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

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THE PIONEER II O M E PAGE NINETEEN The shimmery sheen of a mountain green, And a lake of crystal blue; An azure sky ; A birdling’s cry; Such was the scene I knew. The watery cool of a limped pool; A sea of tossing pine; A shady nook; A twinkling brook; A land of honeyed wine. Small wonder I want back my sky, My woods, my lakes, my hills. For the city’s haste Is not to my taste Like a speckled wood bird’s trills. Vincent H. Whitney, ’30. M A N Laughter, sadness, sorrow, and song Riches, poverty, right or wrong, Capitalist, laborite, scholar, fool, With each other beside life’s pool. Master workman, creature of tool, Welded together in one great jewel —Love and humanity, —Creature of vanity, -man ! Passion, jealousy, greed and lust, Inborn in him from birth to dust! Soul of a Judas, a traitor at heart, Passed is he by, as he plays his part, Any man, friend, when his vision is lost— Like a rudderless ship on the ocean is tossed; Drifting, dreaming, on and on, Whirling, twirling, a worthless pawn, Dying at last, in the glow of the sun. Nothing accomplished, nothing done. P. G. P., ’30. EXCHANGES The Authentic — Stoneham. We like your appropriate cover. Your ever present variety of original jokes is even better than previously. Your class notes are also very inter¬ esting. The Chevron — Albion, New York. A very rich looking magazine well-edited, well-arranged, and very neat. Your material is well-assorted nad very interesting. It is a pleasure to find such a magazine among our collection of exchanges. Wakefield High School Booster — Wakefield Your paper shows “pep” and plenty of school spirit. We wish you success in your next issues ! The Partridge — Duxbury, Mass. A commendable little paper, but lacking in jokes. Why not include some in your next issue? The Blue Owl — Attleboro, Mass. Very good editorials. You have a well-balanced literary section, and your School Notes are excellent! The Jabberwock — Girl’s Latin, Bos¬ ton. Although your stories, athletic write¬ ups, editorials, and other departments are very good, you lack poems and exchanges. The Exponent — Greenfield, Mass. No exchanges? “School Notes” and “Personals” are two very deserving columns. Your jokes are both humor¬ ous and new.

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PAGE EIGHTEEN STORY THE PIONEER ’Twas a dark and stormy night, And the waves dashed on the shore, When Nell, the fisherman’s daughter, Came knocking on our door. “O father, father, are you here?” The little maiden cried. “To find you I have searched the town,” She added as she sighed. “No, little girl,” we gently said, “Your father is not here.” And as we spoke we saw her brush From each blue eye a tear. “Be brave now, Nell,” we said to her. But hers was a broken heart. Yet underneath this awful strain She played a brave man’s part. “Wait Nell,” we said, “and we will go To aid you in your search.” So through the blinding storm we passed The dance hall and the church. The night was black; the wind was chill; The foaming sea ran high; The pelting rain beat through our clothes; No star shown in the sky. “O father, father, are you still Upon this frothing sea? I know you are, for I can hear The mad waves laugh with glee.” All night we searched, until the dawn; We searched with might and main But no sign of the fisherman— Our search had been in vain. “Be calm, dear Nell,” we whispered, “We know it’s hard to bear But if you’ll only let us We’ll try to grieve our share.” I “O that’s not it,” cried little Nell As with sobs her body shook. “He’s got my ‘Seven Sinners’ And. I loved my little book.” V. W., ’30. PYRAMUS AND THISBE Through the darkness of the night sly Thisbe flew Her parents unaware. And, as she went, her veil about her drew. Arriving at the lair, Seared ’neath the laurel bush, For love had made her bold. Behold a lioness doth push To quaff a fountain cold. Her jaws are smeared with foamy blood of kill, That she had stalked. And, from afar the timid maiden still Saw her and walked With fearful steps, into a cavern dark And, fleeing, dropped her veil. The lioness the filmy thing did mark While going toward the dale. And with bloody jaws she tore After her thirst was slaked. But Pyramus the footprints saw, and more— The veil now all blood-caked. His beauteous features paler grew As he exclaimed: “One night shall lose us lovers two On me the guilt be blamed.” Dorothy W. Berle, ' 29. Translated from the Latin.

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PAGE TWENTY THE PIONEER Star of the North — Virginia, Minn. Your last edition was well deserving of recognition. Dcivertones — Dover, Mass. Considering your size, a very neat and attractive paper, containing very interesting material. Lawrence High School Bulletin — Lawrence. Always a good paper. Your editorial section seems to be decreasing in value. The Western Star — West Somerville. Yours is sort of a clumsy magazine to handle. “Sparkles” improves in every issue. AS WE ARE JUDGED The Pioneer An excellent athletic department, also a good exchange. Your cartoons were great. How about some stories and class notes ? — The Authentic — Stoneham High. The Pioneer Your Senior number was very in¬ teresting. The drawings were excep¬ tionally clever. Haven’t you a few more poets? — School Life — Melrose. L. C. ' 30. BOOK REVIEWS “The Happy Pirate” is a breath¬ taking tale of piracy and slave traf¬ ficking upon the high seas during the time of Jefferson’s and Madison’s presidencies. The background is his¬ toric, but this does not for a minute lower the rapid and exciting pace of the story. The reader moves hurriedly from one vivid scene to the next, thril¬ ling over the encounters with the pi¬ rates, enjoying a trip on a slaver to the Gold Coast, or relieved by the hero’s escape from a British squad¬ ron. The book is vivid, alive ; anyone who likes adventure will enjoy this recent release by Robt. W. Chambers. Sabatini’s “The Romantic Prince” is a story of long past ages. The core of the novel is the struggle for suprem¬ acy between sly, crafty Louis of France, and blunt, quick-tempered Charles of Burgundy. After the meet¬ ing of the hero, Count Anthony of Egmont, the cousin of Charles, and the heroine, Johanna Claessens, the daughter of a wealthy Zealand bur¬ gher, the story traces the course of their turbulent love. The tale is charming, the characters, vivid per¬ sonalities, and the scenes delightful. Everywhere an historical background presents itself, but never in a dull manner. If you like Sabatini, you will enjoy “The Romantic Prince.” “Mr. Billingham, the Marquis, and Madelon” is a series of connected short stories, all relating to the es¬ capades of this trio at Monte Carlo. These three keen-witted personages undertake to fleece several over- wealthy visitors of surplus money, as well as to rescue several others from difficult predicaments in a series of stories, which to me proved only mild¬ ly interesting. While many would probably enjoy this story merely be¬ cause it is one of E. Phillips Oppen- heim’s, I could never term it a book of gripping interest. V. W. ’30.