Towson University - Tower Echoes Yearbook (Towson, MD)

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THE TOWER LIGHT The recently discovered planet, Pluto, moves about the sun once in about 250 years. The moon has mountain peaks that tower some 26,000 feet above its surface. These mountains of the moon are higher than most mountains on the earth. It is estimated that as many as 20 million meteors, fshooting starsj, fall into the earth's atmosphere each twenty-four hours. As Others See Us RUTH PATTON Would that God the gift had given us To see ourselves as others see us. A very famous passage and one to be taken to heart. But have we ever thought how its meaning can be reversed? Would everyone be hap- pier if others could see us as we see ourselves? Our sweetest dreams would be realized, our highest visions of ourselves materialized! Deep in the heart of every individual lies the secret belief that he would be a different person if he were a little better understood by his fellow men. Think what an amazing world this would be if we could understand the inner man of our fellows, could see what he most desires to be, and would treat him accordingly. The man who dabbles futilely with paint or clay would become a master artist or sculptor. The discouraged peddler would possess a new personality, brimming with originality and attraction. From the mediocre athlete would emerge a veritable Olympian champion. Courage would rise from fear, beauty from ugliness. It would mean interest for the bored, virtue for the transgressor, fame for the ignored. What an idealistic world this would be. Perhaps too idealisticg too easy, leaving nothing to strive for. Is it possible that Robert Burns' idea is best? That we can make it possible for others to see us as we see ourselves only by first seeing ourselves as others see us? 18

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THE TOWER 'LIGHT Did You Know That ------ 1 1 Over two thousand years ago itwo Chinese astronomers were beheaded because of an eclipse? These astronomers had learned to predict eclipses. just before an eclipse occurred, they told the emperor a dragon would devour the sun, but that for a certain sum of money they would restore -the sun. Their request was granted, and they proceeded to get gloriously 'drunk to celebrate their goo-d fortune. As the eclipse came on with its terrifying appearance, the fears of -the people and the emperor knew' no bounds. They decided to appease the dragon by beheading the astronomers. This was promptly done, and s-oon the bright disc of the sun began to emerge from behind the moon. Everyone felt sure that the human sacrifice was acceptable to the angry dragon because the sun had been restored. One of the earliest accounts of a meteor fall is mentioned in the Bible? Joshua 10:11. The actual size, period, and position of the planet Neptune were known long before that planet was actually discovered. The seas on the moon are not seas at all. They are vast, open plains. Weeks were divided into seven days by the ancients, probably out of deference to the five major planets visible from the earth and the sun and moon? e The first star catalog, listing the names and sizes of visible stars, was made 2,073 years ago? A Greek, Hipparchus, classified the stars according to apparent brightness and catalogued about 1,080 of them. Stars go through life cycles: young, or dwarfed stars have tem- peratures as low as 2,500 degrees centigiradeg middle-aged, white-hot stars have temperatures of about 14,000 degrees centigradeg and many old stars finally become cool and dark. There are thirty to forlty billions of stars in the star-group to which the sun belongs. Flames of fire, known as prominences, sometimes shoot out from the surface of the sun to a distance of 500,000 miles. 17 1

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THE TOWER LIGHT A How Thoughts of ------ JEANNE KRAVETZ Yes, I was glad vacation was coming-glad to get away from it all, to do new things, meet new people. I would think of S. T. C. no more- that is, until September. But even as I was sailing out of Baltimore harbor with all intentions of vacation thoughts, swiftly there passed before me a classroom at college with Miss Blood expounding the reasons why Baltimore is a good harbor. I remembered how we had studied the position -of the harbor and its in- dustries, so I looked eagerly over the rail. As the boat gained way I decided to -turn my thoughts forward: I would meet some one who would be different. And so forthwith I started a conversation with a woman nearby. Expecting anything but a former student of the College, that was exactly what I got. So with great relish we got down to the task of bringing back memories-remember Miss Bader's history class, and May Day and Girls' Demonstration Night and the campus and and and-. This continued far into the night. I arrived at my destination next morning. My companions during my stay were teachers. In due course our conversation turned to lesson plans, motivations, student activity, units of work, etc. There I was back again in the old familiar atmosphere, remembering Miss Joslin and the Activity Program, Miss Bersch and Individual Differences. A swell vacation passed. Home again, doing the same things, seeing the family, reading the paper and trying to Hgure out what Mr. Walther would say about current trends. Then helping my brother with his summer school homework, ll noticed something familiar. It was a third case percentage problem-shades of Mr. Moser! Meetings with members of the student body always brought up remember -Miss Woodward's class, how Miss Birdsong understood usg those tests Miss Keys gave, the TOWER LIGHT articles. Work on the playground began and with it games-volley ball, end ball. Miss Daniels and Miss Roach-I saw them before me teaching our class. Oh! we did have fun. During handwork period Miss Neunsinger was at my shoulder guiding the mixing of paints and .the use of pastels. During a meet some familiar faces attracted my notice. They were children from my last prac- tice center. I remembered Student Teaching, conferences with Miss Scott and Individual Days. The death of Mr. Corner, the artist, reminded me of the hall in the Adu building where his picture of Miss Tall hangs. I saw the oflices and the library where Miss Yoder holds forth. 19