROBUS was a great banker of old Rome. His bank- ing house was one of the oldest houses on the Via Saira. Probus, an eques, had wealth surpassing that of most senators. His father helped such a great personage as the philosopher Seneca to make, and to manage his huge fortune. The real origin of the firm dated back to Augustus' settlement of Egypt when the successful liquidation of the Royal estates of Cleopatra provided enormous and lawful commissions. Probus, himself, was practically the custodian of many of the noblest patrimonies in Rome. Probus, of course, ran a regular banking business. He had several junior partners besides a great corps of clerks, some freedmen, and some slaves. His office had all the signs of a well ordered commercial establishment. Every item of his business was entered in an elaborate system of ledgers, which were regularly brought into court as the most reliable kind of evidence. He issued bills of exchange on corresponders in various other cities. Money was deposited with him and withdrawn by personal checks. The firm paid interest on long time deposits and, of course, loaned money for long or short periods on what seemed good security. Besides its banking business Probus' firm also did business similar to that of a Trust Company. It made sales and purchases for its clients, undertook to close up estates and above all conducted auctions of large quantities of goods in the most responsible manner possible. Also, on the side, the firm maintain- ed several smaller savings banks with which they attracted the meager coins of the poor. To insure the safety of money there were at all the banks very strong brass-bound treasure boxes carefully guarded and protected by elaborate locks. However, objects of great value were deposited in the Temple of Castor where the government undertook their storage for a moderate fee. John Ludeman, Latin I. 31

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LITERATURE English POETRY A HOUSE OF THE PAST I know and love three ancient trees, Whose duty seems to be To guard, with zeal, an old brick house Which means the world to me. Within those walls I've seen and lived The joy, the grief, the pain, Which every earth-born son of man Bears time and time again. But sentimental thoughts like these . Too soon are cast aside, For straw and brass, the smaller things Of this world's little pride. So, when I'm bored with modern life, So loud, so drab, so dull- My thoughts go back to three old trees And the house I love so well. Buddy Traver, English IV 1,1 GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP My friend came home from far away, And brought a gift for me. But in my hand no trinket lay, And there was nothing I could see. She gave to me a cheering word, A happy smile, a loving glance, And in my heart new courage stirred To conquer changing circumstance. There is no gift that can be bought, Or any work of art, As precious as the one she brought: The beauty of a friendly heart. Jean Root, English IV 1,1 A LIMERICK There is a boy named Buddy Who never finds time to study, But if he doesn't start soon, He will flunk in June, And then his name will be Muddy. Buddy Ohs, English IV 33