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

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THE PIONEER PAGE THREE of the art of drawing. This art was formerly valued only in its relation to the fine arts. But now the useful can no longer exist apart from the beautiful, and conse¬ quently there are few industries in which drawing can be neglected. It improves both mind and body, because the eyes become accustomed really to see nature, not only the color and out¬ lines, but the properties of objects be¬ fore us, whether we are working, eat¬ ing, or walking. If the sight of an object pleases a child, what better exercise can he have than to copy it? He learns the re¬ lations of real things. The exercise not only educates the hand and eye, and the judgment might also be well included, but it excites his curiosity and he is led to draw his own con¬ clusions, strengthening his desire for knowledge. This is why drawing should be placed among the early les¬ sons, and should never lose its place among important school studies. “Art Editor.” A STEAM BOAT TRIP It was in the year of the “Cotton Exposition” at New Orleans in 1884 when Sam Myers left his bachelor quarters to seek adventure in the quaint old “Paris of America.” Going on a double decker steam boat from Cincinnati, Ohio, down the Ohio river, and then the Mississippi to New Orleans, he was accompanied by his colored servant, Rastus, two white horses and a carriage. People were leaning on the railing waving farewell to their friends, and the boat was slowly moving away. Sam knew by looking at the passen¬ gers, about one hundred in all, mostly men, that the majority of them were “pleasure-bent gamblers.” He soon got acquainted with Captain Stein, and his son, Bill. A mutual ac¬ quaintance developed immediately be¬ tween the two younger men. The water was low; several times the boat was caught on sand bars. Stopping at every landing for freight, such as cotton, coal and wood it took seventeen days to make the trip. A band of gypsies was taken aboard at Owenboro, and put on the top deck. With the gypsies strange and unusual things began to happen, affording the crew plenty of thrills and excitement. The night following the arrival of the gypsies, the sky darkened suddenly and a terrible storm arose. The light¬ ning flashed, and the boat rocked from side to side. The gypsies prayed and tried bribing Stein into landing them, but he refused, as that would endanger the entire ship. The next day everyone looked tired and anxious. A man, rumored to be one of the Sell brothers of circus fame, was seriously ill. Sam and Bill sat on deck and marvelled that the Ohio could again become so calm. Driftwood, roofs, and corn stalks could be seen in the tops of tall trees showing the damage of the flood in the spring of

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PAGE TWO THE PIONEER the mighty Seniors, sadder, wiser edi¬ tors, look on our agonies with a pity¬ ing, tolerant smile and make our bur¬ dens lighter with a cheerfully helping hand. Read this magazine, the result of our efforts, with some forbearance If you like it, we are glad. If you don’t, we’ll try to make our first issue next year one you will like. Now then, let’s go. X X X X When you read this, the name of William Howard Taft will be to some only a name in history. To others it will be a beacon, leading onward to the position in the hearts of men that proclaims a man truly great. We dream of being a person like him, but did you ever hear the saying, “It’s all right to dream, so long as you get up and hustle when the alarm clock goes off”? It’s ringing now and it means hard work, grinding effort, disappoint¬ ments, failures, heartaches and the many other unpleasant things that al¬ ways accompany the obtaining of any worthwhile object. But the rewards are greater far than the hardships. The voices of acclaim will shout the praise sweetest to any ears—“There’s a man.” X X X X Shortened Periods Today What are your feelings when you hear that there is to be an assembly? “It depends,” you answer, “on what period we miss.” Too true. But what are your feel¬ ings when you are in assembly ? And how do you act? When you are reprimanded by one person or another for being noisy and discourteous, you feel that that person does not sympa¬ thize with your point of view. It is hard to sit still for a long period of time in none too comfortable chairs. It is harder when you can not hear or see. When the speaker says some¬ thing and you think up a witty remark, it takes more self-control than most of us possess to refrain from whispering it to our neighbor, that it may be prop¬ erly appreciated. It is always in as¬ sembly that you remember all the things you wanted to tell her that he said about her when she asked him why the girls were so crazy about him. But now let’s stop and consider the other side of the question. The per¬ son in charge knows that we can gain a great deal, if we will, from experi¬ enced men and women who are trying to set up guide posts for our wander¬ ing feet. And how about the speak¬ ers? They take an hour in their busy lives to come and talk to us. They have tried to prepare speeches that will interest us, that we may hear and understand their message. It must be terribly disheartening to see boys and girls old enough to exhibit self-control growing restless, whispering, squirm¬ ing and giggling. After all, we’ll have to listen to many people during our lives who will talk when we do not want to listen, of things we do not want to hear. After all, it is rarely that we cannot fi nd some little truth or help in every speech. It is there, and if we listen hard, and search carefully we must find it. You enjoyed the class speaking contests, didn’t you? And the pro¬ gram by the pupils from Caney Creek? There may be many others that did not interest you, but if you get into the habit of thinking that every as¬ sembly is an awful bore, and the best thing to do is close your eyes and ears and take a nap, you may lose the thought that was to be your knock of opportunity and your guiding star. At least, let’s give the speakers the benefit of the doubt, and every chance to prove that a minute of real worth can change a leaden hour to gold. B. J. B. THE ART OF DRAWING There is a study lying at the founda- tion to the children of the poor as tion of all constructive arts, which has well as of the rich in all systems of been made a branch of primary educa- public instruction. I refer to the study

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PAGE FOUR THE PIONEER 1884. Bill pointed out the grave of a captain, cut in solid rock, high on a hill. He was buried standing up so that he might see the river and the steamboats. They stopped at a small town in Kentucky for a day and a night. Near¬ ly everyone left the boat. Sam and Bill went horse-back riding through the hilly country, and passed several small, filthy cabins, where women were smoking pipes, and the men lying around half asleep. After riding awhile they stopped to rest the horses, and look at the landscape. At once they were surrounded by six armed men who roughly grabbed Sam’s horses and tied Sam and Bill to trees and left them. It wasn’t long before a group of women and children gathered, jeering at them. It was beginning to get dark and the crowd left the two helpless men, who wondered what their fate was t be, as they hadn’t been robbed. Suddenly through the dark¬ ness they saw a creeping form coming stealthily toward them. They watched it, and as it came nearer, they saw it was a young girl. “What you give me if I let you go?” she asked in a whisper. “Five dollars,’’ replied Bill. Taking a knife from her waist, she quickly cut the ropes and they were free. She greedily took the money, pointed out the direction to take and disappeared. Having gone only a few yards, they saw their horses tied to a tree. Mount¬ ing, they rode for two hours before coming in sight of the Mississippi and the boat landing. Capt. Stein was greatly relieved to see his son and Sam. The boat left before daybreak, and neither one ever knew just why they were captured. The general belief was that they prob¬ ably would have been held for ransom. The next days were not pleasant ones. Many of the passengers took sick. Two children and the circus man died. There seemed to be an uneasi¬ ness among the passengers. Hearing a commotion down among the horses, Sam investigated, and found, that due to superstition, the gypsies, and the darkies were endeavoring to push the white horses overboard, as they considered them unlucky. The excitement was soon over and quiet¬ ness ensued. Sam and Rastus were glad when the trip was over and they had at last reached New Orleans. J. E. ’31. HURRY! Ted Preston, an exceptionally good- looking boy about eighteen years old, was briskly walking down the dusty country road, thinking thoughts and absent-mindedly g lancing at a speeding car which was careening madty toward him. “Rotten driver,’’ he muttered and went on thinking thoughts. Well, if she wasn’t exactly a thought, Ann Mer- riton was a bright idea. The powerful limousine passed him and he caught a glimpse of a girl’s white, frightened face. “Don’t blame her,” he remarked carelessly, then stop¬ ped and said, “Golly, she—she looked like Ann Merriton! It can’t be she, the banker’s daughter uses her own pet roadster—” here he stamped vici¬ ously on the innocent dirt road as if he could likewise destroy the social barrier between the Merriton Hill folks and himself. A sharp, crackling sound caused Ted to turn his black head. A small white square of paper was fluttering at his heels; he picked it up. These dramatic words met his eyes, “Come quick! Deserted dance hall. Cross-roads. Hurry. Ann M.” He raised his eyes, stunned by sur¬ prise for a moment an l murmured, “Ann M.’’ Suddenly he went into ac-