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

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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

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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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16 THE PIONEER. of that kind began to investigate systems of exercises for the girls with the result that today physical training is given to both sexes in nearly all schools. Even pupils of the primary grades have their special work in gymnastics, as the girls of the colleges have their physical exercises and games of basket-ball, tennis, and golf. This physical training points to one end, — a change from mental work to physical, — a change which shall bring the blood from brains oppressed by hours of study, and send it dancing through the bodies cramped by improper ways of standing and sitting; which shall straighten bent shoul¬ ders, fill out hollow r chests, and refresh and invigorate the whole system. Physical training means the intelligent train¬ ing of the body, — the symmetrical development of every part, and the proper use of that part, thus improving the carriage of the head and body, and restoring the proper circulation and the normal muscular tone. Gymnastic drill has also its mental effect. A girl is taught that prompt and complete obedi¬ ence is one of the chief points of her gymnastic work, as well as of her general school work. When a command is given it must be obeyed immediately ; the pupil must learn to work in unison with others, to think and act quickly, and to concentrate her whole mind on the work be¬ fore her,— or that work is a failure as far as she is concerned. Thus habits of prompt obedi¬ ence are formed in school which are found very useful both there and in after life. During the present school year the Swedish system of gymnastics was introduced under the supervision of Miss H. G. Brown, a graduate of the Normal School of Gymnastics. Twenty minutes of each day are devoted to invigorating and refreshing exercise. While the schoolroom is used for the daily drill, yet the space it affords is insufficient to give the best results. However, the work has gone on very satisfactorily. The girls are organized as a battalion, with the following officers : Major, Helen A. Parker. Company A. Captain, Grace E. Copeland. First lieutenant, Hattie J. Amsden. Second lieutenant, Louisa M. Whelton. Company B. Captain, Elsie W. Clark. First lieutenant, Florence B. Parker. Second lieutenant, Edith M. Sweetser. Company C. Captain, Lila II. Beal. First lieutenant, Helen A. Brown. Second lieutenant, Carrie W. McDonald. Company D. Captain, Stella L. Harris. First lieutenant, Grace J. Abbot. Second lieutenant, Bertha U. Brooks. A system of composition work in connection with the gymnastics has been tried and is prov¬ ing very successful. The girls are called upon in turn to write criticisms on the work of the different companies, and these criticisms both teach observance and give exercise in writing. One more point may be spoken of in connec¬ tion with this work, and that is, the effort that must be made by the pupil. It is true in other places as well as in school that all the teaching in the world can have very little effect unless accompanied by an effort on the part of the pupil to profit by it. If a girl does not care whether her body is erect and symmetrical, she is not very likely to be erect. If she does not care enough about the work to make an effort herself, the work done by others is not likely to be of much use to her. Therefore, girls, let us make up our minds to make the physical exer¬ cises of the R. II. S. the best of any high school in the country. Shall we? Harriett May Hyde, ’98. A TRIP FISHING. One morning in the early part of summer some of my friends and I went on a fishing trip. As we were very thirsty while on the way to the Brooks where we were to fish, and as there was No-well near, we stopped at A-dam (s, in a river and quenched our thirst. After walking a short distance we arrived at two dens, known as Harn-deu and Ams-deu.