High School of Commerce - Caduceus Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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a F e e avoute Poruod To visitors, the clamorous charge of students to the lunch- room must seem a startling, unusual occurrence; yet for years this ravenous surge has been a traditional incident in the Commerce schedule. The daily episode, characterized by the eagerness of the hungry mass, is made more humorous by the antics of third-floor occupants, who nearly jump the bell while trying to get a head start on lower-level speed demons. In fact, the sudden gust of energy shown by even the laziest boy always astonishes the most experienced teach- ers, who wisely tarry lest they be swept off their feet by unheeding pupils. Upon reaching the cafeteria, those who carry their own dinners immediately dash for tables; while the lunch buyers join the already too-long lines in search of essential vitamins. The ever-present confusion — jabbering, chattering, eating, giggling, punctuated by an occasional shattered dish or spilled milk bottle —rivals that of any Springfield lunch- eonette. Gradually, as swiftly as it darted in, the crowd departs, RIGHT — Lunchroom Workers. Mrs. Minnie Gam- ble, Mrs. Katherine Garneau, Mrs. Carline Li nden, Miss Theresa Hurley, Mrs. Wini- fred Smith. . . . BELOW— Lunch Line in Cafeteria. [17] leaving behind only the efficient kitchen workers, who daily draw a breath of relief as their domain settles once more into the unbroken hum of preparation for the following day’s onslaught. CULINARY JEWELS The successful management of the lunchroom can be ac- credited to the efhcient kitchen staff. Even during wartime, this busy group succeeds in supplying not only well-balanced meals but also cookies and candy — youth’s inevitable favor- ites —for lunch-time enjoyment. Each day these scurrying workers, directed by efficient Mrs. Linden, try to keep their student helpers on an even keel amidst a storm of inquiries and requests from hurried mobs. Despite the apparent difh- culty in satisfying the multitude of mouths, the staff always produces an enjoyable menu. Me Besides supplying meals for the hundreds of teen-age Com- merce students, the kitchen staff has been even busier since the establishment of the nursery school for the children of war workers. Under the motherly supervision of Mrs. Gamble, morning orange juice, hot lunches, and afternoon milk have been furnished to an average of forty nursery tots every day.

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LITERARY TREASURES Traditionally and necessarily quiet, the library engulfs the accumulated books, literature, and periodicals that supply Our literary storehouse always has been the best equipped of any Spring- field high school. For thirty years — originally directed by Miss Sinsabaugh and now by Miss Libby — the library has collected the vast knowledge it retains for everyone’s use. energetic Commerce students with knowledge. To those students who make the library a second home room, its quiet orderliness provides the tranquil atmosphere The vast hoard of encyclopedias always are ready for productive study; the needed for their constant quest of facts. unlimited supply of magazines and records lie waiting for instant reference. For the more languid reader, the ageless works of Dickens, Poe, Longfellow, Hawthorne, and their famous contemporaries sit invitingly amidst the motley as- sortment behind the main desk. Some explorers for knowl- edge may find their enjoyment between the covers of Berlin Diary, The Yearling, or any of the rnore modern books. [ 16 ] LEFT—Corner of Library Norma Clark and Regina Nielsen in foreground. .. . BELOW—Statue of Mercury in L.brary Window. No matter what the taste of a literary explorer, our book- shelves provide the enjoyment for pleasant, relaxing reading. The peaceful calm of this room will always remain in contrast to the ever-changing turmoil of the outside passing world. OUR SILVER STREAK Since 1912, a champion runner has resided upon a marble pedestal in the northern nook of the library. This mythical Silver Streak poses precariously, his unseeing eyes gazing into the future of some unsuspecting student. His apparent oblivion forms a strong contrast to the mental activity sug- gested by the book-weary pupils, who glance occasionally ‘upward as if trying to absorb the energy which radiates from the lean, racing form of this famed messenger of the gods. With his wand, caduceus, clasped tightly in hand, and his winged feet tense with unburned endurance, Mercury, god of Commerce, has enjoyed the especial admiration of late- coming pupils, who vainly wish they possessed his fabulous swiftness to aid their 8:59 dashes to their lockers.

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Owe Wlechanical Rage Sometime during their final year, most seniors work in 216A, the duplicating room. At first, they are somewhat overwhelmed by the array of odd-looking machines, bearing such queer names: mimeoscope, dictaphone, electromatic type- writer, new-process duplicator, multigraph. However, within an amazingly short time they are able to learn the very essential and convenient duplicating tactics. As only five or six constitute a class, informality always reigns. At first the group clusters about each machine, learning the details of its operation. Then the students use the machines in rotation, working alone or with one another. Having successfully run a mimeograph stencil, or written letters via the dictaphone records, they can go on to the next machine, until all have become familiar. This individual- work method assures the fastest possible progress. At the conclusion of this brief course, the seniors usually feel that they have gained immeasurably valuable knowledge from the many spare hours they have spent working among the fascinating machines. [18 ] LEFT—Typical Typewriting Class. Ruth Laznovsky, Esther O'Connell, Mary Krumsick, Marion Holton in foreground. . . . BELOW—Duplicating Group. Louise Horney, Francis Burns Edna Nielsen, Marion Holton, Harold Cutler. Commerce Pride For thirty years, the friendly click! clack! of the machines in the typewriting rooms has permeated Commerce’s tradi- tionally industrious air. To each beginning class, type, as it is affectionately called, has always brought the thrill of experimentation. This unlimited curiosity soon dissolves when pupils’ fingers, unaccustomed to such activity, struggle to maintain control of each wayward motion that threatens to make mischief —and errors! After one or two years of type. training from Miss Hunt or Miss Walker, busy transcription students never relax from their goal of accuracy and increased speed. Although the chief problem of each Senior is to transcribe his mass of words and phrases, his resulting letter must be so perfect as to pass the eagle-eyed vigilance of Miss Clark, Mrs. Davis, and Mr. Campbell. Realizing all these facts, the transcrip- tion pupils apply every atom of energy in order to retain the national renown of the High School of Commerce for high success in its stenographic courses.