Machias High School - Margaretta Yearbook (Machias, ME)

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14 THE MARGARETTA with them for ten years. I am now an American citizen and how proud I am of it! But, as I think back to Vienna, I say, How cruel fate can be ! Richard Kimball '45 3 41 Ill TO THE UNDERGRADUATES Trust your teachers, Learn your lessons, Keep on trying, And we'll keep flying The Red, White, and Blue. Class of '42 Pk Sk IF MY MANIA I am both the victim and benefactor of a distinct and unique form of men- tal abnormalty. It is such that I can bring it upon my mind almost at will, and I find great pleasure in doing so. In fact, it is my favorite pastime, al- though it is quite unlike that of most people. I generally refrain from pub- licly expounding this whim of mine, lest someone not entirely familiar with the complexity of my capricious mind rec- ommend me for immediate induction in- to a mental institution. I have even shocked my mother and close associates when they caught me in the act . 1 The fault, however, is not theirs. Wouldn't you be disturbed if, on enter- ing the semi-darkened room of your best friend, you found him in the fol- lowing position: He is lying on the iioor --Hat on his back. His head is sup- ported by a pillow wedged into the angle where chiffonier meets wall, and his feet are elevated-the heels resting on the edge of the bed. The only source of feeble illumination comes from the dial light of the radio opposite the bed. As your eyes grow accustomed to the darkness, you are able to distinguish this phenomenal example of a sane and healthy youth in more detail. Over his clothes he wears a tattered blue bath- robe, hiding the stomach upon which his clasped hands repose. His eyes stare blankly, and protruding from his faintly smiling lips is a stick of licor- ice candy, which undoubtedly is the ex- planation of the besmirched condition of his lips and chin. The only other factor by which you might analyze his case is the music being exhaled by the radio-consisting, at present, of the rasping of a hoarse tenor sax backed up by a heavy four beat rhythm. All this seems to indicate a strange and pathetic case of dementia. I make no attempt to explain this favorite pastime of mine. There are, however, several conditions. The radio must be playing one of the sentimental selections of Harry James, Glenn Mil- ler, or Vaughn Monroe, the licorice must be the sticky, chewey, kind, and above all, my mind must be free from all feminine or monetary worries. While situated in this manner, I am able to project myself into the temporary state of melancolia during which I am won- derfully happy. You may think it in- sanity, but to me it is bliss. John Whalen '42 ak if ik MY LITTLE SISTER Anyone who has a little sister has my sympathy. I have one and I sympathize even with myself. Little sisters are always causing embarrassing situations -or at least mine is. I am never able to have my own way when Ruthie, my little sister, is around. If I insist upon my rights and start a quarrel with Ruthie, mother always comes in and says, Remember, Anne, Ruthie is the baby and you must be nice to her. Oh, of course, I should

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THE MARGARETTA 13 to my disappointment it isn't'there. I look under the chair, the sofa, in the cabinet drawers and everywhere imag- inary. Then hearing a noise out in the yard, go to the window. It is at this point that I discover the paper. One of the boys has a string in his hand and high above, attached to it, is a nice- ly made kite-made from the Sunday paper. Karlton Hatch '42 Pk wk ,K HOW CRUEL FATE CAN BE My parents were ever so glad that I was born after the World War. I was born in Austria, Vienna, to be ex- act, in 1920. My first eighteen years I spent happily with my parents and friends. Suddenly, in 1938, Germany marched on Austria. My parents and I were hurrying to get across the border into a neighboring country. If I remember correctly, it was a cool night. Clouds were obstructing the moon from our View so it was safe to travel again. We hid by day and traveled at night. We had just come out of the woods and were crossing a iield when the moon came out. Suddenly we heard shouts in German and we found ourselves used as targets. As I think back, I recall how cruel a hand fate can play. My father was killed on the spot. My mother and I ran as fast as we could. In about fif- teen minutes we had crossed the bor- der and were safe. Just fifteen min- utes to safety, and now --. My mother, brave as she had been, slumped in my arms. I had not known it, but she had been hit in the shoulder. I dressed the wound as best I could, but knew immediately that she needed a doctor. Through the trees I spied a light. Carrying my mother, I walked to what proved to be a little village. I inquired for a doctor and a kind lady told me where to find one. In the doc- tor's home I waited impatiently, until slowly a door opened and the doctor came out. I'm sorry, he said. I did every- thing I could. The wound and the ex- citement were too much for her. Now I was really frantic, both my parents taken from me. I had rela- tives in New York, in America. Yes, but how was I to get to 'them. I wait- ed months for a passport and finally it came. I was put on a boat, the St. Croix. The boat was so crowded that many had to sleep on the decks. In about two weeks I reached New York. Since I had a little money, I tried to look up my relatives whom I had not seen since I was three. Maybe they, too, were dead. I hunted for weeks but to no avail. One day I stepped into a clothing store to buy some shirts. I was waited on by a very pretty girl who helped me select my shirts. As I did not want to take them with me, I asked if they might be sent. She said, May I have your name and address, please ? I told her, Carl Stross . Carl Stross, she exclaimed. I have a cousin by that name living in Vienna. Immediately I asked her what her name was. Imagine my delight when, through a long story on both our parts, we found ourselves related as cousins. I never was so glad of anything in my life. When she went home, I went with her. I told her of my escape and about Moth- er and Dad. I have now been living

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THE MARGARETTA 15 be nice to her no matter what she does. She's the baby. I prefer to call her the pet of the family. Let's take, for example, one evening when I was expecting Bob to call on me. Ruthie was in one of her bad moods. I knew what to expect, there- fore, I asked mother to try to keep Ruthie quiet. She said she'd try, but, somehow, I still expected anything to happen, and tried to prepare myself for it. Ruthie was running around the room where Bob and I were doing card tricks. Ruthie decided she wanted to play cards too, so I said, All right, go get some other cards. Oh no, she had to have the cards we were playing with. She had one of her spells and got the cards. She gets anything she Wants when she has one of her tantrums 3 except what I'd like to give her-but she's the baby. She played cards for a very short time, then she came into the living room again. She walked over Where Bob and I were sitting. Then the storm broke. I held my breath. Oh, Bob, she cried, guess who Wanted Anne to go to the movie with him ? Ruthie 1 I said in a stern tone. She said she'd love to go, Ruthie continued, but she had a date. Then he talked quite a while and then Anne said, Yes, isn't he stupid ? Of course she might not have been talking about you, but -. Ruth, you go right up to bed, Mother said, as she had overheard the conversation. I was only telling Bob about Jim- my calling Anne up, Mother, Ruthie said, going upstairs. Bob really thought I was talking about him when I said, Yes, isn't he stupid , but I was really talking about Robert Benchley. Thanks to Ruthie I had to explain that to Bob and that wasn't easy. If you have any little sisters, make sure they're in bed and sound asleep before asking anyone to your house. if ' if rr WISHBONE vs. BACKBONE It seems that human beings have de- veloped wishbone in place of backbone, which their pioneer ancestors possess- ed. Nowadays, in this age of luxury, we of the younger generation have been accused of having this Wishbone. That is, we only wish for things while those before us have used their brains and brawn to obtain the goal they wanted. Take this case, for instance: Pauline Sands is a girl all alone in the world. Her mother is dead and her father has married again. Pauline's brothers and sisters are grown up and married, with families of their own. Should she live with them? She could, but she doesn't. Even though she was forced to leave school and work for a living, she is studying high school subjects at night when normal young boys and girls are asleep, studying when she is tired enough to sleep all night, studying un- til the early hours of morning have come. This is a case of having back- bone, getting out and earning a living by doing any kind of job that comes along until the day comes when one will have enough education and money to become whatever his or her ambition may be. While, on the other hand, here is Ed- ith Lincoln. She is the type of girl who has been coddled and babied all her life. Her parents aren't wealthy and they can't afford to give her the