Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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14 THE MAGNET ing has its merits. The boy or girl who has but little physical labor needs something to work each muscle and ligament, or, by chance, they may be- come unusable from unuse. Outdoor sports are the ones I most approve of, for the interest stimulated in them brings crowds of people out into the open air. Yes, spirit is good. It works the mind and creates unity in a school. But there is another side to the question. Exercise of the brain is quite as necessary as that of the body. Spirit is only too eager to drag us away from books and study. Then, totally absorbed in the development of the body, we forget that the mind is not growing proportionately. At first glance this may appear a difficult objection to our athletics and our school spirit. But on further investigation we find an easy answer: let there be athletics and spirit in sufficiency, but not in excess; let development of the mind be co-ordinated with, not subordinated to, development of the body; athletics are great, grand and noble, only, let there be some limitation. A Goblin Heroine T had been a beautiful afternoon in October. The western sky was color- ] ing red and gold to match the color of the leaves. The sun was linger- ing in the sky as if it hated to sink behind the beautiful horizon. Two sisters sat by the window studying, or rather trying to, for their minds would keep wandering out into the beautiful afternoon. Suddenly, Ella, the oldest sister, said, ‘‘ Marguerite, tomorrow, is Hallowe’en, and we haven’t even planned who is to come to our party.” “That is so!” echoed the other sister, coming suddenly out of a reverie. “Well, let us plan who is to come, first. I will write a list of names; you do the same,” said Ella. Soon the names were ready and they exchanged papers. Marguerite read on until she came to one name. She exclaimed, ‘‘ Why, Ella, do you mean to invite Grace Alden, a crippled child of twelve years, to our party?” “Why not?” was the reply; “she will be so happy. Please let her come.’ ‘She could not wear sheets or carry a Jack o’ lantern. If we were chased she could not run, either.’’ Ella sat thoughtful for a moment and then said, ‘She need not wear a sheet, and I will be careful of her. We will go to our club and see what they say about it.” So off they went to their club, where a meeting was called. Ella, be- ing president, addressed the girls. She told them her plan and asked their advice about Grace. The vote was that Grace should come. Ella started out early the next morning to invite her. She gathered some colored leaves

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THE MAGNET 13 talking in an excited manner. On their hats were what he thought pecu- liar colored ribbons, and he wondered what they were for. He called one of the boys to him and asked in the best English he knew (his father had taught him a little) what the bands were for. In a proud tone, the boy said, “Those are blue and white ribbons which represent the Leominster igh School.” To this the Chinaman replied, ‘“ Me likee to go to the schoolee.”’ This made his new companion laugh, which attracted the attention of the rest of the boys. They walked up to the Chinese boy and asked him sO many questions that he got mixed in answering. At this point of his dream, he was awaked by being hit by something. He found himself not in China, but in the very place he had been dreaming about. He was fastened to the string of his kite, and on one of his fingers he saw a piece of paper with some Chinese writing on it. This is what it said: “ We tied you to your kite string, and fastened six other kites to yours, and let you go. (Signed) Enemies.” Then it was that he remembered that there were a bunch of boys who were deadly enemies to him. He had escaped death from the Pacific by being held up by his seven kites. MILTON PRUE, ‘14. Athletics in Public Schools SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE SPECTATOR BEFORE PUPILS AND TEACHERS OF L. H. S. DATE ANONYMOUS. rumor running quickly about the audience. One after another you smiled and nodded in greeting, and this is what the rumor said: “Sh, beware, he is silence and observation personified.” Now, I did not come here with the intent of inspiring such terror, but I might suggest to the boys in the left balcony that they be on their good behavior lest I be pro- voked to write a treatise on manners in the presence of speech-makers. But I am not a speech-maker; rather let me inform you, teachers and pupils of the Leominster High School, that you are the first, possibly the last, to be honored by an oration from the silent gentleman. The subject, though not of my own choice, is one in which I am highly interested, “ Athletics in Public Schools.” . - You are, | feel, all deeply interested in this subject, as some spirit has been aroused, I am told, by your efficient gymnastic teacher and coach. He has probably already told you that athletics in every form are beneficial to health. I repeat it. It is for that very thing they have been created. Hence in no form are they without bearing on the subject, and even box- A I just now mounted the platform, I seemed to catch a glimpse of a

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—— THE MAGNET 15 for her on the way. Ella timidly knocked at the door of the little cottage. A tall woman came, with outstretched hands, to meet her. Ella gave the leaves to Grace. Then she asked Mrs. Alden if Grace might come. The mother thought Grace was not strong enough. But both girls pleaded, and Ella promised she would take care of her, so Mrs. Alden consented. Poor little Grace was in an ecstasy of joy, because Ella Martin, the president of the Girls’ Club,” had invited her to a Hallowe’en party. She could hardly wait for night to come, but it did come at last, for “ the long- est day has a night.” The Goblins assembled in a barn which they had hired. They were having refreshments in the“hay-loft, when the cry of fire arose. Some one had forgotten to put out their candle, and it had set the dry hay on fire. There was one moment of silence. Then all the Goblins rushed for the lad- der. The girls helped Grace out. They were all out safely, when some one said, ‘Where is Ella Martin?” By this time a good-sized crowd was at the scene. Mrs. Martin had Marguerite, but Ella was missing. Little Grace was standing white and trembling when, as if moved by magic, she made one spring for the ladder. She pulled herself up by her hands to the door, She caught hold of Ella’s hand, and dragged her over to the ladder. Ella’s father sprang up the lad- der, and brought the girls down to two frightened mothers. Ella was over the shock soon, but poor little Grace was in bed for a Jong while. She was happy, though, for every one loved her now, instead of shunning her be- cause she couldn’t walk like the rest of the girls. Marguerite and Ella came every day with their arms laden with roses. Ever after that Marguerite never thought of having an entertainment | or party without having the “ Goblia Heroine” present. oo eee oO eee” or ETHEL M. Ryan, ’I5. Charlie (at a children’s party): Now I am going to do a clever con- juring trick, and I want three plums and three hats. The plums and the hats being provided, he proceeded to eat up the three plums. Now,” he said, “under which hat would you like to see these plums?” The particular hat being indicated, he placed it on his head. “Only fools are certain, Tommy; wise men hesitate.” “ Are you sure, uncle?” “Yes, my boy; certain of it.”