Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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ears heard a faint souud at the door. Who could be out on such a night so late as this? Bravely she assured herself that it was only her fancy, no one was there. But her fears grew greater as the sound increased. Hastily laying down the baby she called out bold- ly, Who is there! The door opened to her challenge and a rough, ragged straggler from the army came in demanding food and money. Tremblingly she protested that she was poor and had no money but tluit she would gladly give him food. But even as she said it she glanced involuntarily at a tin box on the mantel- piece. The shrewd thief saw the glance and took note of it as he sat down before the rude table and watched the mother i ut some coarse bread and meat before him. He ate greedily, craftily watching the wom- an rocking the baby. Now and then he would glance out of the window as if in fear of something. After finishing his meal he warmed liimself at the fire taking in all the details of the room. Suddenly he rose to his feet and with an oath demanded money; faintly protesting she denied that she had any money but her eyes still clung to the box on the shelf. The man quickly grasped the box and broke it open finding the woman ' s small earnings and a war cross together witli some tear stained letters. Hastily taking the money he started to put the letters back in the box when a name on one of the letters caught his eye. Jean Gas- ton , he murmured, then turning fiercely uijon the woman, he demanded, Who is tliis Jean Gaston? The woman sobbed, My hus- band, she said, killed in the war. Once more he murmured, Jean Gaston, and a vision came before his eyes. The war swept battlefield lay in front of him, he heard the dull boom of the guns. He saw two still figures lying wounded on the battlefield. Again he saw one figure drag the other back to safety amid the bullets and horror. Once more he felt the overwhelming devotion for this man who had saved his life. These were his wife and child and he had come to rob them ! Horror stricken and trembling he put the money back in the box. Thank God he had not fallen so low as that! Stumbling he reached the door and the face of Jean Gaston seemed to look searchingly into his, wait- ing. For what you have done for me I will try to pay back to your wife and child. , came gaspingly from his pale lips and the face of Jean Gaston seemed to sliine with a great light. ELINOR PAETEIDGE, ' 24. THE BLUE BOY Everybody has at least heard of Gainsbor- ough ' s Blue Boy. Some people have been fortunate enough to see it. There has been much interest displayed in the famous pic- ture of late, as it has passed into the hands of an American and has been brought to the United States. Tlie picture is a portrait of Master Bur- rail, the son of a prosperous ironmonger of Solio, Loudon. Burrall retained it in his possession until 1796, when it passed into the hands of George, Prince of Wales. Since til en the portrait has had many owners and has passed from one collector to another. Gainsljorough painted the picture, accord- ing to rumor, in order to refute the theory of the academicians of the day, including Sir Joshua Reynolds, that a portrait with blue as the dominant color could not be made successfully. It is said that Gainsborough himself never tliought tlie painting would be of any value as a work of art. The portrait was sold last summer by the Duke of Westminster to Sir Joseph Du- veen and by him to Henry E. Huntington of California. The sale was effected last sum- mer and after its removal from Grosvenor House, the portrait was exhibited in the Na- tional Gallery, London. The picture arrived in America early in February. All sorts of precautions were tak- en with it, and the painting was guarded by two men from the Duveen Galleries of Lon- don from the time it left England until it arrived in America. The portrait traveled in a room by itself, and never was left alone. There have been at least two Blue Boys. Al out twenty years ago one was exliibited at the Copley Hall in Boston. It was called the Hearn picture and when sold brought the small sum of $38,000. The original Blue Boy , which authorities agree is the West- minster Blue Boy, ivas sold for $500,000. The original picture is on exhibition at the New York Art Museum at the present time. The price of admission is two dollars, and the money derived from tliis fee is to be given to charitable institutions. MADELINE GOULD, ' 22. 15

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whispered when they moaned in the wind. One day a man came to this little spot. Willi cautious and stealthy tread he passed down the path that only the furred and feathered creatures had known. He was not covered with the black glossy coat of the bear or the bright blue feathers of the blue bird, but stood as a bronze statue in the morning light, his only garments a loin-cloth of wampum. In his hand he carried a bow of ash, and his quiver made of deer skin was filled with arrows tipped with flint and winged with feather. His long black hair was bound by a beaded band, while a trophy from the king of the air, made him appear to be of great height. Thus he trod the path of the wild and knelt and drank from the sparkling ripjiles, while thanking Manito for his goodness to him in his long journey. The creatures knew no harm from the silent messenger of men, and watched him as he glided up the mountain trails away from their kingdom. But one day a white man l roke and blazed his way over the rocky trails, and again the little pool gave its goodness to man. Here the white stranger saw the beauty of this lit- tle spot, and thus that day was heard through the primeval forest, crashes never equalled by the thunder. The giants of the forest wailed their story to each other, for tliey too were strijiped of their branches. The creatures lieard the cries of the pines and saw the white man build his log cabin beside the little path near the little stream. And when they saw the gray smoke rising like a ghost into the sky, they knew their reign was over and Man was King of the Forest. FANNIE LOUISE GEEENE, ' 22. cently found in our neighboring town of Stoneham. It is said by the tamer of this fierce insect that it is entirely a ' one-man ' animal and may be approached only with danger by tliose not listed among its friends. Upon be- ing interviewed, its kee per who, by necessity, is a tall, strong example of humanity, said that an animal of this species could be tamed only by exercising the greatest courtesy and kindness towards it. Its feeding time is at 11.44 a. m., and when it is to be fed it must be approached so that the sun ' s rays will not fall upon its supersensitive greenish-brown back. The most noted peculiarity it has, however, is the remarkable faculty of taking long and extremely arduous journeys. Many times this amazing and astounding batrachian pro- digy lias astonished the most eminent local naturalists. All have heard of dogs, cats, or pigeons traversing great distances, but who has ever heard of a heretofore insignificant hop-toad thus gifted? Often, Teddy, as he is called lias been started forty or fifty miles from home and with hops ever increasing in length, has attained such a speed as to easily outdistance the fastest mud-turtles. Its athletic achievements also include the breaking of all existing indoor and outdoor sw ' imming records. Starting from a stand- still and gradually taking on a water cover- ing gallop, Teddy, will easily leave in the lurch all contestants and will not in the least abate his speed until a shrill whistle from his master calls him back. Volumes could be written on this Nomadic animal, but until he has reached the very peak of his attainments, this should not be attempted. ELIOT CLE]MONS, ' 24. TOADS There are toads and toads. Take, for in- stance, the Mexican horned toad which at first sight seems very ferocious but upon closer acquaintance, is found to have a very meek and gentle spirit. Then there is the croaking tree toad which has on its finger- like toes, full sets of vacuum cups as aids in tree climbing. Nature has almost wholly safeguarded this animal by giving it the use of ])rotective coloring. But the toad of which we arc to speak is the renowned Homing Toad, a famous, but seen-only-on-iiaper specimen which was re- THE SOUL OF A POILU The wind moaned and groaned in the high tree tops. Huge black clouds went scurry- ing across the grey sky and the silent snow was falling, covering the little village in Northern France with a soft blanket of downy white. Far out on the outskirts of tlie village a tiny light glimnvercd. Inside was a weary mother singing her sick child to sleep. The Great War had taken her lius- band and she and the baby boy were left alone to fight against tlio world. Softly crooning to her child her startled 14

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ATHLETICS BASEBALL On account of the Lad weather, baseball candidates were called out rather late this year. On April 9th Coach Dower issued the first call for candidates. About thirty-five men reported. Among these men were D. Talbot, Coughlin, Haggerty, G. Hall, Jazuka- wiz and Capt. Maroney — veterans from last year ' s team. With these men as a foundation Coach Dower hopes to build up a good team. After a week of practice the first cut was made and sixteen men were retained. Be- sides those mentioned above the following showed up well: B. Talbot, as a catcher, has all the ear marks of a comer; Malonson, a Sopliomore, showed up well at second base ; E. Hall and Corcoran are pitchers who are coming along well; Donovan, although rather small, has proven himself an outfielder and batter of merit; Grant, Mullen and Drugan are outfielders who, if they stick to it, sliould be heard from. On April 19th the first game was played against the W. H. S. Alumni. Coach Dower started the following men: Maroney, cateh; K. Hall, pitch ; Haggerty, 1st base ; Malonson, 2iul base; D. Talbot, short stop; Coughlin, 3rd base ; Jazukawiz, left field ; Corcoran, center field; G. Hall, right field. Mullen, Grant and D. Talbot pitched for two innings each, and Donovan was put in center field where he showed up well. E. Talbot caught tlie last half of the game and did good work. Tlie Alum 111 won tlie game 8-2. It was a great help to Coach Dower as it enabled him to get a better line on the material. The next game was with Reading High at tlioir grounds. Although Eeading got four runs in tlie ninth inning Wakefield won the game 5-4. In this game a change was made in the infield. Couglilin was shifted from 3rd to short. Maroney was taken from catch to play 3rd and E. Talbot took his place as catch. This was done to strengthen the pitching staff. D. Talbot, star short stop, is also a pitcher of exceptional merit. When not pitching, Talbot is to play in the outfield. Tlie next game was with Belmont at Bel- mont. This game we won 19-0. The team played errorless ball and collected many many hits. In a loosely played game with Brockton High at Brockton, Wakefield was defeated 9-3. Talbot pitched fine ball but Ills support was ragged. Wakefield out-hit Brockton but tlie many errors threw away the game. lu this game Donovan collected two hits in as many times at bat. In our first Mystic A alley League game we defeated Arlington 6-1 on the park. D. Tal- bot pitched a no-hit, no-run game up to the ninth inning when a lucky fly was hit back of the third base. This was the only Arling- ton hit. Together with errors, it accounted for Arlington ' s lone tally. Donovan again turned in a stellar perfornvance. His run- ning catch in center field stopped what might liave been a home run. He got one hit, was passed twice, and scored three runs. In this game the Avhole team played well and showed what it could do. The team showed excep- tional hitting i)0wcr and a spirit that is not to bo denied. The fielding was good and the base running was of a high standard. The wliole team is playing nice, and should win many games. Dan Talbot and Pot Hall should twirl to many a victory with Eddie Talbot on the receiving end. The Talbot brothers are a very good battery, and sliould bring credit upon themselves and tlie school. At first base Haggerty is stopping everything, and few throws get by him. Malonson, at the middle sack, is a hard worker, and with a little more experience, should be a star. Coughlin at short and Capt. Maroney at third are exhiliiting the kind of baseball that only they can show. Tlie out- fielders are all good. Donovan in center field is a sensatioj). He pulls down all sorts of 16