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

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10 TIIE PIONEER. 1877 is one full of struggles with the native tribes and difficulties in getting along. The people had no real form of government; every family seemed to be a little state in itself. There was disorder everywhere, and to the better educated part of the colonists, the only thing which seemed advisable was to demand annexation from England. Although the lower classes were opposed to this, yet they were obliged to give in and the Transvaal became a part of England, in the above named year. This was a wise course in one respect, for they were assisted by the English in quelling the Zulus, and an orderly government was obtained. Rut again the hostile feeling arose, and the reason for it was chiefly that the annexation was accomplished before it should have been II the English government had waited a little there would have been no other alternative for the Boers because of the great depredations of the Zulus. Then, when driven by sheer neces¬ sity, even the least intelligent would have gladly welcomed England’s protection. The feeling increased and finally resulted in the war of 1880, when the British were taken by surprise and after several engagements fought the battle of Majuba. The entire British force was practically annihilated. At this period the war stopped. The minis¬ try for different reasons decided to go no farther. Gladstone’s influence undoubtedly had great effect, when he said that the people should be given their liberty and not conquered. But the Boers looked at this decision in exactly the wrong light. They thought that their victories had occasioned the English leniency, and that the British did not dare go on. “Magnanimity to an enemy, unless he recognizes it as such, is a mistake.” But it was impossible to stop there. To have the Majuba victory as the deciding point of the question was against the feelings of the English people, and the Boers knew it. So during the interim between that time and this, they have been gathering arms and ammunition and have been growing expert in the art of warfare, in preparation for the final struggle. The present war, the immediate cause of which was President Kruger’s ultimatum, is now nearly ended. The result can only be the final defeat of the Boers, for while Britain has her greatest army upon the field, the Boers have a small force. It is even true that the whole South African population is less than that of some of England’s largest cities. The wonder is that the Boers have held out so long. They were no easy foe and have, as is well known, caused great havoc in the British army by their expert military tactics. It took England’s great¬ est general, Lord Roberts, with the powerful aid of Lord Kitchener to cause their defeat. What the final result will be in regard to the relations between the two countries is difficult to tell. The world in general is waiting and hoping that it will be fair and just to all. Edward F. Park hr, Jr. ORANGE CULTURE IN FLORIDA. (l)rawu from Observation.) The orange was first introduced into Florida about three centuries ago, but it was not until after the war that its cultivation became an industry. Before commerce was cut off by the Civil War, tobacco was more profitable than oranges; but during the four years, from sixtv- one to sixty-five , tobacco could hot be exported and therefore the industry went down, and since the great freeze of ninety-five, has not been revived until within the last five years. The orange seeds are planted in nurseries about a foot apart, and when they come up arc permitted to grow until the trees are about four feet high. They are then budded with what¬ ever variety the grower desires. The budding consists of cutting a slit in the bark of the tree and putting the bud of a thorn in it, the thorn being cut off. A small piece of waxed cloth is then tied around the tree, leaving the tiny bud uncovered. It is left in this way for ten days, when, if the bud is going to take, it has put out small leaves. The bud is put in at from six to thirty inches above the ground, and the old stock is cut off down to this.

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TIIE PIONEER. 15 With great reluctance, as it was a case of necessity, Mr. Butterfield subdued his ancestral pride and fixed a dollar and a quarter as his price. After a good deal of arguing, a dollar was agreed upon. When the man had counted out this sum in pennies and five cent pieces, and recounted it several times, he dropped it slowly with the check into Mr. Butterfield’s hand, while he placed one hand on the bag. Mr. B utterfield now removed the contents of the bag into his own and Artemus’ pockets, to the bewilderment of the pawnbroker. After he had finished, he laid it reverently on the counter, only to see the pawnbroker take it and toss it into a corner between some rusty garden tools and a broken chair. Mr. Butterfield quivered with indignation, but controlling his anger, he grasped Artemus by the hand and left the store. “1 feel condemned, Artemus Butterfield, to think I’ve gone and spent ten dollars for clothes an’ let your gran’ther’s bag go fer one dollar. Almirer Jane’ll never fergive me. But, really, 1 couldn’t ha’ dried your clothes an’ you might er caught cold, and I spose we’ve got ter git home.” “But won’t you ketch it when mother finds it out?” answered Artemus. At length they reached the station and suc¬ ceeded in finding the train. Artemus did not raise any objection when they got on, but took a seat and sat very still. Mr. Butterfield did not speak until after the train had started, and then he said, “I dew wish Almira Jane could ’a seen tliet new kind ’er tricycle what runs up hill.” “Well, I aint got the candy,” grumbled Artemus, whose temper had been spoiled with his clothes. “Shet up, yeow ungrateful leetle scamp,” said Mr. B utterfield sternly. Hattie E. Gleason. Class of 1901. THE BOER WAR. The present trouble between the English and the Dutch is nothing more than a continuance of a long series of quarrels in the past. Their relations were never really friendly when they first became neighbors on the shore of the Ger¬ man Ocean, as it was called. As explorers and adventurers they were very naturally rivals, and this rivalry again showed itself when the took up commerce. Their very first difficulty was about herrings. In the fourteenth century, they came to a dispute on this subject, although both colonies had pur¬ sued the industry for very many years. The Dutch fishermen dragged their nets upon Eng¬ land’s very shores and then caused the English to buy their own fish. Naturally enough, this created a disturbance, and although no very serious difficulty arose, yet this trifling matter started the feeling of enmity which still exists. The troubles in South Africa commenced in the early part of the present century, and they have gradually increased until now. Great Britain, with the largest army that she ever put upon the field, has practically ended the war with the Boers. Many writers call England’s part in the war a mistake. When she first took possesion of the Dutch colony in South Africa, she made a good start. Everything seemed peaceful and the colonists were perfectly satisfied. The Eng¬ lish rule was much easier than the Dutch, to which they had been accustomed, and they were glad to enjoy it. In a few years, however, they received their first disappointment when the emancipation of their slaves was declared by England. The step in itself was all right, but the methods and the suddenness occasioned the trouble. As a re¬ sult of this action, many wealthy men lost not. only their slaves, but also the amount of money due them for their loss. The feeling of enmity once started could not be wholly subdued, and ever since it has from time to time come to the surface. In fact, this action was the real cause for the great immigration of many of the colonists to the land near the Orange and Vaal Rivers, where in the wilderness they formed their own country, free from the rule of England. The history of this colony up to the year

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THE PIONEER. 17 l ■ ■ — ' ■■■ Wh en the trees have been in the nursery from two to three years, and are nearly four feet high, they are sold to be planted about twenty feet apart in groves. Some growers cover the ground with leaves and cultivate only a circle of about eight feet around the trees, but this method is practiced very little. The com¬ mon method is to cultivate ail the land but a strip about eight feet wide, between the trees, and to plough this under in October, so that no grass will grow on it through the winter. If no grass were allowed to grow during the sum¬ mer on the land, the sun would soon draw all the strength out of it. Oranges flourish on a sandy soil and those grown in Florida are considered the best in the world. The trees are thorny and grow to be larger than the largest northern pear-trees. They bear in about seven years after they are set. The orange tree blooms about February, although the time varies with the season. It is a beautiful but rare sight to see the white blossom, the half-grown orange and the golden fruit on the tree at the same time. The oranges are picked from ladders, — forty boxes is con¬ sidered a fair day’s work. The price paid for picking is three cents a box. When picked, the russet or scaly oranges are put in one box, and the bright ones in another. The fruit is taken to the packing houses, where it is put in the sizer, which is a broad shallow box about eight feet from the floor, and large enough to hold about ten boxes. It has two troughs running out from it, on each side of which are small cords which are kept moving, like the bands of a machine by a darkey, who sits by the sizer and sees that the oranges go down n the right position. In the troughs, which are just wide enough for one orange to roll down, are little holes so cut that the fruit of a certain size goes into them. Thus, the oranges, which, when packed, will run a hundred and tifty to a box, go into one hole; those which will run two hundred and fifty, in another, while those that will run a hundred and thirty, go into still another. hen the oranges drop through the openings, they fall into boxes, the bottoms of which are cloth. Around these stand the packers, who wrap the oranges in tissue paper and pack them in crates to be shipped North. As they pack, they throw out the oranges which are not fit to ship. A good packer can prepare seventy-five boxes per day, for each of which he is paid three cents. The fruit is generally sold to commission merchants, while still on the trees, at from one dollar and seventy-five cents to two dollars and one-half per box. It is needless to say that the number of oranges shipped from Florida is not one twen¬ tieth what it was before the freeze of ’ninety- five, nor is it likely to be so large for four or five years yet. T. A. Chapman, ’02. MUSIC IN MILTON. In the literature of every age, music has furnished a theme for poets, from the time when the ancients sang of Orpheus and the power of his lyre to move even the trees and rocks, until the present day with Browning’s “Toccato of Galluppi” and Kipling’s “Banjo Song.” This is not strange, since Music and Poetry are sister arts, united by the close ties of harmony and rhythm. Can you think of a true poet who was not susceptible to the influence of music? “Music hath charms to sooth the savage breast.” IIow much more, then, the sensitive heart of a poet. Yet poets have differed very much in the prominence they have given music in their verses. Music ordinarily means so much more to warm, emotional natures than to those of the opposite type, that we may well be surprised to And so much love for it and such frequent allusions in the verses of the Puritan poet, John Milton. I do not think many realize how much music there was in this man, who outwardly seemed so reserved, so cold, so unflinching in his devotion to duty. This love of music was inherited from his father, who made a name for himself as a composer. During Milton’s residence at IIor» ton, he used to make trips to London to concerts and operas, and he numbered among his friend