Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

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though nothing had been said. It wasn't so bad after all--when it was over. Then we learned to know the flowers and trees. Qften we stood intently gazing up into a tree. The people thought that we were escaped inmates of the Danvers Asylum. We were only trying to discover how to tell that kind of a tree from all others, for we were learning that trees, as well as human beings, had that wonderful something called personality. It was a warm spring day and at a near-by open window appeared a little maid of four or live years of age, look- ing with wondering eyes down upon us. She broke the spell which the personality of the tree was making upon us, by exclaiming, What 'oo doin? Junior II literature class had rather a jolly time that year. You know its teacher. Gnce she remarked that she loved to be in the room with a rubber-plant, it was so sympathetic. The girls were bright, and wide-awake, but hard work was wearing upon them so that they began to think of sleep and rest. At the time they were reading Words- worth's To Sleep. Innocently enough the teacher asked, Miss Finn, did you ever think of sleep in this way before P The line ran thus: Come, blessed barrier between night and day. Well no, not exactly-that is-not until I came to this school, answered Finney. Yet this division felt envious at times, when they thought of the little, gentle lady who unlocked the hidden treasures and gave new thoughts to the other literature classes. She believed and taught, He is never alone who has noble thoughts. All our classes, too, vied with each other for the honors of the gymnasium. It was all good-natured rivalry. 18

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Not all life can be one round of pleasure, so after lunch we poor little new-comers passed through a great ordeal-we entered the Chamber of Horrors. Fright- ened and trembling we entered, but came out fearless and triumphant and reassuringly whispered to those waiting to enter: It isn't very bad. We had only to sing a scale and read a little music, and the guardian of the chamber wasn't so terrible, now was she, girls? Thus the first day passed and we survived to tell the tale. 'Twas not long before the class of 1904 became fairly familiar with the ways of the school and learned to know the teachers and fellow-students. That first year we learned to draw, to find color, violet if possible, in every conceivable object, even in the lustre of an iron ore. We painted twigs and handed in our results, sure that they would go to Purgatory, where we might find them among the not passed. Yet many times we were happily surprised when the next day we saw these self-same sketches exhibited before the class and heard that familiar voice say, Isn't that jolly! We learned-nay-tried to learn Significant Figures. There were many puzzled faces at that time, but a patient teacher did his best to clear the cobwebs away. Mathe- matics, at which we had before looked through smoked glasses, now appeared as clear as crystal. We cheer- fully learned theorems and took great pride in our meter cube. But the best fun was our field trips, when we shouldered our instruments and went a-measuring. The people in the cars might stare, we didn't mind. Alas, how our hearts did beat when we went to acertain recitationand were told to give the line of thought as 17

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The first year was hard work. but we had a good many happy times, for several Saturday afternoons we had receptions--jolly good times they were, too. The first one, on October 25, was given to the juniors by the Seniors to make us feel more at home. We were all surprised to find what real fun just girls could have. It was an informal party and we went home, feeling better acquainted, and really belonging to the school. The next month passed, but little by little a shadow came creeping over the school, for one morning the Chief justice sat at his desk, a .note-book in hand on which was the label Marks. A little word, but such terrors as it may bring! Une by one we filed up, re- ceived our sentence and passed along. Some faces wore relieved expressions, some distressed, but the hearts of all did not cease to palpitate until on the home- bound train for the Thanksgiving recess. Refreshed and hopeful we came back, ready for work again. Now we gave lessons to our class, taught about buds and seedlings, told stories in history and began to feel a wee bit teachery. Two months more passed and on January 18 we juniors entertained the Seniors and teachers. We had our gymnasium decorated with japanese lanterns and laurel. It was a pretty sight. Then by way of a sur- prise, we had a hurdy-gurdy grind out our music. At first we flew, but little by little with suggestions from the girls. ourllittle Italian organ grinder slowed her time and then everything was perfect. We tried to make our guests have a good time and they said they did. Festivities were now on, and on February 22, the '9