Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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oe THEE MAGNET He He Literary

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—— THE MAGNE 1 —— OO aa DEBATING TEAYXI DEBATING TEAM The debating season in Leominster High started during the second week of March. Under the auspices of Clark University, various schools of Worcester County were invited to compete in the annual contest for the silver cup presented by the University. Although handicapped by a general lack of spirited support and a total deficit of proven material, Mr. Rogers accepted this invitation in the name of the school. From the proposed question submitted to the committee at Clark, the following subject was chosen: Resolved, “That Massachusetts enact a law providing for the life imprisonment of habitual criminals.” On March 27 our affirmative team met the Northboro negative team at Northboro, while our nega- tive team opposed Shrewsbury’s affirmative group. Both Leominster teams were victorious. In the semi-finals, however, Webster, the present holder of the cup, eliminated Leominster in debates held in the respective cities. The team members were as follows: Negative —Felix O'Keefe, Florence Wass; alternate, Sirkka Linna; Affirmative—George Osborn, Kathryn Brady; alternate, John Haines. Mr. John H. Rogers acted as faculty advisor, and Miss Irma Skinner, class of ’28, now of Emerson College, gave invaluable assistance. In view of this season’s activities Superintendent Perry has advised a half-year course in debating oh o rae | and logic, which, it is to be hoped, will stimulate debating interest, and lead to continued and successful seasons.

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THE MAGNET STUFFY FARWELL Farwell was a boy of many likes and dislikes. He had idiosyncrasies which, emboldened by a strong will, seemed to say to the universe, “What care I! JI can do anything I want to.” Now Stuffy ardently desired to own a car. Why not? Weren't all the magazines offering fine sedans, for the trifling exertion of solving a puzzle, and soliciting a few subscriptions to a magazine costing only five or ten cents a year? ‘The other boys would sit up and take notice some when he went roaring up the Boulevard with the cut-out open, at perhaps a mile a minute. The picture so appealed to his imagination, and the magazines continued to offer such alluring terms that finally Stuffy suited his thoughts to actions. The letter he wrote the magazine publishers read as follows: Dear President of the Rural Breeze: I should like very well to help build the circulation of your maga- zine. I have given your proposition, as outlined in a copy of the Breeze, careful thinking, and therefore on this nice day in July 1929, I offer you my services as a booster. Very kindly yours, Stuffy Farwell, Massachusetts. P.S. Incidentlly you can send me that car which you are giving away. The puzzle which I solved is enclosed. What other boy could send such a business-like letter with that phrase, “therefore on this nice day in July, ete.” that was just what the governor said on the end of the proclamation. They'd see he meant business, Stuffy mused. Four days passed and great patience was finally rewarded. ‘The postman delivered the treasured mail, but no sedan was in evidence. Stutfy learned from the literature received that his “Dear Presi- dent” had credited him with five thousand points for solving the puzzle, and an additional thousand points for his promptness in writing. With this fine total of points for a start it would be duck soup” to garner a few more thousand points with a brief canvass among the neighbors. If ignorance was bliss Stuffy was delirious with joy, for he was blindly cenfident of the family and in-laws as initial custom- ers. O, what a snap! The President had even sent him a few golden rules on salesmanship, that he might get the jump on any other boys who were possibly working Hien a sedan too, and in the same dis- trict as) stutty., tlhe president must like Stuffy and want to see him get ahead, ine thought. Well, on the morrow he would hit the trail of success. After a night of dreamful sleep “Stuffy’’ Horatio Farwell launched his campaign. But lo, the family was not on the market. They promised to reserve Judgment, however, and if he attained Ree successes, they also would lend a hand. That wasn’t so good, but mentally listing them as potential customers, Stufty turned to.a consideration of whom he dhol approach first. It was a problem. Mrs. Brown? Well, she might remember the time he painted her cat red. Mrs. Jones? But no, for as his eves roamed to the Naries house, he noticed a broken window in front. He could see a visionary danger sign on the Moore household. Well, he’d make a trial sale on that new lady down the street, she had no reason for disapproving of him. He approached very boldly, and knocked at the front door. “How do you do ma’am, I er-ah-that is I represent the Rural Breeze.” (A pause, and he blushingly looked down at a memo of his sales talk hidden in the palm of his hand.) Then he continued. “It is a very fine literary journal , and all the