Mechanic Falls High School - Pilot Yearbook (Mechanic Falls, ME)

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24 M. F. H. S. PILOT ,ggi rv-5-rr , . . E E If F .- H . QE' . Nl? Z ' g ' l ' . la- Ill FROM POVERTY TO RICHES lt was a beautiful day in May. The students of the Freshman class of Read- ing High School were seated in their seats. Some of them were studying, but most of them were restlessly moving about, and longing to be out in the bright sunshine. Frank Clark, a state charge, was study- ing hard on his Science lesson. He was anxious to pass his examination in June, leave the town of Reading, and get a job where he could support himself. Frank was a bright, good looking, clean minded boy, but because of the fact that he was a state charge, he was shunned by the members of his class. If there was a party or formal dance, poor Frank was not invited. This made his heart ache. Often he would say, Oh! Why are people so cruel ?', Only that morning he had heard Philip jones asking Peter Foster and Eva Mor- rey to attend a birthday party at his home that evening. Frank felt his cheeks burn, and a big lump rose in his throat which he tried to swallow down. Then his face grew white. He shut his teeth hard and turned to walk away. just then he heard some one whisper, Look at Frank! I think he would like to go. There was a pauseg then another voice said, The idea of a state charge expect- ing an invitation to Philip Jones' party. Frank heard both remarks as he hur- ried away with the old pain clutching at his heart. Frank had one friend, a boy in thc 'lunior class, who walked home with him every night after school. Many times he had told this friend of the unpleasant things of his life and had found a sym- pathetic listener. This night as they were walking home. Frank related to his friend the remark that had hurt him so badly that morning. Frank's friend, whose name was Carl Blake, clenched his hands and said, The fools! Can't they see that you are as good as any of them? W'hy shun a fel- low because he is poor and is without a 'home P Then he placed his arm around the shoulders of his friend and said in a gentle voice, Old Pal, some day you may be able to show these snobs a thing or two. Smiling sadly Frank replied, I wish I might have good luck and make some- thing of myselfg then, maybe they would think more of me.

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M. F. H. S. Members of the squad were: H. Bryant E. Benson Rob. Keene Chase Rich. Keene F. Millett R. Curtis XV. Harmon VV. Harwood D. Cole SUMMARY M. F. H. S. 31 Wlinthrop M. F. H. S. 27 Oxford M. F. ll. S. 33 Alumni M. F. H. S. 32 M. F. H. S. 28 M. F. H. S. 20 M. F. H. S. 42 M. F. ll. S. 22 M. F. H. S. 21 M. F. H. S. 47 M. F. ll. S. 38 M. F. H. S. 25 M. F. ll. S. 24 M. F. H. S. 27 1 M. F. H. S. 53 New Gloucester liliss College JIU' Jay Vvinthrop S. Paris Potter Leavitt Oxford S. Paris Potter Monmouth PILOT 23 M. F. H. S. 33 Leavitt 21 M. F. ll. S. 49 XV. Paris 13 M. F. H. S. 25 'llhomaston 34 FOOTBALL The Mechanic Falls football squad had a fairly successful season. The boys showed great improvement over the year before. and should be a real threat by next year. CROSS COUNTRY The M. F. H. S. barriers once more upheld their school by winning all their meets this year. They placed sixth in the State meet at Orono. Members of the team were: UI. Chase XV. Harwood l.. Emery lf. Benson G. Maxim R. Price D. CoL13, '34

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M. F. H. S. With an encouraging slap on the back Carl replied, Good for you, Old man. Then, as he had arrived at his home, he bade Frank good-bye and went thought- fully into the house. On entering the kitchen he saw his mother, who was seated by the window, reading a letter which she held in her hand. As Carl entered she looked up and said, Oh! Carl! I have a letter here which I have just received from my cousin in New York. She is inquiring about a boy who is living here in town, and who is a state charge, but to whom an Uncle, who was living somewhere out west, has left all of his money. It seems that the Uncle was a recluse, but had made his will. The lawyer who is set- tling the business has located the boy and is about to notify him of his good for- tune. Who can the boy be ? Oh! Mother l exclaimed Carl, I hope it is Frank Clark. I walked home with him tonight and he is so sad because the boys shun him. On arriving at the place where he boarded Frank opened the door and went quietly to his room. On the table was a legal looking envelope. He picked it up and tore it open. The color faded from his cheeks as he read its contents. Then after scanning the page. he slowly walked to the bed and sat down. Can it be possible that I, Frank Clark the outcast, can be the heir of one hundred thousand dollars? I must go over and tell Carl. Mrs. Blake and Carl were still sitting in the kitchen when Frank passed the window. Carl opened the door and Frank caught him by the hand. Carl, old boy, you were my friend when I was poor, now will you be my friend even if I am rich? Read this, and he thrust into PILOT 25 Carl's hand the letter that had brought happiness to him. E. BOYKER, '37 MAINE EDUCATION AND ITS NEEDS When man first swung his axe in the wilderness of early America for the pur- pose of building a school, he laid the cornerstone of the greatest educational system in the world. VVhether he knew it or not, that pioneer was shaping the fate of a nation, and every ringing blow of his axe was a stroke in favor of world enlightenment. From the time of that unknown down to the present day is a far cry, but the work goes marching on, and we can afford a moment of silent thanks to an unsung hero of another sort. who started education on its path in the wilds of the New VVorld. 'l'hrough the years the trackless forests and plains of North America developed into a fair and flourishing nation. with education accept- ing a full measure of credit. Today people have come to realize that it is to the best interests of the nation to make education a paramount issue, and such is now the case. The standards of education in the United States are the world's highest, and school equipment is of the best. Years had to pass before our system reached its present state. and they were years of doubt, uncertainty, and apprehension, as the young nation struggled for a firmer footing in its Hght for existenceg but despite war beyond her borders and the throes of an intense internal upheaval which threatened to disrupt the Union, education held up its head. When wagon trains crawled across the prairies of the great West, the sturdy pioneers carried