Greenfield High School - Evergreen / Exponent Yearbook (Greenfield, MA)

Page 23 text:

THE EXPONENT 17 the New Year Party was held, with an ideal evening as a result. Every¬ one enjoyed the recreation after the terrible suspense of “Midgers.” Again the cry went out tor more money to replenish the provisions and to pay for the festival affairs. As usual, a ray of hope came from the unexpected, in form of one who had just come aboard who said: “Let us try our voices in shouting to the sea dragons, and see who can per¬ form the best.” For many weeks the sore throat gargles were used faith¬ fully, and at last the crew of Public Speakers came on deck for the first time in the voyages of G. H. S. It was a successful trial and will prove to be a big factor in coming trips. Madeline Field, Catherine Hamilton, and Celia Pease took the honors, but the decision was close. The Baseball Banner was yet to be captured and with Joe Bonne¬ ville, Herbert Buckley, Ray Hough¬ ton and pitcher, Bartlett, from the Ship ’21, we contested hard, but our boat lacked the experience of that crack Orange crew. As we approached the end of the voyage, a picnic island was reached and all went ashore for a stroll and swim. We found Lake Spofford an ideal place and everyone voted “’twas a good time.” The good ship ’21 took up anchor again and said farewell to our Senior crew in the last and best Prom Festival ever held on the decks of the big ship called “Greenfield Armory.” The expense was great but who worried when the dance was on? Dark clouds must take care of themselves and storms come in the future. Dance on! We watched the older passengers go down the plank to Graduation Port, to take passports for other voyages. Thus , we were left alone to enjoy two months’ leave of ab¬ sence. ' ’ -! ' ' ’- When we gathered on deck again and the anchor was lifted, the decks of olde G. H. S. were too crowded. To be exact, four hundred and fif¬ teen skippers had come aboard, when only three hundred and sixty- five could be accommodated. So it was necessary to allow only one half of the deck hands on duty at once. “Very inconvenient,” said our pilot, Mr. Smith. The annual boat race was held and for the first time in four years, Shelburne nosed us out by a small margin. But the redeeming feature was the little “Hot Dog Boat” which was anchored off side the Big Ship. With its lusty voices and painted signs it tempted the public to help pay our Festival Prom debt left over from last year. And again the Purser was able to look the world in the face. An S. 0. S. wireless call came from the “big bosses” for cash to run the “Hops,” football, basketball and baseball crews. So the ever- alert Elpheage Kirouac and Rebecca Eberlein came to the rescue and handed us pledges to “pay our passages or get off” and it brought the desired effect. We paid a little more but got very much more for our money. That’s business. The usual signs of storms were noted in the roll and rocking of our good ship so we got together and got a head. Elpheage Kirouac was elected captain, with Edna Christo¬ pher as first mate; Irma Winslow as second mate; Madeliene Field as chief purser and Donald Perry, as¬ sistant purser. Then the good old ship tacked about and went steadier until mutiny among the faster element called for another festival. Again the crew of ’21 had the Hallowe’en Party, with some one present who evidently thought the cider and doughnuts were too good for those for whom they were intended and made away with them. Perhaps, they dumped them over-board and perhaps they didn’t. “Enuf Sed.” The next wind Mother Fortune saw fit to send, was in form of pos¬ ters and signs plastered all over the ship to the effect that “Good English Week is for You!” So each class did its best and showed us why we should use better English. Some one got out a warrant for Ray Houghton and brought proceedings in court against him on grounds that he used bad English and had com-

Page 22 text:

16 THE EXPONENT obliged to work harder than before, making up for lost time. A number of our members made their debut as authors and several had essays appear in “The Record¬ er. ” Beatrice St. Lawrence chose a good subject for hers; at least, some say it was one with which she was familiar: “Burning the Midnight Oil.” “Rain” is the title that Mabel Sweeley chose for her essay, and “The Excitement of Having a Bank Account” was written up by Con¬ stance Lovell. Only a few of the very good ones that were printed have been mentioned. Weary of the general routi ne of the year, about twenty-five members, after much confusion, hired tenders and rowed (rode) to Spofford Lake for a picnic. On a party of their own, Joe Bonneville with Buckley and Houghton nearly drowned by upsetting a canoe. Otherwise things were quite nor-, mal and everybody had a wonder¬ ful time. Another Prom and then—we were half way through the course; some had left the ship for positions else¬ where; some had moved away; some had gone to sail on larger and per¬ haps better known ships; but about ninety were still floating. ’Twas a happy gathering that crowded onto the decks of Good Ship G. H. S. the first Tuesday of September, 1919. The cabin and staterooms were crowded to their capacity, and the excitement was in¬ tense as our steady pilot, Mr. Smith, again hoisted anchor. “Hurrah! We’re off,” shouted we of the Good Ship. The first call came for the athletes to man the boats and go far out to sea to contest for the banner which floated for the fastest team. It was for the purple and gold banner which now hangs in our Chapel Hall, that made the Good Ship’s mates fly neck and neck with Shelburne’s fast ship, but finally we passed her with a mighty shout. Our biggest triumphs were when Ray Houghton and Charlie Bates’ little boats crossed the mile marks, easy winners of their events. Then the bugle sounded again. It called for a captain and mates to take the crew of ’21 on their course. Our captain, McDonald, had bade us farewell on our last voyage; and a new captain must be chosen. With loud rejoicing, Herbert Buckley was elected, with Edna Christopher as first mate; Mary Nims, second mate; Robert Rist, chief purser, and Eliza¬ beth Peck, assistant purser. Around decks went up signs: “Chocolate for Sale. Help the Good Ship ’21 for our Big Festival, the Prom!” And they did. Sea life became monotonous on board, so the skippers suggested a Hallowe’en Party with cornstalks, cider and doughnuts. The “hop” was ag rand affair and a boom¬ ing, success, financially. Then we encountered choppy sea and all held to the rail until the horizon cleared. A new “passage” system was established with “six” as the minimum mark. This pleased some of the passengers, who found it hard to get the necessary “seven.” One day there was a scramble on deck and we heard Captain Joe Bon¬ neville say: “Let’s get a crew and show these outside “rookies” some football.” With the aid of “Bud” Griswold, “Ray” Houghton, Clark Woodrow, and Luther Wood, of the crew of ’21, they showed that a promising team could be looked for in coming voyages. Dark clouds filled the horizon again and fierce winds blew from the north, warning us of the ap¬ proach of enemy ships. “Choose one and board it for the coming storm,” said our teachers. Some hailed the one called “Himarx” and more fell to “Lomarx” until the terrible “Mid- gers” were over. Storms at sea cease quickly, and the good ship found its course again. The decks were being cleared for Basket Ball crew. Captain Griswold, with Herbert Buckley, Ray Hough¬ ton, Joe Bonneville, and Clark Wood- row, of our Ship ’21 hailed the Turn¬ ers’ Ship and exciting races resulted. Each boat won a victory, but ours was a decisive one, while they won by a margin. Then the elder skippers called for some more jigs and reels and thus

Page 24 text:

18 THE EXPONENT mitted other offenses which were tried before a large audience. The picked jury, after long meditation, pronounced the prisoner “guilty” and imposed a just punishment for his wrong-doings. The football crew again came forth with Captain Joe Bonneville, Ray Houghton, Herbert Buckley and Manager Clark Woodrow from the ’21 crew. More races were won than in the preceding years which was encouraging. The usual storms were encount¬ ered on the rocky shoals of “Mid- gers.” Again the crew of ’21 met the terrible suffering and sickness. In order to encourage our liter¬ ary aspirants and get some good reading matter, a prize was offered for the best imagination and was “gathered in” by Grace Turner, who also did her share in taking the same award the year before. An Honorable mention should be given to Ruth Clark, whose efforts to imi¬ tate Edgar Allen Poe were contrib¬ uted faithfully. The whistle sounded again for a basketball crew. It was launched with Captain Ray Houghton in charge, and Herbert Buckley, Joe Bonneville, Clark Woodrow, Wilbur Hartman and Manager Ralph Clapp helping to make a crew of which Greenfield was proud. For the first time in many years a Greenfield skipper was considered worthy of a place as an All-Valley Star which our Captain Ray Houghton proved to be. The next bit of excitement came in the form of singers from the Athol Ship, challenging us to exercise our voices; so we went over to their ship and entertained them with our best songsters from the ’21 crew. And “do you know” that the next event which caused the most alarm was when Tailor Gibson “drank too much champagne” and the spiritual¬ istic craze “got us all?” Everyone went wild ’cause we said, “You are an old fool, and if I say you are an old fool, you are an old fool.” Every¬ one knows how the poor Private Secretary got mixed up with the “cracked uncle” and into other pre¬ dicaments which called for much ex¬ planation to the audience, who came aboard the big ship Lawler. The class of ’21 was well satisfied that their credit was reestablished and the cash register rang up good amounts. According to authority ’twas a creditable production for any amateur skippers. In time of storm it was hard to communicate for help, so the gen¬ iuses of the crew led a campaign for a wireless and a good start was made. May others do as much as our Donald Perry has done for the cause. The Baseball crew with Herbert Buckley in charge, aided by Joe Bonneville and Pitcher Bartlett, again set forth for Greenfield and fast teams were slowed up by Cap¬ tain Buckley’s clan. Before leaving the subject of athletics, we wish to point with pride to three all-around captains of sports: Joe Bonneville of Football, Herbert Buckley of Baseball, and Ray Houghton of Basketball; not one individual star but three pluggers for G. H. S. Before the voyage was over, the younger crew hailed us for a debate and before an interested audience, the crew of ’21 proved its superior¬ ity. Credit goes to Harold Tjarnell, Who spoke and refuted like a Sen¬ ator, precisely and convincingly. Darker clouds than ever before formed on the home stretch, and as the crew of ’21 was given her fare¬ well Festival Promenade, we won¬ dered if we must leave. It was a fine farewell but for the time, the real significance was forgotten. The last supper was in form of a banquet on shore called the “Man¬ sion House,” and ’twas a sad realiza¬ tion that our good times together were over. Bright clouds, however, soon appeared and the sun shone brightly as anchor was dropped in Graduation Harbor. Shore dress was donned and flat caps adorned our heads as we marched down the gang plank as Alumni Skippers. The rejoicing on dock ceased for a few minutes while the good ship pulled up anchor. Now we leave her to resume the voyage alone with best wishes for Loyalty, Honor and Scholarship. HOLLIS D. BILLINGS. CATHERINE F. HAMILTON.