Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

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taining exhibition of English dancing' given by Miss Lily Roberts of Stratford-on- Avon. England. She and her companions did Morris dances, country dances, and sword dances. Like the previous one, this year fled at a rapid rate and soon,-much to our chagrin, of course.-graduation came, and with it, the closing of school. At the graduation exercises, we had an excellent address on The Element of the Individ- ual. delivered by Dr. Payson Smith, the State Commissioner of Education. After the exercises, we took leave of the normal school for a short time. 1917-1918. September sixth, the opening day of the next school year, dawned, a bright, blue day. and brought us back for our final draught at the fountain of knowledge. This year we were all seniors, entirely familiar with our surroundings, with the laws and precedents of the school, and entitled to the respect of all around us. We smiled to our heart's content at the dazed faces of the unsophisticated juniors, forgetting altogether our own perplexity on our initial day. This year there were several changes in the faculty. Miss Ayer had resigned to he married, and Miss Sperry of Amesbury had come to fill her place. Miss Ter- rill and Miss Inglis had also submitted their resignations to take other positions. Mr. Roth had taken a part of the history work, and Miss Fitzhugh was taking Miss Inglis's place. Mr. Allen had charge of the psychology department in the normal school. Mr. Wallace had become director of the training school. Miss Knobel had left the eighth grade to accept a position in Montana, and Miss Richardson, who had once before been one of the faculty, returned to fill her place. Miss Childs gave up the domestic science to return to Boston, and Miss Breitzke assumed charge of that department. Miss Walker of Lynn, a graduate of the Salem Normal School, came to take a special class: and Miss Marion Knowlton, also a graduate, came to assist Miss James and Miss Perham. The Senior-Junior reception held on November first was the first noteworthy social event of the year. A very interesting program, which complied in every respect with the spirit ol' economy now prevalent, was carried out, and every one had a jolly time. At Christmas time we had an entertainment which our principal pronounced one ol' the finest ever given in the school. Everybody endorsed his statement. There was a solo by Mr. Archibald, and the Glee Club and the eighth grade pupils of the training school sang carols. A group of girls gave a Christmas masque, St. George and the I5ragon, which was intensely exciting. Things in general went on in the same way as they had in the two preceding' years with division parties, basket-hall games, and lectures relieving the monotony ol' daily life. Mr. Roth gave short weekly talks on current events to the whole school every Friday morning before the chorus period, and, in accordance with the spirit ol' the times, lectures have been given at intervals on food conservation. Vonspicuous in the annals ol' the Salem Normal stands out the raising ol' the service llag bearing twenty-one stars in honor ol' the twenty-one Salem Normal men who have responded to the summons ol' their country. The exercises which at- tended the raising ol' the llag were simple and effective, and the event will always be renienibered by those who were present. A joint concert ol' the Salem Normal fllee Club and the l ramingham fllee Club was held on March fifteenth, and another took place with the Glee Club ofthe Massa- chusetts Institute ol' Teclinology. lloth concerts were excellent and were enjoyed by all who attended them. 'l'he .lunior-Senior reception was given on April fifth-a little late, to be sure. IU

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come. Oi' the llllIll0l'Ol.lS lectures which were delivered at the school during the year, it would be i111possible to give any detailed 2lCCOlllll.. lt is sullicient for us to say that all were instructive a11d interesting, especially Xl'llOll they took the place ol' il recitation period,-not that we wanted to skip a recitation, oh no! lllll. just for variety's sake! The time sped rapidly, Zlllfl, almost before we realized it, June had come, and with it the closing ot' school, which was llllt altogether unwelcome. At this time, Miss Morse and Miss J0llllSOll l'0Sl,Q,'IlCfl their positions to be married, Zlllfl Mr. Sproul of the commercial department accepted a position o11 tl1e Pacific Coast. l9l6-1917. September was not long i11 returning, Zllld, Ull 0110 extremely unpleasant day. the seventh of tl1e month, our group ol' twenty-two wended our way with 1nore or less alacrity to the Salem Normal School to resume our preparation for teaching. We were IIOXV isolated from the class to which we belonged to become intermediates , a11d we settled dOXVll for a two years' stay. The rest ol' the class ,ioyfully lJ0,Q'2lll their last year. As this portion of the class does not form a part of the Class of 1918, we shall have nothing lllOl'C to say about tl1e1n, except that they often 2Illl'l0j'OCl us by their superior ai1's, as if to make us feel that we were incapable of finishing in 'two years. On the opening day, a hundred and forty fresh young damsels-and no men- entered the school, and they were to graduate at the same time that we did-the faculty willi11g. These new strangers arrived with their spirits SOlHQXVl12lt dampened by the drizzling rain, the unfamiliar aspect of the building, a11d the turbulent gayety of those who were greeting their friends from whom they had been lo11g separated. Another teacher had been added to the faculty, Miss Ayer, as assistant in reading a11d arithmetic. The first important social event of the school year was the Senior-Junior recep- tion, which was a source of great pleasure to us all. During the year we were fortunate enough to have Mr. Hubbard with us twice. On December eighth, he gave The Merry Wives of Windsor, and on February second, Andre Chenierf' Both of these concerts were received by all with en- thusiasm. Early in the year, Dr. P. P. Claxton, the United States Commissioner of Education, spoke to us on Professional Service. His address was one of the most helpful and inspiring to which we have ever listened at the normal school. On FGb1'l131'y ninth we entertained the senior class at a reception. Books and lessons sank into temporary oblivio11, and we all gave ourselves up to the thorough enjoyment of a delightful afternoon. In the QVQlllIlg' the Glee Club gave a concert which furnished an appropriate finale for an enjoyable day. A short time after this, Junior Two, who still clung to their baby IIHINQ. manifested their social propensities by giving an entertainment of varied program to the whole school. At the very beginning of our history course Miss Inglis had acquainted us with Professor Johnson of Columbia College, and had inspired in us greatest admiration for him, and filled us with curiosity concerning him. On May twenty-first, the much esteemed Professor Johnson visited our school. He spoke to us o11 the Webster- Hayne Debate, and, after hearing him, we ceased to wonder why Miss Inglis and Miss Terrill raved about him so incessantly. Division parties, charity balls, and basketball games occupied the attention of those of us who were most socially inclined, and supplied the much needed variety in our otherwise studious life. Toward the end of the school year we had an enter- If

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Although it had been deferred again and again, we all had the usual merry time. The days of our stay at the normal school went swiftly by and we had to say. good-bye for the last time, but with reluctance, for although these days were filled with duties, they were not devoid of pleasure: although our tasks were sometimes numerous and dillicult, our work was lightened by the companionship and the sympathy of all around us. We felt that we were working together for a common end of unquestionable worth. Then there were numerous times when we could for- get our duties as prospective teachers and enjoy ourselves together as children. On the whole. our days were supremely happy ones, and we shall always look back with fond recollections to the hours spent at the Salem Normal School. A. T. FAREWELI, As the days of our stay at the Normal School Fewer and fewer grow, And the time is fast approaching When from its doors we go, We begin indeed to ponder On the days that we have spent With our dear old Alma Mater And the joys those days have meant. For although we have oft been weary, And, at certain times, have thought That the most unfortunate duties Fall always to our lot, In our saner, brighter moments, We fully realize It was well worth all our efforts To capture such a prize. For it is indeed a privilege, Which no one can disdain, To be allowed to help e'en one Some worthy thought to gain, To make the lives around us More noble and more bright, And to give unto the groping mind The wisdom which is light. A. T. S. 11