Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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THE (iOLDKX-ROI). THE RELATIONS OF HAMLET AND OPHELIA. To appreciate the play of “ Hamlet,” and to understand it correctly, it should he studied from the text, as Shakespeare wrote it, and not from the modern actor’s rendering, since, for stage production, many scenes are necessarily cut, until the version is almost a distorted one. With the Folios for a basis of our interpretation, we cannot hesitate to believe that Hamlet sincerely loved Ophelia, and that throughout the play all his actions result not from anger, but from affection for her. Until the dreadful night with the ghost, he had hoped that she would become his wife, and this hope had been “ the spur to prick the sides of his ambition.” The spectre’s revelations, however, made this union impossible, since heretofore the high- est praise Hamlet could give Ophelia was to say that she was like his queen-mother. What he learned from the ghost made this likeness fatal. Up to the arrival of his college-mates, Ilosencranz and Guildenstern, Ophelia had been almost his only companion, and in the many interviews they had had, of which we are not told, Hamlet had been able to gain a clear insight into her char- acter. He knows that with him she “loves to tread the prim, rose path of dalliance,” and, moreover, that she is ever obedient, pliant, and susceptible to all influence. These characteristics expose her to danger. Then from the moral training Polonius would give his daughter, a pure minded, high principled char- acter could hardly result. Another reason for Hamlet’s determination to break off all connections with Ophelia is to secure his own peace of mind. He has been shaken in his belief in all woman kind by the knowl- edge of Gertrude’s treachery, and has become convinced that Ophelia is, by nature, no better than his mother, and that a union with her would expose him to the same overwhelming un- happiness that his father had suffered. Perhaps after all a trifle confirmed his decision. Ophelia tells her father, old Polonius, that, at Hamlet’s visit to her room, she was much affrighted. Hamlet may have seen this shrink- ing fear, and attributed it to changing affection, or the inability to meet his questions as frankly as they are put. Yet all our sympathies enwrap Ophelia when we see her scorned by one whom she is unconscious of ever having offended, and we can hardly find an excuse for Hamlet's cruel taunts and repudiations, save the belief that they are wrung from him by the thought that Claudius, Polonius, Gertrude, and Ophelia are leagued together to force him to a marriage that the revelations of the ghost have made impossible. In his “ wild and whirling words ” against Ophelia, Hamlet is nearer his loss of reason than ever before. He is alienated from his nobler self, and we do not wonder that, after he has left her, Ophelia, forgetting that her father and Claudius have overheard the interview, mourns so bitterly over the supposed dethronement of her lover’s reason, and her own consequent un- happiness. Mabie says, in speaking of this scene, “Hamlet has disar- ranged her relations to the universe. His tenderness tries to make her understand that a union with him would not be desir- able, and at the same time, his jealous love seeks to separate her from all other men.” “ Get thee to a nunnery!” he says. This to him does not seem a hard or cruel sentence. He has found the world so harsh and bitter that seclusion from it means to him happiness, and a nunnery, safety and peace. At Ophelia’s grave all other emotions give way to his over- whelming grief and love. Death has raised Ophelia above the reach of all earthly taint, and his affection for her is paramount. It seems almost a desecration to criticise Ophelia. She is so real a creation, and her grief is so heart-rending, that we treat her rather as we would a dear child. We feel about her far more than we can say. After all, was not Hamlet wrong in rejecting Ophelia? Gilchrist seems to answer this when he says, “Hamlet’s fidelity to ideal, which separated him from her, entailed an unnecessary sacrifice for both. Ophelia’s love had loot in the very fibres of her heart. Such a love could have blossomed only once, and would have bloomed for Hamlet alone.” Marjorie Louise Mathews, ’02. BE1TT BUSH Design and Make CLASS CAPS CLASS PINS with embroidered devices. in Gold, Silver and Enamels. AT POPULAR PRICES. 387 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON.

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Quincy High bciioo Bradford Library THE GOLDEN-ROI). THE TALE OF A SOLICITOR. There is a man in our town, And he is wondrous good: lie knows that some poor people Have to gain a livelihood. Now at the close of one spring day A tired maiden stood With a comrade, at his office door— In her hand a ' Golden-Rod.” Her timid knock was answered By the appearance from within Of the worthy gentleman himself. Who said, “ Why walk right in! ” “Please, Mr.----the maiden said, “ I've come on business. There's only just one large space left— Now please do answer ‘ Yes '— “ I've scoured this whole town over. And to each one have said— Won't you take the ad ' you had before ? ’ But they’d glare o'er the top of my head And say, ' We've given up taking ads In programs and the like ’— But sir, this is the Golden-Rod, Read by rich and poor alike,’— “ ‘ 'Tls a special number we’re getting out, ’Twill be published the last of June.— Ah—thank you sir-you'rc very kind, I'm sure 'twill pay you soon.” “ One thriving merchant whom I sought, Who has Ids fill of joys. Actually told me—don’t be shocked— That1 yirls have more cheek than boys.' “ Whether that was a gentle hint or not For me to get out of the store, I cannot say—but I did not, Aud got a dollar more. “ Xow, Mr.—please take this ad, There's quite a goodly space: I’ll tell you just what you can do— On this side put your face— “On the other side you can put 4 Vote Xo, Or anything else you would: I think it will be quite a nice little scheme. And ’twill boom the Golden-Rod. So after some talk about what to put in. This worthy man assented. Although he was bashful and timid About having his picture printed. If you wish to know who this wise man is, Just go right over and ax 1dm— For this wise old man of our town Is Henry Hardwick Faxon. o o The editorial staff wishes to extend its sincere thanks to the local artist who so kindly furnished the posters for the “Golden- Rod,” also to all who have assisted us to make the paper a suc- cess. GLIMPSES OF PLANTATION LIFE. The typical stately mansion of the Southern planter which dated in some instances to a period prior to the revolution, is fast disappearing. This is especially true on the rice plantations in the Carolinas. In most cases, fire is responsible for the destruction of these homes. Many were put to the torch during Sherman’s march to the sea, and many others have been consumed in consequence of defective chimney flues, while some arc dropping to pieces through natural decay, their owners not having the means of keeping them in repair. They are situated near the waterways, as rice must be Hood- ed after planting. None are less than four or five miles from town and the majority far more remote. There is a marked similarity in their location. They are reached by a woods road shaded by tall, solemn pines which perhaps have been boxed for turpentine. Masses of yellow jas- mine or the graceful sprays of the Cherokee vase enliven the for- est vistas along the way. For mile after mile, no building is in sight and no sound to be heard but the musical thrill of the mocking bird. At the end of such a road, one comes to a grove of live oaks hung with long festoons of Southern moss in the mi i t of which are the stone or brick foundations where a spacious, vine- embowered country house once stood. The neglected gardens in which tall japonicas and large azalea bushes still grow, tell of former grandeur in the days before the war. The “street,” as the negro quarters are called, overflows with pickaninies as of old, for here live the blacks who cultivate the rice. The house of the overseer in slavery times is now occupied by some white man who manages the plantation; sometimes the owner, oftener not. These estates are known by some distinctive name, as Chicora, Kensington, Rosemont. On some of them the mansion is still standing and occupied by descendants of the old family. Here gracious hospitality is dispensed to the fortunate visitor with no allusion to straightened circumstances and the sad contrast of present conditions with those of a prosperous past. In these solitudes one finds ladies who have read the latest books and are fully in touch with the great movements of the day. Their lot is not wholly unhappy; their life is not frit- tered away with trifles, but they have time to devote to the best things. Aud the planter himself lives close to nature’s heart. A life in the open, away from society’s demand, develops the best in a man and does not necessarily stunt mental growth. Elizabeth IIakdwick Aldex. jt j J UNCLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS Boy Wanted—In fish store, to open oysters thirteen vears old. For Sale—A bull dog; will eat anything; very fond of chil- dren. J o Editor. —“What makes you say that I ought to buy this joke ? ” Humorist.—“ Because I don’t believe in carrying a joke too far, and that joke has been carried far enough.”

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THE GOLDEN - ROD. CHARLES H. BROOKS, JVancoc c 77 ar cet. Groceries and Provisions. Workman’s Cash Market BREWERS CORNER. Cor. HANCOCK and SAVILLI: streets. C. H. BROOKS, Proprietor. ■. TIU ... School - Greenleaf An Attractive, Home- - Shoes like Hotel, J v Jt QUINCY, MASS. MRS. W. ROLLINS ABRAMS, Granite Shoe Store, Lessee. QUINCY. CALL ® is a mental whistle used by the boatswain and his mate on shipboard. We have never been to sea and cannot say that we are familiar with this kind of CALL. But we take this opportunity to CALL everybody of Quincy and vicinity to Adams Building, where all kinds of Photographic work is produced in the best manner. Class work done at Boston prices. F. A.. SKINNER, PHOTOGRAPHER. Charles C. Hearn, PHARMACIST + 1295 Hancock Street, - - QUINCY -THE WAMPATUCK CAEE MRS. E. M. JEVETT. 4 Washington Street, City Square. Quincy. EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN PLANS. ICE CREAM PARLORS. FIRST. CLASS CATERERS.