Needham High School - Advocate Yearbook (Needham, MA)

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f8j THE ADVOCATE A DISTURBING HUMOR Jessie Stewart, '33 What is this we hear about the Home Economics and Manual Training departments being abolished from the High School curri- culum? Let's hope it is just a rumor, for many pupils would thus be deprived of their favorite subjects. ln these times of depres- sion, many girls are finding it hard to make a place for themselves in the business world and may well turn their attention to the home. How can one pass the time more profitably than in creating some article of clothing fand with the price of cloth, today, this would save quite a little moneyj or in preparing some luscious morsel to tempt the appetite? Home conditions are not always suitable for learning and practisingg it is, therefore, entirely up to the High School to see that those pupils interested, are adequately encouraged to develop their talents in this field. High School prepares us, not only for higher education, in math or dietetics, but for conducting ourselves properly and gracefully. What is more essential to us than the rules of etiquette? Girls do much entertaining at home, and it is fitting that they should be taught how to perform their duties, as hostesses and as guests. Table manners are also necessary if one would be a success socially, yet even such fundamental training is 'often neglected in the home. Another important factor taught in this department is marketing. Although pros- perity is just around the corner, no one is, as yet, ready to throw away her money. ln school, we are taught how to get the most for our money and how to buy economically the things necessary to keep our bodies healthy. The pupil is also taught to concoct dainty dishes for invalids and how to arrange their trays in a tempting manner. These functions may prove more useful in the education of a girl than foreign languages, mathematics, or history. Of course, every- thing has its place. However, when a young woman comes to make a home of her own, her efficiency as a capable housekeeper may help materially to make a successful mar- riage, and after all, a hungry man cannot be fed on Spanish verbs. We may live without poetry, music and art: We may live without conscience and live without hearty We may live without friendsg we may live without booksg But civilized man cannot live without cooks. He may live without books-what is know- ledge but grieving? He may live without hope-what is hope but deceiving? He may live without love-what is passion but pining? But where is the man that can live without dining? -OWEN MEREDITH. OH, FOR A WALK! Eunice Whitaker, '33 Picture an ordinary spring day, with its mud-puddles and soft, oozy ground. Or think of a winter day, just after a snow- storm, when the sun is beating down and melting the white drifts, transforming them into rivulets, brooks, and lakes. Then im- agine a procession of laboring students plod- ding southward along Wiebster Street, de- spairingly taking to the street because of the condition of the dirt sidewalk. Automobil- ists toot their horns impatiently, glare at the unfortunate offenders, but what can a poor pedestrian do? Surely it is better even to risk sudden death at the hands of a driver than to brave the agony of sinking deep- deep down into swamps of black muck or of wading and plowing through dirty oceans with muddy beds. The dream of these patient pilgrims is of a white, shining concrete walk, winding to the ultimate goal, good old N. H. S. This visionary walk would defy the sloppiest weather to turn it to mud, would disdainfully watch those same streams of water run grace- fully from its back, and would proudly bear up the heaviest owners of the feet that would march gaily along it.

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THE ADVOCATE l7j hitn LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE M. Lunsford, '33 Take care of the pennies, the dollars will watch out for themselvesf' Clancing over a group of well-known maxims, I came upon this one, which has been so frequently quoted by people in all walks of life. However, instead of pondering upon its truth and simplicity, I recalled a similar idea. Take care of the minutes and hours, the days, weeks, and years will watch out for them- selves. As we go about our accustomed duties, few of us realize the veracity of this statement. So often we plunge into a new enterprize without considering its effect upon our life as a whole and while away precious minutes in idle dreaming or worthless occupation, without realizing that truly meritorious ac- complishments are thereby being made more difficult. Few people need the reminder that 'fall work and no play makes Jack a dull boyf, but many of us use this as an excuse for dawdling, and squandering our oppor- tunities. Consider the effort that was expended by any of our successful countrymen whose accomplishments were hard-won and were obtained by no means on a silver platterf' Washington, Lincoln, Edison, or any of our gloriously acclaimed heroes deserved great credit for discovering, and then sticking to the road which would bring him ultimately to his goal. Especially in our school years how easy it is to let matters slide and not bother about the extra effort! What is the difference between a plus and a minus when you are through school, anyhow?,' Just this! By putting forth that extra effort and proving to yourself that the higher mark was possible, you have thereby further devetloped your riala will-power and in the future any effort will be just that much easier. When we are beyond the care and protection of our parents and teachers, we shall be faced with making all serious decisions alone, affecting not only our lives and happiness, but also the well-being of many others. How greatly will the character building we accomplished dur- ing our school career help us at these times! Our lives, now, are in the embryo stages of production. May we realize the importance of our every deed, and aim to achieve our desired goal. Cod has given man golden hours, each containing sixty precious minutes. May we use them for the greatest benefit to ourselves and to all mankind! SENIOR and SOPH ! Betty Rosenkrans, 734 Seniors: You don't need lectures to spur you on to unknown heights. Youill face the world with courage, ability, and youth. Life will not disillusion you. You'll leave us here while you carry on, undaunted, striving for your ideals and standards. Sophomores: Only one third of your visit here is complete. Much lies before you- success or failure, by which is your life to be influenced? Careful planning and discrimi- nating judgment now will decide for you. Opportunity is offered you. Follow it! Juniors: You are in-betweenf' You are working eagerly and pressing onward to a distant goal. Creative ideas fill your minds. You are forming definite plans. Cain know- ledge and wisdom in your remaining year in school. Cather seeds of learning for future use. Do not forget-graduation comes in every class! Seniors! Juniors! Sophomores! What you are to he you are now becoming.

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THE ADVOCATE L9j XX X C4 'x iv I T X M xxx fx r 'N , N L. f , I - THE HAPPINESS THAT WAS PALUCHPS Royal Abbott, T33 Timidly Paluchi shifted his weight from foot to foot and sought to conceal l1is eagerness. ul never had the chance to study under a lllllSl0l',7, he pleaded, Ubut, ah Cod! He who has seen the sun setting over the towers of St. Elmo in Napoli would play the violin even without teachingf' The color that had been rising to his wizened checks began to recede and he continued more calmly, G'lVfy teachers were--just teachers. l know lim not equal to the more difficult tech- nique, but still-- and his voice trailed away into Wistfulness. The Director considered. Paluchi was getting pretty old. Already he seemed to totter slightly, or perhaps that was just imagination. Wxielllw the Director somewhat briskly ejaculated, H1711 let you play your precious fiddle at the next concertfi Then, not wishing to dampen the little manis joy by appearing harsh, he added more cheer- fully, lt won't require any skill you havenit got. The numbers on the programme are, l imagine, quite familiar to you. The little Italian rushed excitedly away after profusc thanks that threatened to become embarrassing to the Director. The evening that Paluchi had awaited for a life-time arrived. He precipitated himself into the orchestra pit and shortly afterwards the conductor's baton started the music that raced Paluchi's mind through all the fantasies of creation. The music was light, rapid, and soon Paluchi saw himself as the little boy running again in the streets of lXapoli, playing naked around the fountain in the market-place. For an instant the notes of his score looked like the drops of water that he had splashed so gleefully at the young girls, who carrie ostensibly to till their pitchers, but really to gossip in the warm sun and shake their black hair with laughter. Then the score once more took on its formal black and white correct- ness, and Paluchi, looking at the conductor, felt the warm soul of his violin leap and quiver at every beckon of the leader. Then the music became softer, was sus- tained mainly' by the violins, and its slow sensuality' quickened the poundings of blood at his temples. The color mounted to his cheeks with the increasing fire of the music, and before his eyes young men and supple black-eyed girls were dancing in a courtyard to the low song of violins. He remembered those nights, so warm, yet quickened by the cool wind, the soft laughter and voices, the gaiety, the love-making, and high above all the ancient ltalian moon. Nowhere in the World was the moon so passionately beautiful as in his Napoli. The figures suddenly vanished and Paluchi t 1