Acton Boxborough Regional High School - Torch Yearbook (Acton, MA)

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20 THE TORCH for the intermediates, the higher slopes, and then for the experts, there is the real thriller, the actual headwall, which rises almost vertically over a thousand feet. But is spring skiing worth the trouble? That is the question that rises in the minds of many people. From my own personal experience, I say Yes. I feel that the beauty of the mountains, the mildness of the weather, the thrill of skiing, and the valuable exercise one receives is Well worth distance and small expense to enjoy it. The crowds, numbering up to three thousand people, that flock to the ravine any week-end in March, April, and May, show that I am not alone in my opinion. L. GODFREY, Jr., '38. ' BENNY THE GOGD And so it came to pass that on the night of May first, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight, a great throng of music lovers gathered in a quaint building in the heart of Boston Town, namely Symphony Hall, to listen to the immortal classics being beat out by that inimitable master of swing, the one and only king of the clarinet, Benny Goodman. The house was sold out three weeks in advance, and only by writing for a ticket as many months be- fore, was I able to receive admission. It may be mentioned, in passing, that on the night of the twenty-ninth of said month, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt was slated to lecture. There were a few people there, but no one had found it necessary to write in even a day ahead of curtain call to arrange for seats. One may decide to go to a concert by some great orchestra the night of the show, but if one did this on Sunday, May first, the only thing he would have seen were closed doors- It's just the two trumpet kings, Gordon Griflin and Harry James, the one and only drummer, Dave Tuff, the immortal Stasy on the ivories, Browney with that hot trombone, Herman Shirlztner and a new one from Tommy Dorsey's band, Bud Freeman on the tenor sax, and last, but not least, the only Benny Goodman burn- ing out a hot lick on the clarinet. But this is just why I had to pay 53.50 for a fairly good seat to listen, not to that sentimental gentleman of swing, not to the sweetest music this side of heaven, and his three brothers, but to that great Professor of Swingology and his class of fourteen masters, Benny Goodman. R. TAYLOR, '38. LAMENT Fair Algebra whose ins and outs Fill my poor head with many doubts, How glad I'll be, come June again, To leave behind your fuss and pain. In vain I strive with X and Y, With two unknowns and little 11 ipil Yet here or there, without a doubt. Some ghastly error will creep out! To set at naught all, all my labor, And leave me a 60 paper. V. HODGEN, '38. We extend our sincere appreciation to our advertisers, whose kindness and gen- erosity have made possible this year book. Our readers, we honestly believe, will patronize the various concerns here represented.

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THE TORCH 19 A warm feeling comes over me when someone says, Hi, Libby. I feel as ifdlbwere a part of things and not the left-over from last year that I thought e. Sometimes I'm very much amused at the genuine concern the students have over simple matters. Then, I think back-whew! I've been through it all once! I've lost sleep over little things and argued heatedly for hours with the rest. Now, as I look back, I see the folly of independent fyouth. If I had curbed my tongue and hushed my thoughts, I would have more self-respect today. I blush, when I remember how silly I was to fuss over a little rule. Yet, classes will do that, for a Senior will always feel worldly wise. If one stopped to think-one would be so much wiser, really! So, I am not sorry that I came back to take a Post Graduate course. I have learned more this year than I did last. As a Senior I refused to have my eyes opened-and as a P. G. I have slowed up and found many friendships that were undreamed of. Moreover, I have found a peace of mind that still surprises me. E. REED, '37. LAUGHTER OUT OF THE GROUND V The national resources of the world have often been called laughter out of the ground by poets, because they are the means of bringing convenience and comfort to mankind. A person would find it very difficult to live if there were no minerals. Just think of all the uses of iron, in buildings, cars, trains, boats, airplanes, bridges, and hundreds of other things. Salt, which is needed in the diet, is a mineral. Gold, silver, lead, copper, and coal are just a few of the minerals. No Wonder they are called laughter out of the ground. Scientists know that natural mineral resources will not last forever. Now they are trying to find substitutes for minerals. Did you know that Henry Ford plans to make cars out of soy beans? Sometime just sit down and think how life would be without minerals. R. CREELEY, '43. AS A COUNTRY GIRL SEES BOSTON Trotting down the streets of Boston on a bright Saturday afternoon, the country girl doesn't see Bunker Hill, the Old South Church, or Faneuil Hall. In- stead, she sees the narrow streets with cars parked on both sides, and the nar- rower sidewalks crowded with people, a hundred different nationalities. There is hardly enough room for one to stand and talk, especially during the big shopping days of the year. Walking down Winter Street, she is suddenly astonished to find herself walking on Summer Street. Standing on the curb, waiting for the yellow light, she sees a great mass of people crossing in the middle of blocks and appear- ing diagonally from all corners. Taxi cabs dash in and out, dodging other cars. She hears the roaring of motors and the newspaper boys yelling the latest news. She sees not only the well built areas but the old dilapidated buildings of another district, a part of Boston which everyone sees, but about which very few tell. E. LARSEN, '38. SPRING SKIING Every spring the headwall of Tuckerman's Ravine becomes a haven of dreams for many real ski fanatics who gladly drive hundreds of miles to obtain the near- est thing to Alpine Skiing in the East. Tuckerman's Ravine is the most beautiful place imaginable in the spring time. The steep slopes form a huge natural bowl backed by Mt. Washington's tower- ing majesty. Here King Winter has performed one of his greatest miracles, the transformation of a dingy, barren, and unsightly slope into a dazzling, sparkling fairyland, of soft, billowy snow, and crystalline ice formations. Skiing in the ravine is superb. There is every type of slope conceivable. Not only experts, but amateurs may find whatever pitch they desire and may ski under conditions best suited to their ability. For the tyros the more gentle lower slopes, I

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THE TORCH 21 GRADUATION Most seniors agree that a peculiar feeling overtakes them on the verge of gradu- tion. Through the first three years we go merrily on, first as very green freshmen, the butt of practical jokes and wise cracks. Next we are Sophomores, a rather inter- mediate state. As Juniors, we awake and begin to take a very lively interest in such activities as the Junior Play, or the Junior Prom. Now finally as Seniors sitting on top of the world, we suddenly feel a little bit uncertain. Out of the rosy mist of unreality and future events, graduation begins to loom large and is suddenly very near. That which we thought a pleasant but distant occasion is at hand. Committees are chosen. and at last completely reconciled to fate, the Seniors plunge into preparations for this final and greatest high school event. Another year and we may be in college, or working, and far removed, in many cases, from the happy associations of the past years. Little wonder that we stop a moment and feel a sensation of loss that somehow seems all too imminent. But soon, we are on again in a whirl of preparation for the final Iiing. . V. HODGEN, '38. YES DARLINGH Detective O'Malley sat at his desk at Police Headquarters, in one hand he held a half eaten banana, and in the other, the telephone receiver. Every once in a while he stopped his conversation to take a bite of the fruit. Apparently he was talking to his wife, because at intervals -he would grunt, Yes, dear, or All right, darling. Finishing the conversation, Det. O'Malley tipped his chair back and planted his feet on the desk. The banana gone by this time, O'Malley leaned over and took a large pear from the bowl that stood on one corner of his desk. He then picked up the Thrilling Detective Stories magazine, sighed, and turned a page. Suddenly the door opened and young detective, Pat Kelly, entered. Say Chief, he shouted, there's been a murder down at the 'Sportsman Club' ,..,,.. Rodney VanNorton 'has been murdered in cold blood! The chair crashed to the floor, O'Malley grabbed his hat and tore out of the office. shouting after him Don't leave this room 'till I call, I may need you. Detective 0'Malley arrived at the clubhouse in five minutes flat. Tearing inside he pushed the crowd aside. One side you guys ,, don't touch a thing ,, all right every- body go along and mind your own business. 1 One tall, dark, young fellow whom O'Ma1ley had pushed aside, shoved back and said. Say who do you think you are ,the King or somebody? O'Malley stopped with a jerk ,,.,,.. Just a minute, young fellow, come along with me, we may need you. The young fellow growled, Aw nuts, I gotta scram ,.,,,,,, I gotta date. With this he turned and hurried away. O'Malley sent one of the young cops after him, but he was gone. The whole case was turned over to O'Malley when he arrived. He studied it for a couple of hours and then returned to Headquarters. Kelly, he said, I'll give