Plymouth High School - Pilgrim Yearbook (Plymouth, MA)

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we Fi English III, Misawa, H. S. Misawa Air Base up Honshu, Japan January 28, 1956 To the Pupils of Plymouth High School: Greetings from Japan. Although greatly removed in time and space, none of you at this moment is very far away, for memory reduces to a minimum the months and miles that separate friends. You ask me what Japan is like. Well, in partial answer to your question, Japan is an exotic land of pagodas, Shinto shrines, and Torii gates, of sculptured pines and feathery bam- boo, of southern rains and Siberian snows, of tiny homes with sliding doors and highly polished floors. Kimono-clad women carrying children on their backs are a common sight, the staccato clippity-clop of getas an ordinary sound. Strictly ad- hered to is the custom of removing one's shoes before enter- 4 ing a home. All this, however, represents only one aspect of the total picture, for Japan is also a modern, up-to-date country. Its cities, like those at home, are bustling centers of activity with heavy traffic, conservatively dressed people in native or West- ern grab, modern buildings, and well-stocked shops. Indeed, Japan's world-famous Silks and brocades, its lacquerware, china, cultured pearls, and lovely prints make it a shopper's paradise. Figuring prominently as an integral part of Japanese life is a strong aesthetic sense. Beauty lies in the landscape, it is found in the homes and in the very souls of people. Delighting the traveller's eye is the well-tilled, neatly cultivated countryside, studded with small towns and villages nestling in leafy loveliness against a background of green pines and, occasionally, of tall, graceful elms delicately etched against the sky. The Japanese people themselves live, work, and play much as people do in America. In the morning ,they rise, have breakfast, and rush off to work or school, boarding crowded subways, trains, or streetcars and, in many cases, buses or bicycles. For rec- reation, they attend the latest movies or listen to the radio. They celebrate national holidays, travel, and visit friends. Right now with a foot of snow covering Honshu, the chief concern of both Americans and Japanese is keeping warm and enjoying the winter sports. Lacking modern plumbing facilities as well as heating systems to protect them against severe winters, the Japanese are, nevertheless, an extremely clean people who love hot baths and fresh air. They're extremely fond of baseball, skiing, animals and children. As one becomes better acquainted with the Japanese, he realizes that they differ greatly amongst themselves in looks and personality as is the case with all peoples. He also looks behind phyical features to facial expressions which more frequently than not mir- ror kindness, intelligence, patience, and a poised deference. The visitor finds the Jap- anese an honest, literate people 69022 of the population? who are as polite to strangers as to one another - a people as eager to know and to understand us as we are to know and understand them. There's so much more that I'd like to tell you about Japan that it's difficult to know where to stop and I realize that although I've written much, I've said little, hardly mentioning important and inter- esting subjects like Japanese art, drama, religion, government, and education-the warp and woof of any culture and civilization. For the present, though, may I leave this parting thought with you-namely, that no matter what the immediate or remote future may bring, I thank the Lord for having given me this wonderful opportunity of getting to know a people who, fundamentally, have the same human needs, thoughts, and desires as we. My best wishes to all of you, and as the Japanese say, Sayonara. Sincerely, IRIS E. ALBERTINI Imperial Palace Grounds Tokyo JAY'S ARMY and NAVY STORE

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SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS ROBERT MISKELLY President As our class president, Bob is one of the best liked guys at Plymouth High School. He is always willing to help others with any job whether big or little. We will remember him as the uncle in Dust of the Road, an out- standing member of the Honor Society, and a hustler on the cross country team. Bob has also been a credit to the Student Activities Society and the Pilgrim Staff. He well de- serves the honor we have bestowed on him. an! ,H JOAN WHITING Secretary As an active member in most of the societies and associations in P.H.S., Jo has proven herself an indispensable member of our class. For three years she has been a drum major- ette, member of the Student Activities Soci- ety, and a class officer. Jo is sure to be a success in whatever field she enters. She is an avid sports fan as she proved by scoring the girls' basketball games and cheering the boys' team to victory. Jo has also been a member of the Honor Society and the Honor Group. GERALD PIMEN TAL Treasurer Jerry, the character with the crew cut and laughing brown eyes, has served as class treasurer for the past two years. A most re- freshing personality and sense of humor has made him very popular. He loves sports, particularly basketball and football. His car- with-no-back-seat has been a means of trans- portation to many of us when we were in a fix. As head ten-cent-a-week collector in 304, Jerry has given a great service to the school. WILLIAM HORTON Vice-President Bill has a sparkling personality and a sense of humor that is equaled by few. His hi, spoken in a Southern accent, is enough to brighten anyone's day. We thank Virginia for sending Bill to us in the September of 1954. His enthusiasm about everything he does has spread to the faculty and students alike. Although Managing Editor of the Pil- grim, he found time to serve on many of the class committees. We salute Bill as a credit to our class and our school. WIKSTEN BROTHERS DAIRY, Middleboro