Holbrook High School - Echo Yearbook (Holbrook, MA)

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THE ECHO 21 money as they ordinarily did, and so they have to cut down their liv- ing costs in proportion to the wages they earn. By government em- ployees cutting down their costs of living many people are affected. The merchant and other tradesmen can’t sell so much, and thus their business gets poorer. Having plenty and yet little is a very interesting topic to con- sider. Many often wonder what is meant by this statement. It is just what it states. We live in a country, one of the richest in the entire world. We have plenty of natural resources, money, gold, metals, coal, rich soils, crops, large population; in fact, everything we have is in abundance. Well, if that is the case, it seems there should never be a depression. The trouble is that the competition between merchants and various concerns is so strong and keen, that it makes it impossible for the small merchants to compete with larger ones. The small merchant, being undersold, is forced out of business, and a s he has got to do something to live, he starts for the relief roles. The results of this serious situation have played an important part in our modern history. The Federal Government is being ap- proved of in some instances. Many people think this money being spent by the Federal Government will have to be paid back by our posterity. True, it will, but the government is spending the money rather wisely, as you will see. All the money is being used to benefit some recreational center, schools, roads, and numerous other ways of bettering a community. Before in the World War days, we here in America “got stuck.” That is, we’re not getting paid back and prob- ably never will. Instead of leaving this money idle in the treasury vaults or “throwing it away” in Europe, we are making use of it. It is being put into circulation in America where it should be put. Much could be done to prevent this situation which has such a land of plenty in its grasp. A good move to help the small merchant is to set some standard price on commodities which would give him a living chance to compete with the larger merchants. By paying the farmer a decent price for his hard earned crops he could prevent fore- closure on his property. By lending money to unreliable European countries, we paralyze our home-industries when they are in need of ready cash. The most outstanding principle for us to adopt to regain our prosperity is to “Buy American.” Instead of buying cheap, poorly made European and other foreign goods, we should not hesitate. We should buy without hesitation; we should buy well-made American commodities. G. Mullin, ’37.

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20 THE ECHO hear some product advertised that would be helpful to us or to some member of the family. In place of the morning paper with our coffee, now we can eat a hearty breakfast and listen to the latest news over the radio. Many schools are using radios to instruct their pupils. Through it they become acquainted with popular, classical, or opera music, and also learn to identify different musical instruments. Speeches and lectures can be heard on political, historical, commercial, and scientific subjects. Radio is certainly wonderful ! Rhoda Freethy, ’37. LITTLE IN A LAND OF PLENTY In this country of ours which is so large and rich, we have plenty but yet little. The farmers are raising their corn, wheat, potatoes, and other produce as before, but we are still in want. On farms wheat, corn, barley, and vegetables can be seen growing in fields for miles. We would be astonished to see a farmer who owns this fine, productive farm. He is a pitiful case, expecting to lose his home and all he has in the world on a foreclosure. These conditions are being taken care of hy the government to some extent, but the farmers are still in a pitiful state. From all appearances the farmer is going great, raising good crops and in an abundance, but losing his house seems incredible. We read in newspapers how the farmers are losing their property by the hundreds through foreclosure. We may think, “the farmer has crops to sell, and if he sells them, he can obtain money to pay his bills.” That is where the shoe pinches. The farmer has no money. The railroad, bus, and touring agencies are doing “a land office business.” This all puts money into circulation, and it is this money that keeps the various industries both large and small going. One visiting a large city would be astonished at the way the people are running about. Everything would look all right, and one would ask: “Where is the Depression?” These conditions look plenty encouraging. At boxing and wrestling shows, movies, plays, ball games, football games, and other past-times, one finds it sometimes a task to secure a seat. People know it costs money to attend these. True, it does cost money, and these people must have it. But where they get it will be a topic much discussed. The reasons for present conditions are varied and many. The government, city and federal employees, are standing the burden as well as the already heavily burdened taxpayer. Comparatively few people are able to prevent foreclosures by paying their taxes. If a person pays $200 a year, for example, a good part of this goes for relief funds. This relief is not entirely caused by those on relief rolls. Many would much rather work and earn the money than receive it in dole. As the various city, state, and federal employees contribute to this relief out of their wages, they naturally do not receive so much

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22 THE ECHO SOPHOMORE CLASS Row 4: I. Lons, R. Cann, R. Mullen, C. Wiggins, D. MacQuarrie, C. Williams, J. Mahoney, H. Tucker, R. Baker. Row 3: D. Tibbets, D. Schofield, M. Morse, M. Strain, D. Ward, V. Mosesso, H. Buckley, M. Bank. P. Christiansen, M. Johnson, E. Day, M. Callahan, L. Kenstowicz, H. Galvin. Row 2 : R. Woodman. L. Leonard, H. Eldridge, C. Caspersen, V. Albonetti, A. Flanagan, R, Cole. E. Bestoso, L. Scolameiro. J. Higgins, G. Gagnon, R. Kitts, F. Lyons, Row 1 : M. Harty, A. Franklin, E. Hanney, M. Chase, E. Williamson, C, Jervey, W. Wood, R. Clooney, A. Minkowski, S. Koeppel, E. Thomas, E. O’Connor. SOPHOMORE CLASS OFFICERS President — William Wood Treasurer — Ruth Clooney Vice-president — Charles Jervey Secretary — Esther Williamsor SOPHOMORE ENTERTAINMENT A pleasant entertainment under the supervision of Miss Bartlett was presented by the Sophomore Class at the Sumner High School on Wednesday, April 15, before a large and responsive audience. The program opened with piano selections by Norma Caswell. Two vocal selections were rendered by Lucy Kenstowicz, affording the audience a great amount of enjoyment. After this a two-act comedy “A Better Mouse Trap” was presented. Those taking part in the play were Mr. Hepplewaite, president of a paint concern, William Wood; Bob, his son, George Gagnon; Mary, his daughter, Alice Franklin; friends of