Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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 x x QUINCY HI ENGLISH DEPARTMENT CONDUCTS POETRY READING CONTEST At the instigation of the English department, a poetry reading con- test is being conducted in which every member of the school is par- ticipating. By a system of elimin- ation in the English classes, two members of each class will compete in the finals until the ultimate vic- tor is determined. Poetry reading may be a form of hobby and if so, it is apt to become a valuable asset in the competitions. Through this contest, all our high school has be- come poetically minded, and poetry reading has become one of the most important factors of this school year. EDDIE MORRIS INTERPRETS WIG-WAG CODE Our own local Eddie Morris, famous football announcer and sig- naller for the Harvard football score board, gave before the upper classmen his routine of arm flings and ballet kicks, found so intrigu- ing by thousands of rooters at the big games in the Harvard Stadium. Mr. Morris explained his rea- sons for inventing such a system of wig-wags. Being a member of the Harvard A. A., and realizing the need for a fast and accurate meth- od of transferring information from the field to the closely-watched scoreboard, he set about devising a clear and easy method of signalling, in order that the recipient at the board could have the news flashed on front before the next play should take place. Donning his famous red coat- sweater and white hat, Mr. Morris gave a demonstration of his wig- wag code which consisted of the in- terpretation, by using arms and legs, of the letters of the alphabet, numbers up to ten, a signal for each position on the team, each pen- alty, and a number of miscellane- ous plays. The program was most interest- ing and many of his football side lights drew laughs. He was soundly applauded and his performance will be remembered by us whenever football is mentioned. MR. HART IMPERSONATES GEORGE WASHINGTON Mr. Lawrence Hart, nephew of the author of our own well-known history reference books, presented before the assembled school an im- personation of George Washington. He gained his knowledge by dig- ging deeper than most people into the archives of history so well written by his uncle. Mr. Hart ex- plained that his gestures and tone of voice were as near to those of George Washington as one could determine, judging from old re- cords. Mr. Hart, dressed in a perfect replica of George Washington’s clothing, was interrogated by his wife, Mrs. Hart. The course of his impersonation was very interest- ing and held the attention of even the sophs. It was different from most tales of George Washington in that the unknown and most liked moods of our first president were brought out. It was very im- pressive as he portrayed the humor or seriousness of the father of our country. The program closed after Mr. Hart had answered a few questions put to him by pupils and told some humorous stories of his experi- ences in other schools. THALIA CLUB HEARS SPEAKERS The Thalia Club, with Miss Howe in charge, is made up of the junior and senior girls of the school who maintain honor grades in all their subjects. Although a great number of girls apply for membership, only thirty may belong. At a recent meeting, Miss Marr told of her work in connection with the Grenfell Mission, which is car- ried on in Labrador and northern Newfoundland. Miss Mair’s talk on this unusual subject proved to be most fascinating to the listeners. At another meeting, two alumnae of the club, Nancy Follett and Mar- jorie Hill, who are now attending the New England Conservatory of Music and Mount Holyhoke College respectively, spoke to the girls about “College Life and the Bene- fits Derived from Going to Col- lege.” The club members enjoyed hearing these speakers, espcially since most of them intend to go to college. GIRLS CLUB HAS TWO HUNDRED MEMBERS The Girls Club, open to all junior and senior girls, is certainly ever- popular. The membership reached the two-hundred mark the first semester. The club has met with the North High Girls Club several times and also with the Hi-Y Club at the Y. M. C. A. At their regular meetings, there have been several speakers including Omer Morin, a sopho- more, who spoke on “Astronomy”, Miss Dawes, Miss Call, and Miss Browne, who spoke on “The Dif- ferences between English and American Schools,” “The Planeta- rium at the World’s Fair,” and “The Other Wiseman,” respectively. At Thanksgiving, the club spon- sored a drive for the collection of canned foods. During the Christ- mas season, they gave a Christ- mas party for small children, dec- orated the school, and sent sprigs of holly to the faculty. At one of the joint meetings with the North girls at our school, a stylist from Boston spoke on clothes and color harmony. For the spring, several interest- ing programs are being planned by the executive committee, the offi- cers, and the faculty advisers, Miss Wheeler and Miss Wakeman. DO YOU ENJOY DEBATING? One of the most active clubs in the school this year is the Debating Club, under the leadership of Mr. Lee and Mr. Noyes. Various teach- ers, as well as club members, act as judges. They have been fortunate in having as speakers, Mr. Paul Rear- don, who gave a graphic account of his experiences in debating, and Mr. Thomas Burgin, member of the Quincy City Council, who spoke on “Parliamentary Law.” Each member of the club is given a chance to debate and each may choose a question for a subject. It is interesting to note that one of the questions of this year was: “Resolved: Football Is Overempha- sized in Quincy High.” The affir- mative won. In the last few months, the club has become well acquainted with parliamentary law and impromptu speaking. The Debating Club invites you to become one of its members.

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THE KING OF HOBBIES Stories About Stamps by an Alumnus Who Turned His Hobby Into a Business By Stephen Follett TAMP collecting is the “King of Hobbies”; it is enjoyed by more people than any other pastime. In Quincy alone over 10,000 boys and girls, men and women collect stamps. There is a fascination about these colored bits of paper, every one of them telling a story, portraying battles and peace treaties; countries and rulers; jungles, plains, and mountains; humble folk and people of art, science, and literature. One stamp may commemorate the trip of the Russian balloonists into the stratosphere, another the art of Beethoven, and another the Century of Progress Exposition. Every issue of stamps has an interesting origin. Take, for example, the stamps of Haiti, bearing the over-prints of gourds. When Henri-Chris- tophe, the negro emperor (whose life suggested “Emperor Jones”) found he had no gold in the treasury, he sent his soldiers out to gather all the gourds growing in Haiti. As gourds are a necessity there, the people com- plained, but Emperor Henri said, “Bring me coffee and sugar and buy back your gourds!” This the people did, enabling the emperor to sell a large supply of coffee and sugar to England for gold. That is why Haitian money is called a “gourde.” Stamps may sometimes sway public opinion. Before the Panama Canal was built, many wanted the canal route to go through Nicaragua, but the enemies of the Nicaragua route pointed out that it would be in constant danger of destruction from active volcanoes. A French engineer, Philippe Bunauvarillia, mailed every member of the United States Senate, which was about to vote on the canal, a letter bearing a stamp showing the smok- ing volcano of Mount Monotombo. The Panama route was chosen by a margin of four votes! Stamps as an investment are good if you learn when and what to buy. In 1925 the Norse-American five cent stamps sold at five dollars a hundred. Now they retail at forty-three dollars, a profit of thirty-eight dollars on a five dollar investment. A flaw in the design or in the printing sometimes gives value to certain stamps. In 1924 a man went into a post office to buy a twenty-four cent air mail stamp. Noticing that the air plane was inverted, he bought a hundred [Continued on page 28]

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GH LIGHTS XXX COUNCIL MEMBERS ATTEND CONVENTION The Student Council, under the guidance of Miss Wakeman and Mr. Noyes, is becoming more and more active. The council is limited to twelve members, seven repre- sentatives from the senior class, three from the junior, and two from the sophomore. Florence Kent is president and Elizabeth Sweeney is Secretary-Treasurer. Problems undertaken by the Council this year have been the sale of Brockton pins, sale of sea- son tickets, Open-House Night, ap- pointment of cafeteria marshalls, and Valentine Matinee Dance. Recently three delegates, Jimmy Wilson, Elizabeth Sweeney, and Miriam Mattson were sent from the Council to the Convention of the Associated Body of Student Coun- cils, held at Springfield. Much valu- able information about the activ- ities of councils and clubs in other schools was acquired and it is hoped that some of the ideas may serve to develop our own Council into a more active and helpful or- ganization. MANY MUSICAL ACTIVITIES PLANNED The Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs are now having rehearsals for the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, “The Gondoliers.” It is to be presented May 9. The main leads are: The Duchess—Helen Trescott; Casilda —Fay Loring; Gianetta—Mary Coletti; Tessa—Irene Roberge; The Duke—John Caporale; Marco—Al- fred Starett; Guiseppi—Sylvester Carosi; and Luiz—George Murch. The Senior Orchestra and Band are preparing for the Massachu- setts State Festival of Orchestras and Bands, to be held on April 28. The contest numbers for the band this year are, “The Barber of Se- ville,” by Rossini and the “Turan- dot Overture”, by Lachner. The orchestra is preparing Brahm’s “Fifth Hungarian Dance” and “The Angelus” by Henry Hadley. An instrumental quartette has been organized this year under the direction of Mrs. Berthold. It in- cludes Anthony Battista—violin; Sylvia Knuttenan—’cello; Selma Whitehead—flute; and Rita Arsen- ault—piano. FACULTY REVEALS VARIED INTERESTS SENIORS TO PRESENT “SKIDDING” The famous Quincy High School coach, Mr. Franklin B. Mitchell, has once again taken in hand the actors and actresses of the gradu- ating class, in preparation for their play. The production, which is to be presented on the evening of April 13, is “Skidding”, a comedy in three acts by Aurania Rouveral. The cast is as follows: Aunt Milly—Louise Connors; Mrs. Hardy —Erna Koss; Estelle Hardy Camp- bell—Evelyn Gustafson; Marion Hardy—Natalie McCormack; Myra Hardy Wilcox—Pauline Wheble; Andy—Richard Cooke; Judge Hardy—George Reardon; Grandpa Hardy—James Joss; Wayne Tren- ton III—Alfred Peterson; Mr. Stubbins—Lawrence Fitzgerald. VALENTINE DANCE A SUCCESS The first matinee dance held this year was the Valentine Dance, an informal affair under the auspices of the Student Council. There were many who enjoyed tripping the light fantastic (if such might be termed the modem dancing) and socially and financially it scored a big hit. J’34 HOLDS SPRING DANCE On the evening of March 16, in a gym attractively decorated with blue and white lanterns and streamers and posters of athletic- ally-minded people partaking in spring sports, one of the best spring dances ever held in Q. H. S. was sponsored by the J’34 class. Under the soft lights, to the sweet music of a ten piece orchestra, (which, by the way, was good,) about three hundred students danced the evening away. The decorations were in charge of Miss McCarthy of the faculty, and Louise Connors. Dick Purring- ton took charge of the tickets and Pauline Wheble assisted Miss Lewis with the refreshments. Cooking, Sports, Astronomy, Included Our distinguished teachers’ spare time is not, as many would have us paring tests. Many have collec- believe, spent in correcting or pre- tions, such as Mr. Lyon’s rocks and Miss Browne’s old etchings. And have you seen Mr. Wilson’s min- erals? Miss Clark, Miss Nevens, Miss Galleher, and Mr. Noyes are all devotees of music. Miss Berry s favorite past-time is reading. Miss Shaw makes a collection of pic- tures of the interiors and exteriors of cathedrals and w'hen travelling she plans to see as many as pos- sible. Miss Zeller is fond « walk- ing “in any country”. Miss Wheeler plans trips and then enjoys taking her outlined excursion. Miss Gou- dey’s hobby turns to the briny deep—she must be an excellent fisherwoman for as proof of this astounding fact she has two sharks teeth in her desk. Here are some of the favonte pastimes: Miss Dawes—knitting Miss Lantz—block printing and hand crafts Miss Giles—landscape gardening Miss Kambour—cooking Miss Baker—drawing Miss Burns—automobiling Miss Carville—contemporary the- Mr. Knapton—driving “fast” Mr. Collins—fishing Miss McCarthy—tennis Miss Magraw—outdoor sports Miss Marr—music,flowers,diving. Mr. Lyon—model ship building Mr. Hudson—radio and sports And here are pursuers of the same hobby: Miss Call and Mr. Thomas— astronomy Mr. Wilson and Miss McHardy— contract bridge Mr. Lee and Miss Tikkanen— stamps . Miss Dawes and Miss Walsh— photography . Miss Howe and Miss Kitchen— mountain climbing Miss McCarthy, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Lee—bowling