Oakfield High School - Acorn Yearbook (Oakfield, ME)

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LIBRARY IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE Sinclair Lewis N idealist of modern literature possessing extreme enthusiasm in the field of political controversy, Sinclair Lewis, writes his novel to satisfy the more satirical and ironical people, to present pictures of the jigsaw puzzle in Europe, and to inform the citizens of this country on our thrifty and industrious nation. This writer wishes us to read the novel not only for appreciation, but he encourages us to study facts. He speaks of Jew financiers controlling practi- cally all business and currency, labor unions submitting themselves as money- grabbers, Jew spies posing as American liberals, arguments for and against Fascism and Communism, debates on Social Democracy and communism, and differences of liberals and conservatives which enter into the lives of the peo- ple. Something very striking and noticeable is his portrayal of the conservative Senators, United States Chamber of Commerce, giant bankers, monarchs of steel motors, electricity, and coal, brokers, and the holding companies to the Bourbon kings of whom it was said that they forgot nothing and they learned nothing. Digging into economic situations causes him to reveal that money isn't everything in our progressive world, that our country needs discipline to restore its senses, and that the need of highbrow intellectuality and book-learn- ing is rapidly decreasing. Politics enters Mr. Lewis' life because of his keen interest in showing the difficulties of a modern nation. When a country has gone money-mad, and our labor unions and workmen with their propaganda have raised income taxes so that the thrifty and industrious have to pay the people, then Mr. Lewis thinks that to save the lazy souls and get some iron into them, a war might be a good end. There is no country in the world that can get more hysterical or more obsequious than America. This book is the product of a talented writer who has a clear imagination, and who forecasts with powerful vision, a most logical picture of the scenes which stand out in a simple, truthful, and vivid manner. Angeline Mosco, English IV. 47

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LIBRARY MODERN BIOGRAPHY ROM the flood of twentieth century literature, and from a list of successes, I select an autobiography which is about the famous personality, Madame Frances Alda, the versatile and glorious operatic star. The book was written to inspire others by revealing how life may exemplify a certain ideal. It has a catchy and magnetic title, Men, Women, and Tenors , instead of the old staid titles of yesterday's biographies. It presents a person as he actually is and does not contain stale hero-worship. The person's life is picked up in exciting pieces and then put together as a jigsaw puzzle. It consists of the subject's life-her possessions, profession, daily problems, an- ecdotes, amusements, and her associates. It contains humor, emotional power, eloquence, vividness, and irony. The book is full of wit, contains beautiful de- scriptions of life before and behind the footlights of the magnificent Metropol- itan Opera House, La Scala at Milan, and London's Covent Garden-the four stages which every singer dreams of triumphing. The temperamental tenors, foolish jealousies among actors, and depressing failures are to be fought by wholehearted determination, extreme courage, and a boundless will to work. The subject of this book is an excellent example of a youthful struggler for suc- cess, admiration, and, magnificence. Her associates are all famous individuals who are inhabitants of this modern world. Undoubtedly, this book is not fan- tastic, fairy-like and unreal, because it is true to life. It is typical of the tragedies, the comedies, and the composition of life. This autobiography is full of hilarity, love and useful advice. There is also, all the despair that can breed in the fertile soil of intimate association with life. Anna Damiani, English IV. -.+.- MAIN STREET By Sinclair Lewis 66 AIN STREET clearly presents the complex problems which reared themselves from the haphazard growth of our present-day Western cities. Employing a typical, ugly, undeveloped hamlet for an illustration, the author has forcibly expounded his theories on some of these modern riddles. The author, an experienced writer, is capable of accurate, detailed, power- ful narration which makes his scenes realities. He utilizes the confiicts caused by certain types of people and natural tendencies of the civilized world to ex- emplify his points. Through these, he plays most compellingly upon the emo- tions of the reader, and by the creation of certain events to fit into his scheme, he conveys his story and ideas to us. Since Sinclair Lewis has incorporated many personal ideas in this excep- tional book, I will attempt to describe only one. Mr. Lewis' idea is that these little settlements which dot the country are but a small edition of a nation. In these communities one finds the equivalent to Jim Farley, John Lewis, and the Du Ponts to parallel the famous ones. These town people play the same part for the nation. However, it is the small business men in the obscure vil- lage whose support is needed for local acts or whose condemnation obliterates other affairs just as the powerful middle class or bourgeois makes or breaks a nation. This principle, when pondered over, can hardly be thwarted for the sheer logic of it is easily perceived. Thus, by reading Mr. Lewis' answers to some of our modern-day problems, we are given new hope and courage to face concrete challenges which we meet. Julia Hint, English III. 46

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NEWS STAFF 1 unused The Oakiield High School News Staff Although the Oakfield High School does not have a newspaper of its own, a part of the 0akfield Independent is devoted to school news so that the public may become acquainted with what is going on at school. The staff includes Marion Mason, editor-in-chiefg Anna Damiani, high school news editorg Rose Marie Sapienza, grade news editorg Haworth Traver, social news editorg Josephine Olmsted, music editorg Mabel Genesky, home economics editorg Malley Feeney, industrial arts editorg Vernon Campbell and Rowena Hoertz, sports editorsg Everett McClurg, Future Farmers of America news editorg Mary Angeles, Angeline Mosco and Joyce Domm, typists. Miss Prior is the staff faculty advisor. -IS