Reading Memorial High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Reading, MA)

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The Pioneer. Vol. I. No. i. READING, MASS., FEBRUARY, 1892. Price, 5 Cents. THE PIONEER. Issued on the 15th of every month during the School Year. Editor-in-Chief, . Bernard Barrows. Associate Editors :— Chester Kingman, Lucy Poore, Marion Prentiss. Business Manager . N. H. Hawes. Assistants: — G. H. Clough, Alice Eames, Grace Parker, H. L. Hill, Mabel Robinson. Five Cents per Copy. Advertising rates furnished on application. For sale at the various News Stands. Students are cordially invited to contribute to the columns of the Pioneer. Articles intended for publication , and all commu¬ nications relating to the Literary Department of the paper , should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief Articles must be ' written on only one side of the paper. TENS AND ZEROS. Why all this toil, this constant strain Upon the mind, this tax upon the brain? O! “ ’Tis the strife for rank, for fame,” You say; “nor ease nor health outvalues name. For this, we study day and night; For this, we struggle with our mind and might: Farewell, all things that hold us down — We upward press to vict’ry and the crown.” But what avails this little gain, If after all your labor and your pain, When onward through life’s path you go, No longer tens, but zeros then you sow ' . We do not say, shun honest fame, Or reputation good, or spotless name: But are these wholly found in books, By him alone who delves with haggard looks? Then envy not the book-w’orm w ' ise, If all things else escape his narrow eyes; For life’s stern path must soon he trod, So make not schoolroom rank and fame your god. C. E. EDITORIAL. In assuming the editorial management of the Pioneer for the ensuing year, we make no pro¬ fessions as to what we are going to do, for indeed, we hardly yet know ourselves. A com¬ plete plan of action is not perfected in a week or a fortnight. All we have to say is that whatever lines of work we may decide to begin later, we consider ourselves pledged to certain principles. To make the paper the representative of the Reading High School, and always outspoken in her interests ; to stand for what we consider the highest and best in school life; to criticize impartially, to form our convictions honestly and to express them fearlessly ; these we maintain are conditions binding on us on account of our position. In conclusion we think we have a right to ask one thing, namely : that the students themselves will take an active interest in the paper. The editors will do their best, but it will be impossible for them to act successfully without the coopera¬ tion of their schoolmates. As the winter wears away and mid-year rapidly approaches, we all begin to look forward a little to the pleasanter days of spring, and the closing weeks of the year. Especially do the Seniors begin to realize that they have started on the “home stretch” as a class for the last time. They will soon begin to prepare themselves for the momentous occasion which they have been long anticipating. After finishing their studies here, a large portion of the class intend to take examinations for entering some college, and further prepare themselves for their work in life.

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I. PIONEER AD VER TISEMENTS . COPELAND db BOWSER. WE HAVE RECEIVED DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER 30 Doz. Men’s Boys’ Outing Shirts, Nice Clean Goods. Prices from 50 cents to $1.00. Also, FIFTEEN DOZEN LADIES’ SHIRT WAISTS, in a Variety of Styles, from 50 Cents to $1.25 each. I ' l ICASlC CARE AXD EXAMINE. COPELAND BOWSER. - - READING. MASS. C. M. BARROWS CO., Printers, m 2 North Market St., . BOSTON. Telephone 1906. ROBERTSON GREEN, Carpenters and• Iuh.oe.rs. Estimates Given on all kinds of Carpenter Work. BEST WORK. LOWEST PRICES. Shop, Sanborn St., Reading. FRANCIS BROTHERS, Stoves, Hardware, Hen Netting, Wheelbarrows, Paint Stock, c. HAVEN STREET, READING, MASS. THE READING PLANING MILL CO. MANUFACTURERS OF FURNITURE SPECIALTIES. — ALSO — Planing, Moulding, Band sawing and Jobbing, Salem Street, - - Reading, Mass. D. H. KENDALL, Supt. WRIGHT, BROWN CROSSLEY, Solicitor of Patents, Rooms 835 838, Exchange Building, Boston. BOSTON BRANCH. Groceries, Hay, Grain and Straw, Foreign and Domestic Goods of all Kinds at Boston Cash Prices. WM. J. PARSONS, Bank Building, Main St. Manager. H. B. SWEETSER CO. Provisions, Fruits and Vegetables, MAIN STREET, READING. Fresh supplies received daily from Boston markets. New St vies HATS, CAPS, -AND- FINE FURNISHING GOODS, -AT- F. Bartley’s, Haven St. tikef ASK TO SEE THE “BOSTON DERBY”HAT S. W. BOWKER, CONTKACTOE, LlVEEY AND TEAMING. Hacks and Barges, Buildings Moved, Excavating, Grading and Stone Masonry. 34 Woburn Street, - - Reading, Mass. TRY WILLIS ' SODA AT WILLIAM WILLIS’ DKUQ STOKE, Corner of Main and Haven Sts.

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2 THE PIONEER. We cordially invite every member of the High School to contribute to the columns of the Pioneer. Not one of us can afford to lose the opportunity for improvement which this will give ; and we are sure that no better chance can be found for laying the foundation of a journalistic career. Is not the abilit} 7 to write well as much of an accomplishment as the ability to read Latin and Greek? Should a student neglect anything so important as this? We trust that those who are endeavoring to make the most of their course of study will give the matter attention. THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES. This interesting story, written by Hawthorne while residing at Lenox, was given to the world in 1851. The scene is laid in Salem where are now many houses which claim to be the original “ House of Seven Gables.” This edifice was situated on Pyncheon Street. The whole outside was ornamented with quaint figures and the seven gables, pointing toward the sky gave it a proud, imposing air. The main entrance was between the front gables and was very wide. When the great house was built, at the appointed time, friends gathered from far and near for a sort of consecration. Alas! thus early in its history death crossed the threshold, for Judge Pyncheon at this gathering was found dead in his study. Some of the characters are very interesting, they are so strange. Let us look at Hepzibah on that eventful morning preparing her toilet before entering her shop. Hepzibah Pyncheon was, in every sense of the word, an old maid. She was tall and thin and always had a scowl on her forehead which seemed to those who did not really know her, as a bad omen. Before emerging from her room she makes a very careful toilet. Ah ! poor soul, she thinks she can make herself look better, but no amount of fine clothing can ever make Hepzibah look beautiful. Often one can hear a deep sigh escape as she moves to and fro. She opens and closes every drawer in her tall, old- fashioned bureau; she looks at the back of her dress to see that every fold is smooth and now, after kneeling beside the bed to ask Divine help for the day, we think she is ready. Why does she not leave her room, then? One thing more must be done ! Soon we see her turning a key in the small lock of a secret drawer. She takes out the small miniature of a young man. Who can it be? We have never seen the original, but if we had, we could not forget those lovely eyes and the firm, delicate mouth. Did Hepzibah ever have a lover? But no matter, let her indulge in this one pleasure of her life. She gazes at it long and tenderly and then carefully returns it to its place, and now Hepzibah Pyncheon crosses the threshold looking stern and harsh. But perhaps she does not feel so, poor soul, she has had a hard life shutting herself from the world, and now, in her old age, she realizes that she is poor and must earn a living. So she has fitted up a room for a shop in one corner of the spacious mansion. She has for sale many things to please and delight a child. She takes her place behind the counter trembling and eagerly awaiting the first customer. We leave her there with our best wishes, poor old soul. Phoebe was a lovely girl. She could hardly be called beautiful yet she was very interesting, like a child, yet womanly in appearance. Her brown hair which curled in pretty ringlets shaded her face tanned by the sun, while a ruddy, healthful glow showed she loved the air. Haw¬ thorne calls her half dozen freckles “ friendly remembrances of the April sun and breeze.” “ She was graceful as a bird ” and carried sun¬ shine wherever she went. The next morning after her arrival she helped get breakfast, for Phoebe had great tact and could be useful any¬ where. She stepped about quickly, humming some tune, making everyone feel lively and happy. She was the bright spot in poor Ilepzibah’s life. At first I had no patience with Clifford, who could only admire the beautiful, but when I saw how he had been wronged my heart warmed to defend and help him. Phoebe was a great com¬ fort to him. I was very much interested in the chapter telling about the death of Judge