Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

Page 29 text:

The Golden Rod Vol. II. QUINCY, MASS., NOVEMBER, 1892. No. 3 THE - GOLDEN ROD Will be Published Monthly During the School Year in the interests of the QUINCY HIGH SCHOOL. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. For the Year. . 50cents | Single Copies, . 5 cents F01 sale at E B. Souther’s. Address all communications to SARAH C. McGOVERN or JOS. J. CALLAHAN, BUSINESS MANAGERS. Entered at the Quincy (Mass.,) Post-Office as Second Class Matter. EDITORIAL. GENERAL EDITORS. Eva G. Reed, John W. Estabrooks. IN the early days of our coun- try’s history the settlers of New England thought much more of training their souls for the world to come than of enjoying anything in this world, and the proper train- ing, according to their ideas, con- sisted in abandoning all earthly frivolities and pleasures, and in maintaining a grave, stern expres- sion of countenance, and spending much time in prayer. It naturally follows that the old New England Thanksgiving was somewhat dif- ferent from the Thanksgiving of this nineteenth century. And just here let me beg you to say, not Thanksgiving, as we so often hear it pronounced, but Thanksgiving; not that the former pronunciation is absolutely incorrect, but the weight of authority, is with the lat- ter, and furthermore the latter pro- nunciation reminds us more forci- bly of the special purpose for which this day was originally set apart, that is, the offering of thanks to the great and merciful Giver for the blessings by him bestowed. To most children and perhaps to some older persons as well, the word Thanksgiving is now hardly more than a synonym for a general good time, the most delightful part of which may in many cases be ex- pressed by the single word dinner. Very little of the deep seriousness of early days now remains. Of course, most people attend church in the morning, but they do not on that account become grave and thoughtful for the remainder of the day, nor is this last named condi- tion to be desired, for it is not ne- cessary that in order to show our gratitude to the Father, we clothe our countenances in a garb of pious solemnity. Gratitude is not an ex- pression of the countenance, but an emotion of the heart. How pleasant are the family re- unions which take place on Thanks- giving Day, and how much we all enjoy the merry games and inno- cent fun by the evening fireside. Few persons, we think, would care to have our pleasant holiday return to its early New England form; but in the midst of our pleasures we should not forget the true sig- nificance of the day. If one wishes to secure for himself a purer, sweeter enjoyment on this holiday, let him help one poorer than he to have a real Thanksgiving; and would it not be a good plan to do some act of kindness each day, and to forget our troubles in counting our blessings, thus making life, not only to ourselves but to those around us, a continual Thanksgiv- ing Day ? R. The debating society is proving a great success, and the object of the society as written in the con- stitution seems to be in a large de- gree realized. The entertainment which precedes the debate offers a very pleasant preface to the wran- gle which is” to follow. Visitors would do well to “drop in” the last hour on Thursdays. e. Our cabinet collection continues to grow larger. Each week new ar- ticles are added to it. Some of our