Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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TIIE GOLDKN-ROI). lightly regarded—namely, the inter-class games. The aim of education—to develop char- acter—is known or should be known by all. The aim of school athletics should be to prepare our bodies so that they may obtain the best possible results from our educa- tion. We are afraid that our higher insti- tutions are going too far in their athletic contests. What should be made a pleas- ure and a help is made a toil and a detri- ment. A comparatively small number of the students enrolled participate in our college contests, or even train for them. If inter-class athletic contests were more generally promoted there is no doubt that greater interest would be aroused in all branches of athletics and more beneficial results obtained. Elevated Road. The opening of Boston’s Elevated Road marks a great epoch in the progress of that enterprising metropolis. When the road was first proposed, many were of the opinion that it would be impossible to construct it without hopelessly congesting the streets with the frame work. How- ever, despite all difficulties, we now have an elevated road which, when in good run- niim order, will be second to none. o 7 This last achievement of our capital furnishes much food for reflection. With- in the memory of not a few of our older residents the streets of Boston were un- molested by cars of any kind. To them the evolution must seem truly wonderful. When we consider that infrequent omni- buses were once sufficient to accommodate the travelling public and that now, sub- way, surface cars, and elevated road are striving to carry the throngs constantly seeking transportation, we are forced to ask ourselves where this progress will end, or what the next means of coping with the multitudes will be. PC m The Bovs of '01. In alphabetical order and pun, I rime on the boys of aughty one. There’s Anderson with the plastered hair, And looks so meek and deboniar. Gannett, the man with the smiling face, Who in class society holds first place. Ilallett’s a philosopher, that is clear. Who doesn’t shine shoes with his other gear. Lewis as . Eneas, in the High School's boast, Did cause poor Dido to give up the ghost. McGilvray’s our orator, you must know, And with him we others have no show. McTiernau’s the boy with the twinkling eye. And as a class wit no others stand by. Newcomb, with steps as slow as a Pope, Is our class poet and no plodding “ mope.” Nichols is one who we all must say Is a man to depend on any day. Shepherd is known as an easy mark And is always reproved for being “smart.” Sherburne’s an American who in all lines Boasts his descent from colonial times. Sweeney, the youth in the corner seat, Lives on caramels instead of meat. And now I’ve reached my end at last, From one to twelve I’ve rimed and past. But Wright’s the man of all our crew, As our future Congressman we have in view. Shepherd, 1001. LITEPAPY. The Class of 1901. The month of June and the days which follow are fraught with grave feelings and perhaps even with anxiety for the members of the class of 1901. What they will do when next September comes and, perhaps, even before that time, has been and is the

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Che Golden-Rod. QUINCY, MASS., JUNE, 1901. Cbe (5olben=1Roh PUBLISHED BY THE QUINGY HIQH SCHOOL. EDITOR-IN-CHIEE : Charles McGii.vkay, 1901. ASSISTANTS: Carl Lewis 1901, Fred Shepherd, 1901. Franklin S. Nichols, 1901. R. Garfield Wright, 1901. BUSINESS MANAGER: R. Garfield Wright, 1901. ASSISTANTS: Gordon Gannett, 1901. Vincent IIallet, 1901. EDITORIALS School Paper. Again we venture to offer the Golden Rod to the public. The pupils of Quincy High School ought to feel a pride in sub- scribing to and supporting the Golden Rod. We have been able to stir up this feeling in regard to our school athletics and we sincerely trust that there is enthusiasm enough remaining to help out our school paper. Every pupil should feel the duty incumbent upon him to help out any enter- prise proposed by his school. We do not hesitate to receive every advantage which our school offers; and yet in return we are reluctant in subscribing to the school paper. Verily “these things ought not so to be.” The value of a school paper is indispu- table. In the first place those who manage the paper receive valuable business train- ing ; those who contribute articles obtain excellent practice and confidence in writ- ing ; and those who read the paper receive the benefits derived from carefully pre- pared and written literature. Need of Addition to Building. The Quincy schools have ever been far- famed for their excellence. If this excel- lence is to be maintained, it must be ex- pected that money will be required. The disadvantage at which our High School has been placed by the small number of teachers is apparent to any impartial ob- server. It would seem only just, that with a limited number of teachers, we might expect at least room enough for the com- fort and convenience of all. A school built to accommodate three hundred and fifty can never hold five hundred. If the city is to economize in any way, it certainly ought to find some other de- partment with which to begin a curtailment of expenses. Our High School is fully re- paying the city with good results for any outlay in its behalf. We cannot help feel- ing that it is thoughtlessness which allows these conditions to obtain. Surely, the city fathers, when made aware of the con- dition of affairs, will make an appropria- tion for an addition to our present school building. ♦ Inter-Class Games. At present while athletics are receiving so much attention and encouragement from secondary schools, we feel forced to speak about one branch of sport in which, our estimation, has hitherto been too

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THE GOLDEN-ROD. constant burden of the minds of at least half of them. Some have their work all marked out and to these there is anxiety; but it is of that variety occasioned by prospective ex- aminations and their possible success. These are the college pupils and for them we wish a brilliant college career, which will well prepare them to till their destined place in the busy world with credit to themselves and to their class. There are others among our members, who for various reasons cannot have the privilege of a college education. We re- regret this, because we would that all might have such an opportunity and im- prove it; but let us not feel that college is the only noble life held out to us by Fate. Each of us in doing thoroughly and cheer- fully whatever comes in our way, although it be but a seemingly small and unim- portant work, may build for himself a character, not at all incomparable with that of those who are more privileged. Let us improve the opportunities in the manner in which we have been taught during our school life, and although we have lacked that spirit of ambition and per- severance which should characterize every class in its Senior year, and although we realize that there are grave faults which cannot, as a class, be corrected, yet be- cause each individual contributes to the general spirit of the whole, let us hope that in each one of us there may be de- cided effort to win future successes and commendation. Notwithstanding all its failings we still hope that the class of 1901 may not have been without an influence which has been for good in the school; and that, as we feel a deep regret in leaving the school and its pleasant associations, so those with whom we have lived our last four years of school life may feel a similar tinge of re- gret at our departure. Lois Methkrall, 1901. The Spirit of Progress of the Present Age. How has this spirit already been mani- fested ? Look where we will, we find some im- provement over a century or even a decade past. For example, we now ride under ground, on ground, and over ground, and who can say we shall not soon Hy through the air? In electricity, owners of electric plants complain that the expenditure for im- proved machinery is so great, that but small profits remain to be invested in dividends. Look at the wonderful warships now being added to our navy; who can imagine any improvement in them? Yet doubt- less a century from now they will be sold as old junk. Only a few days ago we read of the wireless telegraphy and how pictures can be taken even through a stone wall. Think of it ! What is the incentive of this spirit of advancement? Goals! What brings suc- cess to the individual ? He has a certain end or goal in view toward which he strives and struggles, as a runner keeps the goal in sight and exerts all his strength to reach it. Then, too, as the contestant must not look behind, so man must forget former failures, and “try, try again,” for in trying is success. The successes also must be forgotten, or am- bition will fail in cherishing former triumphs. By way of illustration, the story is told of a celebrated sculptor who, after he had finished his most famous statue, declared that his genius must have decayed, for he could find no flaw in his work, whereas formerly he had always been able to find some little room for improvement. How eagerly a little boy looks forward to becoming an engineer and controlling