Holbrook High School - Echo Yearbook (Holbrook, MA)

Page 12 text:

10 THE ECHO “MAY THE BEST MAN WIN” One-act comedy by Ada Clooney Characters: Benjamin Hackett — A tall, blond, good natured farmer about twenty- one years of age. Carlo Navarra — A tall, dark, foreign looking fellow with a very high opinion of himself. Mr. Wall — A very jolly, friendly motion picture producer who finds it very difficult to find suitable actors for his productions. Miss Martin — An attractive secretary to Mr. Wall, about twenty years of age. Mr. Wall depends almost entirely on her to make his selections. Snowball — A jolly, comical negro who acts as office boy, janitor, and whatever else Mr. Wall might need. Setting — Mr. Wall’s office in the middle of the afternoon. The curtain rises to find Snowball slowly sweeping the floor and humming a popular tune. Mr. Wall is seated at his desk, glancing first at his wrist-watch and then the door. CURTAIN Mr. Wall (angrily) : For heaven’s sake. Snowball, stop that in- fernal singing! You’re driving me mad! Snowball (with a hurt look on his face) : Gee, boss, yo don calls mah singin’ infernal, and mah sugar she don thinks it’s swell. Mr. Wall: Well, it may sound sw’ell to some people, but I’m tell- ing you it grates on my nerves. Snowball (leaning on the broom with which he had been sweep- ing) : Boss, yo’s always saying how things grate on yo nerves, and ah still can’t figure it out. Mr. Wall (with signs of interest) : Can’t figure what out. Snowball ? Snowball: Well, ah’s watched my mammy grate lemons and cheese, and ah can’t see how mah singin’ can do the same thing to you. Mr. Wall (disgustedly) : Oh, Snowball, you get dumber and dumber every day. (At this moment Miss Martin enters left ; she is breathless and excited for she knows she is a few minutes late. Under her arm she carries a leather folder containing papers.) Miss Martin (excitedly) : Oh, Mr. Wall, am I late? I thought I’d never get here on that poky street car. Mr. Wall (cheerily) : Why, yes. Miss Martin, you’re three and one-half minutes late. Well, what did you make out of the character sketches I gave you to look over last night? Do they fit the part I need for my new production ? Miss Martin (disgustedly): No, there wasn’t one of them that would fit into the part. They’re all the Romeo type that come in every day. What you want for this part is a clean cut farmer boy. To tell you the truth, Mr. Wall, I doubt very much if you’ll be successful.

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THE ECHO 9 Prizes were awarded for the two best costumes. They went to Willard Hamilton and Geraldine Collins; and for the two best prize waltzers, Ouida Holmes and Leo Randall. Few appeared in costumes because of the date, which was postponed from November 1 to Novem- ber 8 because of another local social’s interfering. Many thought it was too late to wear Hallowe’en costumes. The faculty members who were present were Miss Megley, Mrs. Abbott, Mr. Neal, and Mr. Naverouskis. This dance was a success financially as well as socially because there ’s nothing quite like a school dance when the fellows get together and show off the “lights of their life” and everything turns out fine. WHAT MY FOUR YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL HAVE DONE FOR ME I feel that I have gained immeasurably during my four years in high school, both in knowledge and friendship. To me they have been four happy, profitable years that will always stand out in my memory. There are several reasons for my thinking this, and I shall attempt to give some of them in this theme. The greatest thing high school has done for me is probably the knowledge I have derived from my several subjects. I have developed a wider range in my understanding of English literature and a more correct use of English grammar. Both of these have been derived from four years of study in English. They should prove of great value to me later in life. The profit three years of mathematics has given me, while not, in my estimation, as valuable as English, should; however, assist me in almost any kind of employment I might take up later. The best use I have obtained from foreign languages is assist- ance in my other studies. This is true because of the fact that so many English words have their origin either in the French or Latin languages. The sciences studied in high school give one a more prac- tical education. They invariably deal with things we are in constant contact with. Thus, their benefits should be as great to me as to any high school student. During my four years in high school I have met and become acquainted with several new people, providing another value to my high school years. After having studied with other pupils for four years, one feels that he knows them well and has made several new friendships. Thus he broadens his range of interest and profits accordingly. Another thing high school has done for me is to prepare me for my adventure into life. Knowledge, friendship, experience — all these will combine to assist me in gaining success in life. They have shown me that life holds no terrors for the one who meets it bravely. The great benefit that my four years in high school have been to me can never, to my mind, be equaled, and so I leave Sumner High School with a deep feeling of gratitude for what it has done for me. Roland Kearns.

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THE ECHO 11 Mr. Wall (glancing at his watch again) : Tm expecting those two boys I told you about in fifteen minutes. (Then turning to Snowball who had a pretty big pile of dirt collected.) Take a look in the wait- ing room and see if they have arrived yet. (Snowball leans his broom against the wall and exits left.) Miss Martin: Well, Mr. Wall, I sure wish you luck. I’ll sit at my desk and do the heavy looking on for awhile. (Crosses and sits down at the desk at left, and begins to look over her papers.) (Snowball enters left, and with him is Benjamin Hackett, a tall, good looking farmer lad of about twenty-one years of age.) Ben. Hackett (walking towards Mr. Wall’s desk) : You — , er — , er sent for me, sir ? Mr. Wall (reassuring) : Why, yes, but you don’t have to be nervous in my office, my boy. Now, to get down to business. Have you any credentials? Ben. Hackett (innocently) : You mean have I any credit? No I don’t owe bills ; my father always taught us not to buy on credit. Mr. Wall (smiling out of the corner of his mouth) : I mean, have you any good points you would like to tell me about yourself? Ben. Hackett: Gosh, there isn’t much to tell about myself. I’m just a poor farmer. I won the prize that the dramatic club offered for the best actor of the year. That’s why I am here. (During this conversation Snowball was moving around within earshot, and Miss Martin was listening and taking down any thing she thought important.) Mr. Wall: All right. Snowball, you may go now and take that pile of dirt with you. Snowball (looking first at the dirt and then at Ben. Hackett) : I thought ah could leave the dirt thar, and yo new actor could plant some ob his farm products there. Ha, Ha ! (Exits left carrying dust- pan full of dirt.) Mr. Wall (watching Snowball with a sour look on his face) : Never mind him, my boy. He’s always like that. Miss Martin (knowingly) : Yes, you’ll have to get used to that and even worse than that, but Snowball has a kind heart. He’ll do anything for you. Ben. Hackett (joyfully) : Why — , er — , er the way you two are talking you make me think I’m going to be working here with you. Miss Martin: Well, by the looks of my notes here, you’ve got more chance than any we have had so far. Mr. Wall (understandingly) : Don’t build the boy’s hopes too high. Miss Martin. I have another caller this afternoon. (At this moment the door at left opens with a bang, and Snow- ball comes in all excited and runs over to Mr. Wall’s desk.) Snowball (all out of breath) : 0 boy ! Man, oh man, yo outa see da ’andsome sheik dat don just come in de waiting room! I don think yo had better thro’ this flat footed farmer out and give dis one some ob yo fancy talking to. Mr. Wall (very angry and embarrassed) : Get out! You’ve been