Natick High School - Sassamon Yearbook (Natick, MA)

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10 THE SASSAMON The next thing to claim our attention was the Junior Prom. This resulted in the greatest social success. of our High School life and it still retains a cherished place in our memories. Although it was more formal than other years and the gathering much smaller our treasury was enlarged considerably. The reason for the introducing of a formal Prom was, that the year before, on account of the large attendance, the floor became rather weak, and Mr. Archibald gave us to understand that he was not going to grow a crop of grey hairs worrying that the floor might cave in. Everyone present enjoyed the evening and the weaker sex was escorted home by many of the gentlemen present. This concluded the achievements of our Junior year. The next year we attained the great height to which we had been looking forward to. We were now Seniors, the zenith of our High School career. High and mighty were we in the eyes of our under- classmates. We held our first class meeting in October and the same officers who had served during our Junior year were elected to serve a second term. The records of the class of '26 should be carved into the pages of Natick High School's history. Both in the classroom and on the athletic field, fine records have been established. We are al- ways striving to increase in scholarship as well as in athletic ability and toward this end the class of '26 has more than contributed its share. Ted Dumas led a fine group of chargers upon the gridiron, Viney Harriott possessed an excellent band of sluggers upon the diamond, and Vera Swenson, a fine quintet of girls upon the basket- ball floor. The Senior Play, Clarence, was a huge success, thanks to the competent students who put it over. Basil Decker was the hero and Dorris Ambler, the heroine. We must not forget Dot Damon, in that wonderful sobbing act, Mary Hogan's manipulation of the broom, nor Mahlon Bragdon's makeup. The pl-ay was given two nights, in- stead of the usual one. It might be well to mention here that the chest expansion of the Seniors was considerably enlarged for several weeks after. June 23, 1926, will be a long remembered date for every member of this class. Upon that night the dignified Senior strutted forth and received that precious little document which is commonly known as a sheepskin or more technically termed a diploma, for which he has struggled for, for four long years. And so the history of the class of 1926 ends in so far as we are concerned with the classroom itself, but with the ideals and spirit which Natick High School has set before us, we feel that the history of the class of 1926 does not end here, but will go forth into the world, striving for the highest things of life and giving the best that is in us. CHARLES H. BRADY

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CLASS HISTORY It has been stated by Carlyle, the great English philosopher, that Histories are as perfect as the historian is wise , therefore, dear friends, prepare yourselves for whatever mistakes may occur in the following narration: Ever onward, ever upward has been the goal to which we have pointed the prow of our good ship '26 i. Our voyage is now over. At times the way was rough and uncertain, but now, with every diffi- culty overcome, we have attained the object of that struggle and find it more brilliant and full of promise than we could have imagined. The history of our four eventful years in High School is, no doubt, in many respects like that of other senior classes. When we entered Natick High School, in September, 1922, the event was a great one for alll of us. As Freshmen it promised to be a 'novel experience for us and we entered it with high and lofty ideas. How differently we felt four years ago than we do today, It seemed as though we would never become acquainted with the many rooms, halls and stairs. We regarded our upper-classmen with awe, and won- dered how they could be so unconcerned about where they were to go and what subjects they were to take. It seemed that we would take forever to reach that height, but, I presume, that we were no more out of the ordinary than any other group of green freshmen. Of course, we freshmen thought ourselves quite fine, but I must say, recalling some of the incidents of initiation, that this fine feeling was soon taken out of us by some of our upper-classmen. Our freshman year we made no progress toward class organization. Our main task that year was to become acquainted with both faculty and the new school routine, to steer clear' of the D's and to keep an ever vvatchful eye for any suspicious moves of our upper-classmen. Thus we passed from Freshman to Sophomore. Our Sophomore year we made some progress toward class organization. We held our first class meeting in November and elected Alfred Dumas, as president, Dorothy Blanchard, as vice-president, and William Hopf, as treasurer. Although we organized as a class, nothing of note was accomplished, but you must not lose sight of the fact that we had now attained the great height of a Sophomore and were no longer in that unappreciated class, which we had just left behind. When our Junior year came along, everyone in the class was eager to do his share toward making it a success. This year we made rapid steps toward class organization. We held our first class-meeting in October and placed Walter Kelley on the throne, as presidentg Vera Swenson, as vice-president, Edward Connolly, as treasurer, and Irene Shea, as secretary.

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BUYS' PROPI-IECY I will be frank with you, fellow-classmates, and will tell you I have been, as far back as I can remember, an addict to somnia. The sooner you recognize the fact, the better it will be for both of us. I am going to tell you of one of my experiences. One warm summer afternoon, as I was swinging in my hammock, gazing over the landscape, which was bathed in the radiance of the sun, I was just about to fall asleep when something like the reflection of the sun in a mirror attracted my attention. I arose and discovered that the light seemed to come from a. neighboring hill. As I had nothing to do, I decided to find out the cause of this disturbance. After I emerged from some dense bushes and reached the top of the hill, what should I find to be the light, but Redi' Kelly's flaming red hair. He was seated before an easel painting the beautiful land- scape. Beside him, on the ground, was my old friend, Vic Rogers, chewing a piece of grass. On Red's left was Joe Bianchi, whittl- ing a birch stick. Waal, said Vic, that's purty good, 'Red.' Yep, drawled Joe, could hardly do better'n 'at myself. At this moment Red noticed me and after shaking hands he started asking me about myself and the town of Melville, on the Hud- son, where I lived. I told him that most everyone out there was famous, except Henry Swenson, who was Mayor, and Frank Balzarini, who was Postmaster. Red then invited me up to his studio, in New York, for the week-end. I was charmed with this kind invitation and told him I was delighted to accept it. So I left the boys and started toward the center of the town. On my way I was surprised to meet Percy Morrill, who was a traveling salesman for the National Clothes- pin Company, and also Ted Dumas, who was now a singing teacher at the Melville High School. About two o'clock, the following afternoon, I reached Red's studio and Paul Fitz came to the door and ushered me in. Red was busy painting a picture of Billie Hopf, who was posing as Apollo. Immediately, however, he put away his paints and suggested that we go on a sightseeing tour, since I had never been in New York before. There was a large hotel opposite Red's studio, which was owned by Edward Bransfield. We went in and who should I see sweeping the floor, but Brendon Graham. Stopping at the hotel were many of my High School classmates. After talking with Arthur Moran I found he was selling Fuller brushes. Arthur told us that Walter Kelly was working in the New York Commercial Bank, as teller. His duty was to tell the people where to wipe their feet when they entered. In the same institution was Mahlon Bragdon, who was the Draft Clerk,-he opened and shut the windows.