Vergennes Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Vergennes, VT)

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BLUE AND WHITE 25 tory at Columbia University, and author of the text book which they are using thjs year. On November eighteenth in an assembly talk, Mr. Carter spoke of the splendid co-operation between the school and the Bixby Memorial Free Library. Mrs. Chatterton gives each year’s Freshmen the opportunity of taking library lessons. She has just completed a set of four library lessons and an examination given to this year’s Freshmen. Mr. Carter emphasized that since we have this privilege of learning how to use the card catalogue. Walton’s Vermont Register, Granger’s Index, and reference books, we should try to find the information ourselves instead of asking the librarians. This would be one way of showing our gratitude. On December ninth, in an assembly talk, Mr. Carter spoke of the discovery of a record in the form of a charred pine log, suggestive of the Rosetta Stone unearthed on the banks of the Nile. The log was found by Professor Andrew Ellicott Douglass on June 25, 1929. Mr. Carter went on to say that records had not been kept of the founding of Indian settlements in the southwest, but science had given the dates to Indian civilization. Professor Douglass, he told us. began by studying rings in the cross section of each kind of tree. A narrow, ring meant a dry season and every pine tree told the same story. This particular pine log dated back as far as 700 A. D. and was discovered at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Thelma Floyd, ’31 SPECIAL ASSEMBLIES I Miss Isadore Burroughs, who has been in the United States Government Service for five years, gave an exceedingly interesting talk on September 23. She discussed French methods of filial devotion, some of her most interesting receptions, and in all pictured to us something of the inner life in France. Her position involved the obtaining the home market values of exports to this country. II During Fire Prevention Week Mr. Thomas, of Montpelier, gave an interesting and timely talk on Fire Prevention. As a result of his

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24 VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL Joshua White, James Powers. Master Cheever was always finding fault with the children’s conduct, and used the extremely good method of punishment, the “Dunce Cap.’’ The reciting ot difficult, old-fashioned lessons, the studying aloud, and many funny old customs made us sorry when the pupils were finally dismissed to go to dinner and the delightful little play was brought to a close. Marion Leonard, ’33 ITEMS NOT REPORTED ELSEWHERE The birthday of Theodore Roosevelt, October 27, has been designated Navy Day. On that date Mr. Carter gave a fitting assembly talk. Candy Sales were held for the benefit of the Blue and White by the Seniors, Juniors and Sophomores on November 15, December 5, and December 11. The Sophomores contributed the largest amount to our budget. After a close and spirited magazine campaign between the enthusiastic airplane squads, the “Gallant Blues” gave the “Victorious Reds” a party at the gym on September 20, where the occasion was properly celebrated. Vergennes High School witnessed great improvements on November 12 to 15 when Mr. Carter was presented with parts of a menagerie which he used for assembly discussions. These were some white rats, a turtle, a salamander and a lizard. It was all very interesting and “lively!” ASSEMBLIES As a delegate of the Vermont State Teachers’ Association Mr. Carter attended the celebration of John Dewey’s seventieth birthday, which was held at the Hotel Astor, New York, November 16, 1929. Upon his return, Mr. Carter devoted an assembly to a report ot this event. He spoke of the life work of the great educator, John Dewey. The last part of his talk was given over to the celebration proper, describing the John Dewey cake, the menu, and telling us of the number of people present—about 2,500. The Seniors would be interested to know that during the banquet Mr. Carter sat next to David SaviUe Muzzey, Professor of His-

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26 VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL splendid examples and arguments we were able to form new resolutions concerning fire prevention and what “our bit” should be to help reduce the huge number of fires. III The subject of our out of town speaker, Mr. Rudmann, of the Baypath Institute, on October 23, was “Work.” His interesting and spirited talk was a challenge to us all to have higher ideals and do something that may be counted as “work.” His hopes for the youth of today were made ours by his excellent comparison of the carp, a strong fish, battling against the strongest currents, likened to today’s youth battling against all adversities towards the biggest, best, and finest things of life. He concluded with two inspiring quotations: “What you are thunders so loudly in my ears that I cannot hear what you say.” and “Be strong!” IV Mr. Hartwell, head of the Weather Bureau in Burlington, gave a talk on November 25 on one of the most interesting, puzzling, and widely discussed subjects—the weather. The time simply flew by during his explanations of the weather forecasts, the process gone through to determine these, the meaning of different terms, and best of all, explanations as to the causes of the Vermont Flood. Mr. Hartwell is an old friend of V. H. S., as different science classes have visited the Weather Bureau at Burlington. Mary Bourget, ’33 ART WORK Due to the absence of an Art Instructor this year we are handicapped to some extent. This year a new scheme has been tried out, that of having page designs instead of the usual headings. The Art Editor designed and cut the Cover, the Grinnery and the Literary page; Lyneus Todriff designed the Athletics, and Vonda Hallock designed and cut the French page, and also assisted in cutting the Athletics.