Vandergrift High School - Spectator Yearbook (Vandergrift, PA)

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THE SPECTATOR 25 THE ORIGIN OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY ANY countries claim the honor of having been the natal soil of the good St. Patrick, but it is thought most probable that Kilpatrick, Scotland, was his birthplace. St. Patrick was born about 372, the son of a patrician family. When only sixteen years of age, he was kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave in Ireland, where his master employed him as a swineherd. Here he lived among the people and learned not only their language but their habits, manners and customs. Finally, after many adventures, he escaped from his captivity and reached the Continent where he was made a deacon, priest, and bishop successively. St. Patrick then returned to Ireland carrying Christianity to the then pagan Irish. His work was hard and he met with much antagonism as the native priests did not, naturally, welcome any innovations. Popular legend attributes to St. Patrick many miracles, most of them highly impossible, which the simple Irish people believe even today. The greatest miracle is, perhaps, that he is accredited with having driven the “snakes” out of Ireland, and having rendered the soil so obnoxious to serpents that they cannot live on it. Colgan, a historian of the time, seriously relates that St. Patrick accomplished this feat by beating upon a great drum He beat it so long that it burst; thus endangering the success of the miracle. However, it was immediately mended by an angel from Heaven. For a long time this was exhibited as a holy relic. Ireland is dotted with geographical names connected with the saint. The places he visited or where he even sojourned for awhile; churches and abbeys, which he founded; and even the wells where he stopped to quench his thirst, may be counted by the hundred and are all in some way named for him. The shamrock is universally worn in the hat, all over Ireland on St. Patrick’s day. Popular notion is that when St. Patrick preached the doctrines of the Trinity to the pagan Irish, he used that plant, bearing three leaves on one stem, as a symbol of the great mystery. —MADALINE FITZSIMMONS, ’22.

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24 THE SPECTATOR I know it is a great temptation when you see a funeral procession to pass between the carriages instead of waiting a quarter of an hour until the last %'ehicle has passed. But a spell of bad luck will be cast on the person doing so. If a bird flies in a house or against a window pane someone in that house will die soon. A raven is always a bad sign as is illustrated in Poe’s poem “The Raven.” Blue Monday is a common expression. Always climb out of bed at the same side at which you got in. Disobeying this rule you will be very irritable and untactful. You’ll merely laugh and say you don’t believe these, but often you have thought of them and taken time to repeat them. —G. H. HAMMER, ’21. LIFE OF MICHAEL ANGELO ICHAEL ANGELO was born in the castle of Tuscany, where his father held an office as governor. His early childhood was spent very quietly in his home with his brothers, but at an early age he was sent to an academy at Florence to study. Although his father had very little money, he came of a good family, and wanted his son to occupy a good position in law or politics. But little Michael disappointed him, for instead of studying, he covered the walls and floor of his room with chalk drawings. His father scolded, and finally flogged him, but it seemed of no avail; so he decided to let him go as an apprentice to Ghirlandjo, one of the greatest painters of that time. Ghirlandjo must have thought him a great success for instead of charging him for his apprenticeship he paid him a small sum for his work. Michael soon became a very good painter, and at one time corrected some detail of a picture, which his master was giving to one of the students as a model. About this time Lorenzo de Medici was the Duke of Florence. He was a great patron of art and literature. In his garden he had a large collection of statuary which had been made by ancient sculptors. He told Ghirlandjo if he had any worthy pupils he would be glad to have them come and study in his garden. Finally Ghirlandjo recommended young Michael Angelo, and his little friend, Francesco Granacci for the study. It was thought he suggested that Michael change from a painter to a sculptor because he was jealous of his work. But then it was probable that Michael had shown talent as a sculptor. Young Michael liked his new work, and succeeded better than he had done at painting. A story is told that while Michael was working on a faun, which he was copying from an antique mask, the Duke chanced to come by. He noticed the face and told Angelo that a faun of that age would hardly have such a set of perfect teeth. The young sculptor said nothing at the time, but on coming back some time later, the Duke noticed that several of the teeth were cleverly chisled out. Thus all through his life when anybody made a helpful suggestion or a criticism he always profited by it. The Duke was delighted with the sculptor’s work, and took him under his own patronage. Although only fifteen years old Michael had his own key to the Garden of Sculpture and an apartment in the Duke’s home. During the life of Lorenzo de Medici, he and Michael became very good friends, and at the death of Medici, Angelo missed him very much. His son offered Angelo the same privileges that his father had bestowed upon him, but Angelo did not take advantage of them. He soon returned to his own home and worked, his mind burdened by the sorrow of his friend’s death. When political troubles came to Florence, Michael Angelo went to Bologna, but after the troubles were over he returned to his own home. • At an old age Angelo died after having given to the world many beautiful paintings and statues, some of which may still be seen today. —ETHELDA GRADEN, ’22.

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26 THE SPECTATOR LA PREMIER PISSENLIT II y a tres longtemps quand des fees et des lutens encore habiterent le monde un petit railleur de cour tres gai demeura au pays de la France et parce qu’il avait un caractei'e joyeu tant le monde l’appela Coeur de Plume. II gagna des gages genereuses par amu-sant la jeu reine qui etait tres fatiguee avec son vieux mari, le roi. Bien que ses rentes fussent tres amples sa bourse etait toujours vide parceque tout des gages de Coeur de Plume etait donne aux paysans pauvres et souffrants. Heureusement, sa maitresse le nourit ou le garcon genereux serait mort de faim. Ordainairement, il etait le personne, le plus heureux du monde mais depuis ce jour quand il avait entendu la reine et son flatteur favori projetants le meutre du roi pour qu’ils pussent marieu Tun a l’autre, il avait ete tres sombre. Un jour il raconta a la reine un histoire qui la prevena contre faisant mal. Sa maitresse resentit la conclusion et mettant en colere elle chassa Coeur de Plume du palais. Embarrasse et blesse, il courant au jardin du palais et s’elanca sur le sol du vieux roi marchant sur les sentiers du jar- din. Ses oreilles alertes attraperent le bruit d’un autre pas tres furtif. Regardent de sa retraite Coeur de Plume vit le roi poursuivi par le flatteur favori de la reine avec son poignard a la main. Le traitre etait jusquau roi et il avait leve la main quand Coeur de Plume se precipta de saretaite et il se plaza entre le roi et le meutrier et en cette maniere recevant la force pleine du coup. Il renversa sur le sol et il mourait quand une petite fee apparut devant les yeux du roi etonne qui regardait le flatteur courant et elle dit:— “O, roi, regardez, aux pieds votre saveur d’une morte terrible, (Puis a Coeur de Plume), Apres ce moment, vous serrez une fleur et parceque vous avez un coeur do'or vous serrez le pissenlit et quand votre fleur aura disparu, vous aurez des petites plumes aulieu des fleurs, aussi legeres que coeur mon brave garcon.” Avec ces mots le fee disparut et une petite fleur d’or remplaca le corps du railleur de cour. Ainsi nous recevons notre premier pissenlit. —MARIE CULP, ’22. UN JOUR DE PAQUES EN FRANCE Violette Angier etait une petite paysanne de la France. Elle demeura avec son grand-pere et sa grandmere dans un petit village qui etait compose des petites fermes. Les francais n’aiment pas la solitude. Leurs petites cabanes, leurs etables et leurs jar-dins sout toujours ensemble. Le grandpere de Violette rehaussa les legumes, les pommes de terre, les poulets et les fruits pour le marche. Chaque matin il sortait a la bonne heure avec son cheval et son wagon pour Pequerre ou ils maintener-ent la marche.i Ce jour etait le vendred avante le Paques et ainsi que le Paques commence le samedi avant le Paques en France Toute le monde etait occupe en preparer pour le grand fete. Le grandpere vendid tout son prodint tres vite et il marcha un petite magasin du village. Et quand il retourna il porta beau-coup d’emballages.