Barre High School - Barretone Yearbook (Barre, MA)

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BARRETONE 21 A SENIOR GIRL Who’s that young girl running up the steps of the library? Who is she? Why, she’s a Senior from the school on the hill. You should be able to tell a Senior when you see one. (I didn’t say WHAT to tell her, remember!) Her appearance is casually fastidious. Her favorite uniform is the impeccable skirt and sweater combination ; and does she look neat ! Quite often the sweater is adorned with the pin of a frater- nity or an insignia pin. The tradi- tional saddle shoes are meeting competition with the loafer style, for the Senior believes in comfort and fashion. Tailored clothes are her pride. When those formal dances come around, though, she’ll gladly go feminine to harmonize with the uniform HE’s wearing ! As for hair-dos, the Senior likes a shining feather-bob, or possibly a glamour girl coiffure ; just so long as her crowning glory is clean and curly — it’s all right. (Once in a while she tries pigtails just for the fun of it). The Senior has a fine personality. She’s always ready to lend a hand to another’s success, whether the lending be in the form of a shampoo or a pair of Nylons. She’s wonderfully good-natured, and full of fun. She likes nothing better than a soda or two (or three) along with Harry James’ songs from the juke-box in the lo- cal drug store. When she leaves, she’s loaded down with candy bars and potato chips, often varied with ice cream. The Senior is sincere, in- formal, and very friendly. She’s al- ways ready to help out. The Senior dislikes people who DEIGN to no- tice others, she prefers sincerity. Joke-loving, she has a good come- back for everything. Lipstick is a stand-by, and she likes it bright. Pancake make-up is a joy, but what does it matter if her nose IS a lit- tle shiny? She loves sports — and how she does yell when the home team makes a point ! ! ! She may seem to bluff her way through classes, but she really knows what’s inside those books, and her saga- cious attitude is usually well found- ed. All in all, the average Senior is a pleasing companion and a swell pal. Shirley Gray ’44 THEY ALSO SERVE . . . There was a shortage of tires, shortage of gasoline, shortage of sugar, and a shortage of coffee, but most of all there was a shortage of volunteers for the lookout post. It seemed that everybody, that is, those few who had not gone off to war, was busy doing something else and didn’t have any time to watch for airplanes. Late one afternoon, however, Jim Cook, the chief observer, heard a scuffling and a tapping coming toward the door of his office. Then there was a soft rap. “Come in!” shouted Jim. In a few seconds standing before him was a little old man, Chester Downs, by name. Though he was not an unfamiliar figure, he still aroused the curiosity of the towns- people as he was totally blind, and they often wondered how he managed to get around. On his head was an old and bat- tered gray felt hat. His coat un- doubtedly was one he had bought at the last church rummage sale. The collar and cuffs of his shirt were frayed, and his trousers looked as though they had possibly seen the last war. “What can I do for you, Ches- ter?” asked Jim. Shifting his cane to the other hand, Chester replied, quietly but clearly, “I want to watch fer air- planes.” “You what? But, man, you know you can’t . . “Yes,” interrupted Chester, “I know I can’t see, but I kin hear !”

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20 BARRET ONE TOAST TO ’44 X To the Senior class of ’44 We eagerly lift our glasses, A toast to her success in store, As her banner proudly passes. Her purple and white are gayly flown To light her steadfast way; Her cheery colors stand not alone, And promise never to lead astray. Her heart is high, her spirits great, Her courage undismayed. She strives along the road of fate, Alert and unafraid. Arlene Morrison, ’44

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22 BARRETONE ‘‘How could you see to write down the report? “Wal, 1 don’t know about thet, but I still want to watch fer air- planes, he insisted. Jim paused to consider this for a minute. How could a blind man watch for airplanes. Why it was ut- terly preposterous ! “Please let me, Chester begged. “I want to do something to help out. Being a soft-hearted man, Jim finally gave in. “Tell you what I’ll do, Chet, he said, “just to try you out, Pll put you on the night tour with Elmer Waite. You start tonight at eight o’clock.” To see Chester’s wrinkled face light up, one might think that he’d just b een handed a million dollars. He thanked Jim whole-heartedly and started to trudge homeward. Faithfully and staunchly Chester stood watch with Elmer Waite twice a week. About ten minutes of eight on Tuesday and Friday nights this slight and aged figure would be seen hobbling toward the watch- tower. Most of the time he would hear the planes many minutes be- fore Elmer, and in just a short while Chester was able to distin- guish between the different planes merely by the sound of the motors. He could also tell whether they were high or low and in which di- rection they were flying. He bought a second-hand clock that had no glass, in order to be able to tell what time the plane passed over the post, and soon learned to write a report in Braille. One day, after giving it more than a little thought, he asked Jim Cook if he might have a tour by himself. Jim, knowing how loyal Chester had worked at the post, said yes. Now, every Wednesday and Thursday nights he watches, or rather, listens at the post, from eight o’clock to midnight. When- ever Jim happens to be missing a volunteer, he phones Chester, who had a telephone installed for just that purpose and who is always ready and willing to fill in. Merely the fact that he is blind does not hinder him from doing his bit in helping the great cause. His sincere patriotism is exemplified by his ef- licient and conscientious service. (This is a true story about a 1 lind man by the name of Chester Downs, who lives in Milton, New Hampshire.) Arlene Morrison ’44 “LEST WE FORGET” IS ' 41 — “Remember Pearl Harbor. How could it be forgotten ? The most dastardly crime ever com - mitted against civilization perpe- trated and carried through by the “Yellow men left a world shocked and dazed. 1942 — “Bataan Falls. And, with it, thousands of American men gave up their lives that we might live. No post-mortem memoriam will ever express a nation’s debt and gratitude to these heroes. 1943 — “North Africa Invaded by Allies — “Russians Save Stalin- grad. Almost too good to be true was this news. Long shall we remember Mr. Churchill’s words, “This is not the end or the beginning of the end but merely the end of the beginning. 1944 — “Rome Falls to Allied Might. Allies land in France. 4,000 ships, 11,000 planes take part. We hope this is the begin- ning of the end.