Vermont High School - Comet Yearbook (Vermont, IL)

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'l HE COMET 1910 J. EVERMONT NVYNE. Honors. Athletic: Foot Ball Team, MJ. Base Ball Team Ciij, Manager HJ. Track Team CSD. Dramatic: 'fRegular Fixfl Midnight Intruderf' UPrairie Center. Oak Farm. Good Old Summer Time, A Little Savagef' Girl lfrom Porto Rico. Organizations : Class President MD. President lllini Literary Society HJ. V. ll. S. Band, Secretary and Treasurer, Solo Cornet C45 Publication: Business Manager 'The Cometfy Patriot and Traitor VVhen he is gone, a man is remembered, if at all, by one overtopping characteristic or deed, some great fact of lns hfe, for which his name stands in the minds of all. 'lhus the name of Judas is the synonym for treacheryg Xero for crueltyg Napoleon, ambitiong XfVashington, lofty patriotism. VVe associate Mrs. Stowe with Uncle Tom's Cabing Vlfhittier with the anti-slavery causeg Frances VVillard with temperanee reform. We speak of Alfred the Great: Cleopatra the VVantong Arnold the Traitor. lt is one of the rewards of a life of virtue, that when that life is ended, it's weak- nesses are lost sight of in reverence for the greater nobility which overshadows them. lt is the great penalty for such crimes as Arnold's, that the memory of earlier service is swallowed in horror at the foulness of the later deed. Yet there was a time in Arnold's life when he deserved the love of his countrymen, when he rendered services greater than any other in the army except VVasltington and Greene, lf he had died on that glorious field of Saratoga, few names would have been held in more loving remembrance by the American people. But he was destined to prove that with his good qualities were mingled the elements of baseness. His was a reek, coarse, nature, in which the weeds of personal vanity and revenge grew side by side with the flowers of bravery and patriotismg in which the forces of conscience and loyalty to country struggled with ambition and pride until overthrown and crushed forever, Yet has this dark ligure, this villain in the great drama of the Revolution, deserved the harsh verdict handed down through the years, deserved the scorn and loathing of :hose whom he once so faithfully and nobly served? It is htting that we who have heard so often the dark story of his fall should review candidly those earlier, happier years. On the day after that memorable day of Lexington, we Find him on the college green of New Haven, at the head of a body of volunteers bound for Cambridge towards which thousands of enthusiastic New linglanders were hastening. Here in Cambridge be- gan his long comradship with those noble patriots, Daniel Morgan, Nathaniel Greene, and -Philip Schuyler, who became his unwavering friends, but whose incorruptible loyalty, under nnmense personal wrong, only shows Arnold's ignoble revenge in blacker color by contrast. Here we find him, brave and sagacious, suggesting the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, those northern guards of the Hudson, whose strategic value his active mind at once perceived. Joining the forces under lfthan Allen the forts were taken, but on SIXTEEN

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Tim comer t 1910 pelled to give up all his time to class work. This makes it possible for him to systematize the work of the school and keep the different departments working in harmony.. The question has arisen as to whether or not a superintendent is needed in a school of this size. Upon careful consideration, the answer must undoubtedly be given in the affirmative. Al- though each teacher may, and should be, competent to manage the work of her, own pupils. the best results cannot be obtained unless the work of each teacher is arranged to take up the development of the pupils where the last one left off. Also, there must be someone whose duty it is to investigate and settle all questions of school policy that are continu- ally arising. Another advantage, and perhaps the greatest of all, is the fact that when there are three teachers, one of them can have charge of the assembly room while two recitations are being carried on in the other rooms. The advantage of this is obvious, for it not only permits the pupils who are preparing their lessons to do so without being interrupted by a class reciting in the same room, but it also benelits those who are reciting. for when a recitation is being carried on in the front part of the assembly room, the teacher is usually compelled to give a certain amount of his or her attention to the conduct and wants of those seated in the rear. This naturally hinders the proper presentation of a subject by the teacher and the students are the ones who are losers thereby. The course of study here is so arranged that it can be very conveniently divided into three general departments, This makes it possible for each teacher to have charge of a de- partment in which he or she has specialized. The advantage of this can scarcely be over estimated. Viewing the question from the standpoint of economy, we tind that there is the same number of teachers now as there formerly was under the separate-district plan: so the cost for instructors is practically the same as it was. Vifhen we try to think of any reason why the schools should be changed back into two districts as they formerly were, we are obliged to give it np. The only argument advanced for their separation is the fact that some of the smaller children who live in one wart of the town are com Jelled to I I - . ' l l go to the school building situated in the opposite part. As stated before there are two primary rooms, one m each district. NVhcn the children have passed the primary depart- ment it seems that they should be old enough to walk to and from school even if it is clear across our not-overly-large town. The climate m tlus part of the country is of such a nature that there are onlv a few davs in each 'ear when the weather is too had for .- - 3 . . them to undertake the trip 3-and when the weather is good, the walk gives them the best ot exercise. Almost every year since the schools were united, some efforts have been made to have our school placed upon the accredited list of the University of Illinois. The move- ment was begun by Mr. Dyer in 19116 and after several years of effort on the part of the different superintendents acting under the direction of the Board of liducation. it has been accomplished. In May, 1910, Mr. llollister. the State School lixanuner visited our school, and great was our joy on lmding that he had recommended that it be placed upon the accredited list, This is the crowning success of the Union of the schools. for without this muon we could not have hoped to reach the standard set by the State of Illinois. lu view of the fact that there are so many advantages to be derived from the union of schools in comparison with the disadvantages, it is hard to see why men will deliberate- ly try to put us back in the old rut and try to curb the advantages which are so evident. Surely, if they would stop to consider the question. they would be broad--minded enough to see that the present union is far better than the old rivalry between the North and South, and would act. accordingly. VVe should like to have a new school house, but if the people consider this impractical just now we will do the best we can in the present build- ings, trusting that the voters will see the folly of separating the schools. and at least continue the system which has brought about such excellent results. ln the foregoing article, I have not been recommending any school svstem which would be suitable for a city several times as large as Vermont. and would call for the expenditure of large sums of money. Init I am in favor of making the schools of our town just as good as the finances will permit, and we are asking the assistance of those who are in favor of better education. FIFTEEN

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I 'V' 'lil Ili COMET 1910 this expedition was first shown toward Arnold that state of jealousy and political rivalry which tinally proved his undoing. Next we see him, at the head of an absurdly inadequate force, struggling through the primeval wilderness of Maine toward Canada, his iron will set on the capture of Quebec. This was an enterprise which called into play all his persistence and daring. They forced their way against the swift river current, carried the boats on their shoulders through the tangled undergrowth of unbroken forests, waded dangerous bogs, pressed on with feet cut by sharp stones and clothing torn to shreds, ate their dogs in their hunger, but followed their dauntless leader unfalteringly. Our hearts leap responsive to the Hsplendid bravadou with which, the historian tells us, he led his little wornout army, reinforced by Mont- gomery's weakened companies, before the strongest fortress in America, and summoned the enemy to come out and tight, or surrender. But with our present knowledge, we are tempted to regret that in the chivalrous charge on Quebec which followed, he did not fall beside his brave comrade, Montgomery, while his honor was yet stainless. Recovered of wounds received in that brave charge, he was sent to oppose the enemy's fleet on Lake Champlain. There, off Valcour island, he attacked a British fleet twice the size of his own, held his position till nightfall, and then, aided by the friendly darkness, stole with his crippled tlotilla between the enemies' lines and escaped. Yet, in spite of Washington's coniidence in Arnold, the latter's powerful enemies in- tiuenced Congress, and tive of his inferiors in rank, men who had shown no extraordinary abilities, '- ' ' ., .' ' '. afrrd f111 ITm'e could not forgive. Yet, at the request of Washington, his friend and general, he did not resign his commission. Shortly afterwards the British invaded Canada, and, still striving to aid l1is country and to gain the honors which he so justly deserved, Arnold joined the militia raised to repel them, and at the battle ot Ridgelield showed remarkable courage, and barely es- caped with his life. Congress, seemingly somewhat impressed by this evidence of his ability and courage, appointed him a major-general, but still declined him his proper rank, given to men of inferior ability. lrle then co-operated with Washington in opposing the advance of Howe toward Phil- adelphia, and was appointed to act with Schuyler, a brave and competent general, in checking the progress of Burgoyne through eastern New York. Given this command, he raised the siege of Fort Schuyler, and at the battle of Bemis Heights was recklessly prominent, ever in the forefront of battle. But General Gates. vain, cowardly, and incompetent, who by intrigue had superseded Schuyler, became jealous of Arnold, a bitter quarrel ensued, and the latter was deprived of his command. llut when the second battle of Saratoga, the last scene in Burgoyne's attempted march through the states, occured, Arnold, seeing his old command hard pressed and victory hanging in the balance, in detiance of orders, galloped from his tent, rallied the broken regiments, turned the tide of battle, and scattered all before him. A wound in the leg, received on that momentous occasion, disabled him for field service and after the evacuation of Philadelphia, Washington placed him in command of that city. There, moving in fashionable society and living extravagantly, Arnold naturally in- curred criticism, and to this the executive council of Pennsylvania added definite charges or arbitrary exercise of military authority and favoritism to Tories. At his request a court martial was appointed, but ahnost a year elapsed before it was held, when he defended himself without counsel, and was acquitted of intentional wrongdoing. but was sentenced to be reprimanded by XVashington, who, while rebuking Arnold, urged him to regain the esteem of his countrymen, which he had formerly so much desired and deserved. But these last events, coming on top of previous slights and insults, proved too much for Arnold's virtue. Up to this time he has had our sympathy, as he had that of his commander-in-chief and fellow officers. Now we turn in sadness and horror from the man who deliberately planned the betrayal of his coun- try, in revenge for slights, which, though they did sting at the time. yet sink into utter insigniticance in comparison with the foul deed he is plan- ning. Our souls revolt at the thought of his personal treachery to XVashington, ever his SEVENTEEN 1