Pembroke High School - Mattakeesett Yearbook (Pembroke, MA)

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THE WAMPUM Six Years Hence. There is among the students of Pem- broke High School a certain individual who, outclassed by none in his capacity, is making marked progress in the line of civil engineering. Already he has been engaged in small undertakings with promising results, and for odd jobs to take up his spare time he fills the place of surveyor. In six years he will have finished his high school and a four years ' college course, immedi- ately after which a successful business opening will be established in his home town, Bryantville. A little later, branch offices are put up in Plymouth, Han- over, and Rockland, and in the course of three years he will have more work than he can rightfully attend to, but he works incessantly until he receives, a warning in the form of sickness. Re- gretfully he gives up his work for a while, but beginning again too soon, he quickly finds himself in the same position as before, only a great deal worse. Constantly under doctors ' care, he gradually becomes better, but they tell him not to work for a year or more. Completely discouraged by this great setback, he falls into the clutches of nervous prostration, which immediately leads to his being sent to Europe with doctors and nurses. Here he seems to remain in a normal condition, but does not regain his health as he did before, and he is constantly longing for this country and its beloved charms. The doctors, after several consultations, de- cide to bring him home where he seems to get better by jumps and leaps. At the end of six weeks he is working and accomplishing as much as before. The doctors say nothing, though greatly mystified concerning his recovery, and suppose that it is due to their devoted care. He is visited a little later, and is re- quested to take the position of chief government surveyor and territorial draftsman. Overjoyed at the prospects, he accepts and works in Washington for five years filled with happiness, return- ing occasionally to visit his family and friends in Bryantville. At the end of his stay at the capital, he is sent to hold the same position out West, but with doubled salary. His headquarters are located at a place named Caseville, a town which springs up under his super- vision and influence. One day, while reading the paper, the man who is the chief doctor of the recovered patient notices this testimon- ial in an advertisement: — Dear Mr. Case: — After six weeks ' treatment I realize of what value your medicine might be to the public if they knew of it, so I write these few words for their benefit as well as yours. I was wholly cured of a sickness, based on nervousness, which the doctors could not cure. I took eighteen months ' treat- ment with them which availed nothing, while, as I have said, six weeks ' treat- ment of Case ' s Regal Rheumatic Pills, brought immediate relief and a lasting recovery. W. F. S. ' 17. The Mill. As I approach the mill, the first pic- turesque object seen is the mill pond. When standing on the opposite side from the mill, I have a fine view. The edge fringed with alders, and all kinds of other bushes can be seen, which turn into the most beautiful colors in au- tumn time, and also here and there a majestic maple lifts up its head to view, rivaling its beauty with the dark color of its pine tree background. As I walk nearer to the mill, the roar of the water rushing through the waste- gate can be heard. The mill itself is a large cumbrous affair, almost falling to pieces, with trees and vines growing all about it. Most of the shingles have fallen off of the roof, making the mill have a very antique appearance. Every once in a while a swallow, whose nest is in on the rafters, flits through the paneless window near the roof, then comes out again to join its compan- ions, who are flitting and circling around, sometimes within an inch of the water. A. C. S. ' 17.

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THE WAMPUM Mexico, thousands of feet of film were taken of every part, from the loading of supplies to the disembarking of the marines and the occupation of Vera Cruz. If you are fortunate enough to obtain official permission, you can see all this at the Navy department, where the films are kept. Of course the movie man is a dare- devil or he wouldn ' t face a rain of bullets with only a camera. Hardly one went to Vera Cruz who was not under fire, while those who were with Villa, Gonzales, Coy, and a dozen or so other Federal leaders, who tried to stop the advance of the Eebels, turned the crank for days at a time to the whine of bullets and the boom of burst- ing shells. They did it for the fun of getting the picture and fifty dollars a week or less. One man who was at Torreon was under fire for three days. He took pictures from a box car until a bullet broke the tripod of his camera, then he left that, fixed the tripod, and took some street fighting, being chased two blocks by the Rebels in his escape. He was without food for three days in his retreat to the capital and lost his camera, but he saved the film. Then he went to Vera Cruz and got another camera. When the Americans took the city, he fled with the Federals and so got both sides of the story. So much for Mexico. In our own country there is scarcely an undertak- ing of even local interest, which has not been flashed on the screen. A big fire, a steamboat disaster, a railroad wreck, an automobile race, are mag- nets which draw the movie man for miles. When Salem, Massachusetts, burned, several camera men obtained excellent pictures. One, however, left his camera for a moment to help an aged man, and lost all his film except a few hundred feet. Amateurs, of whom there are several thousand in the United States, flood the offices of the manufacturers with worthless pictures, just as amateur writers flood the editors of magazines with worthless stories. About ten per cent of the pictures are accepted. Most are either spoiled in the making or are of too local a character. Occasionally a big thing happens and the amateur gets it. For instance, when the Empress of Ireland went down in the St. Law- rence river, an amateur happened to be on hand when the fog lifted and got the pictures of all there was left. A few years ago, manufacturers used to pay large sums for the privilege of being the sole one to take pictures of some great event. In nineteen twelve a man paid four thousand dollars for the sole right to take pictures of the World Series baseball games. Another man rented the roof of a nearby build- ing and with a long distance lens got better pictures of the games than the other. The man minus four thousand dollars promptly went to law, but the judge decided he had not only lost his four thousand but must pay the costs. This put an end to concessions. The movie man has his limitations. When the aeroplane was first invented, it was thought that it would be an ex- cellent opportunity for pictures, but it was found nearly impossible to secure good ones, because of the constant rock- ing of the planes, and the vibration of the engine. From a balloon they are better, but not an entire success and probably never will be. W. E. C. ' 16. Ye Pembroke High. On the road as you come down Through the center of the town, You will find upon your right A pretty and most pleasing sight. For located here is Pembroke High Looming and towering into the sky. Behold ! The stately grove of trees One opposite the building sees, The lawn, the hedge, and other things Which give this school its beauty tinge, And then, far off the wondrous view, The hills and dales, the sky of blue. And many towns are hid within The acres of this leafy green; Of course, their schools are all worth while But Pembroke ' s got them skun a mile. W. F. S. ' 17.

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THE WAMPUM Character of Ben Hur. Ben Hur was a young man, quite tall and very dark. He had a lithe and athletic figure, and his muscles were very strong. His features were rather sharp and dusky, showing that he was a Jew by birth. His hair was black and straight, and it was always combed in a becoming style. He was careful of his dress, because he belonged to a wealthy family in Palestine. Ben Hur had a playmate, whom he loved dearly, and that love had been returned. Messala had been to Rome, studying to be a soldier, and he had come back again very different from what he was when he went away. Now he scorned the Jewish nation, and ridi- culed Ben Hur. This was a sad blow to Ben Hur, because he expected him to be the same as when he went away. Ben Hur ' s love was very sorrowfully blighted, and he was crushed under his disappointment. He was a young and innocent youth, trusting completely in Messala, and for the first time his faith was shaken, and he did not know how to grapple with his sorrow. From now on, Messala and Ben Hur must be as strangers to each other, and Ben Hur was deeply wounded. After the sad interview with Messala, Ben Hur went home and poured the whole tale out to his mother. He was like a little child seeking comfort from its mother, and he found it. After a long talk with her he told her of a long cherished desire. He was very ambitious and wanted to go to Borne to study to be a soldier. This was his main aim in life, and he could hardly wait until he was old enough to go. About the time of this talk with his mother, the Roman Governor passed the streets of Palestine in front of Ben Hur ' s home, and he went to the edge of the roof to see him. As he leaned over the railing, a tile fell and stunned the Governor. Quickly, officers came and took his mother and sister away to prison, and him to the life of a galley slave. He tried in every way to shield, them from the officers, but they would not listen. He loved his mother and sister, and he was very sorrowful be- cause he could not help them. No thought for himself entered his mind, only for the other two. The hope to be a soldier was crushed for the time, be- cause those who are galley slaves are considered the same as dead. They are chained to the ships and made to row the boats in time, until they are dulled to every other sense, but the ceaseless motion of the oars. But Ben Hur had a strong will-power, and he determined to keep his mind from that condition. He had hopes of being free some day, and he was more fortunate than the other slaves. He was not chained, be- cause the owner of the boat liked him. Through his mind ran a desire for revenge upon Rome. He was more anxious than ever to be a soldier. He made up his mind that he would make Rome teach him how to reek vengance uoon her. The opportunity was nearer than he thought. In a battle on sea he and the master escaped, and the owner made Ben Hur his son. He went to Rome and very zealously he studied, and progressed rapidly. No part of the art was left unstudied by him, and he became an excellent sol- dier. When his studies were completed, he went back to Palestine. In his heart still ran the desire for revenge. He met an Egyptian girl and a Jewish girl. At first he thought he was in love with the fair Egyptian, and he was very ardent, and devoted to her. He was happy, but running through his happiness was a sadness and long- ing for his own people. The Egyptian scoffed at this devotion, and Ben Hur discovered that he did not love her, but the Jewish maiden. Day by day his new love grew, and absorbed his whole being. About the time of his return from Borne there was going to be a chariot race, and Messala was a contestant. Ben Hur saw at once that here was a grand opportunity to humilate Rome and ruin Messala. He trained his horses until they were in excellent con- dition. He had a knack of making