Milford High School - Oak Lily and Ivy Yearbook (Milford, MA)

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22 THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. ly and the pale light of the summer moon wafted its soft beams upon the droop¬ ing head of my companion. After all, he had just cause for weariness and great was his reward, when in after years his singular and truly wonderful discovery was mutually heralded by an appreciative people on this dim sphere. Deep was my realization what fortune had been mine in my recent experience as I stole softly from the presence of my slumbering classmate, and homeward di¬ rected my course towards an abode that had no atmosphere of wealth or loveliness, but whose doors had at last trembled with the knock of golden opportunity. Willard C. Frost, ’20. CLASS HISTORY. The history of the class of 1920 is a not uncommon example of the effect of war upon education. Frequent interruptions of the school curriculum, the loss of valued teachers, and an unparallelled decrease in class membership are directly traceable to wartime conditions. No martial hysteria, however, has been per¬ mitted to interfere with the established courses offered by the Milford High school. Despite all difficulties, the faculty by their untiring efforts have given the class of 1920 a preparation for business and college that is second to none. From September, 1916, to the successful completion of our courses tonight, we have been under the influence that brings out latent qualities, that prepares for the bigger things in life, the influence that a good school has always exerted upon its students. For four years we have studied among scenes enshrined in the heart of every graduate of Milford High. We have endeavored, and I be¬ lieve we have succeeded, in maintaining her noblest traditions. In athletics and in scholastic contests of all kinds, members of the class of 1920 have been prom¬ inent. Our efforts, and they shall never cease, have been to enhance the prestige of our Alma Mater. Her standard we have kept aloft. In victory and in defeat we have practiced the rules of true sportsmanship, for which her students have always been noted. I he accustomed routine of our school life was soon disturbed by the clarion call of war. Our principal, sub-master, and a member of our own class, answered its summons and took their places beside other true Americans pledged to beat back the bloody hordes that menaced civilization. Mr. Christopher FitzGerald, by the earnest ability and leadership that had already distinguished him as prin¬ cipal, soon won a commission as lieutenant and served overseas. Mr. Berry throughout the war was stationed at Newport Naval Training School. Here he worked faithfully for the advancement that was halted by! his discharge soon after the signing of the Armistice. John Early, of our own class of 1920, enlisted in the balloon section of the air forces. His action was, indeed, a fitting climax to the many honors he had won for himself and for Milford High on the athletic field. During the absence of Mr. FitzGerald the school committee secured the services of Mr. Thomas j. Quirk as principal. Mr. Quirk, a graduate of Milford High School and of Holy Cross College, was a competent instructor and a man whose kindly interest in our welfare we shall never forget. As we progressed each year toward our final goal, ties of friendship begun as Freshmen united our class. We conducted successfully the different functions sacred to upper classmen and as a result of our efforts are now able to present a substantial sum of money to Milford High School, the gift of the class of 1920.

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THE} OAK, LILY AND IVY. 21 “The present position of our dear little Phyllis Is an excellent one and it always will thrill us. As advisory “sec” to the new President, The life of our classmate is most worthily spent. “In this time of high rents and the old H. C. L. Each one endeavors high prices to quell. In such art Leslie Bragg is far in advance, For he’s teaching all men to keep wearing short pants. “Also good at this art is Marion R. Morey Who has written her fortune in a vivid life’s story. —“You pay more for clothing when you’re big and tall My honest advice is to stay tiny and small.” “The late medical solution of “Thatcher and Werber” To the stomach has proved a constant disturber. While Prohibition remained silent and “still,” These two manufactured a little round pill Which when added to water would soon efferverse. The kick came with drinking it. Ah Yes! Ah yes! “Vetrana Mazzarelli with artist’s pen and pad, Is designing Paris dresses, the best that can be had. “In an office on Broadway ’mid the great business hum Edith Rose offers counsel to all who will come. Through the greatest of trouble or worry or harm Our diligent classmate is most gentle and calm. “Milford Hospital boasts of such a number of men As never was seen for two score and ten. The presence of three nurses explain all such tales, Louise Cronan, Alba DiGiannantonio and sweet Ruth Fales. “George Larkin Fitzgerald for a job did not search: He’s been made an archbishop in New York’s biggest church To his popular chapel all the young girls do flock And enthralled by his voice, ne’er glance at the clock.” At this point our Spiritualist friend thousands of miles distant evidently tired of making rhyme and the last few messages from Mars were written in prose form. Among the first of these communications appeared a copy of a leaflet which a certain firm used as an advertisement: “Take Moore and Hill’s correspondence course in the building of character and height. Be able to look down on the rest of the world as we do.” “One of the dentists in the city of Milford, having found that his flourishing business has developed beyond him, has found it necessary t o take into partnership with him one our most serious-minded classmates. In this capacity Elmer Jones still works on the patients (patience) of Dir. Crockett and on the nerves of a great many other people.” It was with this message that our accommodating acquaintance in that far away Martian sphere had concluded his valuable information regarding the fortunes of our classmates. Through the transparent covering of the observatory, the stars twinkled silent-

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THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. 23 The success we have enjoyed in all our undertakings has been entirely due to class and school loyalty, our heritage from the hundreds of men and women who have preceded us. Nothing could make our last few moments as undergraduates happier than the knowledge that we in turn have transmitted to our successors that same spirit. Without it a school loses character and its students are deprived of the experiences that foster real patriotism. For now, as we stand on the threshold of life, we realize that the history of the class of 1920 has been a series of happy progressions toward ultimate success. A capable, sympathetic faculty, loyal fellow classmen, and advantages unknown to our fathers have created an atmosphere conducive to thorough education. When each member of our class has found his life work and the complete history is written, we shall better understand our debt to Alma Mater. John L. Davoren, ’20. VALEDICTORY. RECONSTRUCTION—American Phases. At the close of the past great war nearly every country of the world was con¬ fronted with the vast and weighty problem of reconstruction, the rebuilding of its government and refashioning of its conditions to a pre-war basis. The dawn of peace after four years of war may be said to signify the beginning of the modern world. This new world must naturally resemble the old but its character will essentially be moulded by the nurses and teachers that guide it. Our own United States is face to face with an immense task in undertaking to solve its profound problem of reconstruction. Since America is one of the freeest and most democratic nations in the world, she will require some time for her necessary deliberations. It has been said that we have rushed into peace as unprepared as we rushed into war. However, the signing of the armistice found us with new possessions on our hands, all of which were demanding a satisfactory solution of their destiny. First and foremost, four million young men in uniforn separated from the futures that they had planned for themselves, have had to return to civil life under conditions radically different from those at the beginning of the war. During the absence of these soldiers abroad, women had taken their positions in factories, offices, and elsewhere. Thousands have been disabled who must be provided for. The rehabilitation machinery which was set in motion in 1918 has been in continual operation. It has been far from idle, yet results have been below our expectations and criticism has been directed at America for lack of provisions to give work to discharged soldiers, and to tide over our industries and our labor from a war to a peace basis. The Federal Board of Vocational Education, which has charge of this work, has placed only 30,000 men in training up to the present time. Everyone must admit that the task of providing adequate training for a vast army of disabled men is a gigantic undertaking and full of perplexities, but there seems to be little excuse for the general failure of the work. The great entanglement of red tape must be removed and the attitude of those engaged in the work must be changed before the Vocational Board can hope to be successful and accomplish its duties. Our vocational training must be administered by experts unafraid to meet such issues. The program of reconstruction must of necessity include the prevention of future wars, the more complete democratization of governments, the harmoniza-