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

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School Outside I met one of my cronies, Roughhouse Mike, and he said, Did it work-” I said, No.” Sadly Mike answered, Who else do you know. ” Well, now, there was old Charlie Lamb — ” Eleanor Raleigh, ’45 My First Day In School ■jVy| Y first day in grammar school was perhaps not the most eventful of my entire life, but 1 will tell you what 1 remember best. At recess time we were given bottles of milk and I was having a terrible time trying to get the cap off. Finally a little boy whom I had already begun to admire decided to rescue me. He gave me a very superior look, pressed down on the cap, and squirted nearly half a pint of milk in my eye and down the front of my new dress. 1 thought, he was terrible until he gallantly passed his bottle to me and scrubbed me off with his handkerchief. Later he was one of my best friends, up to the time he was killed in Europe. The little boy’s name was Bud Crump. Barbara Gardner, ’45 And Now ? W HEN you read and hear people on the radio raving about economic sys- tems, national security, labor, civil service, social problems, and a world peace, what do you think of. Probably the same thing I do — Wonder what the show is tonight?” — but certainly, this post-war business of a world peace IS no insignificant issue. It is affecting the lives of millions of peoples — peo- ple in China, in Europe, in America, and even in Bourne High School. America has fought many wars; the world is always fighting. Bet a nickel the c olonists would never have bothered to fight a Revolution and pay such a very dear price for independence, if they could have taken a peek into the future, only to see more wars being fought. We fought the Revolution to win independence; fought the Civil War to abolish slavery; fought the World War — well, why did we fight the first one? If it was to make the world safe for democracy,” it was rather a futile attempt. As the rhyme goes: I wonder if the men Who planned it all were satisfied? They played their game of checkers And eleven million died!” I have no conception of eleven million people. All I know is, there are 131,669,275 people in the United States, and without the senior class, there’d be only 131,669,247, but outside of those long figures, eleven million doesn’t mean so much. They could have lived, those eleven million, and contributed Page Twenty-one

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School The Blackmailing Of Wimple Street VVTIMPLE Street.” The sign hung high up over the street in the fog and as I passed under it, it creaked in the wind and I drew my cloak closer around me, for if it was afternoon, the fog was thick and the wind was cold. I went slowly up the street until 1 came to No. 16 Wimple Street. It was next door. Did I dare go there? It had been so long that I was afraid. At just that moment the door of No. 17 Wimple Street opened and a woman was carried out in a chair to a waiting hack by two big, husky men. That must be Elizabeth, Bertie’s wife, I thought jealously. The hack drove off and I went to the door. After a considerable wait, 1 heard something coming. I held my breath, and then the door opened and there stood Robert Browning. Hello, Bertie,” I said. SADIE!” If the neighborhood weren’t already looking out of the win- dows, they were then. Sadie,” he continued, what are you doing here?” I’m coming in, Bertie. I am so glad that you remember me. I was afraid that you wouldn’t.” My tone was sinister. Sadie, you can’t come in here!” Oh, can’t I! Til love you ’till I die, and no other woman can ever take your place.’ It doesn’t look so. Ouch! what was that?” Elizabeth’s little lap- dog had nipped at my heels. Here, Flush!” Bertie called. What do you mean by saying that? You can’t mean those letters that we wrote to each other in English class in school. Oh, Sadie!” Don’t put on the innocent act, Bertie. You know very well that I wouldn’t go soft-hearted and burn those beautiful letters you wrote me before you met your darling Lisbeth and I intend to keep them and use them more.” How much do you want?” Bertie was getting angry now. I admit that you seem kind to your wife and seem to love her, but after all, I gave my best years to you, confidently thinking you loved me. 1 could cry when I think about it.” Sob, sob, sob. Look, Sadie,” Bertie said flatly. My wife will be back in about ten minutes and I would be out of here if I were you.” Oh, you are so unkind to me. I don’t know why you don’t tell her that you really love me. If I go, will you send me some thoughts home from abroad when jou go again?” At this time I was hanging over his chair. Just then Elizabeth came and stood in the doorway. I cried out and sprang away from the chair. Elizabeth — ” started Robert. Perhaps you would like to know one of your husband’s former girl- friends. Introducing Sadie Gloutz, of 1924 Red Cock Avenue, of the East Side.” I was sickeningly sweet. Get out,” said Elizabeth between set teeth. Page Twenty

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School so much to the welfare of mankind. Perhaps there were potential Mmes. Curies in the number, scientists, musicians, statesmen, and professional men. What an extraordinary price to pay, only to fight again twenty years later, because the first time failed! But the war must end someday and we are the ones who must not fail this time. Certainly, were having a San Francisco Conference, and certainly, were taking vital steps for a world peace. But this is only the beginning. A conference can last two weeks and men can decide what’s to be done, but it takes a good many years for entire countries to become adjusted, to adopt and execute the plans put before them. In my childish mind, w ' ars seem so needless. If people could only realize the benefits of a world peace; the opportunities it would afford every individ- ual. Stop thinking of people as just people, but think of them as individuals; think of the opportunities afforded everyone in a world at peace. It makes you want to shout at the whole world, ' Tor heaven’s sakes, stop fighting and take time out to live!” We’re here for such a short time anyhow, it seems a little foolish to waste part or all of a lifetime. ' The problem — no, the opportunity — of peace has come once more. Be- cause millions have died again, we have another chance to establish that peace. How many more times will so many people have to die before we have an- other opportunity? The beginnings of a world peace are at San Francisco now. Men have assembled from every corner of the earth once again to make this world a much better one in which to live. This time, please God, may they not fail. Marilyn Wing, ’45 These Teen-Age Hepcats OUNCE me, brother,” dig me, kid” — it was enough to drive anyone crazy in this madhouse of hepcats. I felt out of place in neat clothes, combed hair, necktie, and pants unrolled and at ankle length. It all started when my English teacher said, Write an essay on anything that interests you.” Being a conservative fellow, I got my writing equipment together and headed for the aquarium. My paper was all titled South Ameri- can Bloepidus or the African Goldfish,” and I was prepared for an afternoon of excitement and adventure. I was halfway down Main Street when I began to hear shrieks, screams, and howls. Priding myself on my courage, I crept closer. There on Main Street, inside Ye Moderne Soda Shoppe” were a crowd of teen-agers, emitting roars of glee, all to the tune of a juke box. Never had I witnessed such a spectacle. Mother had never told me, and I removed my horn rims to get a closer view. I found myself pressed against the window. In a flash an arm reached out and I found myself twisting, turning, and twirl- ing with the best of them. After two hours of struggling, shoving, pushing, and crawling, I was again in the open air. I ran till I fell exhausted. 1 dragged myself home and after two weeks of complete rest I was able to walk again — in between my shaking spells. It is my opinion that if these human bundles of energy in their baggy sweaters, bobby socks, dirty sport shoes, and rolled-up cuffs, were put on our war fronts, the war would be cleaned up in a matter of days. Pa e Tiventy-two