Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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THE INTERIOR OF AN ICEBERG 1 stood by the ship ' s rail and watched the much-talked of iceberg floating majestically on the sea. Gradually, a strange longing came r.ver me that I could not understand. T stretched out my arms to the berg and closed my eyes. Suddenly, I felt myself being lifted up; going through space. There was a mo- ment of intense cold and then I opened by eves, looked around in a dazed sort of way, and found myself in a glistening palace of ice. Somehow, my longing left me. 1 knew, in- distinctly, that I was inside an iceberg. Why and how 1 had come was more than I cared to think. 1 was (here, and that was sufficient. Slowly my senses returned and I began to lake more notice of my surroundings. I was in a comer of a large room made entirely of ice. The room was vacant except for one thing, and this one thing led me to believe T was in the throne room of some monarch. At the opposite end from where 1 lay, was a dais on which stood a large chair, and over this was a canopy. These also were made of ice. On the chair was a white skin or fur, but the thing that surprised me most, was that in spite of all this ice, the room was very com- fortable. About halfway between me and what I termed the throne, was a door. This opened into a passageway, but more I could not see. I was about to go and investigate, when the sound of a voice came to my ears. It was di- rectly outside the door and I wondered who could be speaking, but I lay still and lis- tened. This is what 1 heard: The queen is exceedingly angry today be- cause one of the Seven Mirrors in her draw- ing room was mysteriously cracked this morn- ing. You know the old legend, of course ' No, what is it ? asked a second voice. Why I thought everyone knew that, re- turned the first voice. I don ' t know how long it has been since the Seven Mirrors were put in the Imperial Drawing Room, but prob- ably hundreds of years. Anyway, at that time, so the story goes, a queer personage made its appearance before the queen and ann ounced that when one of the Seven was broken, or even cracked, a mortal from beyond the ice would come into our citadel. Think of it, a mortal! And Her Majesty is much worried for fear of the mortal ' s appearance. But silence! Here comes the royal procession, and the voices ceased. I began to be a bit worried myself, for if my coming had been hailed in this way, what would be the outcome of it all? I was not given much time to ponder on the matter, however, for just then a procession of fairy- like creatures, all clothed in white, entered the room and went toward the throne. Be- hind them came the most exquisite creature I had ever seen. She, like the others, was robed in white. Her long golden hair fell nearly to her waist and was caught back at her temples by a little band of diamonds. Her beautiful face wore a worried expression and her large dark eyes had a hunted look in them. Behind her were more of her attend- ants. She mounted tHe throne and the at- tendants grouped themselves about her. Oh, what shall I do, she wailed. If this mortal be big and strong he will take us from our icy home, lias anyone ever been in the world . ' Speak! What is it like? But no one answered her. They had not been in the outside world. I had lain unnoticed in my corner, but now 1 rose and walked toward the queen and her attendants. She uttered a shriek and nearly swooned. I reassured her, however. Madame, I beg of you, do not be fright- ened. I would not harm you for all the world. Are — you — a — mortal? she faltered. I have that honor, I answered. And you don ' t want to make war on us? Not in the least. All I desire is to see your palace. Gladly, she said, will I myself show you about. Then she and her attendants took me through a perfect labyrinth of passages and rooms all of that same dazzling crystal. Do you never tire of this? I asked. Certainly not, she answered. Of what is there to tin ' . ' Then I explained to her about the outside world and how this brilliant ice made my eyes ache. Then to my surprise she took one of the diamonds from her hair and gave it to me. To remember our palace, she said. Suddenly that strange feeling I had expe- rienced before came over me again and in- voluntarily I closed my eyes. There was that same moment of intense cold, and I opened my eyes to find myself once more on the ship ' s deck. But I had not been dreaming for in my hand I held that priceless jewel, the diamond from the glorious ice-queen ' s hair. EMILY SMITH, ' 25. 11

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bottom of my depths. Then I reign supreme and am unconquered ! MARY GOODALE, ' 123. A WINTER ' S NIGHT It was one of those nights in the middle of winter, bleak and cold, with the wind whis- tling through the tree tops anil around the corners of buildings, carrying with it clouds of snow. Far above, millions upon millions of little stars shone like a mighty shower of sparks in the sky, while below as far as the eye could see into the inky blackness, there was nothing but an expanse of monotonous snow, piled high in little mountains, which are called drifts. Upon this particular night, there was a man sitting inside a shanty on the 15. M. Railroad. He was huddled up close to the little stove, which was doing its work valiantly enough, that of giving forth heat. There, in the gloom, the shadow that played on his face, lighted by a single lantern made it appear grim and hard, which in turn made him seem a part of the cold outside from which he was separated only by four wooden walls. He was not staying there because he wished it, — much rather would he have been at home, idling by the fireside with his wife and chil- dren, — but because a train which was due ten hours ago, had not yet arrived. Word had been sent over the wire that a snow plow would come through any minute, — that was two hours rjrevious, — and he was lis- tening silently, intently, for that faint rumble which would tell him of its approach, but all he heard was the wind, lie was looking for the reflection of its head-light ; but all he saw was snow. Suddenly, above the howling of that wind, came the weird shriek of a. locomotive whistle. Up he jumped, grabbed his lantern and out- side he dashed to see the wonderful sight which was to repay him for all his waiting. Far down the track a huge dark monster seemed to crawl out of the curve, closed in on both sides by two high slopes. Nearer and nearer it drew, past the first switehlight, past the second, growing darker and more monstrous witli every foot. Finally, it came upon him, that vast snow-plow, looming up like an enormous giant as it thundered by, hurling snow high into the air far and wide, completely dovering the man, and nearly taking him off his feet. Then it was gone, receding into that black- ness out of which it had just come. Where there had once been much snow, there were now two shining rails; and then, as the snow- plow rumbled into nothingness, and the wind died to a whisper, the moon, peeking over the tall pines, lighted up the whole world, and everything was soft and still. PAUL F. CLARKE, ' 23. SAVE THE FORESTS AND PLANT TREES A most urgent plea is being made by the Forestry Department of this country for a national conservation of our forests and for tree planting. Mr. Charles Pack and Senator Harrison of Mississippi are two men active in this department. They have recently pub- lished the following startling statistics: It is estimated that five million acres of forests in the United States arc cut, and ten million acres are burned annually; just twice as much -destroyed, as there is used. It is estimated that in this country there are four hundred and sixty million acres of forest land, and that already seventy per cent of it has been logged of its best timber. It has also been found out that seventeen and one-half per cent of our forest area, or in other words about eighty-one million acres, has been stripped of its saleable timber, burned over, and is lying practically idle, being known as unproductive land. At this present rate and under the present policy, it will be only a few years until the supply of timber in this once wooded country will be ex- hausted and our home builders and indus- tries will be compelled to go to Siberia and South America for their supply of timber. The only way to check this wicked destruc- tion of trees is to conserve the forests, and to save them from tire; to protect them from all injurious insects, and to replant with the best stock the once wooded areas, now laid waste. It is equally important to educate the people to the facts which now exist and also to en- courage the planting of shade and fruit trees. The planting of family orchards, which was always ■■ custom of the old New England in- habitants, has in the last ton or fifteen years seemed to lose its place as a part of a household. The people of the United States must be roused to the situation that our country must be kept r icli in its supply of timber, not onh I ' m- the people of the twentieth century, but also for the coming generations. ARTHUR NEWOOMB, 24. 10

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ECONOMIC CONDITIONS The economic conditions of this country will be bettered this year. During the recent pe- riod of depression, business conditions went to about one hundred and fifty points below normal and now they are about fifteen points above and climbing. Whenever business con- ditions go either above or below normal, there is a reaction ; the more acute the prosperity or the depression, the greater the reaction. About all lines of business have shown im- provement, the only thing holding back pros- perity being the coal strike. There is a large consumption of goods and a corresponding increase in production. The borrowing of money has increased, and this, by the way, is one of the reasons for artificia l prosperity Business men, especially in new businesses, borrow money and list it as cash on hand or an asset when it really should be a liabil- ity. This period of prosperity will probably last for several years, but is sure to lie followed by a reaction or a period of depression. This must be guarded against. WESLEY W. PHINNEY, ' 23. HOW IS THE MATERIAL CHOSEN FOR THE DEBATER ? Many persons wonder how the material which is found in the Debater is acquired. It is compulsory in the Senior Class that eve.ry member write sojnething for their school paper. Why not? It is only fair that each individual do his part toward making his paper a success, since the Debater is edited by the Senior Class. The Seniors, however, are greatly aided by the other three classes. A certain day called Debater Day, is set aside by the English Department as the day on which material may be passed in for the Debater . Each divi- sion appoints a division editor, and to him go the papers of his division. He chooses what he believes to be the best, and these are grouped with the best from the other divi- sions. Then all the papers are passed to the editor-in-chief, who selects the best for the Debater . MILDRED FOLEY, ' 23. ness, is melting the snow and making it drip from the houses and trees. Now and then is heard the sound of cracking as the huge ici- cles that have been hanging from the roofs, begin to melt and fall to the ground. Huge piles of snow that have collected on roofs be- gin to slide off and fall with a loud noise. People, walking along through the melting ice and snow, make a lot of noise and soon the clean, white snow forms into a substance that looks almost like sand. Many comments are heard about the beau- tiful weather and many predictions are made about the coming of spring. It is the next day. But, such a difference! During the night the wind began to blow- with fury; the sky was covered with cold gray clouds, and before morning a real blizzard had come up. The melting snow and ice of yes- terday is today frozen hard. Great icicles have again formed on the houses, and the snow :s blowing and drifting everywhere. The few persons who venture out are going along with great difficulty against the wind and snow. At the railroad station is a group of people who are standing around, blowing on their fingers and stamping their feet. Yesterday this same group had commented on the love- ly weather, and had decided that spring would soon arrive. Today, not a person speaks about the coming of spring, as each waits around in the cold for a train which is al- ready many minutes late. What a contrast between two February days, one following the other! MARGARET MURPHY, ' 23. TWO WINTER DAYS It is a bright clear day in the latter part of February. Overhead the sky is a bright blue and the sun, shilling with a dazzling bright- AT SIGHT OF THE FLAG Crowds had gathered on the streets and in the park, waiting for the parade. Finally the band was heard far down the street, and those who had waited until the last minute hur- riedly sought places on the sidelines. Among these were half a dozen boys who, in their excitement, passed by one of their best friends —a Grand Army man whom they knew as Captain. Hello, boys! The cheery old voice rose above the noise and babble. Smiles quickly lighted up their faces for they always wel- comed their friend ' s appearance. They quick- ly took their places beside the Captain and were soon craning their necks to see every part of the parade. As the Hag passed by. Heating proudly in the warm sunlight, the boys stood at attention and saluted. The elderly man noted this witli 12