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

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ristmas in Holl ana Robert Pine 37 Many of us have wondered how Christmas is celebrated in far-away lands. In Holland the holiday called St. Nicholas ' Day; and it is a day devoted entirely to him, and not a cel- ebration of the birth of Christ, as is the case in our country. Also St. Nick visits the earth on the fifth of December, and distributes gifts early in the morning of the sixth, which is his day. In Dutch houses there is a room called the grand parlor. This is regarded as most sacred. Of course it is kept very clean after the Dutch fashion. Admittance to this room is gained only on special occasions, and one of these is St. Nicholas ' Day and St. Nicholas ' Eve. On the eve of St. Nick ' s Day, the family gathers in the grand parlor, and after a great deal of game-playing by the children, St. Nicholas him- self appears. He warns the children of the wrongs they have done during the year. How- ever, nobody is forgotten when he distributes gifts, unless he has been particularly bad. After the saint has finished speaking, he throws a great shower of sugar-plums on a sheet spread out on the floor, and then departs. The children scramble for the plums, but it is seen that everyone gets his share. After this every- body enters another room and they each leave a shoe on a large table for the saint to fill. Then everyone goes to bed. They wake up early in the morning and go to their shoes which are usually filled with gifts. The remainder of the day is spent in worshipping St. Nicholas. Her Ideal He was 100 per cent, perfect. He went to a doctor at least once a year for physical examina- tion, as well as to a dentist. He ate all nourish- ing foods, went to bed at an early hour, arising at an early hour in the morning. He never for- got his health exercises each morning. He brushed his teeth three times a day, got plenty of fresh air, and was an all-round athlete. He was prepared to live a hundred years at least. The funeral will be held next Wednesday at two o ' clock. He is survived by fifteen doctors, eighty-one institutions, four nurses, and ten health commissioners. He forgot to look both ways at the railroad crossing. Lillian Parnell ' 35 The Union Pacific S treamline Irain William K earns 37 Recently a new era in transportation and prog- ress was gained by the new, best streamline train. The Union Pacific Railroad had the first one made. Now many railroads are ordering these new trains, which have a maximum speed of one hundred ten miles an hour. The train of six cars weighs only two hundred tons, while the steam train of today having the same number of coaches weighs seven hundred tons. The train is air-conditioned and the shatter-proof w indows are sealed. The air in the train is changed every four minutes. The train on the interior is almost a white on the ceiling, and the colors keep getting darker, until under the window the color is a dark blue. On the outside, the train is a golden brown on the roof and bottom, and the sides are yellow. A strip of red separates the colors. The Pullman coach is a combination sleeping car, compartment, and ordinary coach all in one. The sections, at every seat, may be closed at any time, making a compartment. The upper sleep- ing berth, when not in use, is pushed into the ceiling of the car. In each Pullman two sec- tions are made for men over six feet tall. On this train the cars are hinged together with one truck between each two cars instead of two. This makes much smoother riding when the train is moving at a fast rate of speed. The train is only a foot above the tracks. It is like the shape of a bullet. In the back end is the kitchen. It has dual controls, fog-penetrating head- lights, increased visibility of the motor engineer, and all other safety devices which I have men- tioned before, to increase the safety of those riding. A Christmas Tk ouaht Let us keep the Christmas spirit All throughout the year, By doing good to others, By bringing them love and cheer. Not doing and giving at Christmas, But living a life that is true, Will be the best Christmas present Your friends can get from you. So let ' s give the best that is in us Every day that we live, Since the time is not only at Christmas, But from Christmas to Christmas to give. Ruth Thayer ' 36 REFLECTOR ...14...

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remember. Some day, when I strike it rich, I ' m going to do the same thing, whether it ' s Christmas or not. Dan didn ' t say a word. He just sat there, puffing pleasantly on his pipe. Finally, he spoke, I guess Christmas is worth remembering, after that story! Let us leave them now, while they both think of Christmas Eve. HeC ame Th Tke Fiekt Before Ch ristmas O, Algernon Percival Oscar McFish Was in love with the swe.etest of girls you could wish, Though he wore quite the thing from his shoes to his hat, Alas and alaska ! his pockets were flat. A sweet little girl was Susie May White, A nice little number, a wonderful sight; But all that she bought was always the best, As Algernon Percival already guessed. ' Twas the week before Christmas as Algy walked down To view all the gifts one could buy in the town. They were all far above his simplest of means, Fit only for movie stars, shop girls, and queens. Well, Algernon Percival brooded awhile, When over his face there travelled a smile. An idea dawned like a light in his head, Which he rushed to complete before going to bed. Algernon Percival reeled down the street, He bumped against Susie and trod on her feet. Horror prevailed in Miss Susie May White, As she gasped in disgust, Why, Algy, you ' re tight! Twas the fight before Christmas, the workings of Fate, And Algernon Percy was given the gate; He enjoyed a gay Christmas, a happy New Year, And when ' twas all over to Susie said, Dear ' I apologize humbly, forgive me, my love. You beautiful creature, you exquisite dove. As for Susie, her horror and heart he made well; Back into his arms she tumbled and fell. So, amorous swains and moonstricken youths, The week before Christmas imply these un- truths. The damsels are cute, but expensive and dumb, And thus you can keep them right under your thumb. Carol Seach ' 36 rough Tom Manly and Jim Davidson were guards on the Stanford basketball team. They were both good players, but Tom was jealous of Jim. One night the team was facing the Newbury team. Tom made two baskets, and in the last few minutes of the game Jim made his third. Tom didn ' t like this. Jim knew it. Jim rea- soned, however, that he was playing for the school rather than to please Tom. The next afternoon Jim was walking down the street on his way to the store. When he came to Whitman Street, a street closed for the purpose of sliding, he saw Tom coming down the hill on his sled. Instead of turning into the field before he reached the main street, he came straight on toward the main street and destruc- tion. Jim thought fast. He yelled to Tom to let the rope go, and as Tom went by, Jim grabbed the rope. Tom was thrown off the sled into a snowbank, from which he climbed without any injuries. Mumbling his thanks, he walked away. When the boys and girls praised Jim, Tom grew more jealous than ever. That night at the gym the coach called Tom aside, and told him if he didn ' t show more sports- manship he would be put off of the team. He also told him that Jim had practically saved his life, and he didn ' t see why he wasn ' t more friendly towards him. Tom did some serious thinking during the game. After the game he walked up to Jim, and told him that he was ready to be a friend. From then on the boys were the best of friends. The team won more games through their co-operation, and the school as a whole had more spirit. Helen Downton ' 37 Ch nstmas Christmas time is here, And everyone is full of cheer. Stockings will be hung And carols will be sung On merry Christmas eve. Then in the night, When the moon is shining bright, Santa Claus will come in his sleigh, To bring toys for all the girls and boys To play with on Christmas day. Richard Milner ' 38 REFLECTOR

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R estraint I ' m looking forward to the time When someone in this world of mine Will speak what ' s in his mind ; The time when he will cease to speak In well-bred phrases that are bleak And barren, if I delve. He speaks to me as anyone With whom he jokes and talks in fun. I knew him once, not now! This way in which he tries to hide Himself beneath suave vanity and pride Can hurt beyond all pain. I wonder just how long ' twill be Before we talk quite openly And understand again. It may turn out in that frank talk That I have changed in what I thought Was my regard for him. Till then I know ' most any cure Would be more simple to endure Than this uncertainty. Till one of us shall overcome This silence that we ' ve both begun, I must go on in doubt. Virginia Donley ' 35 The Spirit of Christmas Christmas comes but once a year, So why not fill it with Good Cheer? Let yourself yield to the Christmas call, Open your hearts to one and all, Forget what has happened in the past, Begin a new friendship that will last. It is not the gifts that, on Christmas Day, Pave the road for Friendship ' s stay; It is the thought in a single line, That makes the heart warm and the eyes shine. Ruth Kai ' 37 Christmas W orry When Christmas cheer is in the air, And people hurry here and there; When shopping is the main event, And all my money is most spent ; I rack my brain and start to fret About the gifts I shall forget To buy and wrap and send to friends, My, but I ' m glad when this all ends! I worry and I toss at night; Before it ' s over I ' m a sight. People ask me why I worry. Wouldn ' t they in all this hurry? Stowell ' 35 The N. B. C. The National Broadcasting Company is a part of Radio City, a group of large buildings in New York City. This company has the first ten floors of a seventy-story building. On the tenth floor is a large air-conditioning system, which, because of no windows in the building on account of noises from the street, keeps the temperature in both winter and sum- mer at seventy-two degrees. The remaining floors are mostly studios. These are furnished like an ordinary room so that new-comers to radio won ' t get afraid of the microphone just as actors get stage fright. In one of the rooms there are the sound effects; as, thunder, which is a sheet of metal; the noise of the Showboat pulling up to wharf, which is a paddle-wheel in a box of wa- ter, and also many other sounds heard on the radio. There is also a spacious auditorium for large broadcasts. This hall seats twelve hundred people. The stage, which is roomy, is made especially for good sound. Another interesting feature is that the doors from studio to studio are six inches thick, and no sound can go through them. As a matter of fact, the whole building of the National Broadcasting Company is very well planned, with all conveniences for radio. B. Tisdale ' 37 Christmas Dreams I watch the fire glimmer on the wall, Dance and gleam, fade and fall. I hear the wail of the wind outside, Feeling glad that I ' ve a place to abide. I hear the kettle sing a contented song, And hear the sweep of snow on barren lawn, And the magic music of the winter swirl, Creating a warmness in the Christmas world. And though the cold outside is strong, Still the love of peace on Christmas is born. It may come in a parcel, a card, or a book, But the smallest gift will receive a look. And always, at the end of that happy time, I love to pause, to think and recline, Before the open fire, and dream Of happy hours found in a peaceful scene. To watch the fire glimmer on the wall, Dance and gleam, fade and fall, To hear the wail of the wind outside, Overcome by the warming of Old Yuletide. Irene Cowett ' 35 REFLECTOR ...15...