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

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14 YERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL AUTHOR OF “TRUE NORTH” SPEAKS IN ASSEMBLY On January fifth Mr. Merrick gave a very interesting talk to the student body about Labrador. He had been at the Grenfell Mission and had spent two and a half years as a teacher in Labrador. Mr. Merrick said that the mission is located near the Northwest River, and the inhabitants are both Scotch and Eskimo. They hunt ducks and geese, and fish for seal during the winter, while in the summer they fish for salmon and cod. the latter being the finest in the world. In the fall they go up big rivers where they trap until January. Mr. Merrick stated that the dog teams in Labrador could travel ninety miles a day on hard crusted snow. In school the children have very simple readers and they study out loud. He also said that the people in Labrador cannot understand our language, and as an example, they call cows “deer” and horses “big dogs.” The New York Times for March 5 contains a review of Mr. Merrick’s new book which will be especially interesting to all the V. H. S. students who heard this talk. “True North” is spoken of as “a vivid narrative of life in Labrador” and a “book of exceptional quality.” Barbara McNeil, ’34 FIFTH GRADE PROGRAM At the request of the Student Council Miss Pullman’s fifth grade pupils put on for a Monday morning assembly a delightful little sketch called “The Discontented Brownie.” This assembly was one of those arranged by the Student Council for the purpose of providing high school assemblies each Monday morning. ASSEMBLY ON CALVIN COOLIDGE Never again, perhaps, will V. H. S. have such an assembly as the one in which Mr. George Stone spoke to the school on Jan. 13 about Ex-President Calvin Coolidge, whose death has just occurred. The talk was made more realistic because of the fact that Mr. Stone had several times been to Plymouth, Vt., and had also heard Mr. Coolidge speak. We were told of Coolidge’s boyhood, school and college life, of his popularity and great success throughout his life. His old home was described and Coolidge’s love for Vermont and his desire always to return here was emphasized. Mr. Stone chose several selections from books and papers, which seemed to him to apply perfectly to Mr. Coolidge’s character. The informal talk ended in a very impressive moment when the school stood with bowed heads in a fitting tribute to the memory of Calvin Coolidge, our famous Vermonter. Marion Leonard, ’33 ASSEMBLY JANUARY 30 We gathered Monday morning to listen to three violin selections played by “Miss Waterman” accompanied by Mrs. V. W. Waterman. The numbers were “Scherzino,” by Rehfield; Massenet’s “Meditation from Thais,” and Kreis- ler’s arrangement of “Schon Rosmarin,” all of which were greatly enjoyed. Miss Waterman’s readiness is a fine example for others to follow if called upon by the Student Council. Barbara Bristol, ’34

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BLUE AND WHITE 13 irbrntl Artimttea It was a request of the Student Council that each Monday morning the student body come together for a short assembly. The special feature of the first assembly on Nov. 28th was music —two selections played by the high school orchestra under the direction of “Miss Waterman.” Margaret Carter SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROGRAM Calling our imaginations into play the Seniors in their own novel style put on the play entitled “Christmas Flight.” which portrayed the aerial voyage of a group' of girls on Christmas Eve. Their plane, as we were informed in due time, was equipped with marvelous devices by means of which the travelers could sge and hear everything in the lands over which they were flying. The pilot of that most extraordinary craft was none other than Amelia Ear-hart herself, who is well known to us as Ruth Yattaw. Charlotte Miner, Marion Leonard, Helen Jarvis. Mary Bourget, and Eleanor Forrest played the parts of typical ultra-modern girls. En route they passed over the greater part of Eurasia, enlivening their conversation with merry jests and interesting comments and bits of information both poetical and prosaic. Meanwhile they looked down upon groups from the various countries over which they passed who represented their native Yule-tide customs in tableaux. As they turned home-ward the boys and girls of “America the Beautiful” sang this song, visualizing to the girls the universal spirit at Christmas-tide. I felen Jarvis, ’33 ASSEMBLY PROGRAM, DECEMBER 27, 1932 “When the ice breaks—what next?” This pertinent question was the subject of an assembly tiilk given by Mr. Carter in December. It is a question which any one of us might be called upon to answer at any time, and it is wise for ns to have definite solutions at hand. Mr. Carter first dealt with the dangers in breaking through the ice:— loss of one’s wits, clinging together (in case of a group of skaters) and shock as a result of the cold. Upon these three dangers were built the methods of rescue and precautions to be taken afterward. One point of great importance is restoring the circulation by exercise after the rescue. This should never be overlooked, as the numbness from the sudden plunge may have serious results. Three things are necessary on the part of both the unfortunate ones and the rescuers. These are calmness, courage and persistence, qualities which apply to any emergency, but especially to one of this sort. Mary Lance, ’33

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BLUE AND WHITE 15 PHYSICS CLASS VISITS MILK PLANT The Physics class under the direction of Mr. Fogg inspected the cooling system of the Sheffield Milk Plant, Wednesday, Feb. 8. Due to the courtesy of Mr. Brown the group was shown the operation of the entire plant. Mr. Raymond Buckey and Mr. Cook accompan- TABLE A club has been formed by the tuition pupils who carry lunches. With the dues of five cents each they have pur- ied the class throughout the tour and made it very interesting with their explanations of the work going on and demonstrations of the use of some of the machinery. Mary Parrish, ’34 TENNIS chased a table tennis set. Mrs. Patterson has kindly loaned a large table which is set up at noon. The hour is greatly enjoyed. ASSEMBLY TALK ON PREVENTION OF COLDS Monday, February thirteenth, Dr. V. W. Waterman gave a health talk to the members of Vergennes High School. Dr. Waterman offered much good advice as to the prevention of colds and nose and throat diseases, impressing upon thfe student body the importance of keeping in touch with the family physician during such times as these, when there is much illness. He showed the instruments used in clearing the nose for better breathing and for removing adenoids and tonsils, giving reasons why the tonsils and adenoids should be done away with. In conclusion he gave several directions about the care of the body, emphasizing the fact that fresh air, and plenty of it, is needed for a person to he really healthy. Elinor Kimball,’ 34 NATIONAL HUMOR Mr. Ford, officer at the State Industrial School, spoke to us on February 15, 1933. Addressing us as fellow-students he made it clear that he did not come to speak to the faculty, so they could go on with their knitting or correcting papers. His subject was national humor. In his perfect dialect Mr. Ford impersonated different foreigners from the Swedes to the Italians, and from the French- Canadians to the English. The Negro’s humor, Mr. Ford explained. was the most unconscious and spontaneous. The hearty applause which followed the close of assembly proved that it was the wish of all to have this jolly entertainer come again. Charlotte Miner, ’33 FOOD SALE On Saturday, February 18, a food sale was held at Patten’s Market for the benefit of the “Blue and White.” Seventeen dollars was the net profit.