Pembroke High School - Mattakeesett Yearbook (Pembroke, MA)

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THE WAMPUM 17 capable of giving orders, he can- not dictate a business letter that would be an asset to the firm. His illiterate conversation is one of his greatest drawbacks, but there are others. A capable business man must have the power to see a subject from all angles. Our friend hasnit this ability. Con- centration is another trait found in every successful business man. It is developed by careful study and con- templation, but as our friend hasn't spent much time in this manner, he cannot concentrate. Consequently, We find him, at the age of twenty-tive, earning fifteen dollars a week. Bc- cause of this and the H. C. L., he leads a very unhappy life. On the other hand, the high school graduate advances in business. He is employed in a large Wholesale fruit establishment as a clerk. In this busi- ness, much of the trade is carried on with foreign companies. Therefore, French and German prove a means of advancement. He can dictate a good business letter and carry on an intelli- gent conversation because he has stud- ied English. His Algebra and Geome- try have made him very accurate, and as accuracy Hrstv is the principal business slogan, this also proves valu- able. He became more useful to his employer because he knows more, and in the course of a few years he has ad- vanced to a higher position. When his hair begins to turn gray, he has a good income, and doesn't need to worry. Having earned his position and pile, 'he spends his latter years in ease and comfort. This is no dream. Any business man will tell you that a high school education does a great deal toward preparing a person for business. Em- ployers of today respect a high school diploma. Look at the paper tonight and see for yourself how many worth while positions are offered to young men and young women. Notice also the number of these ads which re- quire that the applicant shall have a high school education. I don't mean to say that a high school education will make you rich 3 I'm not saying that everyone who goes to high school will become famous, but what I say is this: There is no successful person who did not rise by means of 'hard study and the determination to do things bet- ter than the best. If ignorance is bliss, there is no such thing as bliss in the business world. E. G. W., '18, A WATER SPOUT In the morning it came up hot, and towards noon it was nearly unbeara- ble. There most surely was going to be a storm. At the shore, where I was staying, it was always worse than anywhere else. Off in the west were huge black clouds containing wind, and some heavily laden with waters Our house was situated in a cove with long arms of land extending out into the sea at the right and left of us. The left arm was Brant Rock, the right was the Gurnet. The wind came up and swept the sea, leaving behind it a mass of Whitecaps. In a half hour's time it was raining at our house. I looked over at the Gurnet and the sun was shining. From our house one- cou-ld see the bay, and overhanging it a strange-looking cloud. I Watched it until inally it came swooping down. It looked like a huge black arm de- scending, while on one side there seemed to be a stream of water rising. On the other side it appeared to be de- scending. This arm would come

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16 THE WAMPUM 'iYes,'J her mother replied, You may think it foolish g but when I dropped that knife yesterday a man did call, and the time I dropped the fork and spoon your aunt Addie and cousin Ellen came. Didn't I tell you a knife, fork and spoon meant a man, woman and child would call ?,' Dorothy sighed and reached for an- other slice of bread. -However, she drew in her hand and looked sheepish- ly at her mother. There is one sign I am rather wary of, and that is to take the last piece of bread on the plate. I would hate to have to be an old maid. Ha, ha! So you are a little foolish yourself. I ought to punish you by not giving you another slice, but I won't this timef' Dorothy laughed as she slipped on her coat. HI will wish on the first star tonight that you will keep well and happy while I am away. Good-bye, dear, here comes my carf' A E. G., 318. A DISCONTENTED WASTE BASKET The waste basket beside the desk was full. The janitor had forgotten it for three days. And still more pa- per was thrust into it. I Won't stand it, said the waste basket. Won,t stand what ? said the tele- phone, who had heard the words of the basket. I won't stand being used as a catchall every day for all who come in- to this room. The janitor persists in forgetting me, and here I am, full and even running over. Well,,' said the telephone, I wouldn't stand that myself. I know a plan for you when they bring paper and things. Do not hold them, let them out? How can IPD asked the basket. We'll get our friend the nail to catch ahold of you and tear the little straws. The nail did as it was bidden, and the fancy part of the basket was torn. Just then a man entered the room and went to the desk. As he opened it, the telephone rang, and he hurried- ly threw some paper and rubbish into the waste basket. When he returned, the paper lay on the floor. Well, I'll be hanged, came in sur- prise from the man. Well, I'll be hanged, too,', said the basket as it landed in a pile of dump an hour later. R. M. D., '19. ISN'T IT WORTH WHILE? Some people are of the opinion that a high school education is not neces- sary. They seem to think that the time spent in studying Algebra, Lat- in, Geometry, English, and other similar subjects is wasted. Such peo- ple believe that a grammar school ed- ucation is good enough. We will take an illustration of each case,-a boy having a grammar school educa- tion, and one who has received his high school diploma. The first boy leaves school at the age of Hfteen or thereabouts. Through some acquaintance he gets a position with an insurance company. He re- ceives two dollars a day, which of course is good pay for a boy of his age. The time comes, sooner or lat- er, when one of his superiors leaves- illness perhaps or another position. Our friend would like to take his place. Does he get it? No, and why not? He hasnft the training. He isn't

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18 THE WAMPUM down, stay a few moments, and go up to the cloud again. At first a narrow strip of mist could be seen 5 then it gradually broadened to half a mile. All at once it disappeared as quickly as it had come, as soon as that went, the storm cleared, showing a beautiful crimson sunset. Later I found out that the object was called a water spout, something frequently seen in this part of the country. L. M. D., '20, AMONG THE. IMMORTALS According to the modern idea in the thirtieth century, when a man dies he does not go to -Hades or Erebus, as the ancients believed, but to Subter- seania. This place was located in the misty deeps of the Bartic Ocean. For centuries the number of shades had increased until finally a modern city had been built among the slimy seaweeds, to the terror of the great greeneyed monsters who ruled the deeps. This city contained all modern conveniences, and no man above the age of fifty was required to work. The population was entirely male, since laws forbade the entrance of the fair sex. The shades were transported hither by means of a large submarine which ran daily between the earth and Sub- terseania. The line was managed by George Mellen, former president of the N. Y., N. H., 85 Hartford Railroad, who still dabbled in stocks even in his place of banishment and frequently was known to be a heavy loser. His greatest boast, however, was that he had the honor to escort the Hon. Wil- liam J. Bryan to his resting place. On a warm summer night, in the above described locality, the main dining hall doors were flung open, and a mad rush for favorite seats en- sued. Pandemonium reigned for a few moments, but when all became calm, the steward was found helping to his feet the enraged Monsieur Poin- care, who had been care'lessly trodden upon during the rush. When each shade had carefully spread his napkin in his lap, grace was asked by Mr. William Sunday. Beside the evangelist sat William J. Bryan, who was carefully pouring out the contents of a large-necked bottle bearing the label Grape Juice. Op- posite the famous peace advocate sat Theodore Roosevelt, ex-president of the United States and hero of San Juan Hill. Filling T. R.'s glass to the brim, Bryan brought 'his up in tribute to the former president, who responded with a jovial De-e-lighted. At the farther end sat Woodrow Wil- son, another ex-oflicio, who was earn- estly talking to Mr. Henry Ford, an automobile manufacturer, between sips, Ford was trying to get Wloodrow to in- vest in a new model car which he was having patented, but Wilson refused, stating that he had saved but two buf- falo nickels during his entire 'admin- istration of eight years. Separated from Wilson by two chairs, sat Charles E. Hughes, who had been elected president when he retired at night, but who had awakened in the morning to find that his term had ex- pired. Since both were bitter personal and political enemies, they had scarce- ly spoken to each other after their ban- ishment from the upper kingdom. Others of minor importance were Charlie Chaplin, Jess Willard, Andrew Carnegie, Ty Cobb, and John D. Rock- efeller. The absence of Edison was es- pecially noticeable, but as this was a. frequent event, he was not missed. Otn the pool table in the billiard room he