R J Reynolds High School - Black and Gold Yearbook (Winston Salem, NC)

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Q0 THE BLACK AND GOLD Elirnm Qbur iinglizh Nutr Zfinnk Svghnrg Glartnn, an Svtuhg O ME SYDNEY CARTON is one of the noblest p ieroes ever portrayed. He was a man of bril- laff 'QQXNS-Lf' T-in , ,- . . . . . liant mind, excellent ability and good emotions, .II X Q! E 'ffffl 11,53 E ff -Y jlifgil but in spite of all these good traits there was something lacking about his make-up. This was the ability to rule himself, to use his talents. Carton was conscious of this blight upon him and this fact contributed to his un- happiness. Vwlhat can be sadder than the picture Dickens gives us of Carton overwhelmed with grief, after seeing his counterpart Darnay so happy and prosperous? lVith his unusual abilities Carton was capable of doing almost anything he wanted to, and could have been one of the ablest lawyers in London. Vvlhat Carton needed was something or some one to inspire him. The person who was capable of doing this proved to be Lucy Manette, who rep- resented to Carton everything good, pure and noble. Car- ton saw the quiet corner in Soho Square made home-like and happy by the presence of Lucy, VVhen he said to Lucy, H111 my degradation I have not been so degraded but that the sight of you with your father, and of this home made such a home by you. has stirred old shadows that I thought had died out of me, he is probably refering to dim recollections of his happy boyhood days when his beloved mother was alive. To Sydney Carton who had not known the joys of home life for so many years, the quiet home of Dr. Manette was a haven. It was after his visit here that Carton made the most desperate efforts to overcome his bad habits, but

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THE BLACK AND GOLD 19 his arm was torn by a thorn bush and was bleeding when he knocked loudly on the door. Marie Henrietta looked out of the Window. The Indian. speaking in broken English, bade her let him in and give him some dinner. Dinner Was what he asked for. but Was it really dinner he Wanted? Marie Henrietta, having a kind heart, opened the door after saying to herself that she knew her mother would Wish her to under these circumstances. She immediately pre- pared him hot coffee and some fresh bread and butter. UI would give you more, but this is all We have in the house, she said as she placed the things before him on the small table. The Indian said nothing, but busied himself eating. It was then Marie Henrietta noticed his bleeding arm, and Without saying a Word. she found some soft clean rags and asked him to let her tie up his arm for him. For the first time his hard heart was touched. He might easily have killed the young girl as' she bent with gentle touch over his bleeding arm. His knife was at his side, it would then be an easy matter to strangle the other two. But strange to him. he felt powerless to harm the gentle girl. Feelings he had never known Were roused in his heart. 4 n 4'Like turkey? he asked as he rose to leave the cabin. Yes! yes! eagerly cried the children. About an hour later, when Mrs. Blickendorfer returned home, what was her surprise to find a nice fat turkey on her doorstep. It's our good lndian's C'hristmas gift. cried Gretchen, and when Mrs. Blickendorfer heard of the fierce visitor her children had, she felt thankful indeed that her Heavenly Father had cared for her little ones. -Evelyn Shipley, '1-1. V , f' W -- f. if 1 1 gfiif ' if 7 hr' . vii:-.

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THE BLACK AND GOLD 21 they had gained too much vantage and held him in their grasp. Sydney Carton's nobility asserted itself in his attitude toward Lucy and Darnay. He knew that he was not worthy of Lucy and did not ask her hand, but simply went to her, told her of his love, how she had been an inspiration to him, and left her with these words: '4For you and any one dear to you, I would do anything. If my career were of that better kind that there was opportunity or capacity of sacri- fice in it, I would embrace any sacrifice for you and those dear to you. The time was not long in coming when Sydney Carton had an opportunity to fulfill his promise and the sacrifice he made was nothing less than his own life. The night before the election, as he wandered about the city of Paris, he was, as Dickens says, like a tired man, who had wandered and struggled, and got lost, but who at last struck. into his road and saw its end. The next day as the knife of the guillotine came down on the twenty-third head, Carton laid down his life for Lucy. He was said, by those who witnessed the execution to have looked peaceful and sublime. And why should he not have looked so? Was he not accomplishing the purpose of his life in rendering Lucy a service? -Blanche Buxton, '13.