Maynard High School - Screech Owl Yearbook (Maynard, MA)

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CHRYSANTHEMUMS “Wait until I tend my little chrys- anthemums,” said Lee Sung, “and then I shall join you in great play.” For an hour or more Lee Sung had been caring for his garden, the pride of his Japanese heart. Of all his plants, his chrysanthemums were his greatest joy. No chrysanthemums in the city were as large, round, and symmetrical as were Le Sung’s. “Come into our court where father said we might play,” shouted one of the boys when later they came for Lee. “Hurry, so that we may have much time to play before the evening meal.” The boys clattered along the nar- row streets as fast as Japanese boys could clatter. So fast that the leaders bumped into a woman and a little boy, both of whom had on queer clothes. The little boy fell down and hurt himself so badly that he cried. Japanese boys never cried and now they had no sympathy for the little boy. That is, none but Lee, who could understand anything. He gave the little boy the reeds he had been planning to take to Madame Yeu, and the flowers to the boy’s mother. “Perhaps the flowers and my seeds will please the little boy,” he said pob ' tely and gravely in Japanese. “Thank you ever so much,” she answered him, also in Japanese. “I am an American but soon I shall be going back to America. I will plant the seeds so that my son may re- member you.” Lee Sung’s chrysanthemums grew more and more beautiful but he did not desire to part with them for he loved them so much. He could not release his chrysanthemum seeds, but the seeds of his other flowers made him rich and famous in Japan. He was still young when his seeds brought him fame and money. That he might receive more knowl- edge of his plants, he decided to go to an American college in the United States. He entered a college on the western coast which he had heard had an excellent young professor of botany. Lee Sung entered the college at a time when the feeling against the Japanese was very high. Lee Sung soon found out that the Americans did not want a “Jap” studying with them, especially a “Jap” who knew more than they, and who would carry America’s knowledge back to Japan, for Japan’s advancement in the world. The other Japanese in the city did not like him because of his wealth. At first Lee Sung did not mind, for he was intensely interested in his studies. However, the avoidance and refusals which he was receiving were very pointed and hurt his friendly heart. Every day he grew more determined to return to Japan. “I have here on my desk, one of the most nearly perfect of all chrys- anthemums. There are very few as well formed as those I have in my greenhouse. Please come up and ex- amine it after class,” said the young botany professor during one class. Lee Sung stared at the chrysan- themum. It was astonishingly like his! Yet there was only one packet of seeds that had been released! After class Lee Sung went to the desk with the rest of the class, but remained longer than they did, ex- amining his wonderful flower. The professor, much interested in Lee

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THE SCREECH OWL 7 mock combats, and classes of a like nature. As a last resort the Head Master decided to try the boy at dragon-killing-, and, arming him with the magic word “Rumplesnitz,” sent him out into the woods. With the aid of his magic word, the boy slew fifty dragons but, facing his fifty-first dragon, he forgot his word. He killed the dragon, but in doing so was dis- illusioned concerning the power of his word and lost all his confidence. The fifty-second dragon overcame the youth, and feasted on the dragon- killer, armor and all. A great many of us have our ‘Rumplesnitz,” the magic charm that helps us go ahead and win. It may be a word, a mascot, or an act we go through before attempting a task or entering competition. Expressing it in a different way, we may say that it is the thing which has helped us attain false confidence. In the case of our dragon-killer, it was only that; but for most people it is more a habit that has grown upon us than something we look to for per- formance of miracles. Even though over-confidence trips blithely along before disaster, misfortune may be avoided if we realize that our favorite superstition and charm merely helped us gain assurance, and it can be out- grown with no harm. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT? Each year, high school seniors are confronted with the serious and sometimes perplexing question, — ' ‘After High School, What?” Those who choose to enter college, soon find themselves facing a similar question —“After College, What?” For many years the Bryant Stratton Commercial School of Boston has been helping both high school and college graduates to answer these questions in a satisfactory manner, enabling them to capitalize the train- ing already acquired, but which, too often, has not fitted them to enter positions that will immediately give satisfactory returns, or furnish de- sirable entrance to worthy careers. To those who choose to enter busi- ness, Bryant Stratton affords un- surpassed facilities for securing a training that will lead to successful careers in the business world. Young men, as a rule, find it to their advantage to secure the train- ing of the Business Administration Course, which because of its com- prehensive scope has largely sup- planted the General Business Course, so popular in former years. It is well worth the short extra time necessary for its completion, as it includes training in both executive and ac- counting subjects. The young man who shows signs of leadership and has an aptitude for Shorthand and Typing will find such ability a valu- able asset, enabling him to meet the increasing demand on the part of business executives for young men, who, beginning their business careers as secretaries, may develop the ability to assume the more important obliga- tions of executive positions. Capable young women, who in addi- tion to a thorough high school educa- tion acquire such training as Bryant Stratton affords in the Secretarial Course, multiply their value and their opportunities, both with regard to the more desirable positions and larger salaries. Graduates of the Maynard High School are not required to take en- trance examinations; and will be en- abled to advance as rapidly as individual ability and the standards of the school permit. Those who have had commercial training will be per- mitted to enter advanced finishing courses. We suggest that students inter- ested in a business career write to Principal L. 0. White, at 334 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass., who will be pleased to supply full information. (Advertisement)

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THE SCREECH OWL 9 Sung-’s close observation, said, ‘‘Have you chrysanthemums as beautiful in your Japan?” “Very few,” answered Lee Sung. “There are only a few similar to these, and they are seldom seen. Did your seeds come from Japan?” “Why, yes, I believe that’s what my mother told me when she planted them, that they came from someone in Japan.” “A little boy, perhaps?” “I think it was. He must have been about ten years of age, if I remember rightly.” “How old would he be now?” “Oh, I should judge he’d be nearly thirty.” “I’m about thirty.” “Are you — ” “Perhaps I am, for there are no chrysanthemums as rare as yours and mine!” The professor took a long look at the young man. Then he smiled and approaching the young Japanese, shook his hand heartily. Having recognized the boy at last he invited him to his home to meet his mothev. “Me, to whom no one else will speak?” “You gave us your friendship in Japan. Come, let us give you ours in America.” D. Marsden, ’32. THE SACRED LEFT EAR OF THE RED DRAGON Synopsis It was one of the laws of the Order of the Red Dragon, Semple Academy’s most select and influential secret society, that their candidate for class president must have in his possession the Sacred Left Ear of the Red Dragon. Just before class elections, the Left Ear was stolen and this took Dave Marsden from the list of candidates. Bob King, Dave’s friend, blamed the dastardlv deed on Andy Howe, Dave’s football rivsl and op- ponent for the office. Elections were almost at hand — the Sacred Left Ear was still missing. Conclusion Two more days passed; the mem- bers of the Order of the Red Dragon and the other Seniors whose candi- date Dave was grew more and more despondent, finally losing all trace of hope. In three more days elections were to be held — no doubt Andy Howe would be the successful candidate. On the evening of this second day. Bob King sprawled on the old leather couch in Dave Marsden’s room, and watched Dave as he tried to concen- trate on his English assignment. More than once a blank look came into his eyes, and Bob knew he was seeing little of what was printed on the page of the book lying open on the desk before him. Dave was worried about the election ; so was he. Whose idea was it, anyway, mak- ing the possession of the Sacred Left Ear necessary before a man of the Order could take part in the race for class president? For the hundredth time Bob asked himself this question — and for the hundredth time he told himself that Andy Howe was respon- sible for stealing the sacred organ, and that he had hated and distrusted the football captain the first time he had seen him. With a sudden resolution, Bob swung his feet around and planted them on the floor. He rose and started for the door, speaking to Dave as he went. “Going out — may be late. Don’t work too hard and perhaps I’ll bring you something nice.” Dave nodded, and moved his eyes to the top of the page, trying once more to make sense out of the page he had been looking at for two hours and had read a dozen times. Bob strode down the street, his hands in his pockets. The idea that had come to him while thinking of Andy Howe was slowlv becoming stronger. He entered the building where the club room was, and found