Windsor Locks High School - Herald Yearbook (Windsor Locks, CT)

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 19 THE TALE OF THE CHARTER OAK (A Short Story) When this country was still in its childhood and King James had control of the colonies, many strange and amusing incidents occurred to disturb our forefathers. No doubt you have heard of the famous and romantic Charter Oak which was a landmark in the city of Hartford for many years and which held in its bosom secrets known to but one man. It is at the time when we are well into the eighteenth century that our story takes its course. Now in this village (as Hartford was then a very small place) along the beautiful Connecticut, and on that very same street where the splendid oak stood lined against the azure sky in its autumnal beauty, lived an old woman who for many years had inhabited a small dwelling, sadly neglected and dilapidated. A very eccentric person she was, too; for she would be away on mysterious trips for days, and then as mysteri¬ ously return. She was the last descendent of the family whose noted ancestor had carried away the famous charter, which had never been heard of since. It was whispered by those personages who were blest with long tongues and those who were continually concerned with other’s affairs that a family prophecy once stated that a female offspring of the family should one day find out the whereabouts of this precious document through an apparition of the man who carried it off. For more than a century now each female member had hoped for this honor, but as the line of descendents dwindled, the people began to think little of the old myth. It so happened that old Matilda (as was her name) had been having queer dreams of late, and the townspeople felt that she was the person chosen to deliver the document of rights. One dull night in e arly autumn, as the mists of twilight overspread the earth about, a dark cloud was seen rising slowly above the horizon. What was about to happen? One of the worst storms, the peaceful people of this village, in the green Connecticut valley, had ever witnessed, arose. During the storm which wrecked the home of the unfortunate old woman, the majestic oak was struck by lightning. The townspeople claim that this particular evening was selected for the delivery of the charter; for the next morning, when all was bright and clear again, the charter was found on the old lady’s table. But the most peculiar thing about this situation was, that old Matilda was nowhere to be seen. Many rumors were heard here and there about the mysterious return of the charter and the odd dis¬ appearance of the old woman. Finally, when the people gathered that evening on the village green to discuss the recent events, they decided that the most logical reason for this happening was that in return for the charter, the apparition had carried away the queer, old woman. So to this day, when we now find Hartford grown to a great metropolis of the modern world, the memory of this valuable old document still is cherished and the whereabouts of the old woman is still a mystery. Marion Holmes, ’40. 21

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18 THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD of the earth upon which there lay a complete city. The upper half of the ball was a cloud-filled sky. As night was represented, the sky was a midnight blue sprinkled with myriad stars and Democracity lay in a mysterious darkness. But as day unfolded, the stars faded and a rocf of blue sky and white clouds took their place above a sunny, happy city. And in here as in every section of the Fair, musical selections filled the air. In the evening we hurried to the famed AQUACADE, where at 8:30 we were to see the Billy Rose show featuring Johnny Weissmuller and Eleanor Holm. There we saw the world’s best divers in action. We heard Morton Downey sing, saw the stars perform their aquatic feats, were thrilled by the gayety and glamour of the costumes and performances of the graceful Aquabelles and the Aquabeaux. For a while after the entertainment at the AQUACADE, we watched the booming and flashing fireworks. The Fair was entirely transformed by night. Each building sparkled and glistened with light. The sky was striped with the numerous flashes and beams thrown across it. Then as the dismal hour of eleven arrived, we reluctantly turned our backs upon the marvels of the New York World’s Fair and made our way to the dull unromantic parking lots and the bus. Sleepy and tired, we settled back in our seats as comfortably as we could and fell to dreaming of the tall spires, the Perispheres, the Trylons, and all the modernistic characteristics of the ’’World of Tomorrow.’’ Lillian Snow, ’ 39 . WANTED: GOOD MANNERS Our manners and customs play an important part in our lives. Standing for more than our qualities, they represent our habitual deportment. Nothing marks the well-bred person quite as much as his manners; he can easily be distinguished from others by his sociable and courteous ways. In other words, manners not only react upon the character of a person but they are based upon the idea of consideration for others. As the settled medium of social life, in contrast to the coin in commercial life, they avoid needless fric¬ tion in social gatherings. In this respect they make friends for us. By them we are taught to be agreeable, appear well pleased with all company, and seem well entertained with them. The following quotation by Edmund Burke verifies this idea of good manners to quite an extent. Manners are of more importance than laws. Upon them, in a great measure, the laws depend. The law can touch us here and there, now and then. Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine, by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation, like that of the air we breathe in. They give their whole form and color to our lives. According to their quality, they aid morals, they supply them, or they totally destroy them. Ellen Root, ’ 40 . 20

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20 THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD HIGH SCHOOL NEWS SENIOR CLASS NOTES President ..... Bruno Seaha Vice-President .Ramon McCue Secretary .Margaret Rabbett Treasurer Irene Dagi k » Thirty-three Seniors enrolled in the Senior class in September, but later Raymond Antonacci, a Junior who had earned Senior rating, joined the Seniors, and thus the number increased to thirty-four. Shortly after the beginning of the fall term, a class meeting was held and the officers were elected. On October 7, at a class meeting, it was decided that we would sell Christmas cards. It was the first financial venture of the class. A sandwich sale was also held during the year, and a good profit resulted. On November 2, and on February 21, the Seniors held two socials. They proved unique and enjoyable, and also served the purpose of allowing the Freshmen to become better acquainted with the upper-classmen. On April 21, William McKenna, Edwin Malec, George Harvey, and Sigmund Bednarz were elected to the Athletic Council. This year the Seniors presented an operetta, Rose of the Danube,” on April 12, at the Rialto Theatre. Many of the members displayed excellent dramatic and musical ability. The chorus was composed, in addition to the Seniors, of members from the three under classes. It was very well received and a very good financial return realized. We wish to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to all members of the faculty, all pupils in the school, and all patrons, for helping to make this operetta such a great success. On April 21, the Senior Class voted to go to the New York World s Fair, instead of holding their traditional banquet and reception. This trip proved very educational and enjoyable to all. At the same meeting, we voted that caps and gowns would be worn at our Commencement exercises on June 15 . On June 6, the Seniors held their Class Night Program, at which time they presented the graduates as they might look in ten years ( 1949 ). Commencement exercises were held June 15 . Marjorie McCann, 39 . 22