Plainfield High School - Hermiad Yearbook (Central Village, CT)

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10 THE HERMIAD A BAD ERROR QWilliam Williams--1 9281 HE spirit of the huckleberry season had got into the blood of us two Wilbur boys, me and Dan,--my name is Jim. So one bright sunny morning, accompanied by two large pails, we decided to try these little fruits of nature. After a good long walk we arrived at the glorious huckleberry field. Perhaps you have read of huckleberry fields where the berries are as large as marbles, and any way one turns he is confronted by tall bushes, loaded with delicious berries. Every way we turned we were confronted by tall bushes, loaded with plenty of sharp stubbles that lacerated the skin as well as the clothes. Well, say, I believe we tramped those woods for ten miles and all the time the huckleberries kept getting scarcerg to add to our misery we ran into a herd of cows, at least Dan said so. He was a little distance in front of me and said an ugly looking cow was in the way. When I reached him I saw the animal-or rather her head-which was thrust through the brush. Up-on a second look the features of the animal changed from those of a cow to those of the male sex of that sepcies. I immediately informed my brother of the fact. He readily agreed with me and suggested we walk away. We had not walked far when I noticed a member of the herd following us. We accelerated our pace somewhat and I was surprised to find our pursuer did also. That was enoughg the track Work we did then was enough to make any coach proud. Dan suggested that we find a tree and ascend. If the huckleberry bushes had stubbles on them, I don't know what the tree I picked had on it. Anyway it didn't stop me any. I most certainly gave an imitation of a bird, and reached a safe perch before our friend arrived. When he did appear he must have had a good laugh to himself when he saw us up that tree. From the looks of him I doubt that he would have harmed a flea. Shortly after his arrival he departed and we left our tree. When we started for home we were accompanied by two large pails, both of them filled to their brims with air. What huckleberries we did pick we lost during our mad scramble through the thick underbrush. Thus was the spirit of the huckleberry season taken out of us two Wilbur boys.

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THE HERMIAD 9 Athletics are also a great asset to the health of those who participate. Statistics have proved that athletes live longer than the average man. Sur- prisingly, football players averaged better than other athletes, while baseball men had the highest mortality rate. An athlete must be clean in mind and in bodyg he is alert, cheerful, and never lazy. He acquires speed and endur- ance, and is taught to meet hard things in life without fiinching. Through competitive games the athlete acquires sportsmanship which is the greatest asset to himg he must be able to face defeat and say to himself, May the best man win! Every boy dreams of being a second Red Grange, or perhaps a Bill Tildeng and every girl admires Gertrude Ederle and Helen Wills. These boys and girls of today are given their chance to display their ability in their own schools. If they have the ability they are given the opportunity to develop itg and in them may be discovered the champions of tomorrow. The growth of athletics in colleges and high schools has been amazing. Huge sums of money have been spent and invested in athletic plants. Under- graduate and alumni interests have become intense, and at times, hysterical. But as athletics mount in importance, serious students of American Educa- tion, as well as those who are not so serious, never cease to debate the effect and value of athletics on the school. Quia AN ATHLETIC FIELD FOR PLAINFIELD HIGH SCHOOL Uoseph Hawkins-19285 VER since Plainfield High School has been established in its present location the need of an athletic field has been a vital question. At the present time high school athletics are considered to be of great importance in the training of an able bodied citizen. But Plainfield High School is handicapped. Though it has ample land it has no properly developed athletic field and it is inconvenient to carry on major sports. Necessities such as a proper place to change clothes, suflicient lockers and adequate showers are lacking. The field which is used is too far away to be desirable either for home teams or for visiting teams. If the athletic field were near to the school, a larger number of the students would compete in the sports and a greater interest in the athletics of the high school would be shown. More of the student body would attend the games and give support which is now lacking. Not only in interscholastic sports would an athletic field near the school be helpful, but in physical education work and in interclass games as well. Physical training would be more interesting and class competition would be greatly increased.

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THE HERMIAD 11 ADVENTURES IN LILLIPUT CHelen Hart-19281 OMMY was roaming through a strange forest. He had no idea how he came to be there, but he knew he was lost and saw no way of getting out. As he sat resting on a log he saw a strange band of little men coming toward him. These midgets were about six inches tall and half of them were riding on rats while the others walked behind. Tommy was astonished, of courseg but he soon found voice enough to ask them where they were going and if they could help him find his way home. n We are in luck, cried the leader dismounting. Here is a giant who seems friendly enough to help us combat the enemy. If you will help us rescue our queen, he said, addressing Tommy, we will take you out of the forest. Where is your queen, asked Tommy rising slowly. She has been stolen by our enemy from across the river and we must get her back today or her kingdom will be destroyed. Take me to her. I am in a hurry to leave the forest, said Tommy impatiently. Forward march! called the leader mounting his rat again. On they went for about an hour. It seemed very slow traveling to Tommy who took a step and then waited for the rest. The river which they had to cross seemed only a brook to him. The enemy were prepared for war, but when they saw Tommy they became so surprised and were so interested in him that they forgot to guard the queen and the leader seized her and ran back to his steed before they could realize what was happening. Now that the queen is gone, let's keep this giant in our kingdom, said one man. He is so large and powerful he could help us win our battles. Before Tommy understood their plans, many little men were binding his hands and feet with their stoutest ropes which seemed like cord to Tommy. He looked for his friends whom he had helped and saw them crossing the river rejoicing over the safety of their queen. The midgets took Tommy to their court house which was their largest building. Alas! he could not even .get his head through the doorway. It was at this time that they began to realize his enormous size in comparison with them. Fear suddenly seized them and not knowing anything else to do they called a meeting and decided that the quickest way to get rid of him was to throw him into the river. It took about a hundred and fifty men to move the protesting Tommy. At last they reached the river and threw him in, splash! When Tommy came to the surface again he opened his eyes and to his surprise found himself sitting on the fioor of his bedroom. His mother came in and when she saw him she cried, Why, what has happened?