Gloucester High School - Flicker Yearbook (Gloucester, MA)

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THE SENIOR FLICKER 29 omores, sophisticated and bearing that air of wisdom that marks one just out of the Freshman year. He saw them in the early part of their Junior year, leading and setting an example that the other members of the school profited by. Throughout his reviewal of the Class’s past he saw Knowles, Johnson, McLean, Parsons, Whynot, and a multitude of lesser lights, fighting their way to victory on gridiron and diamond. In scholarship he saw Mills, Clark, Madsen and Webber, setting a mark that the others strove to attain. In military work he saw Mills, Johnson, Taylor, and Webber standing out from the rest of the pack. And finally in beauty and popularity he saw McDonald, Dickerson, the Addison Street tribe, Brown, and too many others to enu- merate here. After this reviewal of the past life he tried to pierce the dark which veiled the future, but in this he was unsuccessful. For what person be there who can ever hope to look high enough among the pinnacles of fame and discern the topmost among them, The Junior Class, 1925? A. L. S., ’25 THINGS THAT MATTER (An Historical Sketch of the Class of 1924) The action takes place in the distant future. The scene is laid in Room Ten, Gloucester High School. The schoolroom has a slightly domed ceiling of ground glass, through which light comes into the room. There are no windows. No lighting fixtures are visible, but, when necessary, indirect lighting is obtained from hidden sources behind a moulding. The positions of the various planets are traced in thin black lines on the ceiling in their relative positions. The walls have maps painted on them in very light colors, yet they are distinct and accurate. Transportation and communication lines are also shown. A large globe stands in one corner. The room contains about nine mammoth chairs, comfortable and in good taste. They are movable, as are the desks. They had not been advertized to correct bad posture — if they had, they wouldn’t have. They are just comf’y chairs, such as we see beside a fireplace at the present time. In general the chairs and desks are in a semi-circular position, with the teacher’s at the axis. Each desk has a shelf of reference books. Various instruments dealing with astronomy and of historical value lie about slightly covered with dust. Orange dominates the color scheme, but gray and black, and the blues and greens of the maps tone down the otherwise overcharged atmosphere. At the rise of the curtains, the students are sprawled over their chairs; many are deeply engrossed in ponderous books. All seem tall and thin; most of them wear glasses. One young man sings lustily from the depths of his chair. (The permanent history teacher being delayed, a promising young teacher will take charge.) Immediately after the rise of the curtain the teacher enters and introduces herself. She is extremely attractive, her hair, coal black, is bobbed and worn in the present Parisian mode; only a trifle longer. She wears large antique earrings; she is pale, except for her lips and nostrils, which are interestingly drawn in delicate lines, and are of an old-china-red hue. Her gown is of burnt-orange silk with a bold futuristic design in browns and greys; a slendering panel effect is noticed in the back. It is cut square at the neck; with one-quarter length sleeves. Her voice is soft, calm ; it comes from below her chest, and carries well. The students gradually stir, the singing stops; somebody gasps, and the gasp seems suspended in the air, which has become electrified.

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28 THE SENIOR FLICKER So ends our history but remember that — There is a class in Gloucester High — That’s full of “pep” and loyalty, Who has the slogan, “never die” — Who is a friend to everyone, Who couldn’t frown and wouldn’t sigh, And to whom is always said, “well done”. Truly, there is a class like this, A class that lives in joy and bliss — It’s the Sophomore class of ’26. Martha Burnham, ’26 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR CLASS In Spain in the year of our Lord 1490 a great proclamation was issued. It stated that in a land where no European had traveled, a group of the wisest, cleverest, prettiest, and most talented people would astound the world with their achievements. It went on to state that when this group, first came together a warning would be given from the heavens, which would guide all the curious seekers of adventure to this history-making body. In Spain at this time there was an Italian named Columbus. He had no claim to distinction except a little parlor trick which he had invented; namely, the standing of an egg on its end. Now Chris decided that it would be quite nice if he were able to find this group at once. So he went to the Queen, who was quite taken up by his Italian beauty, and he hoodwinked enough money out of her to pay for the purchase of ships and supplies for his journey. There is no need of an accounting here of what took place ; we all know that instead of the illustrious group he had tried to find, all he found were dusky maidens, a lot of land, and a few shiploads of fools’ gold. We also know that he returned home a sadder and wiser man. We will skip over a few years, four hundred and thirty-four to be exact. Shining in the heavens a light dimmed all of its competing stars. The great and wise men pondered over this strange phenomenon. Various opinions were given as to its origin and its purpose. But in that great country only one man remembered the prophecy which his great-great-grandfather’s grand- father had heard, and passed on to his ancestors. Pedro, for this was his name, was ordained, being chosen for this work for his remarkable powers. Calling into play one of these powers, he was transferred instantly to the wonder of wonders, the cause of the light, the Junior Class of 1925. Pedro was appalled by the sight that met him ; beauty — not the kind that is only skin deep — met his eyes on every side. He asked a passer-by who these beauties were. The one interrogated replied, “High School girls, Juniors without a doubt. That class is the whole cheese hereabouts.” The young men, too, had an air of superiority that marked them from that common herd, the Freshmen, the Sophomores, and the Seniors. Pedro concentrated his abnormal mind and was able to look back at the past activities of this notable group. He saw them entering the School as Freshmen, green as the grass they trod under foot. He saw them as Soph-

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30 THE SENIOR FLICKER Teacher: What work are you responsible for today? Star Pupil (standing) : We were to discuss Labor Unions, and in- dustrial conditions of the present time. Teacher: That is fine; I have a friend who is prominent in such af- fairs. Do you know the most vigorous labor agitator of this age? Pupil (standing, pauses): Charles Pew! — yes, and you know he was graduated from this school, too! He was in my Dad’s class, the class of 1924 — that was some class, so my Dad says. Why, my Dad said that when his class came in, the school had to be rebuilt and an addition made, because of the intellectual greatness of the students. Then the principal, thinking he could not do the class justice, resigned. They had to search high and low to find one who was suitable for them. Finally they discovered Mr. Ringer, who, with his “master hand,” guided them over many a rough bit of the way and stood always as an understanding friend. Teacher: If you could improve upon your English, you would perhaps do as well as Priscilla Moore, who won the inter-class Prize Speaking contest in her Freshman year. The pupils of Gloucester High School, especially that marvelous class of 1924, have always been known for their literary ability, and through the Beacon many have gained fame and fortune. You recall also that Priscilla Davis and Francis Jenney received Sawyer Medals in their Freshman year. Pupil: Yes, my Dad told me about the Beacon. He said Ruth Ricker won out in a competition naming the new magazine. They had to start a school paper that year because the Seniors were unable to keep up with the Freshmen, and they needed something in which to record the events. They had a boys’ cooking class then, too ; Waldo Story started it, and all the prospective bachelors joined. Gee, those were happy days. Teacher: Yes, those days were jolly and light-hearted, but they were suddenly saddened during the Sophomore year by the death of one of their classmates, Myron L. Quinlan. Pupil: My Dad told me that part way through the career of that brilliant class, their thoughts were dangerously disturbed by the toot and hissing of donkey engines, the fall of bricks, and the incessant pounding of the eight-eighty-a-day carpenter. That was when the addition was being built, and the students suffered terrible inconveniences by being forced to walk to the Peabody Building and the “Y” in all kinds of weather. But Dad said that that only dampened curls and feet ; the spirit of the class re- mained intact. Teacher: You surprise me with your knowledge of these really im- portant events. We have wandered ' somewhat from our subject, but I am sure there can be no harm in studying these things that matter. Do you know anything about the athletes of that day? Pupil: Why — yes, in his Sophomore year, Ford Martin began to work up in track, as did Frank Jenney also. Margaret Peeples began to reach out for laurels in basketball in her Sophomore year. Then Martin, Jenney, and Connors, won their first recognition in military drill. In 1922 Connors got into football and stuck there. Raymond Wardrop came out strong in football, too, but at the end of his Sophomore year Wardrop left school and went on the Massachusetts Nautical Training Ship. Ruth Brown also left then and went to Mt. Ida for a year, but returned again to G. H. S. in her Senior year. r .