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

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14 THE PIONEER. A Junior Girl’s Experience on a Bicycle. A True Story. “ Oh ! those everlasting Juniors ! ” “What’s the matter now?” I asked, turning around and surveying my sister, who had just j come in. “Oh, nothing; only they are always trying to get up a sensation.” “ What have they done so awful?” “ Well, you see,” she continued, “ one of the Junior girls has a wheel. She went down to Wakefield the other day. I don’t see what she went down there for, anyway ! Well, when she was coming back, at the head of the lake she passed two young men with bicycles who were resting on the side of the road. She was riding close to the track and as she was passing them she lost control of her bicycle (strange!); the front wheel caught in the track and over she went, wheel and all, into the lake. Of course the young men rushed to her assistance, while she just stood in the water and laughed. One rescued her, while the other recovered her wheel After giving her plenty of advice which she ac¬ cepted but did not follow, the young gallants rode away, while she hastened home. I declare 1 believe all she did it for was just to get up a sensation ! ” And Bess left the room, slamming the door behind her. M. V. A., ’96. The Department of Music in the R. H. S. We can scarcely overestimate the importance of good musical training in the public schools, and never, perhaps, has greater attention been given to this subject. The number of those who truly appreciate good music increases each year, and while fifty years ago there were comparatively few who understood music and could read it well unless they had received the advantages of private in¬ struction, we find the average pupil in our schools today not only appreciative but capable himself of presenting work of much merit. Work o f a higher order is each year expected and attained in our High Schools, and we feel that under the competent guidance of our Super¬ visor of Music, Mr. Frederic Archibald, of Wal¬ tham, that we have during the past two years been led to the appreciation of some of the possi¬ bilities before us as a school. Although music has always been for us a regu¬ lar study, more work is now being accomplished, we think, than ever before. Last year we re¬ ceived our usual weekly lesson from Mr. Archi¬ bald, practice drill being given once each week by an assistant teacher. This year ' we have been fortunate in having Mr. Aichibald with us both days. During the past two years vaiious quartets have been formed of members of our school, who have presented some very creditable work, and have assisted in many of the entertainments given. The concerts of each year have given us a definite purpose and, we have been assured, have afforded our friends much pleasure. The first concert, at which was presented the cantata, “ The Wreck of the Hesperus,” was held on April 16, 1895. The school was assisted by Mrs. Clara Tourjee Nelson of Reading, Mr. Sidney Howe of Melrose, Mr. John Craig Kelly of Boston, together with Mr. Archibald, to whom much of the success of the evening was due. . The cantata, “ St. Cecilia’s Day,” was given March 27, 1896. This concert was considered a greater success even than the one of the preced¬ ing year. The school was assisted by Miss Priscilla White of Boston, Miss Nellie Mae Holt of Win¬ chester, Mr. John Webster of Reading, and an augmented chorus of the friends of the school. Mrs. John Webster served us most acceptably as accompanist at both concerts. We feel much indebted to all who have ever encouraged us by their interest and generous appreciation. At present the scholars are preparing two pieces for graduation, “ Children’s Hour,” by A. R. Gaul, and “Miller’s Song,” by Zollner. A semi-chorus of young ladies has been formed, who have also in preparation “ Lullaby,” by G. W. Chadwick, and “ Down in the Dewy Dell,” by 11. Smart.

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THE PIONEER. 1$ Now that release was so near, the thought of waiting in that detestable place for two hours more seemed unendurable. At last two figures came up the street. One I recognized as the fat old policeman; if the other were Billy Jackson I thought I should be ready to die of shame to think that I refused to go to his house because of a headache, and then went visiting schoolhouses and climbing ladders ! I strained my eyes, resolving that if it were Billy I would spend the night there rather than have him help me out. At last he came near enough for me to see his features ; it was Tom. I could restrain myself no longer, and just as they entered the school grounds, I stepped for¬ ward and cried, “Oh, Tom, Tom ! ” “Oh, musha ! Mither of Moses! There it is again, and listen to the scraching of the cray- ture ! The saint s defind us ! Sure I’ve been a righteous man all me days” — “ Ilush, Pat. How in thunder did you ever get up there, sis? You’ve frightened Pat about to death. Here, old fellow, don’t you see it’s only Miss Polly? ” “The saints bless me sowl, so it is! Sure, thin ” — “Oh, Tom,” I cried, “do take me down! I’ve been here ages and ages — ever since quar¬ ter past eight, and I can’t stand it any longer ! Do take me down, Tom! There’s the ladder, under the other window.” “ So it is. Keep up your courage long enough to shut all the windows, chick, and I ’ll drag it round to where it’s light. Don’t you worry, Poll; we’ll have you down in a jiffy.” I protested against his taking such unneces¬ sary trouble, but he was firm. I found after¬ wards that he was a great deal more afraid than he would ever own of my falling, if I came down in the dark. Perhaps his conscience had been pricking him a little, too, about being so cross, for he was distressingly tender all the rest of the evening. I locked the windows I had opened, and left everything as I had found it, before I stepped out of the window and on to the ladder, which Tom steadied. My head swam a little, as I shut this last window, but I held tightly to the ladder and went steadily down. When I got to the bottom, suddenly my strength failed, for it had been rather tried during the last part of that twenty-five minutes; and although I am very strong naturally, I fell into Tom’s arms. His face was pale as I opened my eyes, and, as I said, he was very tender indeed for some time; but I was myself again in a moment, and ordered him back to finish his fun at the Jack¬ son’s. “ Not unless you ’ll come too,” he declared. “Oh, I couldn’t,” said I. “Think of how I told them I couldn’t come before.” “ Do you feel well enough?” said Tom. “ Oh, my, yes !” I answered. “ Then tell ’em your head’s better,” said he ; “ or if you don’t want to, I will. They needn’t know anything about this ladder-scaling business. I just told ’em that old Pat thought he saw a ghost,” (Pat had left to pace his beat again) “and I’d go and quiet him. Will you come, sister ? ” “Yes, Tom,” said I. And together we went gaily down the street. Gertrude CuRTrs Brown, ’98. WANTS OF THE SOPHOMORES. No finals. Steam heat in the laboratory next winter. A more cheerful view from the windows of Room 2. Thirty-five Caesar ponies. Carboys of pure sparkling water. Thirty-five seats in the main room of the R. II. S. Stilts for some of the boys of the class of ’98. A spring medicine to keep the girls from yawning during drill. The holidays to come on other days than Sat¬ urdays and Sundays. More anniversaries in the surrounding towns. A clock in Room 2. E. F. B., ’98.

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THE PIONEER. 15 It is needless to say that there is still room for great advancement. Steady, persevering prac¬ tice from week to week is all essential, and that, too, not by the few, but by every member of the school. Hattie J. Amsden, ’98. History of the R. H. S. Lunch Counter. Founded on Fact. Menu. Ham sandwich, .03 Hot chocolate, .03 R. H. S. creamcakes, .03 Soup and crackers, .10 Hearing of the sumptuous fare of the Wake¬ field High School scholars who were blessed with a lunch counter, we could not rest until we were equally favored. So the proper authorities were consulted and it was decided to establish one in the basement of our school building. For a day or two before it was ready we were disturbed iu our hard studying by muffled ham¬ merings in the lower regions. Occasionally one saw a pupil with yearning eye and hungry look steal down the cellar staircase to watch opera- tion«, while future salads, ices and other goodies appeared before her mind’s eye outspread on the bare shelves. She who had such a weakness, however, was doomed to disappointment, for Mr. Hussey, who always has an eye to our welfare, decided to allow only food which nourishes the body and strengthens the brain. At length all was in readiness. About 11.10 an exhilarating odor arose from the basement, which made the hearts of the pupils glad. At 11.20, when the principal, with beaming face, announced that lunch would be served, the smiles of the pupils were worth beho ' ding. The bell struck and immediately the room was deserted. What visions of great profits must have entered Mr. Nichols’ mind as he saw that multitude pouring down the stairs ! He who had no money came to see that his neighbor got a sandwich. Most bought chocolate, but the teachers set a good example by each buying a i plate of soup. Our minds were made up for plain fare, so when Mr. Nichols unexpectedly produced some creamcakes there was one grand exclamation. The way those cakes disappeared was a caution. It is needless to say the scholars were very quiet and orderly, as they are on all occasions, and bevond an exclamation or two of this kind, ‘‘Hot, ain’t it?” “Whew! this chocolate’s hot, though!” “Any more creamcakes?’’ everything passed off well. The twenty minutes soon ended, and one by one the pupils wandered up stairs, and each took his seat with the satis¬ fied air of one who has had a good dinner. The next day Mr. Whittemore complimented us upon our good behavior, but requested those who did not intend to buy dinner to remain upstairs. For a time the lunch counter flourished. Trade in creamcakes increased—increased so much that it was said Mr. Nichols had to build a depart¬ ment expressly for their manufacture. As the weeks passed and the novelty wore off, trade decreased, probably on account of hard times, until finally Mr. Nichols received the patronage of not more than a dozen pupils each day, and was obliged to throw away the rest of the food prepared. Evidently the scholars were getting tired of having for one day sandwiches, choco¬ late and cream cakes ; for the next, cream cakes, chocolate and sandwiches ; and then chocolate, cream cakes and sandwiches. Of course, Mr. Nichols could not afford to continue business at such a loss. Thus ended the short but sweet career of the R. H. S. lunch counter. Should any pupil wish to visit the lower regions of the R. H. S. sanctum to dream on the past, let him not disturb the mice which now dwell in the chocolate cups in the cold air box and feast upon the remnants of a few ancient sandwiches. Florence B. Parker, ’97. PHYSICAL TRAINING. Of late years physical training has come to mean a great deal more than ever before. See¬ ing the good effects upon the boys of the gym¬ nastic drill, teachers who were interested iu work