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

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PAGE TEX THE PIONEER chased my paper, so everyone knows about it now. The correct thing to say is “tablet” or “pad,” but the former is preferable. My vocabulary is increas¬ ing every day, to say the least. Trying to speak the way New Yorkers do is most as bad as learning French. My English teacher says I have a soft inflection (not infection!), and that I leave off “r’s” and add “r’s” in a queer way.!! It’s really humorous. BOOK REVIEWS “The Apple Cart,” George Bernard Shaw’s latest play, is “a political extrav¬ aganza in two acts and an interlude” taking place some time in the future. The play is mostly conversation be¬ tween King Magnus of England and his cabinet, with no more action than necessary. Shaw furnishes a lively discussion of the merits of a monarchy versus a democracy emphasizing the injurious influence of big business on the latter. When threatened that he must resign some of his powders, the king upsets the “apple cart” of parlia¬ ment by announcing that he will abdi¬ cate and go into politics as a citizen. His ministers, however, are afraid to meet so clever a king on equal footing. Two rather startling incidents occur during the play. First, the “interlude,” an act with apparently no connection with the plot, shows the king with Orinthia, a lady of the court, to whom he goes to forget the troubles of a monarch. Lively conversation ensues. They get so hilarious that the scene ends with the king and Orinthia actu¬ ally sprawling on the floor. Then, there is the officious American ambassador who pompously announces to the king that America has torn up her Declara¬ tion of Independence and is ready to come back to the fold. The imaginative political situations, although not so improbable, and the keen debating make this a very inter¬ esting and entertaining play. “What Have You Got To Give” by Angelo Patri is a book that I can rec¬ ommend whole-heartedly, especially to those who like books that offer a chance for a little thinking. Those who can not be bothered spending some time in examining the whys and where¬ fores of life will find the book easy to read, interesting, not too long, (a great advantage). It is worth while, too, for Angelo Patri is well known through his articles which appear daily in the newspapers. He is a teacher and is able to present his knowledge in funny little sketches, like castor-oil in orange juice. I wonder how many of you have read “The Last Days of Pompeii”? Those who like historical novels will find it one of the best in richness of back¬ ground and correctness of detail. Those who demand suspense and thrills will have to be taken away by force when they reach the most complicated part of the intrigue, or the description of the terrible eruption of the mighty Vesu¬ vius. Others who want sentiment will find another instance here of the time¬ worn fact that the course of true love is turbulent indeed. “Scottish Chiefs” is the story of the struggle between Scotland and England for the rule of Scotland. The reader is held spellbound bv the battles and adventures of the various characters which are made more interesting by the fact that it is history. The book is very vivid and seems to have been enjoyed by its readers if one can go by the com¬ ments along the margins. At first one is discouraged by the fine print, but after beginning the book it is all one can do to drag himself away.

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THE PIONEER PAGE NINE have a lovely organ to which chimes are being added by this year’s Senior Class: there are a great many beautiful stained glass windows in the assembly hall to inspire us with noble thoughts! We lack a gym and a cafeteria. They have a very nice custom out here according to my opinion. Every year the Juniors (Seniors also) hold a Junior Get-Together. To this Get-To¬ gether every Junior is supposed to go. To get a larger crowd they invite the boys and girls to go alone. This year’s event was held 3 weeks ago, in Osborne Hall (in the Woman’s Union) and tic¬ kets were seventy cents apiece. The af¬ fair lasted from 6.30—10.30. When we ar¬ rived, we all received a slip of paper on which a number was written. Then when the dinner bell rang, we hunted for a number corresponding to ours, at the tables. The seating arrangement turned out to be: boy, girl, boy, girl. I decline to comment on our supper— the boys could have eaten three times as much, but the girls refused to eat what they had. We sang, listened to short speeches, duets, quartets, and solos. My honorable algebra teacher was the guest speaker for the evening. He usually begins all speeches by say¬ ing: “My subject this evening is like a girl’s skirt: it’s long enough to cover the subject, and short enough to be interesting!” To our relief, he found a new introduction and commenced by saying that he was not used to the ways of the world! After this part of the program was over, we danced and had a thoroughly delightful time. The head of the English Department, a white- haired and truly dignified personage, started a Virginia Reel. Please be¬ lieve me when I sav that it was the funniest scene I have ev er witnessed! At the end of this, one of the boys started to dance a fox-trot with the above mentioned teacher. She was certainly a good sport, but he—oh my! He danced a hop, skip and jump all over the floor, intermingled with whirling, sidestepping and the like. The august English teacher could not follow such a reckless pace, and as they were the only couple on the floor, (everyone else had taken his seat to watch them) her slipping and sliding was very conspic¬ uous. She fell in his arms: he saved her from falling anv farther: but not until that dance was over, did he think about stopping. The atmosphere be¬ came ten-fold friendlier after this epi¬ sode, and it was with reluctance that we bade everyone a good-night at 10.30. Auburn is faced with a tremendous prison problem. Three principal keep¬ ers within two years have been killed by convicts! One was killed two years ago: the second was killed in the last December riot: and the last was mur¬ dered about a week ago. It was ru¬ mored that the killing of the last P. K. was to start another prison riot, but that plans went wrong and the riot did not occur. Rumors, however, can’t be believed because there are so many false ones. The prison is the main topic of conversation—we go by the Court House and can plainly see the prison, when going and coming from school. Many of the girls’ and boys’ fathers and other relatives work at the prison, so if anything happens, there is always a great deal of anxiety. The prison is not the only place they shoot, not by anv means. Many of the boys and girls are “shot at sunrise” by my illustrious Uatin teacher. Latin teachers must have a weakness for the dawn of day and a revolver! You can imagine that I was astounded when I heard that familiar quotation uttered bv a Latin teacher out here : also an¬ other famous one: “We who are about to die salute thee.” The most popular quotation is: “Inane! Totally inane!” I could write forever without saying anything, and, as I’ve done precisely that, I think I had better end here! Sincerely, Margaret Guild. P. S. I couldn’t resist adding that I am known as “the girl from Massa¬ chusetts who talks so funny.” One of the standard jokes is my going into a book-store and asking for a “block of paper.” ■ This is a caution: never say “block” unless referring to wood. The clerk in the book-store couldn’t imagine what I wanted, and finally asked if I meant to say graph paper, Two girls were with me when I pur-

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THE PIOXEER PAGE ELEVEN THE WILD MARCH WIND The wild March wind rattled my door, And whistled around the eaves, So wildly he shook my shutters, I thought myself threatened by thieves. And then I knew ’twas the March wind. He’s not one vou should fear, He comes to tea quite often About this time of year . I opened my door and curtsied low, And said with my coziest smile, “Come in, March Wind, and have some tea And sit around for a while.” In came the wild sir March wind, And sat in my big wing chair, He took his pearly cloak off, Smoothed down his wild dark hair. We had some tea and muffins, And some golden marmalade, And talked of the foreign places, Where the wild March wind had strayed. “I never stay in one place long,” Said he with a windy smile, “I really must at once depart, I’ve been here quite a while.” He gallantly kissed my finger tips, While I made a curtsy low, I said “good-bye” with real regret, For I hated to see him go. RAIN Pitter Patter in the lane This is the gentle springtime rain Calling forth the flowers sweet To cast their fragrance at your feet. A rumble, grumble thru th e morn Comes the summer thunder storm. With flashes bright and husky roar It speeds it way across the moor. Splitter, splatter on the pane This is the dampish Autumn rain. Making mud ’bout two feet deep That oozes clinging round your feet. Hurrying, scurrying in the blow This is the month of sleet and snow ’Tis only the rain arrayed in white To make dark winter seem more bright. Spearshaker II THE CASTLE YESTERDAY There’s a misty isle of memory, some¬ where in the ocean wide, Where I shall sail in my ship of thoughtfulness, with no one by my side; On this isle of gentle friendships I would be content to stay, And in the midst of lost illusions, build my Castle Yesterday. I’d have a garden of flowers, And many woodsy spots Filled with wild-rose bowers And blue for-get-me-nots. When we were young, The song of life was sung; But, now that song has died away, Yet, perchance, the echoes linger in my Castle Yesterday. Jeanne Else ’31