Weymouth High School - Campus / Reflector Yearbook (Weymouth, MA)

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X REFLECTOR 9 About Travelling Do you know what I should do if I were to receive a great deal of money? I should imme- diately set out to make true one of my favorite dreams — to travel abroad. I should never travel on a prescribed tour, for that would spoil all; but should go at random to this or that place which struck my fancy. I must be sure to visit England. For what could be more delightful than to ride through its quaint villages, to see the rows of thatched cot- tages, the smoke curling from the chimneys? There would be an atmosphere of drowsy peace and comfort over all. The women and children would be rosy-cheeked and plump. Everything would make me wish to stay there forever. The next country on my route would be Hol- land, with her canals, spotless streets and quaintly costumed people; then Switzerland, and her blue, blue lakes, with the snow-capped Alps towering above. It is my dearest wish to see the chalets, the herds of goats, and hear the clear yodel of the herdsman, about which I have read in Heidi with so much pleasure. And so on I would go, through the Orient, though I would not stay long there. Perhaps, though, my fears are foolish, and I would find it less sinister than it now seems. When my jour- ney ended, I should have sailed around the world. I think I should be much the better for it, too, much more broad-minded in ray view of life, and having a better knowledge of the peo- ples and lands across the sea. M. Senigo ' 34 Dayd reams There ' s the sun and the wind and the sky and me, And the green, green, grass, and a tall pine tree, And the sea is so blue, and the clouds are so white, And the green, green grass and a tall pine tree, As I lie in the grass, and the wind sings to me Of the sun and the sky and a tall pine tree. Marjorie Bloxham ' 36 Tbrills There are many different kinds of thrills that we experience each day. Unwittingly, we are influenced by varied emotions which serve to animate our thoughts and cheer our drooping spirits. We all know of persons who are thrilled most deeply by having a member of the opposite sex gaze admiringly upon them as they pass by. Others experience greatest thrills by swooping along at sixty-five up and down a favorite roller-coaster road at Hingham. Some are en- raptured by peering at the heavens on a clear night, wondering if any scientist will, at some future date, discover or perfect a means, where- by dwellers of the Earth will be able to pene- trate the vast expanse of ether to a planet or star. Others may be entranced by the beautiful chords of an orchestra, or fascinated by the deft handiwork of an artist or sculptor. Many reli- gious fanatics feel their deepest exultation upon watching newly-converted sinners walk humbly down to the altar amid a thronging multitude led by some great evangelist. Nevertheless, what greater thrill is it possible for us to experience than that of relief after the accomplishment of a formidable task? Thus it is that with mingled emotions I write this Re- flector composition. Sylvia Merrill ' 34 Lullaby To Youtb Sleep, youth, Growing into new heights for aspiration, From deathlike repose to impatient energy. How perfect your joy, how strong your song! How eager yet, life ' s ever constant refrain! With unuttered prayer on dry lips, You awake — To learn to breathe again ! Henry Hanhisalo ' 34

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8 REFLECTOR Tke X irst Winter At Pi vmouth The Mayflower reached Cape Cod on Nov- ember 9, 1620. After exploring the coast in the vicinity, the Pilgrims selected for their per manent settlement the place now called Plym- outh, where they landed, Decemher 21. The rigors of a New England winter were upon them hefore they could build a single house. After two days of storm and rain they set to work on December 23, and for three days cut timber with great diligence. So rapidly did they work that by January 13 one house stood on the shore. The very next day this house burned down, with all the beds of the adult men. Meanwhile — indeed, ever since the landing at Provincetown- — a considerable number had been ill, and by February what Bradford called the general sickness had stricken practically all the members. As their surprisingly good health on the voyage had been the result of the ex- tremely careful arrangements, so now the cause of the general sickness seems to have been careless exposure. The women, misled by a mild spell of weather, washed clothes in the ponds at Provincetown, and caught severe colds. Ex- plorations and expeditions resulted in further exposure. The result seems to have been tuber- culosis of a surprisingly contagious and rapid type, sometimes called galloping consumption . Whatever it was, the Pilgrims certainly caught it from one another and in December, six died, in January, eight more, in February seventeen, and in March, thirteen. So dire was their dis- tress that, during those months, no more than six or seven were well at the same time, and only Bradford and Standish entirely escaped ill- ness. On some days two or three died and tra- dition says that the graves accumulated so fast, that the Pilgrims leveled them with care, lest the Indians suspect how greatly the colony was weakened. Those who were able labored un- sparingly night and day, carrying wood, making fires, preparing food, making beds, and washing clothes. Their devotion to each other during these exceedingly trying months is beyond all praise. Priscilla Chandler ' 34 He: Did you ever read To a Mouse? She: No. How did you ever get it to listen ' A Summer Storm It is a hot, drowsy, lazy, summer day. The streets are deserted except for a few limp-look- ing stragglers, and the sun looks like a flaming ball of fire as it scorches the parched earth. An innocent-looking cloud glides across the horizon, but it is followed by more, black and threatening. A distant rumble like a barrel fall- ing down stairs is heard in the distance. Then a louder rumble, and a flashing ribbon of fire appears, and is gone. The sky is black, and the earth is very still. Not a leaf trembles on the trees, and it seems as if the world is waiting for something, quiet and expectant. Then an adventurous drop of rain patters down on a leaf. A few more fol- low, and then comes the deluge. A torrent of water streams down, and the thunder crashes like mad cymbals, while the lightning zig zags crazily across the sky. The wind whips great trees into a frenzy, and they bow down low to the storm. Here and there a tree topples down with a deafening crash, which is immediately silenced by another burst of fury from the thunder. On the streets a few belated pedestrians are seen, drenched, bedraggled, and mournful. They scurry along with umbrellas blown wrong side out, looking out for the puddles, and trying to keep their already soaked and dripping feet as dry as possible. At last they give up all hopes of keeping dry, and splash along with a reckless abandon, fine to see. A last shriek of fury from the wind, as the rain drops patter down more softly. Finally rhev cease, and, with a defeated crash and rumble, the thunder dies away rebelliously in the distance, the lightning plays for a few mo- ments in the distant sky, and then the sun blazes forth more brightly than ever. The puddles soon disappear, and there is no trace of the storm ex- cept for a few trees King amid their broken and crushed branches along the roads. Marjorie Bloxham ' 36 Note: If you have any further information as to the whereabouts and occupations of any of the Wevmouth High School Alumni, please communicate with our Alumni editor. — The Editor

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10 REFLECTOR Pulaski Day Governor Joseph B. Ely dedicated a day, the eleventh of Octoher, to a noble hero of the American Revolution, and as is the custom, the Governor sent a proclamation to all the public schools of the state. However, as these procla- mations were read in each room, the students, with the exception of a few, seemed to know nothing about that great and noble hero, Pulaski. Casimir Pulaski was born in Podolia, Poland, the son of Count Joseph Pulaski. Casimir joined enthusiastically in the efforts to free his country, and fought heroically against the Russians. He finally rose to the rank of commander-in-chief of the patriot forces. He was unjustly accused as accomplice in the plot to abduct his king and was outlawed and deprived of his estates. He then escaped tj) Purlsey and thence to France, where he was asked by Franklin to help the American colonists in their struggle against the British. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1777, served as a volunteer, and then for his gallantry at the battle of Hrandywine was appointed chief of dragoon with the rank of brigadier-general. In 1778, he organized an independent corp of cavalry and light infantry. With this body, called Pulaski ' s Legion, he led an unsuccessful attack against the British, under Prevost, before the city of Charleston. Later in the year he com- manded the French and American cavalry at the siege of Savannah and during the attack on Oc- tober the ninth was mortally wounded. Felix Caracciolo ' 34 Quatrain It is not the deed that counts, But with what intent the deed is fraught, Or with what connotation will earnestly succeed ; For there is never time for deed — but thought. Henry Hanhisalo ' 34 Compliments of ALFRED GARDNER High Grade Meats Bridge St. The Origin of Hallowe en Hallowe ' en, a well known day in this country, as well as in others, falls on October 31, the eve of All Saints ' Day. It is probably a relic of pagan times or of medieval superstitions. In England and Scotland this day is selected as a time for trying spells. Superstitious tradi- tion regards it as the night when supernatural influences prevail; when spirits of the invisible and visible world walk abroad. On this evening it was believed that the human spirit could de- tach itself from the human body, and wander through the realms of space. In Germany there is a similar superstition concerning Walpurgis Night, the night preced- ing the first of May. The Germans believe that there is a witch festival on the summit of the Brocken, in the Hartz Mountains, the influence of which is believed to be felt all over the sur- rounding country. An old custom of lighting great bonfires of straw or brush on that night, in order to drive away the spirits of darkness supposed to be hovering in the air, is still ob- served in some places. It is doubtless true that these two festivals — Hallowe ' en and Walpurgis — are of a common origin dating back to the earliest belief in the personal and all powerful Evil One — the Chaldeans ' Power of Darkness. Katherine Gunville ' 34 The undergraduate sardines were out for their afternoon swim downstream. What ever happened to Tommy Bigfin ? asked a prominent student in the sardine school. I thought you knew, answered his compan- ion. He couldn ' t seem to make the grade. He was always swimming about five or ten feet in the rear. He wasn ' t alert or intelligent. So the usual happened. You mean ? Yes. He got canned!