Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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THE GOLDEN-ROD 7 Class History Since it was a very hot Saturday in July, we decided to spend the day at the seashore. Of all the popular resorts, Nan- tasket appealed to us. We arrived at Rowe’s Wharf just in time to take the ten o’clock boat. The heat of the day was intense and, to add to this irritation, the pushing and shoving of the crowd were unbearable. Through the midst of this bustling throng we were trying to make our way on board when we both noticed, at the same instance, someone gazing at us who seemed familiar. Who this per- son was we could not at once make out. After a short deliberation we concluded that it must be Barbara Wells. She rec- ognized us at once, and came rushing to- wards us, saying, after a hearty welcome, “This is just the opportunity that I have been looking for to discuss old days spent with our classmates at Quincy High.” “Well, that’s peculiar. Fred and I have just been discussing some of the memor- able incidents of our school experience. By the way, Barbara, do you remember how strangely we acted when we first started our notable career there?” “Yes, and if you remember rightly, I was somewhat late in starting school that year. Do you remember how, when I was walking through the corridor on my first day, I spied, coming in the opposite direction, a tall, stout gentleman, whom I asked if I might have a drink? He began to smile. At this, one of our noble teach- ers, of whom we had a good many, you know, informed me that it was against the rules of the school to talk while changing classes. Later I found out that this tall, stout gentleman was not the master, as I had supposed, but our own classmate, Donald Bennett.” “Yes, say, I never forgot that, Barbara, and every time I think of it I always have a good laugh. But do you recall those Monday morning assemblies when we would rush to the hall, only to be scolded there for our misbehavior? Flow often we would be told to remain after the others had passed out, and it seemed that at each assembly we would have a new Golden Rule to follow. Do you remem- ber the remark Laverty made, that these rules were being given to us one by one so that each would ‘sink in’ properly?” “Indeed, I do remember all that. Al- though that wasn’t so bad, because it was our one desire to shirk our duties. But how difficult it was for us to understand that complicated slip system. I never got the right idea until I was in my Junior year.” “Yes, I recollect all these events, but somehow that year seemed to slide by rather quickly. Near the close of the year several new members joined the class, one of whom was Marjorie Owens. In later years she proved to be one of the most attractive girls of the class. I remember the feeling of satisfaction we had as the year came to a close and we passed our examinations, to return in the fall as Sophomores. The final day of that year came and we were off on our vacation, one year nearer our destination.” “Yes, and we returned in the fall with one new member, Arthur Mendel, who later proved his worth as a violinist and leader of the orchestra. Say, do you re- member how some of the members of our class changed during the summer? For example, there was Houlihan, who in his Freshman year wore short trousers, but, during the summer months, changed his mind and decided to wear “men’s” trous- ers. Then there was Esther Campbell. Do you remember how tall she grew dur- ing the summer?”