Bromfield High School - Beacon Yearbook (Harvard, MA)

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Bromfiield. Beacon On our way home after the show we stopped at Howard J ohnson's for dinner. Prize speaking was held again this year. Frank, Wayne, and Jane went to Littleton for the finals where Frank won honorable mention. Just before our April vacation, Mr. Dunlap announced our parts for graduation, so we could have something t-o do during our week off. Now on this night of June twenty-third the history of our four years at Bromfield comes to an end, but in our hearts the affection for Bromfield will live forever. Sk Pl! Dk THE LIFE OF JACK LONDON In 1876 Jack London was born in San Francisco, the son of an itiner- ant Irish astrologer and Flora Wellman, a music teacher. When her son was but a few months old, Flora Wellman married John London, who gave his name to the child. In 1878 wanderlust struck the Londons, who gathered their few be- longings and moved to Oakland. As Jack grew older, he acquired paper routes which took him along the waterfront lined with saloons with which he later became so well acquainted. Life along the coast was fascinating to the adventure-hungry boy. There lay at anchor ships from distant ports, and each vessel spoke to him of far-flung adventures. Another gateway soon opened for Jack, and through it he stepped into the world of books. Throughout all his life Jack treasured these books. The year 1889 saw a small victory for Jack. He was graduated from Oakland Cole Grammar School and then, unwillingly but out of necessity, he worked for a time earning enough to support his dependent family. From his small wages Jack managed to save a few dollars to buy a leaky, second-hand skiff and spent his leisure hours sailing the Estuary and San Francisc-o Bay. The moon danced on the chopping waves as the Razzle Dazzle, J ack's newest investment, responded to his will. The thrill of his first raid on the oyster beds long lived in the b0y's memory as did his new title, Prince of the Oyster Pirates . This was a short-lived adventure, for Jack's con- science began to pirate his everyday thoughts. At the age of nineteen, Jack entered Oakland High School, supporting himself meanwhile. He then attended the University of California at Berkeley. Inevitably the call of the Yukon trumpeted in Jack's ears. Soon he had crossed the Divide seeking gold, had wintered in the Northland, and had graduated from a cheeckako to a veteran of the gold rush. His efforts left him penniless, and his zest for this great adventure suddenly evaporated. Back in Oakland Jack realized that the love of writing seethed in his veins. Although he had experienced much disappointment, his articles earning barely postage money, Jack was determined to rise from his pit Poqe Twenty

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Brom? i QELA Be anon The graduation of nineteen hundred and forty-eight was almost here. The classes were practicing singing and marching. Then came the big night. Even though we were just ending our sophomore year, we were glad to see this graduation because it meant that in two years we would be in the front row if we were lucky. The fall term of our junior year began on September eighth, nineteen hundred and forty-eight. On this first day we noticed that we had two new members, Barbara Benjamin and Francis Lennihan. The class now had in it Barbara, Wayne, Lois, Mary, Robert, Francis, Marie, Paul, Albert, and Jane. The teachers were Mr. Dunlap, Miss Brown, Mrs. Clifford, and Mrs. Turner The cast' for the annual Senior Play was chosen in early October. Marie and Jane were given parts. Mary Fox left us in October. On October 29, 194.8 we, the Junior Class, had a Hallowe'en Dance to raise some money for the Junior Prom. Just before the play was to be presented one of the seniors became ill, and Wayne Blackwell was asked to take his place. Soon it was nineteen hundred and forty-nine, and we found ourselves decorating the auditorium for our Prom. We decorated the hall in blue and white and had large clusters of balloons on the ceiling. These were to be released when the dance was almost over. April first came - a perfect night. The crowd was large, and everyone seemed to enjoy himself. The members of the class who took part in sports during this year were Lois, Marie, Albert, Wayne, and Robert. Jane Waters was now head cheer leader. About this time Mr. Dunlap announced the Beacon Staff. Wayne Blackwell, Marie St. John, and Robert Hall were on his list. It was not long until graduati-on. When that night came, each of us juniors had his fingers crossed, and was thinking, Next year I will be in the front row. The summer went by very quickly. Soon it was time for school to open. Due to some work that was being done in the school, classes did not begin until September twelfth, nineteen hundred and forty-nine. This was to be our most important year. As seniors we felt very proud. There now were Wayne, Lois, Robert, Barbara, Francis, Marie, Paul, Albert, and Jane in our class. Our teach- ers were to be Mr. Dunlap, Miss Br-own, Mrs. Clifford, Mrs. Turner, and Mr. Driscoll, who was to be both teacher and coach. He coached our first six-man football team, our basketball teams, and our baseball team. The Senior Class all went to Worcester to see the Clark University Players present Othello . The play was produced in Shakespearean style. Shortly afterward the parts for the Senior Class play The Doctor's Daughter were announced. All the seniors were given parts. The play was given on December second, nineteen hundred and forty-nine, and we all feel that it was a success. On January eighteenth, nineteen hundred and fifty, our class went to Boston to have our pictures taken. After the pictures were taken, we went to Schraffts' for lunch. Later we purchased tickets for Brigadoon . Page Nineteen

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Brrnmiijzel.-gl BG acon of obscurity to heights of recognition. After many months of rejection by editors, he sold his first article, To the Man on the Trail to the Oncrlanrl Monthly for the meager sum of five dollars. The beginning of a new century marked the beginning of Jack Lon- don's successful writing career. He set for himself a daily quota of a thousand words which he wrote early each morning. One of Jack's many hindrances in life was his unceasing craving for liquor. From early childhood the shadow of John Barleycorn had followed Jack London, first tormenting him, then delighting him. It took almost his whole lifetime for Jack to free himself from his thirst for alcohol. He told of these experiences in his book, John Barleycorn. After Jack's unsuccessful marriage to Bess Madden, he left her and their two daughters and began lecturing in Chicago. Once again Jack married. This time he chose Charmain, a girl who, like himself, loved adventure. The happy couple bought a ranch which Jack named The Valley of the Moon. By 1905 Jack London, the vagrant-the drunk -was the most fam-ous and highest paid author in America. Even with fame, Jack was lonely for the call of the sea gulls and the smell of the ocean, so again he followed the beckoning finger of adventure. After many months of discouraging defeats in the building of his newest craft, The Snark, Jack and Charmain set out for a cruise around the world. Just twenty-seven days out of San Francisco, Jack sighted Pearl Harbor. The happy couple were greeted by throngs of Hawaiians, who were shouting and singing. They spent months cruising the South Seas, having what Jack called his first vacation . The trip got no further for Jack became ill with a tropical disease and returned home to his ranch. Following his recovery he turned out two books which were greeted with little enthusiasm by the public: the Iron Heel and a biographical novel, Martin Eden. His next venture was to build a stone mansion. The cost was tremen- dous, but after many, many weeks of impatient waiting, the marvelous structure was finished. The night after its completion the mansion was gutted by fire. In 1916 Jack and Charmain wintered in Hawaii hoping that there Jack could regain his failing health. Upon his return to America Jack began living in a world of semi-realism, refusing to do anything to prolong his life of forty-one years. No one can ever know whether it was by accident that Jack took a fatal dose of medicine on the morning of November 22nd, 1916. The story of Jack London's remarkable life and climb to fame will live forever in the minds of the millions who loved and admired his courage and genius. Barbara C. Benjamin Pcrqe Twenty-one