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

Page 12 text:

6 THE EXPONENT this chart. It represents the four- year cruise of the class of 1927 throug h Greenfield High School. Miss Wheeler: Oh, I would love to see it. It must be interesting to see it charted like that. Captain: Yes, it is. I remem¬ ber the sailing day as well as though it were yesterday. There certainly were a great many children—about two hundred and seventeen—all dressed up like real sailors, with a jaunty cap on each head. Miss Wheeler: Yes, and weren ' t they anxious to have some real of¬ ficials! Here it shows where they elected Dick Hamilton as captain, R uth Reynolds, first mate, Ruth Dickinson, the keeper of the log, Charles Nims, purser and Vera Mor¬ ris, his assistant. Of course you were really in charge, weren ' t you? I suppose, though that you Iiac! to make them feel happy and import¬ ant! Captain: Of course. But were¬ n ' t they stubborn! Why I heard that Mr. Smith, the chaperon, act¬ ually had to spank George Billings rgid Russ Shay to make them be¬ have. However, after some revelry on deck., during the reception given them by the Sophs, they calmed down. Mv ship stood the ordeal ex¬ ceptionally well. The ship was old, and these Freshmen had shorter hours than any other class on board, but they managed to do well, and a gieat many received high ranKs in their studies. Miss Wheeler: Five months of sailing through the auiet stra ' ts of Diligence and Study! Oh, here ' s wh re thev ran into a cyclone! Capt: Yes, they had entered the region of “Mid-Year Exams. They were frantic and many fell over¬ board. That was a critical - ' me. Even the bravest did not dare to venture onto the deck of “School Activities until later in the vov- age. While rounding the coast of “Final Exams they were b ' - ' er sailors, and there were fewer cas¬ ualties. Miss Wheeler: The reports that we received about them were very good. Captain: Yes, thev gloated over them even when beginning the sec¬ ond year of the cruise. This time we had a large new ship, and every¬ one was much happier. But really. my passengers didn ' t do much but study. M.ss Wheeler: The first year was the best as far as studying goes, I guess. They had another election about this time and elected Dick Hamilton again as pilot, Ruth Dick¬ inson, first mate, George Mazuz an, second mate Margaret McIntosh, purser and Carolyn Avery her as¬ sistant. Captain: By this time they were well acquainted with their surround¬ ings and they clambered all over the ship. They gave a (reception to a bunch of youngsters on the fourth deck who were on their first voyage. At this party they also gave a play, “The Queen of Hearts. Didn ' t you hear how Blanche Williams first came into prominence as ar actress in this play? Miss Wheeler: Yes, it was in the papers. What ' s this? It says here that Maniatty, Bell, Dickinson, Vickery and Anson booted the pig¬ skin all over the ship. Captain: Those were exciting times. In practice one day Anson tackled the cook by mistake and had to polish the brass from three until eleven P. M. for the rest of the voyage. Did you see where Helen Dawe, Talb ot Aldrich, Florence Portman and Marion Dean led the climb for the topmost in scholar¬ ship? M ' ss Wheeler: The chart is blurred about this spot, but I re¬ member reports that they had be¬ gun their climb this year. Dick Hamilton seems to be pilot again, Carolyn Aver- ' ’’ is first mate, Bar¬ bara Humes, second mate, Charles Nims, purser and George Mazuzan, his assistant. Captain: Did you ever hear about their Junior Prize-Speaking? You know, it ' s one of the customs of my ship to have a Junior Prize- Speaking Contest. This year the competition was espec ' ally keen. Blanche Williams and Dick Hamil¬ ton carried off the honors with some dandy poems. Miss Wheeler: What ' s this about a Prom? Captain: Oh. thev gave a Prom to the lords of the ship, the Sen ' ors. That was a Prom all right! Too bad they have to go from one ex¬ treme to another in their parties.

Page 11 text:

THE EXPONENT 5 Rome, and to Egypt. Therefore, he left the United states with a little change in his pocket and worked his passage to Europe. In his jour¬ neys, wnich led him into all parts of the v orld, Halliburton visited those cities and places of interest which were not on the deluxe tours. In fact, he chose those places to visit which he had been informed were inaccessible and closed to tour¬ ists. As a result, Halliburton had very interesting and educational travels, which were quite different from those of others, and the books which he wrote about his experi¬ ences are consequently original and widely read. He has also enter¬ tained thousands of people with his lectures on his travels. Surely we can say that Richard Halliburton has become successful by doing things differently. x4nother man who has contrib¬ uted much to civilization by doing things differently is Colonel William Gorgas, the hero of the Panama Canal. In building the canal, there was one hindrance which had brought failure to the foreign coun¬ tries attempting the cut through Panama, and which at one time seemed certain to prevent the Amer¬ ican government from completing the “big ditch.” It was the deadly yellow fever, which was supposed to be caused by uncleanliness. Al¬ though Colonel Gorgas with other doctors had previously found the real cause of the yellow fever to be germs carried by a certain kind of mosquito, the cmomission in charge of the canal project could not believe this, and consequently Gorgas could obtain no money with which to destroy the breeding places of the mosquitos. While others would have become discouraged and would have left with sufficient rea¬ son, Gargos acted in a different man¬ ner and stuck to his job. He saw that a great contagion of yellow fever among the workmen was in¬ evitable, and so he set about with what few resources he had to pre¬ vent it from spreading. Thus, when the fever did break out in the set¬ tlements, Gorgas was prepared to save much suffering, and when authority of the canal was trans¬ ferred into other hands. Colonel Gorgas received the necessary sun- port with which he stamped out the yellow fever from the canal zone. Numerous other examples might be cited of men -and women who have made their lifework a little different from that of others, with good results both to themselves and to others. However, let us look at the merits of doing things differ¬ ently from another point of view. How have the great contributions to civilization been made? By the willingness and desire of certain men and women to do things a lit¬ tle differently from others. The first airplane was made possible by the desire of the Wright brothers to do things differently. The sub¬ marine, wireless, the electric car, in fact every invention is the result of someone’s desire to make some¬ thing a little different, believin that the old way of performing various tasks could be improved upon. Lastly, doing things differently has a good effect upon people. It tends to create self-reliance and to push them ahead. Gen. Ernest Hoeking has said, “Imitation under¬ mines energy, it is a form of self¬ alienation. ff repression, a failure of self-confidence.” The converse ' f his statement might well be thi«. that originality builds up energy, it is a form of self expression, a help to confidence and self-reliance. Let us try to make life more worth liv¬ ing by doing things a little differ¬ ently and better. TALBOT ALDRICH, ’27. CLASS HISTORY The history of the class of 1927 is presented through the use of a nautical chart. The scene is laid in the captain’s saloon of an outgoing liner. The characters are Capt. Chesling and Miss Wheeler, a pas¬ senger. Miss Wheeler: Good afternoon. Captain, you and I appear to be the only good sailors on board, ex¬ cept, for the crew. Everyone else seems to be confined to his state¬ room. I wonder if you have some¬ thing that I may read this after¬ noon. Captain: I don’t believe you will find many books here. Miss Wheel¬ er, but you may be intcrestea In

Page 13 text:

THE EXPONENT 7 isn’t it? That night we were just I skimming by the South Sea Isles. I It was a lovely night and many a heart was lost in the moonlight, j The shock of this Prom sent the ship against the “Rock of Gossip,” but after a bit we hoisted the sails for the last lap of their journey. These timid and gentle freshmen had become experienced Senior of¬ ficers. Dick Hamilton was still the pilot, and a mighty good one, too, Barbara Humes was first mate, Walter Anson kept the log, Ruth Reynolds was purser and Charles j Nims was her assistant. Miss Wheeler: Oh! Look here! This must have been where they sailed into the Fair and through the help of Woodard and Nims cap- ' tured many honors. I Capta in: Our crew was well rep- 1 resented in football, too. They cov- 1 ered themselves with nearly as much j glory as with water. Miss Wheeler: Here it says that when they were snowed in that w’n- ter, Sautter, Newman, Martin, Uzda- I PROPHECY OF I Time—1937, June. Scene: First class cabin deck of j The Transatlantic Liner, “Monsieur ' Beaucaire.” I Characters: Mabel Higgins, Ron¬ ald Hamilton, Benjamin Whittam. i D. H.: Good afternoon, Mabel. Won’t you stay on deck awhile and j talk over old times. Think of it, just ten years ago today we were graduating from Greenfield High I School and it seems only a year. Isn’t it queer that we should both be traveling on the same boat to Europe at just this time. How do you like sea-faring? (Steward enters) M. H.: Oh fine, but the food is far from excellent. It reminds me of the old G. H. S. cafeteria. Pine¬ apple has been served in different ways every day this week. I won¬ der if someone donated a pineapple factory to the cook. B. W.: You don’t mean the high school at Greenfield, Massachusetts? Why, I graduated from there in 1927. D. H. and M. H.: Why it’s Ben¬ ny Whittam!!. B. W.: What are you two doing vinis, Nims and Mahoney gave a good exhibition of basket-ball. What IS this about “Monsieur Beaucaire?” Captain; Oh, “Monsieur Beau¬ caire” was the Senior Play. It was a very good performance and the class should feel proud of itself. The scenes were laid during the time of Louis XIV. The boys sur¬ prised everyone with their exhibi¬ tion of fencing. Monsieur Beau¬ caire was ' played by Benjamin Whit¬ tam and Lady Carlisle by Blanche Williams. Miss Wheeler: I heard that they were both offered positions as movie stars. At the end of the cruise, here, it savs that Helen Dawe cap- tlired! -first place in the race for scholarship with Talbot a close sec¬ ond. They have certainly had four wonderful years, haven’t they? Captain: Yes, and may they have four score more years just as full of good times and happiness! RUTH REYNOLDS, ’27. BORGE OVERGAARD, ’27. CLASS OF 1927 G. H. S. since I saw Francis Martin a couple of years ago. You know he is a private detective and at that time was engaged in locating a wife for John Dresser Dearborn. M. H.: Is that right? Why I thought John Dearborn was engaged to Elizabeth Ward. B. W.: Oh no, Charles Nims cut him out. D. H.: Sure, didn’t you know that? Why, I was at Charlie’s wed¬ ding and Alfred Johnson tied the knot. Are you in a rush, Ben? B. W.: Oh no! Mae Johnstone just wanted some attention for her pink-eyed poodle. Nothing important though, that can wait. Guess I’ll make myself at home and talk over old times with you. M. H.: Quite a few of the mem¬ bers of our class are married. I saw in the Greenfield Recorder that Edith Mowry, Margaret Looney—and oh, yes, the Dickinson sisters had a double wedding. B. W.: I expected George Mazu- zan would be the first to take the fa¬ tal step, but I heard that he is pro¬ fessor of argumentation at Harper’s Latin Institute for youthful females.