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

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BLUE AND WHITE picked up some apples, and with our twenty-two rifles we were trying to see who could shoot the most apples off the fence.” Uncle Jim, still not quite understanding, asked, “Why make all that noise tonight?” Tommy spoke up in amaze-ment, “Why, don’t you know? Tonight is Hallowe’en!” Uncle Jim, at last realizing his blankness of mind, said, “Sit down boys; let me tell you what we used to do on Hallowe’en night when I was a boy.” A CLASSROOM MONOLOGUE Lillian Husk, ’40 “Oh gir-r-ls have you seen the latest? Well just look yonder but don’t look too long. She’s hard on the eyes. But isn’t she just too, too, ducky! Such eyes, such hair, such a figure and what a voice. Isn’t she blank looking? Jean told me that the doctor made her take quarts of iodine to keep the sun from shining through her upper deck, y’know. Honestly, every time she says a word I almost die!” “Oh y’know the other day when the prof called on her, she got up and started to the front of the room, but that big clod—I don’t know what his name is, tripped her up. My deah’s, it was sttrik-ing. Well, when she finally did get to the front, she just stood there with a silly grin on her face —waiting for the applause to die down sans doute. Then the big moment came—” Girls! Quiet down!” from the teacher behind them. AUTUMN MAGIC There is magic in the autumn That weaves glamour all around, And fallen leaves of gayest colors Gently strew the barren ground. There is magic in the cornfield And the sighing of the trees, All the sprites and witches dancing To the rustle of the leaves. With an ethereal brilliance shining From a starlight studded sky, There is magic in the shadows After summer bids goodbye. —Cecile Lajoie,, ’40 ONE HALLOWE’EN NIGHT Julia Field, ’42 ’Twas one Hallowe’en night; I really had to scream To see a witch upon a broom; I thought it was a dream. I got very excited, But what frightened me the most Was when I saw in the middle of the road A tall and frightful ghost. I had planned to scare some people that night, But got so frightened instead— I walked right home with all my might And decided to go to bed. PAGE SEVEN

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VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL ALL ON AN EERIE NIGHT Eleanor Hawley, ’39 The smell of ripe apples was in the air and overhead a huge jack-o-lantern-moon grinned down upon this eerie night. A group of boys was slowly creeping toward the orchard; they found the tree, stuffed theij-pockets full and made a clear getaway. A few seconds later the air was shattered by a loud series of what sounded like gunshots or perhaps even a “tommy” gun. The back door of an old rickety house was opening inch by inch. The face of an aged man became visible, marked by his white hair and whiskers. He held his hand behind his ear, apparently trying very hard to find out where the noises came from. The old man yelled as if in fright, “Whoever is making that noise come here!” Five of the boys came, but the other two scampered off, afraid for their lives. As the boys were approaching, the elderly man said, “My name is James Greene. Don’t be afraid. I just wanted to talk to you.” Jack, a bit braver than the rest said, “Hello, Mr. Greene. We didn’t know anyone lived here, and we didn’t mean to do you any harm.” Mr. Greene said, “Call -me Uncle Jim, and come in the house. That noise I heard, what was it all about anyway?” Jack replied anxiously, “We PAGE SIX

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VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL DID YOU KNOW THAT—? Geraldine Did it seem strange to you that a day called Labor Day should be a holiday? It began in Nevy York where the labor unions set it apart as an occasion for recognition of their service to the world. Soon the custom spread far and wide, for everyone likes to take a day off on that bright first Monday in September. Today’s celebration of Labor Day is quite different from the first ones in New York. Then it was thought necessary to have a big parade of the labor unions. This was supposed to be a new idea but even back in the middle ages, the labor organizations, or guilds, used to march behind leaders. each dressed in its own costume and carrying bright banners. The butchers were led by one of their members who was dressed as a knight, but instead of a sword he carried a large knife. The tailors were led by Adam and Eve, for it was thought that theirs was the oldest trade of all, since they believed that the first work man did was to make himself clothes. The two goddesses Venus and Ceres, led the bakers, and King Henry VIII the bricklayers. Altogether the parade was very gav and wound up with a big dinner. How different all this is from our celebration of today when each of us goes his own way and does what he wishes. The boy Columbus would of course have been surprised had anyone told him during his lifetime that five centuries later a whole nation would be devoting a PAGE Bacon. '39 day out of each year to the purpose of doing him honor. Yet that is exactly what we do today, bestow honor on him, who presented the world with two new continents. Naturally we think of him mostly on the twentieth of October. the day when he first set foot upon the soil of the newly discovered world. Hallowe’en is another of the festivals that has become a habit with the race, although it has long since ceased to have its early meaning. It is much older than the Christian religion ahd was once known as “All Hallows’ Eve” or the night before “All Saints’ ” or “All Hallows’ Day.” It was a time when ghosts and witches were abroad having one last fling before the holy day which followed, on November first. Long before the birth of Jesus, the old heathens looked upon it as a night of mystery. The heathen priests or Druids as they were called, always led a weird celebration at this time. They lighted bonfires and were firmly convinced that on this night the God of Death summoned to him the souls of all the wicked who had died during the previous year. Strange as it may seem, people in ancient Rome observed the same date. It was a feast in honor of Pomona, who was goddess of fruits and gardens. Thus everywhere nuts and apples played part in the ceremonies. So we have our Hallowe’en of today. The bonfire is now lighted inside a pumpkin to make a ghostly j a c k-o-1 ante r ft; our BIGHT