Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

Page 29 text:

of making matters appear more grotesque and improbable than they would naturally, his humor makes them more real. The odd occurrences which we come upon in Tom Sawyer seem perfectly natural and probable, be- cause of this characteristic power. He is not merely a humorist, however, but much more. He is a teacher, a humanist and a philosopher. He seems almost deserving of the name psy- chologist, so amazing is his knowledge of the workings of the human mind. We may believe that he drew his inferences from his keen understanding of his own nature, and then showed great ability in adapting them to the characters which he created. It seems as if his place in literature must be a lasting one. IIc was so essentially human, so clever in his understanding and appreciation of the real purposes and intents of men's minds that he strikes the very key-note of their lives and holds their attention in spite of them. He is the only writer of modern times Whose work appeals equally to children and grown people, and this fact alone would guarantee him a place in the list of distinguished literary men. H. G. P. Echoes from the Practice School. Teacher, in reading lesson: Haven't you any idea what a shrine is? Pupil, after deep thought: I think it's the outside of a melon. Teacher, who has been telling the story of Oeeanus, the baby born on the Mayflower: lVhat is the name of the baby I told you about Jennie 'Z Jennie: Annie Ocean. Third grade boy: Our dog is lots bigger than our cat, but I guess the catls older 'cause hels got whiskers. Johnny, aged seven: I saw some guinea hens today. Vvillie, scornfully: Huh, there's a whole yard full near us. Johnny: Go on! They ain't no guinea hens on our street. Willie: Yes, they are. The Ginney next door to me owns a whole lot. Thomas in the kindergarten had laboriously carried out three chairs and placed them in the front of the room. What are you putting those chairs there for, Thomas T' asked Miss Noyes. Oh, this is three chairs for the red, white, and blue, replied Thomas. 21

Page 28 text:

His women characters, however, with the exception of Joan of Are, are not so successful. They possess no characteristics which make them stand 'out clearly as individuals, but are all built on the same plan. When we attempt to recall one of the women in Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer, We cannot be quite sure whether it is Tom's mother, Aunt Polly, or the widow of whom We are thinking, for they all represent the same type. We can never lose sight of the fact that he is a Westerner, for his works are continually reminding us of the fact. Not only in his humor is this shown, but in the serious undertone which is fundamental in all his writings. For some reason or other, this is characteristic of the VVest, and Mark Twain is its exponent, and withal, a very able exponent. In Life on the Mississippi, we have the story of how he met Horace Bixby and decided to become a pilot, and how he set himself the gigantic task of learning the 1200 miles of the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St. Louis so well as to make no mistake, even in the dark. To the surprise of his friends, he succeeded, and succeeded so well that he never cost his em- ployers a dollar for damages in his whole career. This well illustrates the dogged perseverance of the man. Mark Twain's gospel of equality, is best shown in his Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Here he is at his best. The scheme of transplanting a nineteenth century Connecticut man to the Court of King Arthur, an institution of the sixth century, is so unusual as to attract attention, but it does more than attract, it holds the attention. To follow the East Hartford man through his many trials and daring attempts for instance, when he sets about defeating Merlin's plans with gunpowder, and to live for a time in the atmosphere of his quaint, idiomatic pungent humor, is to be as well entertained as if one were before the footlights of any theatre. The following quotation taken from the beginning of the story, well illustrates the point: I made up my mind to two things, if it was still the nineteenth cen- tury and l was among lunaties and couldn't get away, I would presently boss that. asylum or know the reason why, and if, on the other hand, it was really the sixth century, all right, l didn't want any softer thing. l would boss the whole country inside of three months, for I judged l would have the start of tho best educated man in the kingdom by a matter of thirteen hundred years and upwards. Mark Twain's humor is the thing by which he is most universally known. lint it is not mere humor, for there is always an inner meaning to it which, if it does not appear at the first reading, becomes evident after a little con- sida-ration. llis aphorisms are particularly good illustrations uf this. They arf- so quaint in form that they invite laughter, but one soon sees that they are striking in their meaning, for instance, lVhen in doubt, tell the truth. Instead '70 P'

Page 30 text:

.,...,..-.-.... . jars tossing ' aaa , r X J Calendar of the Class of 1911. Q CF rom the memoirs of Miss Florence Swanson of Pigeon Cove, Secretary of the elass.j Class motto :- Id nunc faeitef' September, 1909. Weather uneertaing inclined to be cloudy and rainy. Events of the month:-Class of 1911 first finds itselfg members get lost in the corridors while trying to find the lunch-roomg are overwhelmed at the amount of statuary in the main hall, both senior and elassieg make resolution to discard hair-ribbons and other high sehool frivolities. October. Vlleather more settled. Members beginning to get aeelimated. Learn to regard worms and cater- pillars kindlyg are introduced to the amoeba in zoiilogy. November. Saw wood in manual trainingg learn the difference between a plane and a chisel. Mr. Adams resigns his position in the science de partment after twenty-four years' service. llrvvembcr. Famous leeture on the earth-wormg students spend leisure time digging that. animal out of their front lawns for dissection purposes. Study of the hrain in psyehologyg learn to observe the workings of their own mindsg learn about the liustaehian Tubes, l'ons Varolii and other wonders. Jrmurzry. Learn to jump the horse in gym. lleeome interested in the eric-kr-tg works of art inspired hy that inseet. Felmtnry. Mr. 1Vhitman eomes to the physics departnientg elass unani- mously pronounce him a peaeh. Students learn in pliysiography that moun- tains are wrinkles in tht- eart.h's crust. March. Exciting times in zoiilogyg dissection fnot viviseetionj of a do- oo