Bourne High School - Canal Currents Yearbook (Bourne, MA)

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CANAL CURRENTS 17 YOUTH AND A NEWSPAPER ROUTE For many years now I have delivered the New Bedford Times, New Bedford Standard-Times, and for a while the Boston Globe. It was not until recently that I realized the actual value of my sideline. I can see now that newspaper carrying provides a preliminary business training as well as health and profit. Correspondents and reporters may gather the news and the publishers print and circulate it, but it is up to the car- riers to deliver this news to the majority of people at their homes. As for business training, well that explains itself when you consider the facts that people of different moods and varying tempers have to be met, accounts and collections kept up to date, and reports of progress or otherwise have to be made to the office every so often. One of the greatest advantages of the business world to- day is knowing how to meet different people and handling them diplomatically, at the same time making them feel you know their likes and dislikes. Newspaper carrying trains one immensely along this line; at least it has me. Another value of delivering papers is the healthful at- mosphere it affords one. I do not go out for any sports at school, yet, the route keeps me in condition. Riding a bicycle or walking for an hour each day pays rich dividends to the mental and physical structure of the body. That is all well and good when the weather is crisp and clear or sunny and warm, but it is not all fun when the bit- ter winds howl, or when it is snowing or raining hard. Some- times the snow, and yes, the puddles, too, are a foot or more deep. All these weather conditions prepare one to meet the rigors of outdoors as cheerfully as possible, and gives him a feeling of triumph in conquering the elements, on a small scale. The business training and healthful benefits of the route are also helped by a small profit in cash. Sometimes a wave of prosperity hits me and I feel somewhat awed at the fairly large sum of money I am able to call a profit; these waves are few and far apart for the boss comes around promptly every Monday morning and manages to collect about all the money I may take in for the bill.

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16 CANAL CURRENTS “Here they come,” was the cry along the line; and as Dick looked over the rampart he saw gray blurry figures mov- ing slowly toward him. Machine guns opened up and, com- bined with the rifle fire, the noise was deafening. As Dick worked his rifile bolt he fumbled and dropped cartridges. He was so nervous his first few shots had no ef- fect on the gray mass. But now he became calmer and care- fully took aim at a gray object and fired. It stumbled and fell. Then another and another — until his rifle barrel was too hot to hold in his hands. Now the Germans were at the trench edge and as Dick rushed to meet a giant form he saw that George was at his side. No time for shooting now — the German was upon him. Before the gray figure could swing his well-aimed bayonet at Dick’s head, Dick thrust aside the enemy’s rifle and lunged at his opponent’s stomach with all his strength. But this had to be done again, for another man filled the place of his companion and was about to run George through when Dick swung his bayoneted rifle. The enemy fell without a cry. Upon looking around a bayonet point came sliding through the space between Dick’s arm and body and the impact of the blow sent him over backwards. This time the German tried to make up for the last miss by a well directed stab to Dick’s throat. This time George went to the rescue and when the blade was half-way upon its victim he fired. He was too late, for as the man fell dead his bayonet pierced Dick’s shoulder, and a bayonet found its way into George’s back from behind. But aid had come from the second line trenches and with a yell the reenforcements bore down on the Germans. With this help, the enemy was driven back and the wounded were taken care of. George and Dick awoke from unconsciousness in a hos- pital to find that the war was over. With a feeble yet happy exclamation, they both whispered, “Hurrah!” C. Grant Ellis, ’37.

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18 CANAL CURRENTS Altogether, I would say, the business and health end of delivering papers outweighs the profit in money. I believe a few years on a good route has a big influence on one’s later life, and if it were possible I would recommend at least a few weeks on a newspaper route for every boy in his youth. The experience gained is invaluable, although he may not realize it. Of course, delivering papers is only a sideline or some might even call it a hobby, yet I believe a newspaper route does influence youth to some extent. Loring Huntley, ’36. ‘‘CECIL AND THE CANNON” In the history of a certain, small Cape Cod village we would find, if we took the time to look, a rousing story of patriotism and romance. Perhaps, today, a dose of that good, old fashioned patriotism would cure us of the state of dol- drums we seem to be in. Anyway, let’s listen to old Capt’n Jed, that old-time mariner who loves to spin yarns. Now lemme see — Why, I guess ’twas ’long ’bout 1865 when Isaiah Phinney cast a special cannon down at the village foun- dry. Now, that there cannon was some beauty — let me tell you! Fust, we had to decide jest what we should do with it. Wal — we had a meetin’ at the village hall — Captain Zabdiel Phineas Snow presided. (Humph; — “Captain” — an’ bet he niver handled a tiller). As usual, the ladies tried to run away with the whole show but — no, s ir! — fer once we stuck to our guns — and by gum fer once we won! The cannon was to be anchored on Memorial Hill right ’long side the flagpole. Now, believe me, young fellar — ’twarn’t no easy job to hoist that cannon up there. Captain Zabdiel Phineas Snow owned ’bout the strongest horse in the village but when we asked him for it he said somethin’ ’bout strainin’ his “inards” — meanin’ the horse, I reckon. — (No danger o’ straining Cap- tain Zabdiel Phineas Snow’s pocketbook — ’lest ’twas from tryin’ to save too much in it!) Wal — we finally hoisted the cannon up there — Ed, he did the worst part — and set it jest aft’ of the bow of the hill. My, but it did look purty! On the fourth of July the women folk made bags for the cartridges for the gun and ivery time a vessel put into port that day they saluted with a shot from the cannon. Jest at sunset they shot the “sunset gun” — I can see it now — jest as plain as if ’twas today.