Orleans High School - Sword Yearbook (Orleans, VT)

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if Q X1 h ,, -fff-as f A 21 K f Ch e 'z A - 5 SUPERSTFTICN Webster defines a superstition as Many belief, con- ception, act or practice resulting from such a state of m1nd.u The Encyclopedia Americana classes superstition as Wthat which others believe and we do notu. Superstition has played a major part in the life and activities of man. The farmer plants his crops when certain actions of animals are favorable. Wars have been waged because the leaders thought that the gods were favoring them. In the world of sport, superstition is ever present. Baseball players carry rabbits' feet in their pockets. Crossing the bats is thought to bring bad luck. Many athletes carry charms with them. Fishermen go fishing according to superstitious beliefs. One be- lief of fishermen is that two trout cannot be caught out of the same hole on the same day, but I'have disproved this belief. It is true that many beliefs have been proved time and again, but there is one that surely was not true in the last presidential election. It mas UAs Maine goes, so goes the Unionn. Here are some superstitiL,s derived in our own country. In Michigan a double cfv r knot is carried in the pocket to cure rheumatism. Amc.g the West Virginia mountaineers the crowing of a cock before the door tells of coming company. In New England the sailors carry as a talisman a bone taken from a living turtle, a pebble from a fishhawk's nest or a small bone from the head of a cod. There are hundreds of other -superstitious too numerous to mention. Many of the old superstitions have passed away, but there still remain amo g every race of people many pop- ular beliefs and many of them seem destined to be in use as long as man exists. Newton Washer '41

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, , ' l 'FH j , s-. ' . om Tr-1E,HAasT5 OF A ooo One morning when I arrived home after a two weeks' camping trip, I was introduced to Mickey. I had always wanted a pet and when I came face to face with him for the first time, his features and posture were a comedy. Evidently the family knew all his pranks and had grown accustomed to him.. His sharp, cocked ears, long, thin face and jovial eyes made me think of an old man, espe- cially hls chin whiskers. I reached out my hand to stroke him, and I was met more than half way. With a terrible growl and showing of tiny teeth, he grappled with my little finger and proceeded to savagely maul it. After this first establishment of prestige, I was let in on his charmed circle of friendship. Mick's coat is brown and white, with two patches over both his eyes. His stub of a tail is continually wagging and his long chin whiskers do not quite conceal the tip of a pink tongue. He is very fond of a good time and always ready for a fight. We were troubled with '.-' rats in our cellar and especially under the woodpile at 1t's farther end. I used to stick my finger between the blocks and call to Mick,, whereupon, hearing something move he would go frantic with anxiety and leap ezg Law away at the wood until I concluded it wise to wit,irsw my finger. One morning we went into t?c s hkar and there were two dead rats beside the wosdpile. 'ick was curled up in his box, the wounds of the ruth J-1 poisoned him. I have longed for but never had a Letter friend or com- panion. Ernest Mathews '40 .-g , A .,n.-,X xi. ' .':i lg' tt 2F,, :Miha A?M,'u M.. . fn jfs g ll

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THE ,SLK QF LI FE Having walked over the week for about four years, life, The first three miles, more or less level, speeds I am lucky enough to get a reminds me of the easy life same stretch of road twice a it reminds me of the path of as the road is of cement and along easily, and sometimes, ride. This part of my walk that I led as a child, which was full of happy, carefree days, of playing and going to graded school, Then as I turn off from this road, I come to a steep grade, It is then that I become aware of the hard journey that is ahead of me as I did when I entered high school. I can see all the responsibilities that are set before me and realize that I have to make the grade, New I only have myself to lean on, As I reach the top of each hiif, I have a feeling that the farther I go the more SNc'JSSful I am. Each hill is longer and steeper. .' Ihen I Uc'ch the top of the fourth hill, I look back on my four gears of high school with its trials and accomplishments, It took quite a while but I had won the grade. . Next there is a level stretch and then a bend, As I turn the bend there is another hill, then I put my best foot forward to gain steepest and longest hill career, It seems as though But there it is coming into view, and now at the top. I feel very tired, but I I rest awhile, the top of the on my journey. This is my I will never reach the top, I have arrived have to go on since I have not reached my destiny, The rest of the way is on the up-grade and is very rough, This makes me think of marriage with all its trials and hardships. Then I turn off from this course and my legs do not move so fast and I feel very tired and sunk in spirit and imagine that I am an old lady and very humble. - Finally I reach the last bend. I see a picture tht means everything. It is my destiny in the ' path 'of life--my grave. But in reality it is a house with two trees in front, The house needs painting and some of the window panes are broken, The sun, in all its glories, the two majestic trees to make a never forget. I feel a tingle in rays of the setting with the shadows of picture that I will Uf heart and my feet combine feel lighter, Maybe it doesn't sect much to you but to me it is--HOME, Thelma Scott '40