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

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8 VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL customs and procure a suitable education. ‘A which?” What subs are you going to annihilate ? “Beg pardon?” What classes are you in, he means,” said Jack. “Ah—-well—English, of course, French, a—aw—is it American History? And that very, very interesting subject in which you make—er—experiments?” His questioning way of talking, with the little stutter, was amusing to the boys. Sure that's where we swish the dope around in the pretty little glass bottles.” You get a great kick outta it.” . I say, but you don’t mean really that the professor would actually expel a pupil from his class in that informal manner?” asked the shocked Algernon. “Sure! If you don’t savvy the dope, you’ll be given the password,” said Sam with a wink at the others. Dear me! I do wish you fellows would oblige me to the extent of speaking in plain unmangled English. “And if it isn’t English, what is it?” asked Dick. . It's the most abominable form of that vulgar type of conversation known as—ah—I believe it’s commonly called the ‘Slanguage' of the lower classes: I tell you it’s positively disgusting!” “Well, you’d better fall for it and gobble up all you can get. cause you’ll need it to get by in this dump.” With that they left him, a rather frightened stranger. As the days went by Algernon grew rather famous for his fancy English and his disdain of “Slanguage,” as he had dubbed it. Algernon entered the chemistry class for his first laboratory lesson in a slightly troubled state of mind as a result of his conversation with the boys. During the course of the experiment Algernon spilled part of the liquid given him in his test tubes. Jack, whose place was near him, handed him a cloth to wipe it up with. Fitts, where are your results ?” asked the professor, as Algernon’s turn for inspection came. Y—you see, old top, it was this way. 1 slopped the dope, and after I’d swabbed it up, it was minus,” blurted the rather embarrassed youth. The class stood motionless with surprise. The professor’s jaw dropped to snap shut with, “Report at my office, at four o’clock, Fitts.” When school closed, Fitts entered the office. “Will you please explain your unseemly and disrespectful reply in chemistry class, Fitts?” Sir, I was not aware of the fact that my reply was in any way disrespectful.” “It was—very—and I demand an explanation.” “I had received the impression that it was the proper type of conversation, Sir—that without it one must be unpopular. I do most heartily wish to be popular, therefore I have tried to achieve that manner of speaking so affected by the rest.” The professor, who was human, studied Fitts with a twinkle in his eye. At the end of an hour the boy left with a “Thank you sir.” and the impression that to be himself and a good sport would bring more friends than the fullest knowledge of “Slanguage.” The three boys stood on the steps and as Algernon came out they began to look at each other sheepishly and wriggle around uncomfortably. Algernon looked at them questioning- ly' “I guess you’re not so bad after all. Maybe we’ll let you join the gang,” said Jack. Not really! You mean I can actually be in your crowd? How perfectly delightful—.” “Oh. be yourself!” interrupted Dick, “or we’ll cut you pronto.” And Algernon, thanks to the professor. understood.

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blue and white 7 On winter nights I’ve scene: A landscape white with feath’ry snow, A silver moon and moonbeams low; They made the snow with their pale glow 1 he palace of a fairy queen. And as i looked I seemed to see Small sprites and elves a dancing 'long he moonbeams paths, singing a song I hey d sing and dance—a merry throng— It was a fairy jubilee. A WINTER SCENE Gertrude Leonard, ’31 watched this “SLANGUAGE” Madeline Barrows, ’33 I hear there s a new guy coming to school tomorrow.” The ‘ speaker was Jack Horne of Iona High School. Where’s he from?” uninterestedly asked Sam, one of his closest chums. “Is he an American or something interesting?” questioned Dick. Oh. he has just moved into the new apartment house on Green Street, and they say he’s English.” “Gee! Does he carry a cane and talk like------?” started Dick. “Favvncy that! Well, well, old chap, this is a bally good town. Bah Jove!” I hey all laughed at Sam’s English. I he three boys were walking home from school through the snow on a cold afternoon. All were dressed in' the freeze as you please” style of most hoys, with flapping overshoes and jackets. ()n their heads were perched tiny caps of the school colors. “Let's razz him. and if he’s a good sport we’ll take him iri—,” began Sam And if he isn’t, well—I pity him.” Ihck finished as they parted for the night. The next day when the three boys entered their home room they saw a tall extremely thin youth with very light hait and pale blue eyes. He was dressed m a stylishly cut suit of a very light gray and wore spats to match, buttoned over highly polished black kid shoes. 1 here he sat at a desk in the corner, looking at a book through a pair of silver-rimmed glasses. . “There the new guy now,” said Sam in an excited undertone to the others. Let s go shake those cute spats off him— and Dick started. Oh! Lets not be too rough on the poor fellow.” Jack whispered as he followed. Hi there. Frenchy, what’s your moniker ?” asked Dick. W'-wh—er—I beg pardon?” Aw, pardon me, old chap, that was a bally mistake on my part.” chimed in Sam with a broad accent. He means what’s your name.” explained Jack. . “Aw—-My name is Algernon Frederick Percival Fitts.” “Is that all?” I d have a couple of fits over those names.” “I'd feel insulted if you called me that.” Algernon s pale blue eyes stared, “But. he stammered, “I do'not understand.” ou will after you stick around in this dump awhile.” Where did you park your doggies before you crashed into this caboose asked Dick. Algernon, rather dazed, asked po-,, A.: A ill you please converse in the English language?” Just a sec.; I 11 get a dictionary.” “We can’t talk French either.” “Where did you live?” “My home was at Willingdon Park. I alio way Roads. Lindlay County, Lancaster, England. I left there to reside in Iona so that I could study American

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BLUE AND WHITE 9 COUSIN ROB’S GIFT Arza L. Dean, ’31 “Oh well, if you must, Anne, but don't stay later than Wednesday, because. you know, I shall niiss you every blessed minute. You’ll take Rosa and Minnie with you, of course.” Although Anne Carlton and Larry Trent were not to be married for three weeks, his last words were more like a command than a request. “Silly!” replied Anne. “You know I can't get along without them,” Rosa was Anne’s colored nurse, who had been in the family since Anne was born. Rosa was devoted to Anne. Minnie was a curiosity to everybody. In fact, she had been since that day. two years before, when Anne’s cousin Rob from the West dropped the little beast, a panther cub, as a present to Anne, in Rosa’s la]). The terrified mammy had immediately let it drop to the floor, where it blinked wonderingly at the fleeting form of the poor old darkey, who was speeding up the staircase crying that everybody had “done gone and got into conspiracy wid all de debbils outside of Chrisendom.” and calling, “Black angels come to rna aid if yo all is ebah coming.” Apparently the cub was only shaken up and badly frightened. Anne kept and tamed the little beast in spite of protests from all sides and Rosa’s ejaculations that “Missy Anne done gone plumb crazy, gitting it into her haid she could keep that yellow-eyed wild cat!” It refused to make friends with anyone but Anne and Rosa. Nevertheless the mammy feared it. Anne. Rosa and Minnie made the journey to Mrs. Carlton’s summer cottage high up in the hills. l or two days Anne roamed about, singing happy little verses and planning the wedding which was soon to take place. Sometimes she took Minnie with her. always fastened to a leash. On the third night Anne retired early. after tying Minnie securely in the sitting room. She fell asleep, but was suddenly awakened by a peculiar scratching noise at the door of the cottage. Minnie was growling crossly, a thing that she hadn’t done since her kitten days. Anne remembered that the door was left slightly open to allow plenty of air to enter. Whatever was at the door, she didn’t want it inside, so throwing her cloak about ner shoulders, she tiptoed toward the doorway, while Minnie crouched nearby, a queer look in her eyes. There, halfway through the now nearly wide-open door, was the form of an animal so much like Minnie that for a minute Anne was stupefied Coming to her senses she cried, “Rosa, where are you ? Come quickly ! From upstairs came a muffled answer “Who-who-what am de trouble. Missy Anne? I’se skeered mos' sick. I is. I heered a growlin'—Oooohhh!” Anne had to think quickly because the beast was crouching, ready to spring upon her. “If I could only reach Minnie!” she cried. Quickly she grasped a knife from the table and rushing to Minnie, who was also crouching low. making ready to spring, she cut the leash which held her from reaching the intruder. Quick as a flash both beasts were raging in fierce combat. They parted, and the strange beast was about to spring upon Anne, who was paralyzed with fright, when Minnie again landed on its back. Suddenly a light gleamed through the window and the sound of a motor reached Anne’s ears. A car was coming up the road. It finally stopped in the yard, and a voice cried out, “Anne! What has happened?” It was Larry. It seemed that at once he was standing in the doorway, leveling the .44. which he always carried in his car, at the fighting mass. Quickly six shots rang out. With a mighty roar the animals sprang apart, gave a few twitches, and lay quietly on the floor. The shots had taken effect. As soon as he lighted a lamp. Larry