Rogers Hall School - Splinters Yearbook (Lowell, MA)

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November The leafless trees like dark graceful fingers Are stark against the soft gray sky. Although a trace of autumn still lingers, The icy winds are blowing nigh. Each day earlier, the long blue shadows Lengthen over the silent land. Across the frosty-whitened meadows They glide, a reaching icy hand. The birds have long since made their southward flights, And now the snow falls mutely, Pinked by the purple twilight. Such is November's haunting beauty. LINDA SCANNELL '65 ff 3 as C XJT' A 5 SX xy ll QJL6-1 l , fn X T li l i trawl

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Editorial There are times when a person must be alone, times when his soul must wrestle with his intelligence. A child's decisions are made for him by his parents, but later a person is left on his own, and he realizes how much of a child he still is. When God created the earth, l-le made man sinless in l-lis own image, however, God gave man the right to make his own decisions, and this fact is what brought about man's down-fall. Ever since the beginning of time, man has been faced by decisions, both large and small. From the time a person wakes up in the morning and tries to decide what to wear, until evening, when he decides what to eat and when to go to bed, a person is faced with innumerable decisions. America exists only because there were people who believed in and wanted freedom so much that they decided to risk their lives to fight against England. lt is only because of great decisions such as this that the United States holds such a position in the chaotic world of today. However, one man's decision now may be enough to eliminate the planet Earth from the heavens. lt is not impossible for one man with a warped mind to cause the complete destruction of the world by making a decision to press one button. These are the times when a person needs to be alone, to evaluate himself, to determine for himself if what he decides will benefit not only himself, but also others.. ln such situations, the individual must also be aware of the fact that the end does not justify the means. L When, after careful deliberation, a person makes the decision that he believes is best for himself and all concerned, he must not waver in his actions until this decision is carried out. lf it is not a wrong decision that will cause the end of the world, it may well be indecision. JUDITH G. ANDERSON Editorial In our democratic world there are many different societies, but in each society some degree of rapport among its members must be maintained in order for that society to prosper and to progress. VVhen this voluntary harmony is not achieved, a society disintegrates into a lonely crowd wherein each individual loses his sense of identity and purpose. ln such circumstances, an individual often feels that the chain that links him with others is broken forever. This feeling is particularly acute when an individual believes that he is being denied the possibilty of harmony by other members of his society. A person who has the belief that he is being denied oppor- tunities for self-fulhllment, either as a result of his own doings or mistakes or those of others, frequently becomes apathetic. Dejection follows rejection, a stagnant inert mass replaces a once active individual. ln such a situation, what happens to the individual? More importantly, what happens to the society? ln any existing society there are various types of friction which must be elimi- nated in order that harmony may be achieved. Frequently, the situation requires a recognition and treatment of evil. Evil is a cancerous growth which cannot be easily arrested and can become distressingly harmful. Unchecked evil will contaminate all those whom it touches, but too frequently those who are aware of its threat become indifferent to its course and inevitably are consumed. The man who wishes harmony and achievement must register his discontent and undertake, judiciously, those measures which will produce the right climate for a life of dignity and meaning. The person who recognizes evil and does nothing about it is as guilty as the individual who does the evil. The health of every society, therefore, depends upon the alertness and courage of its members. An individual sense of responsibility for the common good will ensure the effectiveness of any organization whether it be a nation, a town, or a school. Louise BROOKS '64

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Ecstasy Ecstasy is defined as an overpowering emotion or exaltation, a sudden access of intense feeling, or the frenzy of poetic inspiration. Ecstasy may be felt and expressed in many ways. A small child, taking his first halting step, ,expresses his ecstasy in the quick smile that crosses his face before he loses his balance and topples into his mothers arms. Little children experience ecstasy the first time they ride a tricycle, get up in the morning of their first day at school, go to a zoo, or blow out the candles on their birthday cakes. As these children grow, both in mind and body, the ways in which they experi- ence ecstasy also change. A girl may experience this feeling as she proudly carries her first home-made cake to the table, totters along on her first pair of heels, goes out on her first date, receives her first kiss. A boy experiences ecstasy when he finishes his first model airplane, hits his first home run, first feels the power of a car under his control, and finally receives his driver's license. Parents experience ecstasy when they first see the child they have created, when they see this child rake his first step and hear him speak his first word. Ecstasy may be expressed when anything occurs for the first time. It is the novelty of the act that creates the feeling of rapture. What a wonderful feeling it is when one's heart beats a little faster, when one's skin quivers with intense excite- ment, when one experiences the overpowering exaltation of ecstasy. IUDITH G. ANDERSON '64 The Coming Stop not and rest When you hear the singing bird, For there is an even more beautiful song In the distance. CORNELIA BRYER '64 The Prisoner Behind the brick wall The little boy Contemplates the coming years Of life. LAURIE CANEY '66