Lunenburg High School - Echo Yearbook (Lunenburg, MA)

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The first quenoy. There this important delinquency is might call it, . I-sf qv I'.-..n'h 's .L DANGERS CONFRONTING OUR COUNTRY danger which causes much concern is juvenile delin- are many people who would have different ideas about question. But I think the main reason for juvenile the lack of home supervisiong many children, as you bring themselves up. Their parents care not where they are or what they are doing. They are never told what is right and what is wrong. If children are allowed to do what they wish,when they wish to do it, they are getting the wrong ideas on life. Of course, we know that this question became of very great concern dur- ing the war. Both parents were working on war jobs and no one was at home to give the necessary guidance which is important for every child, so that when he grows up he will be a good law-abiding citizerh Another problem which is being discussed to a great extent is compulsory military training. Some persons think it is a good idea from the point of view of discipline. Boys who never obey laws cerr tainly would obey rules in the army. Some people feel 'that this would be dangerous for a free country for the reason that it is comr polling them to train during peacetime. Of course if they are suffi- ciently trained during peacetime it would make it much easier if our country went to war again. With compulsory military training, we would at least be prepared for whatever might strike. On the other hand, there is much talk of a future depression in our country. The rising of prices causes inflation because the prices go so high that the people cannot afford to buy the products. During a depression there is little money in circulation and the prices on the goods are lowered because the people have not the money to buy them with. This results from millions of people being jobless. During a depression many people are laid off of their jobs and when they sock a job there are none to be had. Labor unions are the next big issue confronting our country today. Some labor unions are thought of as being very dangerous to our country's welfare. Labor unions are the main cause of strikes because they ask the companies to pay more wages to the workers. When the companies refuse, then the workers ge on a strike. Of course, there are good points to a labor union. They are the ones that secure higher wages for the workers. Strikes cause the stopping of work and this causes the shortage of goods. Black markets are the result of shortage of goods. A few people get some goods that are very scarce and then sell them at prices high above the ceiling price This causes much confusion and many people do not want to buy black market goodsg therefore they go without. Everyone should avoid black markets and try to destroy them. I One more serious problem in the world today is another future war. Nhny of the newspapers are talking of a future war with Russia. Of course, no one really knows what will happen, but it is best to be prepared for whatever strikes. The atom-bomb is talked about a great deal now also. Many persons think that the Russians have the formula for producing the atom-bomb. Also many feel that if the A-Bomb is used during a future war, it will destroy all creation. There is no question that the Atom-Bomb is very powerful. Everyone should try to destroy the great dangers which are con- fronting cur country. Louise Hutchinson

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IN PASSING The sun hung heavy in the western sky. The dull weariness that seems to settle over the earth as the sun sets on a hot day, envelop- ed the countryside. From my station by the telephone I could see through the window the careless growth of trees and shrubs surround- ing our home. A thin heat haze hid each separate twig and leaf from my eyes. The sudden sweeping of a young robin past the window seemed incongruous with the feeling of the moment. Then, as if by u sign from an unseen maestro, the crickets began their evening serenade, their steady, even bass the accompaniment for the melody of the birds. The shadows deepenedg the serenade became a hum in my memoryg the quiet and peace and loneliness that is evening descended. Within, the peace of evening had settled. The hustle and living of thc day had ended quietly, the house seemed empty and lonesome. My dog lay at my feet, sleeping. Occasionally, his body twitched,as though a demon strode through his dreams. On a cushion, my kitten purred contentedly. Both animals, free from the problems and suffer- ings of man, still understood the tiredness, the tranquillity and,yet, the foreboding that evening brings. The darkness was deeper inside. The outlines of the furniture were hidden in shadows. A beam from the dying sun played over the ebony telephone as if in prophecy. My grandmother's face smiled down on me from the wall. Ny loneliness caused me to recognize in her face the sadness, the struggle, the many evenings such as this one that she had spent. My bookcase, the source of so much joy te me in the past, seemed to contain only sad- ness: war, struggle, death. The radio, which had brought good news, seemed only to have brought sad news of war, of struggle, of death . My albums of records scfmed to contain only Mozart and Beethoven: no- thing light, nothing gay ---- only heavy ---- and sad. As the room grew'darker, memories of that room arose in my mind. The little blonde boy, so quiet, so good, so beloved, seemed to be reading in his regular place. That endearing little smile played across his features. His frailness, his inner strength that begged for compassion seemed a part of the room. And the others: the tele- gram from the war department, the news from Finland, the news of Grandmother's death ------ sadness, just sadness, and death. Why? Why? Where was the joy, the cheery side of life? At this moment, especial- ly, where was something to hope for? The clock ticked off the seconds, the minutes, that were pass- ing forever. My heart kept time with the ticks. I tried to curb the desperation and futility that arose within me. Life is not eternal, but neither is it futile. Yet, five is so young, so very young to have to go. But what can I de? The calmness, the dullness of the evening sattlvd once 'more over my mind. The ticking of the clock faded into the stillness. My eyes became heavy, my senses dulled, as though I were in a stupor. The ring of the telephone slashed through the stillness. Panic beat away my drowsinessg terror gripped my heart. Then, a dull ac- ceptance, a sense of futility overcame mc. Hello. He has gone. I quietly replaced the receiver. The clock ticked on. The darkv est moment of my life had passed. Esther Aho

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THE WORLD wt LIVE IN Convention is the corner-stone of society. Millions of people live by its laws and almost as many hqte it. Then why do they obey it? Because they know no other life. From birth they are the commonplace, stolid citizens put into this world for the sole purpose of continuing civilization. They are the type of people who compose a township, who are necessary to a community but who have nothing to give life, except life. Deep in their hearts they long for escape, they long to drip all the pretenscs of life and to live as they were intended to live, as their emotions determine that they should live. But society is stronger than desire, it is master of the human race. Msn lives in a current more powerful than himself. He is caught, as on the waves of a mighty tide, in the flow of convention and is tossed from fashion to fashion until finally he finds it impossible to extricate himself. Yes, 1 great majority of the human rece hates the ,superficial shame of society. They hate the dictate of fashion and style but from infancy it is before them and it is so over-whelming that they soon lose the desire ---- or perhaps it is courage, to fight it. They are like a herd of stempeding cattle, pushed along by one central emotiong if they stop they are trampled and if they uttc -' pt to esoipi thly are pulled back and pushed on. Neither is there escape for the ordinary many he has not the intrepidity. It requires greater volition than he possesses for society is cruel and the desire is week. He becomes a nsocial elimbern and fights against man for honors--the shallow honors of an object position and the worthless frivelities of money. But,he is happy---not often does he allow himself to dwell on his lack of freedom, some people do not even know that they are not free yet can there be real emotions in this world? sro not even love und honor modified to o degree? I think so for when all other traits are dimmed mnnnerisns, habits, dress---it is inevitable that his mind he un- affected, its glory dulled and stinted. His thoughts are generalized and he feels as some undetermined force out-lines that he should feel. And all this because he will not or cannot fight the tide of conven- tion. Alice Cardinal A REVBRY - Sprewled over a green lawn chair, she contemplated the tattlc - tele gray tee of the sneaker she was swinging in a lazy arc. He play- ed athletics. Her hair felt good, clean and u lighter golden brown, than usual. Maybe he--oh, but it oouldn't be. The former girl friend was a redhead. She shoved a struy curl from her cheek. This brought her fingernails to her attention. lbther's lush red polish would be super-elegant on her nails and---Oh, tush, stop dreaming. lt can never be. Her hand was pretty, although he had never told her so. A lazy thought brought a yawn to her mouth---a nice, sober, straight mouth ---- but it suddenly reloxed and curved up at the corners. Oh, gosh, she thought, pretty sean I'll he grinning. She did grin and felt still better. The day brightened noticeably. Thoughts and ideas begun to take shape in her mind. Resolve strenghthenod determination. I will try! No boy's invincible! Alice Aho