Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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THE GOLDEN ROD. The school year is now fairly under way. The number of boys in Latin ’96 is much larger than the number in Latin ’95. The principal characteristic of Saturn seems to be vanity, he possesses so many rings. Any one who has never seen a ‘Teal live lord” may gratify his curiosity by paying a visit to the High School. Apples hanging from boughs within a stone’s throw of the schoolyard are tempting, but we must bear in mind the old, old story of the apple. Teacher, questioning pupil---- Master----, what are the---? Pupil—Dunno. Teacher—What was my ques- tion ? Pupil—Dunno. At roll call. Teacher—Master Paradise. Some pupil—He’s left. Teacher—It seems to be a case of “Paradise Lost.” As yet Paradise has not been Regaified. On returning to school this year, we found some improvements, the interior of the building having been freshened by new paint. The fresh effect was increased by the new class, which numbers about one hundred pupils. When we came back to school, we found our picture of Whittier draped in black. Another of our great poets gone. Last year it was Lowell. May it be many years before we mourn for Holmes, the only surviving one of the celebra- ted eight. The interest our new principal takes in athletic sports has en- deared him to the heart of every boy in the Quincy High School. The excitement during a game of foot-ball extends to the feminine portion of the school, and it is only when the ball leaps a fence into a neighbor’s choice flower bed, that we are devoutly thankful our sex prohibits our joining in the rush. BIOGRAPHY OF A BUSINESS MAN. William Ray, born March 12, 18—, died December 2, 18—. Born in a small village near New York City, when small he was like the average boy; that is, when with boys he did as the best boys always do, but he always obeyed his parents. He went to the grammar school, from which he was graduated at the age of thirteen. William was considered by his teachers a studious boy. After being gradu- ated he borrowed books from the library to read, and when he went to work he bought them. These books were always on mercantile subjects. In after years when in the city, he went to a night school, and since he had studied at home he was placed in an advanced class. When he was fourteen he se- cured the position of office boy in the office of a commission mer- chant in New York City. In ful- filling his duties he was very clever, always careful to make the least noise possible. He met ev- erybody with a pleasant smile and when he made appointments he kept them to the minute. He was particularly neat, both in his dress and in his work. It is said that he was a great thinker, remembering everything; one seldom had to re- peat for him. The merchant observed these characteristics. After eleven years of hard work the young man was taken into the firm. Indeed, all the clerks thought him worthy of a more responsible position than that which he was holding, al- though he did not murmur, as he believed that his employers knew what he was worth and paid him for it. The trade of this house in- creased, and they established sev- eral branch houses during his term of management. In fact, the capi- tal invested was nearly doubled in ten years. He continued to work every day in the office for thirty years after this. Then he retired from active labor.

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THE GOLDEN ROD, PERSONAL. LOCALS. EDITED BY Jennie Griffin, Annie C. P. Eady, Herberi A. Thompson. Thomas Greany, ’95, is working in Boston. Pauline Wilkins, ’94, is at Thayer Academy. John Faircloth, ’95, is at Drake’s shoe factory. Arthur Curtis, ’93, is at Chauncey Hall, Boston. Harry Wason, ’95, now attends the Adams Academy. Fred Coombs works at Gurney’s grocery store, Atlantic. John Pray, ’95, is at Kilpatrick’s fruit store, Quincy Point. Walter Sampson is employed at Lathrop’s book store, Boston. Margaret O’Hara, ’95, has en- tered French’s Business college. Lizzie Roberts, ’95, is at Bryant and Stratton’s Commercial college. Marion I. Bailey, ’94, and Mari- on J. Gurney, ’94, are at Framing- ham Normal. Miss Sibylla A. Pfaffmann, one of our former teachers, is still studying at Harvard Annex. Mary Harkins, ’95, and Florence Gray, ’94, have entered Bryant and Stratton’s Commercial college. Miss Mitchell, ’94, took a part as one ot the Peek Sisters in an en- tertainment lately given at the Congregational church. Dr. Sheahan, Rev. Mr. Cotton, Supt. Lull, and others have visited the High School the past month. Visitors are always welcome. Irving W. Horne, our late princi- pal, has accepted the position of superintendent of Braintree public schools, and has our best wishes for success. Leila H. Sprague, ’94, has gone to Bridgewater Normal. She has always been faithful and persever- ing in her work and leaves an ex- cellent record. The first and last thing which is required of genius is the love of truth. EDITED BY Annie E. Burns, Daisy C. Bemis, Percy A. Hull. An increase of over sixty pupils ! Vacation over and another school year begun! A new plank walk is extended from the original walk to the boys’ entrance. Astronomy ’93 gives us the strange information that every per- son’s zenith is in the same place. Latin ’96. Pupil—Durus, dura, durum. Teacher—Not quite so much rum if you please. Latin ’95—“Minerva is a city.” Surely the goddess of wisdom should be implored to visit and scatter her blessings upon that be- nighted soul. Now we are to be initiated into the mysteries of cooking. It may not be so much of an affliction to don an apron and assist in the usual Saturday’s baking at home. Physics ’95. Teacher—What term is applied to anything that you can touch, taste or feel? Pupil—Energy. Teacher----How does energy taste ? Will the pupil of Latin ’95, who made the astonishing statement that “Caesar’s hair was generally bald,” kindly rise and explain? Confessing our dullness, we pray to have our anxiety relieved. The decided increase of pupils this year caused us to experience a gasping sensation and an intense longing for air and elbow-room, until the classes of ’93 and ’94 were allowed to go home after recitation, leaving the remainder to breathe freely. The interior of our school build- ing was in shining order upon our return from, the rest which vaca- tion afforded us. Finding it swept and garnished, may we endeavor to keep it so neat that the last state of the rooms shall not be worse than the first.

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THE GOLDEN ROD. With his money he was charita- ble. He provided a hospital for his native village, which had become a small city. He was foremost in all educational projects. No society was complete without having him to hold some important office. Many young business men owe part of their success to him, as he was ever ready to help them. At his death he was mourned by all, regardless of class or creed, for he was kind and charitable to all, es- pecially to the working class. In his younger days he was in- dustrious. He observed every- thing and was quick to understand. In business matters he was keen, prompt and shrewd, yet trustwor- thy and honest, and we may say almost without doubt, that these qualities, aided by a tender, loving heart, helped him to secure the po- sition that he held for so long a time. —Mary E. Monahan, ’94. USES OF ELECTRICITY IN QUINCY. What would our great-great- grandfathers or President John Adams have said, had we told them that by stepping to the wall and speaking into what appeared to be a box, they could talk with friends in New York? They could not only do this, but could tell by the voice to whom they were talk- ing. This is done every hour of the day in Quincy, and we think it not at all strange. If it is very stormy we may not like to go out, but we may wish to talk to a friend, and if he has a telephone we can accomplish this without any difficulty. It is very useful in a store if one wants something from Boston and cannot leave the store to go to the city. All one has to do is to step to the tele- phone and order what is wanted. The arc light illuminates our city with a light whose brilliance is a little less than one-third that of the sun. The characteristic color of the light is a bluish white, but the effect is rather ghastly owing to the quantity of blue rays. There is no other light which has such a penetrating power. This light renders the ground around it as plainly visible as it is on a cloudy day. What may seem still more strange is that the lights all over the city can be lighted at the same time and almost instantaneously. This is very convenient and useful in a very heavy snow-storm, when perhaps the streets may be drifted so as to render it impossible to light the gas or oil lamps. It is also very useful in this city when the moon shines at the beginning of the evening, but suddenly disap- pears, leaving all the city envel- oped in darkness. Then all that is necessary to dispel this darkness is the starting of one machine at the electric light station. We have a very clear, bright light for lighting houses and the cars. These lights generate some heat. We may light all the house and even the piazza by pressing a button in the hall. What a saving of time this is compared with our great-grandmothers’ way, when they made the tallow and the wick, then put them in a candle mould, where they remained for a week or two to harden before they were ready for use! It seems very strange to see a car moving along the streets with- out any visible motive power. Cars are one of the greatest mod- ern conveniences of which electri- city forms a part. What would our great-mothers have said, if they could have enjoyed a ride in an electric car! The lights of the car, when needed, are also fur- nished by electricity. Even when electricity is not used for light, it is used to ignite other kinds of lights, notably gas. The gas is lighted in the house and on the piazza by pressing a button. One house in this city employs electricity in ' locking and unlock- ing its doors. A person goes to the door of this house and wishes to see Mrs. W., who lives in the third story. The person presses a button, which rings a bell in the