Ricker Classical Institute - Aquilo Yearbook (Houlton, ME)

Page 30 text:

The Aquilo - We have scarcely started on our way when mischievous little winds seize our hats and send them flying through the air. But the spirits are not content to merely tease us. They are having too much fun to stop at this point. Even the clouds above smile tantalizingly down at us and the trees whisper to one another and wave their bare branches to and fro in ex- citement. As we continue on our way, the winds push us and we fall down on the ice and break an arm or an ankle. These incidents are just coinciden- ces? Certainly they are not, since it is Friday-the-Thirteenth, the answer is obvious. What can be done to remedy this appalling situation? Friday-the- Thirteenth should be forever banished from our calendars. Lena Sloat '49 A Moment of Beauty There are days which occur in this climate, at almost any season of the year, in which the world attains its perfection, when the air, the heav- enly bodies and the earth, make a true harmony. At these times, the feel- ing of harmony seems to color every mortal's attitude, and people every- where go about with tranquil thoughts and love in their hearts. The world is at peace with itself! These rare and unusual days may be looked for with greater assurance in that pure October weather which we distinguish by the name of Indian summer. Time seems endless and unmoving as soft, languid sunshine sleeps over the broad hills and warm, wide fields. To be able to live through these infinite, sunny hours seems ectasy enough. The solitary places, al- ways so restful, are not quite lonely. At the gates of the forest, the surprised man of the world is forced to leave his city estimates of great and small, wise and foolish. Here is majesty which shames our religions, and truth which discredits our knowl- edge. We come out of close and crowded quarters into the sanctuaries of Nature and see what majestic beauties would daily grace our eyes and thoughts if we could but comprehend them. How willingly we would over- come the barriers which render them impotent and remote, and let Nature entrance and comfort us! The shadowed light of the forest is like a perpet- ual dawn in which all things are clean and new and pure. The magical, oft- reported spells of these places creep silently upon us. The spirits of the mysterious, incommunicable trees begin to persuade us to quit our life of solemn trifles and come and live with them, a truer, more meaningful life. Here no history, or church, or state, will be found to spread the pestilence of human fraility and ignorance. So we may walk, arm in arm, for one brief moment with the deep and ageless truth of Nature-and truth is beauty. Gilbert Sewell '48 I 28 l-

Page 29 text:

The Aquilo dation for further professional study in the fields of law, medicine, engin- eering, nursing, dentistry, and others. The pre-professional curricula are broad and inclusive enough so that, should a student for any reason decide to change his field of application and continue his education in another field, he can do so without encountering too great a difficulty. Two courses in Business Administration are offered-one for the student who plans to continue his studies later at a four-year college and take a degree and one for the student who does not plan to go on and take a degree but plans to end his education at Ricker. This course can be adjusted to fit the needs of the individual student. The refresher curriculum is adjustable and can be changed to meet the needs of a student also. It is set up primar- ily for those students, veterans, and others, who have been out of high school for some years and need to refresh their high school courses before going into college work. It is also suited to the needs of those who did not complete their high school work and now wish to finish as soon as possible. These courses carry no college credit, but may be used for college admis- sion and high school graduation credits. High school subjects may be chosen in order to complete the required number of units for graduation or for college admission. Yes, Ricker has grown year by year as a student proceeds from year to year in school. It has had its triumphs, failures, hardships, but like all good things is coming out right. It would not be right to say like all good things it comes out right in the end for Ricker's end is a long way off. Ricker today is a school from which students are proud to be graduates and one which they in turn would want their children to graduate from too. Leora Glazier '48 Friday - The Thirteenth I always have detested Friday-the-Thirteenth, I still detest Friday- the-Thirteenth, and I always will detest that unbearable day which comes once a year to haunt me and to leave its scars to haunt me for the follow- ing days. 'Why must such an obstacle Cas this abominable day isj have to appear in the course of any human life? Friday-the-Thirteenth is much like Thursday-the-Twelfth, or Satur- day-the-Fourteenth in many respects. For example, the sun comes up, a mild wind blows, and the weather seems to be perfect. In spite of all visible perfection, I have learned from experience that this perfection is but a tool in the hand of that sinister Being who spends its day haunting innocent human beings and who flits about throwing its curse on every unfortunate person it comes in contact with. We humans are easily tricked by the spirits floating about us. In spite of extensive education, we do not learn to think as we should, The spirits are very much aware of our stupidity. That Being who rules all activities on Friday-the-Thirteenth takes advantage of the weather. It knows that unsuspecting humans will eagerly make plans for the day as they look out their windows and see the sun sending forth its Warm rays. Why wouldn't one decide to go for a walk on such an agreeable day? C273

Page 31 text:

The Aquilo Alike, , The first time I saw it I was amazed at its striking beauty. It lies nestled between two mountains that cast shadows on the outer fringes of it. The center of the lake is beautifully deep blue and on this particular day it reflected the sunlight until it seemed to writhe with fire. At the head of the lake a small stream flows softly and meticulously in and out between huge bleak boulders and blackened tree stumps which contract with the lively atmosphere of the place. At night when the moon climbs solemnly into the sky, the lake be- comes truly a thing of beauty, It becomes a silvery shimmering sea, soft- ly reflecting the light of the moon. ,Golden bubbles rise softly to the sur- face and disintegrate, silvery waves lap softly on the shore, a cool breeze murmurs quietly amongst the trees on the shore and the branches sway softly to an inperceptible rhythm. Up in the hills a dog howls forlornly at the moon, and as I gaze, the moon dips behind a cloud and disappears. Quietness and serenity reign over all. Roger McGary '49 Busher Idol The sun beat down unmercifully on the little group of players out on the diamond, nonchalantly tossing a baseball back and forth, and scooping practice grounders from the dirt, then flipping them unerringly to the tall southpaw who covered first sack. Conspicuous among them, however, was a young fellow out there on the mound, tossing pitches to the batter. His every muscle was tense. His forehead, under the wet dark curls, was creas- ed with worry and foreboding. For he was a newcomer, a busher from the minors, who was pitching his first major league game today. He sensed the unfriendliness of the other men who acted as if they did not trust him. Well, why should they? he thought grimly. Maybe in front of this crowd I'll lose my stuff-fthe stuff which had sent him skyrocketing through the minor leaguesl. He thought of his father and mother, sitting near the radio, almost as tense as he is. Sweat began to form on his wrinkled brow as the pitching arm limbered up. He was tall, about six foot two, twenty-one years, old and answered to the name of Danny Thomas. Here comes the umpire. The game will begin in a few minutes, the most important game of his career. His team, the Cougars, against their old rival, the Rawks. Well, here I am , he thought, as he stood out on the mound preparing to pitch to the first opposing batsman, pitching in a 'big league game as I've dreamed of since a boy. But enough of daydreaming, now to get to work. He used his various assortment of pitches, only this time they had more polish on them, that something which immediately es- tablished him a big league pitcher. The speed which had downed his high school opponents so effectively was given a new lease. He held them hitless for five innings, and then something happened. A sure foul rolled fair before it reached the outfield, then the second base- man missed an easy grounder bringing up the fourth batter for the Hawks. C291 ,