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

Page 17 text:

The Pioneer Page Elevetf where else in the world, and indirectly at least the countries profit from the ex¬ periences of their representatives. Sport for sport’s sake is one of the finest things existing at Oxford. Here is some¬ thing which, if more prevalent, would benefit the whole world, the United States in particular. Freed from the curse of spectators, there is no finer moral and social training in the world than sport. Under the conditions exist¬ ing at Oxford, the idea that it would be a thousand times better to lose a game than to commit the slightest unfair ac¬ tion does not need to be argued. The absence of spectators takes nothing from the keenness cf the contest, but it makes that keenness a healthy normal human desire to win or do one’s best, rather than a frenzied feeling that the only two courses before the player are victory or suicide. Last and most important of all, wdiich makes the Rhodes scholarships the great serviceable forces they were intended to be, if the young man has the capacity of assimilation, if he can become a part of what he meets, he should return home from Oxford a citizen of the world. He gets out of his experience an interna¬ tional point of view. Our scholar, for instance, come home with the conviction that the United States should play a larger and more generous part in European affairs, that no amount of dis¬ trust of the traditional methods of European diplomacy can make it any less true .that we are among the family of nations in a very small world, rapidly growing smaller. A dreamer, a practical one—the kind that goes to work to make his dreams come true; his genius, a useful one— the kind which is one-tenth inspiration and nine-tenths perspiration, Cecil John Rhodes today is best known as the dia¬ mond king, the empire builder, but the time may come when, above all else, he will be famous as the man who founded the Rhodes Scholarships so important in promoting world peace. Russell Barnes ’26. Currlr ©ration Mr. President, Fellow Classmates, and; Friends: Reading High School is a com¬ paratively old institution, and during its long career, a great many classes have - passed through it. Each of these transient groups, in- • tentionally, or otherwise, left to its suc¬ cessor a legacy which was taken up, per¬ haps lightly and without the full compre¬ hension of its meaning, was added to, and was again passed on. This legacy was tradition, some of which was good, and the rest not SO ' good. In the course of time, those traditions which Avere not worthy passed away, leaving only those A T hich were fine, for they alone could en¬ dure the acid test of years. They now remain, the indelible mark made by classes, many of which are perhaps them¬ selves nearly forgotten, ed. The pupils of Reading High School all are keepers of these traditions but each year, the Seniors, because of their more mature age, and accordingly more sober judgment, have come to consider them-- selves the especial guardians of this,; sacred trust. We, the Class of 1926, are about to, leave. If we have not been able to con¬ tribute anything to our heirloom, we hope that at least we have kept it un¬ tarnished. But now it must pass to other hands, those of next year’s Senior Class. Traditions are seldom concrete things, but rather matters of sentiment. Never¬ theless, as their material symbol, we have chosen the Torch, the eternal emblem of all things lofty and fine. Noav, Mr. President, as representative of the Class 1927, we hope that you will accept this torch with all it signifies. Charles R. Jones ’26,

Page 16 text:

Page Ten The Pioneer so great that war would be rendered im¬ passible, that power to be the result of the close union of all the English speak¬ ing peoples of the world. Whether or not we agree with Rhodes as to the probability of the splendid result desired being accomplished according to his dream of the way to bring it about is beside the question. What interests us is the undoubted fact that Rhodes was sincere in his conviction that his part in bringing the millennium to pass was to be the enlargement of the British Empire and with it the promotion of the cause of peace, industry, and freedom. Again time prohibits us from more than summarizing. Suffice it to say that this business man, this money- grabber, devoted his great wealth to the end for which it had been created—that he spent it unsparingly in public service until by use of it plus sheer force of personality and display of astounding genius he overcame all opposition, con¬ quering the natives and outwitting the other European nations interested in South Africa, with the result that he added to British dominion an area equal to that of the British Isles, France, Prussia, Austria, and Spain combined. Today this immense region of South Africa, called after him, Rhodesia, amply testifies to the greatness of this amazing Englishman. What man in all history ever accom¬ plished more of real importance than did Cecil Rhodes? No Roman emperor ever won a greater extent of territory. Rhodes was less than forty-nine years old when he died. His last words were: “so little done, so much to do.” He was buried in his chosen resting place, a plateau on top of a high mountain in Rhodesia. An important act of tribute at his death would seem to indicate that he had made his part in the enlargement of the British Empire actually beneficial to those most vitally concerned. On this occasion the natives whom he had con¬ quered and then befriended gave him the royal salute only given to their kings. Thus they bade farewell to the one they had learned to love as the Great Spirit of Africa. Service to humanity, the great end, and the spirit of Cecil Rhodes lives today in the Scholarships to which he left his vast fortune and through which he hoped could be brought about that close union of English speaking peoples which, to his way of thinking, would be truly necessary for the promotion of the best interests of mankind. What is the na¬ ture of these scholarships is the first question which might logically be asked. They are open to selected students from the British colonies, Germany, and the United States. The fortunate young men are entitled to three years residence and study at various colleges of Oxford University. The United States has nine¬ ty-six—two for each state. The scholar¬ ships have each at the present time an annual income cf approaching $2000. Mr. Rhodes in his will specifically stated that he did not desire mere “book¬ worms” to enjoy the scholarship ad¬ vantages, but the students elected should be all-round men, of superior scholastic ability, fond of manly outdoor sports, and of high character. The mode of election was left in the hands of com¬ mittees in the various countries and colonies. The examinations are not com¬ petitive but are merely to test the appli¬ cants fitness for the honor. The first examination in the United States was held in 1904. Except in Massachusetts where candidates from secondary schools are accepted, American applicants must have reached the end of the second year n some college or university which grants degrees. Up to date the majority of Rhodes scholars have shown a prefer¬ ence for law, so that the Rhodes students will some day help to fill the ranks of distinguished public men. What are the benefits of residence at Oxford that these scholarships should be considered of such paramount impor¬ tance? In the first place the fact that these picked young men of different parts of the world being brought to¬ gether results in a more complete and sympathetic understanding among them cannot be denied. That the feeling of kinship wall be spread more and more in the process of time, and therefore that closer union preached by the practical dreamer become a reality is a logical consequence to expect. Secondly, the advantages at Oxford are equalled no-

Page 18 text:

Page Twelve The Pioneer (Class nf Hist HELEN ABBOTT Junior Woman’s Club ’24, ’25, ’26 Senior Play Committee ’26 Pioneer Board ’25, ’26 Senior Picnic Committee ’26 “And ne’er did Grecian chisel trace A nymph, a Naiad, or a Grace, Of finer form or lovelier face” MARGARET ADAMS—‘ ‘ Cubbie ” Ambition: Concert artist (piano) Operetta ’23 Basketball ’24, ’26 Tormentor Board ’25 Junior Senior Reception Com. ’25 Special Chorus ’25, ’26 Junior Woman’s Club ’25, ’26 Captain Basketball ’26 “Good will is the most practical force in the universe” MARGARET BABINE—‘ ‘ Beanie’ ’ Ambition: To grow Tormentor ’26 Costume Committee Senior Play ’26 Office Work ’26 11 A still small voice ’ ’ HELEN BADGER Ambition: To travel Class Basketball ’25 “Hurry, scurry, helter, skelter” FLORENCE BAKER.—‘ ‘ Floga ” Ambition: Government interpreter Graduation Chorus ’25 Senior Play Committee ’26 “A merry heart goes all the day” LOIS BAKER— ' ‘ Loga ’ ’ Ambition: To go around the world Senior Play ’26 Senior Class Ring and Pin Com. ’26 11 Sighed and looked unutterable things” RUSSELL BARNES—“Russ” Ambition: To become a civil engineer Class Basketball ’24, ’25 ’26 Pioneer Board ’25, ’26 Vice-President ’26 Senior Play ’26 Traffic Squad ’26 Fire Squad ’26 “A short saying often contains much wisdom.’ ’ ALDANA BURROWS —‘ ‘ Dana’ ’ Ambition: Certified public accountant Senior Play Candy Committee ’26 “A tale is everything” HENRY CARLETON—“Hennie” Ambition: To be a Professor at R. H. S. Senior Party Committee ’25 Manager of Football ’26 “Wisely and slow: They stumble that run fast” CORNELIA CELL—“Con” Ambition: To amount to something Class Basketball ’23, ’24 Special Chorus ’24 Graduation Chorus ’24, ’25 Junior Women’s Club ’24, ’25 ’26 Varsity Hockey ’25 Varsity Basketball ’25, ’26 Senior Banquet Committee ’26 Senior Card Committee ’26 11 Put on your boldest suit of mirth, For we have friends that propose merriment ” PHYLLIS CLARK—“Phil” Ambition: Stenographer ‘ ‘ All I ask is to be let alone ’ ’ HAROLD COHEN Ambition: To be a physician Tormentor ’25, ’26 Senior Ring and Pin Committee ’26 Senior Picnic Committee ’26 ‘‘ He was so generally civil that nobody thanked him for it ” JOHN CONDON—“Jack” Ambition: First-class machinist: Pageant ’25 Senior Play Committee ’26 11 The man was mechanically turned ’ HELEN CONEFY Ambition: Success in business Senior Picnic Committee ’26 Tormentor Board “The secret of success is constancy” NELCENA COPELAND—“Nellie” Ambition: Secretary Christmas Chorus ’25 Tormentor Board Senior Play ’26 Salutatorian ‘ ‘ Zealous yet modest ’ ’