Wells River High School - Chatterbox Yearbook (Wells River, VT)

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24 THE CHATTERBOX CCnmmpurrmrnt tEsaaijs VERMONT’S MOUNTAIN ARTIST and HER SNOW KING We are proud to he Vermonters. We all feel the sense of pride and ownership when we hear about a son or daughter of Vermont who brings this state to the front in some particular field of work. Who of us can say that we are not proud of Calvin Coolidge, our ex-president; of Dorothy Canfield Fisher, our celebrated novelist; of Carolyn Woodruff, our teacher-poet whose verses we all delight in reading? Hundreds of tourists have been attracted to the hills and valleys of Vermont. Artists from nearly every state in the Union have sought out its beauties and from their work, those who have not visited Vermont owe their ideas of the Green Mountain State. It remained to one who had been born and brought up in Vermont, one who had summered and wintered with her. to por- tray her characteristics, both in storm and in sunshine. This was none other than John Lillie, The Mountain Artist”, who is, as yet. unknown to the world at large. He is a native of the little valley of Dorset, untraveled and utterly untrained in the tradi- tions and theories of painting. As a carpenter, mason and plum- ber. he had been in demand ever since he could remember and the quality of his work was renowned thru the neighborhood. Some years ago a number of landscape painters came to the valley of Dorset and engaged board in John Lillie’s family. They were an enthusiastic, industrious lot and soon filled the carriage house of their host’s big barn with sketches and can- vasses. They found Lillie a thoughtful and intelligent man. His love for his native mountains, not unusual in a Ver- monter, commended him to the painters; for he knew where to get the grandest views and what atmospheric conditions made them most beautiful.

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THE CHATTERBOX 23 SALUTATORY I can think of no pleasure or duty greater than mine to- night.—that of welcoming you to these exercises. Your pre- sence here indicates your active interest not only in this class, but in education as well. As a group you will find us little different from other classes that have gone before. There is gladness rather than sadness in our hearts tonight. Of course we shall miss our High School, more than we can now realize. Its work, its play, its duties, and its lessons—all of these will be cherished memories of the past. For some, tonight marks the beginning of another chapter of school; for others, the beginning of life’s work. Our goal has been reached only by the invaluable help of unselfish parents and loyal friends. To all those we trust that our future achievements may show our true appreciation of the many services that we have received. We hold in high respect our superintendent and school committee, whose earnestness and sincerity have been an in- spiration for better efforts. We thank our teachers, who have stood by us in all the trials of our school life and who, with their skillful guidance and helpful advice, have made our burdens lighter. I can think of no better greeting than these simple words which my classmates bid me give, “You are very welcome.” M. GLADYS LATURNAU.

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THE CHATTERBOX 2 He was immensely interested in the productions of his artist boarders and spent a good deal of time watching them at their work. One day when alone he got out an assortment of house paints, made a selection of house painter’s brushes, found a smooth strip of board and went to work. When he had finish- ed, he hung his picture beside the others on the wall in the car- riage house. The next morning there was great excitement among the landscape painters and after questioning their host, the confession was made. During the rest of that summer he was a constant com- panion of the painters. Supplied with proper materials, he led them to the choice spots he knew among the hills. Later in the year, the painters gave an exhibition and John Lillie had more canvasses hung than anyone. As time went on, his canvasses accumulated and soon John Lillie’s name was on every artist's lip and people who cared anything about pictures were making pilgrimages to his home. A visiting painter, on his return to New York, spoke so convincingly of Lillie’s canvasses, that many were sold and put on exhibition. . They were strange pictures, yet one could ponder and search over them indefinitely. All had mystery and imagina- tion. John Lillie’s fast-growing fame has stirred and aroused the little village of Dorset and those who have had the opportu- nity of knowing him are most thankful for the experience. Like John Keats, the English poet; like Walt Whitman, the Ameri- can poet and novelist. John Lillie has developed his latent gift. Keats and Whitman portrayed their love of nature by word pictures while Lillie, inspired by the work of artists, has por- trayed on canvass the beauties of his native state. Proud, too. are we Vermonters of Wilson Bentley. Per- haps the name Bentley does not mean much to most peo if the “Snow Flake Man’’ is mentioned, one quickly thinks of pictures seen in frames or in books; pictures labelled “photo- graphic reproductions” of snow crystals.