Wisconsin School for the Deaf - Tattler Yearbook (Delavan, WI)

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Nineteen thirty-eight advantages of a small community. “Miss Lulu Bett,“ which was written in 1920, received the Pulitzer prize for that year. Mrs. Carrie Jacobs Bond, a native of a neighboring city. Janesville, Wisconsin, has become widely known as a son writer. When only a child, she loved music. It is said that she could play by ear any piece of music she had once heard. Her father. Dr. Jacobs, was a prominent and highly respected citizen of his community. Dr. Bond, her husband, was killed in an accident, leaving his wife with an infant son. The young mother's struggles were severe, but through her song. “A Perfect Day, which is sung all over the world, she attained success. Between five and six million copies of this song have been sold. In Janesville an inscribed boulder marks the birthplace of Mrs. Bond. Among Wisconsin’s poets no name is better known than that of Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Johnstown Center, which is but a few miles from Delavan, was her birthplace. When she was but a babe, the Wheeler family moved to Westport on the north side of Luke Mcndota, where she lived until her marriage to Robert Wilcox in 1848. In a story of her life, The World and I. she tells of her long years of struggle for fame and a livlihood there on the farm in a most unhappy environment With faith and ambition she worked on until her poems gradually brought her a fair income. Much of her work shows her genuine sympathy for suffering and sorrowing humanity, and much is of ethical value. Lucien Cary, whose father was once the Superintendent of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, is worhty of mention. Although he was born in Hamlin. Kansas, he spent most of his boyhood in Wisconsin. Before coming to the State School he lived in Milwaukee, where his father was on the faculty of the State Teachers’ College. Only one year he lived in Delavan as the family moved to Madison, following the appointment of his father to the State Superintendency of Schools. He received his education at the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Chicago. He taught English in Wabash College. Indiana. For a time he was on the staff of the Chicago Tribune and has been connected with Collier’s Weekly. Page twenty-one Most of his excellent literary work has been in the form of magazine articles. “The Duke Steps Out is one of his most popular stories. Great honors have come recently to August William Derleth of Sauk City, Wisconsin, adding to his literary fame. It was announced by the trustees of the John Guggenheim Memorial foundation at New York a short time ago that he is one of fifty eight scholars, artists and writers of this nation to receive a 1938 fellowship, which means that he is to receive two thousand and five hundred dollars as recognition of his unusual ability in creative art and research work. Derleth. though only twenty-eight years of age. has already written more than six hundred published books, poems, articles, and short stories. Sinclair Lewis, when he came to Milwaukee last fall, asked to meet him. Before the teacher body he complimented Derleth for his wonderful work, listing him among Wisconsin's five leading writers. Derleth intends to devote most of his time during the coming year to his Sac Prairie saga, a remarkable work of twenty five volumes, which will cover the history of a western city from 1850 to 1950. with the state of Wisconsin ns the background. Lewis quoted parts of Derleth’s “Still as a Summer Night” to show how beautiful his descriptions are and how helpful his ideas. I am going to conclude with just a few words about “On Wisconsin , one of the most stirring pieces of music ever written. It has led many a football and basketball team to victory throughout the state. Even the deaf have been inspired by its martial strains. During the World War it sent Wisconsin’s men fearlessly to the cannon’s mouth. The words were written by Carl Beck, and the music composed by William T. Purdy. Where is the Wisconsinite who is not aroused to greater loyalty by the following words: On Wisconsin! On Wisconsin! Grand old Badger State! We, thy loyal sons and daughters. Hail thee, good and great: On! Wisconsin! On Wisconsin! Champion of the right. Forward our motto. We will win the fight.

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Page twenty The Tattler Wisconsin Writers By LILLIAN ANDERSON THIS subject. Wisconsin Writers , has greatly interested me ever since I heard that Sinclair Lewis at the Teachers’ Convention in Milwaukee last fall said that Wisconsin had a large number of creditable authors. In my study of the subject 1 have discovered that Wisconsin has so many well-known writers that it will be impossible to mention half of them. It has been very difficult to make a choice. In our reading class we have frequently read stories by John Muir, whose one hundredth birthday is being celebrated this year. His stories of nature are most fascinating. He was born in Dunbar. Scotland, but spent his boyhood on a farm in Wisconsin near the Fox River twelve miles from Portage. While he was harvesting on his father’s farm, he would observe things that others didn’t see. At a late age he entered the University of Wisconsin. An amusing story is told of him while he was at the University. In his room was a contrivance which tilted his bed on end at a certain hour each morning to awaken him. This device is now in possession of the State Historical Society. Among his many books, the one that Wisconsin readers enjoy most is Story of my Boyhood and Youth.” Most of his other stories are of the West, for he became an adopted son of California. John Muir was also the first American conservationist. By the cleverness of his pen he begged for the segregation and preservation of National Parks and Forest Reserves. No one paid any attention to him until Theodore Roosevelt became president of the United States. Muir’s vision then resulted in a Federal Conservation policy which still exists. Every native of Wisconsin who is a nature lover should by all means read John Muir's “Story of my Boyhood and Youth. Besides stories by John Muir we have enjoyed in the class room some written by Hamlin Garland. His “Middle Border’’ stories are the best known. He not only has written fiction, but history, biography and poetry. However, his fame rests on his vivid portrayal of pioneer life in Wisconsin. The Middle Border” books will live on indefinitely. They rank as classics in the literary world. Hamlin Garland was born on a farm near New Salem, Wisconsin. September 16. 1860. After the Civil War the family moved to Iowa, where he completed his college course. After a few years of teaching in various places, he became a member of the faculty at the Boston School of Oratory. There he made the acquaintance of outstanding men. such as Oliver Wendell Holmes. Edward Everett Hale, and William Dean Howells. The thirty or forty volumes which he has written show how rich he is in ideas. A great many books that are among the best sellers” are soon forgotten, but this is not true of Garland's stories. Their valuable information will always be sought. Out of the city of Portage, Wisconsin, arose an author. Zona Gale, who will be remembered for her remarkable writings for years to come. Miss Gale attended the public schools of her native city and later was enrolled at Way-land Academy, which is in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. before entering the University of Wisconsin. At the age of seven, she printed and illustrated her first book of fiction. In high school she wrote a play. At an early age she received three prizes for producing the best stories and poems. After she was graduated from the University of Wisconsin, she was on the staff of a Milwaukee newspaper. Being very energetic, during her spare moments she wrote plays, loiter she went to New York, where she worked on the staff of the New York World. Finally, when she found that her work in the big city of New York engrossed all of her attention, she returned to the peaceful little city of her birth, where she could busy herself at the work she longed to do. Although Miss Gale is a writer by profession. she has always been enthusiastic over the social and economic advancement of Wisconsin. She has been a regent of the University of Wisconsin for a number of years. Life in a little town means so much to her that she shows in many of her stories the

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Page twenty-two Backward Glances The Tattler f’Ackward, turn backward, O. Time in thy Night, Turn back to September and bring into night Event that we’ve treasured; not one neemeth trite. The Junior Prom, the first one to be held in the new Assembly Hall, took place May sev-nth. The grape arbors with their huge bunches of purple and blue balloons for grapes gave the effect of a French vineyard. The dim lights lent enchantment. Splendid dance music was furnished by a six piece orchestra from the School for the Blind at Janesville. The girls in their pretty formals and the boys in their best” made the success of the affair complete. Instead of the usual Gymnasium Exhibition and Style Show a Vocational Exhibit was held this year April twenty third and twenty fourth. In booths at both ends of the Assembly Hall were displayed most attractively a great variety of useful and beautiful things, which had been made by the students in the industrial departments during the year. Even a shampoo and a manicure were going on in one booth. In connection with the exhibit the evening of the twenty third, a musical program was presented by the Glee Club and the Hand of the Delavan Public School. The Assembly Hall was practically filled. Approximately eight hundred people were in attendance. Doubtless the most thrilling event of the year was the Central States Basketball Tournament March fourth and fifth. Most of the upper grade pupils had the opportunity to see a good share of the games. The last night a large loyal and most enthusiastic crowd witnessed the victory by which our boys captured the championship of 1938. Through a benefit card party at the school it was made possible for our boys to participate in the National Tournament at New York City April ninth and tenth. The morning of their departure we gathered in front of Swiler Hall to wish them a safe and pleasant trip and above all to bring back the bacon. We are proud of the record they made. Two programs have been given in the Assembly Hall, the Patriotic Program February twenty second ami the Arbor Day Program on May tenth. At both, playlets and exorcises were presented, also declamations signed. Practically every class was represented. Numerous parties have been provided during the year for our enjoyment. Besides those on special occasions, such as Home-Coming. Hallowe'en. Thanksgiving, Christmas. New Year’s and Valentine’s Eve. there have been the monthly dances, which have been pleasant get-togethers and have afforded an opportunity for all to learn to dance. Many of the costumes at the Hallowe’en Masquerade showed originality and ingenuity. At the Tournament and Home-Coming parties it seemed good to see the faces of old friends, for many of the alumni had come back to their Alma Mater to boost for its team. Way back in the early Autumn before the leaves had all fallen—it was October twenty-third—the Home-Coming took place. In spite of the cold weather a good crowd attended the gume. Alumni poured in all morning and afternoon. It. was a joy to see old friends greet one another. We are looking forward to the return of the class of 1938 to next year’s Home-Coming. September seventh and eighth, which seems such a short time ago, saw us all coming in, bag and baggage, resolved to make the coming year the best one in our school lives.