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

Text from Pages 1 - 82 of the 1940 volume:

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Reading High School Reading, Massachusetts reading public library READING, MASSACHUSETTS The Pioneer Board Editor-in-Chief Carleton Adams Write-ups Staff Ruth Shumaker J _ r Chairmen Stanley Stembridge ) Horace Jones Wallace Haselton Sherman Poland Evelyn Comey Kathryn Conron Katherine Witham Dorothy Barstow Rae Amback Doris Steele William Jaques Barbara Currie Shirley Field May Melanson Charles Sullivan Literary Editor Mary Maling News Editor David St. Hilaire Business Staff Gilbert Camp, Manager Betsy Foxcroft, Advertising Donald Hills, Circulation David McGee Donald Whitford Lucille Gonnam Athletic Editors Alice Goodwin Gregg Brewer Exchange Editor Dorothy Babcock Art Editor Eleanor Pestana Photographic Editor Richard Fellows Official Typist Jean Sargent Staff Secretary Erdine Farwell Faculty Advisers Miss Mary Devaney — Literary Miss Elizabeth MacIver — Typing Mr. Luke Halpin — Business Mr. Reginald Kibbee — Art Dedication In appreciation of her friendship, her patience and guidance, her time so freely given, and her gentle but wise counsel, we of the Class of 1940 dedicate this our year booh issue of the “Pioneer’ ' to Miss Ernst, our class adviser. EDITORIAL THE FUTURE Ahead of us, over a tantalizing horizon, lies the future—a future that is garbed in mystery, a hazy future which for twelve long years we have been laboring to reach. Now that it is here, now that the time has come when we must go into the world to shift for ourselves, we are not so anxious as once we were. “If I were only a sophomore again!” seems to be the universal sigh. We cannot turn back time and unfortunately we cannot turn it ahead, but it is safe to suppose that ten years from today the universal wail will be, “If I were only one day out of high school again!” If we make the most of our opportunities, there should be no need for such vain wishing. Contrary to the words of a popular song, wishing will not “make it so” and you get out of life exactly what you put into it. On every side, we hear that we are to go out into world where there is no opportunity for young people to get ahead. This is nothing but deadening propaganda. The opportunity is still there, but has the youth of today the courage and caliber necessary to seize it? During our twelve years of school, we have been given a good general education. Someone has always been beside us to help us to do our best. From now on it is up to us. The future of which we are going to become a part is a specialized future and those who are specialized in some particular field of endeavour are the ones who are going to get ahead. There are oppor¬ tunities for employment in every field if you have the skill needed to do the work. Ability is not acquired by wishing—it is the reward of hard work. The next years are to he the turning points in our lives. Try to whitewash it as we will, the future in many respects is dark. On all sides of us war is raging. War is a terrible thing. It must be a terrible sensation to see your father and big brother shoulder guns and march toward the front. It is then and only then perhaps that you can realize the tortures of war. But don’t let us be fooled. It will be we, the youth of America, who will fight the next war. It is up to us to see that there is not another 1918 and that no more American blood stains the soils of foreign land unless it is absolutely necessary. If the time comes when we must fight to preserve our ideals, then we will and must fight with every iota of our strength and courage to defeat the powers that seek to destroy all that is dear to us. But let’s look away from the austere side of the future! Let’s look at the sunny side. Among our little band of seniors may be a future president, author, radio star, banker, big business man or woman, aviator, movie star, manufacturer, or even a G-man. Why can’t we look forward right now to a tenth reunion? Why can’t we be of benefit to ourselves as a group? What if we should all pull together and, whenever possible, help each other? If any of us is ever in a position to help another member of our class, it is up to him to do it. Some of us may be employers. Wouldn ' t it he nice if every such employer should hire only Class of 1940 Reading High School graduates? For instance, if ten years in the future, Richard Avery, president of the Chew-More Chewing Gum Company, Inc., should be passing a ditch and see yours truly hard at work with a pick, then Dick should stop, and if he finds that I’m married and have six children (remember—this is just an example) he should make me a vice-president or something. Seriously, if we, the Class of 1940. all trv to help each other we shall help ourselves. In this way, success and happiness will find the greatest number of our class. Carleton Adams Three The Pioneer 19 40 SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS Jeanette Davis President If you see a dilap¬ idated beachwagon coming at you with apparently no one in it, look out, because Jeanette, the dimin¬ utive president of the Class of 1940, is behind that wheel somewhere! She claims that her bro¬ ther inherited the brains of the family, but she must have acquired gray-matter from somewhere since she has done a beautiful job as president of our class for three years. She also serves on the Student Council and belongs to Junior Woman’s Club. No, that isn’t all. Jeanette goes in for sports in a big way and has played especially well on the field hockey and basket¬ ball teams. She is going to Connecticut College for Women next year and hopes ultimately to marry a rich man so she can hire a maid. Tough luck, fellas! Barbara Gonnam Vice-President “B. G.” is a pal of everybody at R. H. S., including the tea¬ chers, It is seldom that we find anyone who can take or dish out more kidding than “Barb”, our vice-president. She has done a grand job, considering her other activities in the Student Council, hockey, basketball, and Junior Woman’s Club. Those who have not been in the German II Class can’t really appre¬ ciate Barbara. Often we don’t know what to make of her brief “fits”, but she seems to recover in the best of condition. Her desire to become a dietition is a splendid one, providing she doesn’t meet her fate riding in Jeanette’s beach wagon before she can fulfill it. We only hope that “B. G.” won’t be the victim of too much teasing in college—there’s something about the gal that provokes it! Eleanor Pestana Secretary Glamorous “Elly”, alias “Julie” of the Senior Play, “June Mad”, has her inter¬ est divided between art and stenography, and appropriately so, because she is both our class secretary and the capable art editor of the “Pio¬ neer”’. Her hobby is sketching and col¬ lecting pictures of interior decorating. One day she wants to be a buyer in a large department store, or perhaps a model. She likes fried clams and chocolate sundaes at “Tedd’s”, comfortable chairs in the parlor, and boys who are not two-timers. It would seem that she’s found one of the latter in a certain blonde ath¬ lete! At Reading High she enjoyed most, we quote “dances, football games, and periods between classes.” Richard Fellows Treasurer Not so fast there ! Traffic-officer “Dick” is also secretary of Hi-Y, not to men¬ tion being class trea¬ surer. His hobby is swiftly swooping over a snow-clad slope, and he’s an adept at it. He ex¬ perienced his great¬ est thrill, he says, as he flew through the air in his first ski jump. After high school “Dick” plans to enter Wentworth Institute to study machine construc¬ tion and tool design. Well, strip our gears and call us shiftless, if his favorite hangout isn’t “Pappy’s car . “Dick’s” ambition is to succeed, and with Rockfeller as his ideal, he’s bound to make good. “Dick”, we wish that you may always find firm snow on a sound base, and a tow for the more arduous climbs. V Four 19 40 The Pioneer Carleton Adams Radicals seem to work their way into everything! Carleton has been a mem-’ her of the Student Council and of the Soccer Team, editor-in-chief of the “Pioneer”, Junior Rotarians, leading man in the Senior Play, and president of the “O. F. F.” He spends what spare time he has from his studies and extra curricular activities writing short stories. He is quite experienced in different kinds of work, from writing for the Chronicle to selling patent medicines. He is going to take a P. G. next year, but plans to be a journalist some day. We’ll look eagerly for those by-lines. Reginald Amback “Rae” is widely famed as the star of the “Foolish Five”, the R. H. S. second team in basketball. He was also a dependable football man, member of Hi-Y, and guardian of the second floor landing for the Service Squad. “Reg” (yes, he is a man of several monickers) spends his summers on one of the many islands of Lake Winni- pesaukee, and what occurred there on a certain moonlight night is still a con¬ troversial subject. Next year it’s ? College for “Binge”, and may he have as prosperous a time there as he has had at R .H. S. Edythe Arsenault Listen! Do we hear a giggle? Yes, here’s “Edie”, the willowy girl with the pretty locks, whose hobby in R. H. S- was chatting in the corridors. “Eddie” pursued the Secretarial Course and is looking forward to good times this summer at the beach. Next fall, she plans to go to school and to work, too. After seeing the jaunty little way in which she displayed clothes in our fashion show, we’d hire her as a model any day. Best of luck, “Edie”; it’s a hard struggle, but we know you’ll come through with flying colors. Muriel Arthur Women usually are quite hard to understand, as we all know, but few of us realize that quiet “Buddy”, or “Countess”, can be a problem child al¬ most at will. As is supposed to be the case with women, she can never make up her mind, is nearly always too busy to contact, and is seldom ready for a date at the desired time. The fact that “Bud” is active in the Junior Woman’s Club as correspond¬ ing secretary, serves as vice-president of the one and only “Clique”, does a bit of studying, helps to run dances, takes a little time to eat and sleep, and still keeps on going is something of which to take note. Richard Avery It seems that “Mike“ really likes our little red school house, for he cites it as his favorite hang-out. While here, he has followed the Business and Civ¬ ics Preparatory Course, and has been a member of the Rifle Club. Outside activities have included a paper route, Kittredge’s car, and model airplane building. The big moment of “Dick’s” life has yet to come, he confesses. We’re sure he will get the position he wants in the Civil Service, because he’s a great fellow. Dorothy Babcock Whew! From the joyous laugh we’d guess that the whirlwind that just passed was “Babs” on the way to en¬ liven another class with her humor. She grandly enacted the part of the understanding mother in the class play “June Mad” and well deserved those superlative bouquets. “Babs” belongs to Junior Woman’s Club and Rainbow; she especially enjoys the Dramatic Club, for acting is one of her foremost hobbies. Literary talents are also hers and she’s put new life into the Ex¬ change Column of the “Pioneer”. Her merry laughter is going to be with us one more year before she enters Bates. English is her favorite subject and one day she threatens to teach it. Dorothy Bailey “Dot” is a talented young artist, al¬ ways ready to lend a touch of color to any situation with one of her draw¬ ings. Next fall will probably find her among the students at the Massachu¬ setts School of Art. As for immediate p.ans, she hopes to find employment this summer as a waitress. It would seem that she’d make a better cashier than waitress; no checks would “bounce” with “Dot in charge, since as a hobby she likes to analyze hand¬ writing. Senior Carnival, she says, is her happiest memory of R. H. S. Someday she’d like to join the rest of us for another ski at “The Elms”. Harry Barr Here’s the tall, dark, and handsome member of the “Three Musketeers”, whose favorite haunts are Torre’s and the Colonial Spa in Wakefield. (Con¬ fidentially, we know why.) Harry is a member of Hi-Y and goes in for foot¬ ball, golf, polo, skiing, hunting and blondes! Harry has struggled through the College Course and next year will resume his studies at Kimball Union, in preparation for a future at Dart¬ mouth. His uppermost ambition is to outdo Confucius. This summer, he plans to be a good boy. Sorry we can’t check up on you, Harry, but watch out for Goodwin’s men, lamp posts, and pixies! Five The Pioneer 19 40 Dorothy Barstow Who could forget “Dot”? She’s the girl who’s just crazy about Glenn Mil¬ ler and his “moonlight serenade” mu¬ sic. She’s been busy this year ar¬ ranging the programs for “June Mad , doing write-ups for the “Pioneer”, and going to Junior Woman’s Club. “Dot hates glasses and people who say “up Maine” instead of “down Maine.” But in spite of her being a “Maineiac”, we all think “Dot” is swell! Arthur Batchelder Whenever there’s a cross country race in Reading, you can almost al¬ ways depend on “Batch” to break the tape first. He is one of the best run¬ ners R. H. S. has ever had. He as¬ pires to be either a musician or a salesman, and says that Harry Janies is his ideal. His business acumen was revealed in the Saturday night dances he and his partner ran with success. Next year, “Batch” will study radio and machinery. Keep running, “Batch”, on the road to a successful life. Bette Beaudry Bette is the North Reading part of the firm of Day and Beaudry. (These two are as inseparable as cornbeef and cabbage). Bette has spent her three years at R. H. S. in eager pre¬ paration for her future as a student nurse and then an air stewardess. She has found time, in addition, to be a member of Glee Club and of the bas¬ ketball and tennis teams. However, all visitors to Central Street would vow that swimming is her favorite sport. Bette thinks taking chances is fun, but just for luck she’d better keep that ’chute handy. Allie Benton We don’t need a picture of Allie to tell who she is because she’s a very familiar figure about school. Many of us have bought our Christmas cards from Allie and all of us associate her with the Glee Club. Perhaps someday, she’ll be known as a second Amelia Earheart, for she says that she wants most to learn to fly . Just at present, though, Allie is looking forward to business school. She, like the rest of us, says she’s going to miss dear old Reading High very much, and we are certainly going to miss her. William Birkmaier Ship ahoy! “Bill” is about to sail the seven seas with the U. S. Navy. He has a very wide grin for everyone and he maintains that the most event¬ ful day in his life was the day he was born. Can anyone top that? Despite his nautical tendencies, it’s known that “Bill” is an automobile racing fan. Stick to the sea, my boy; life preserv¬ ers don’t help in a racing car. In the words of the immortal Birkmaier, “Shanghai, here I come !” Elizabeth Blaikie Bashful? Quiet? Mistaken identity! “Betty” is a member of Junior Wo¬ man’s Club and treasurer of “Clique”. She was working at her future posi¬ tion several months before graduation. We hear that there is definite con¬ fusion about her social life, but the outcome usually depends on the one who telephones “Princess” first. “Bet¬ ty” thinks “it’s a wonderful world” just at present. Grace Bowers “Grade” is a pursuant of the Col¬ lege Course and is planning eventually to enter a normal school and train for the teaching profession. But she ad¬ mits that her ambition is to enter into matrimony and “live happily ever af¬ ter”. (We don’t need to ask with whom, do we?) Her qualifications for this are of the best, because she is a connoisseur of home-cooking, has tak¬ en care of young children, and has a grand sense of humor. Incidentally, her ideal is one “Half-Brush”. She dis¬ likes boys who bite their fingernails; so watch out, “Irv”. Janetta Boyd Janetta is going to fill many rooms with sunshine as she flitters back and forth answering the calls of her many patients in future years. She has been active in Rainbow and has filled color stations in this organization. This sum¬ mer she plans to have a good rest and prepare for the long years of learning to be of service to mankind that are to follow. Janetta, we hope you attain your worthy goal. Six 19 40 The Pioneer Gregg Brewer Gregg came back after an absence of eight years to rejoin our class and liv¬ en up our history periods. Where would Mr. Dixon be if it weren’t for Gregg’s helpful and timely remarks? He is a member of Hi-Y and the “Pio¬ neer” staff and is interested in pho¬ tography and the South Sea Islands. He adores tomatoes and can’t stand people who recite in low voices. (Speak up, girls!) Next year he’s going to bowdoin, where he’ll pursue his fav¬ orite sports, skiing and swimming. If Gregg ever gets to England, they’ll make him poet laureate; he can toss off a ditty in no time at all, at all. George Bridges Well—at last we have found a lad who claims that wo men don’t faze him — much He hasn’t the time, any¬ way, for the opposite sex (that’s what he claims) as he is preparing to be¬ come a doctor. George’s desire is to be just like his father; you certainly can’t go wrong with an ideal like that, His favorite pastime would be driving if there weren’t any women drivers (and he doesn’t like the girl who in¬ sists on narrating her latest escapades at places like the Ritz Roof, either). George is going to spend some time at his camp this summer, before start¬ ing to work at the Shawsheen Mills, prior to prep school and then college. Some future, “Doc”! Kathleen Browne Wherever you see “Katie”, you see Bette, her pal and confidante. Natur¬ ally, “Katie” has a soft spot in her heart for Kimball’s “Dude Ranch”, since it’s a great place for having fun, and who doesn’t like a lot of fun? She’s gone out for the swimming, bas¬ ketball and tennis teams and has pur¬ sued the Secretarial Course. Much credit is hers for the splendid work she did on the Ticket Committee for “June Mad”. Franklin Bryant One of the muskiest of “The Three Musketeers” is “Frankie”. (We don’t know what “muskiest” means, either, but if it fits “Frankie” it must have something to do with being happy-go- lucky). Even when he hounded those of us in Room 1 for class dues, he kept that cheerful disposition. As a member of Hi-Y and Student Council. “Frankie” had a finger on the pulse of all social affairs. His ambition is to own a car of his own. (We think self¬ protection may have something to do with it). He heartily endorses Gracie Allen for President. Here’s hoping he gets as big a kick out of life when he’s ninety as he does now. Gilbert Camp If you want any electrical appliance repaired, just get in touch with “Gilly”. He knows electricity from A. to Z. As the electrician, he made good behind the scenes at the Senior Play. “Gilly” works hard at his Scientific Course, but finds time to be faithful to Hi-Y and on the go as business manager of the “Pioneer” and president of the Young- People’s Society at his church. He cannot abide the 25 and 30 m.p.h. speed laws in many towns. “Gilly” will re¬ turn for a P. G. next year, but his goal is to become a second Thomas Edison. The wizard was a busy man, but then so is “Gilly”. Barbara Cleveland “Becky” is a member of our famous A Capella choir, a Rainbow girl, and a member of the Junior Woman’s Club. She has pursued the Classical Course, although she preferred lunch period s, chemistry, and the choir. “Becky” is averse to “men in general”, except, of course, Don Ameche, who is her ideal. Her ambition is to be a singer. (We think she is one now.) She will attempt to realize her ambition by en¬ trance to a conservatory of music. We’ll be front row center, “Becky”, when you make your debut. Betty Coan Here’s a girl who likes to enjoy her¬ self. When we say that dancing is her hobby, we’re putting it mildly. Betty belongs to the Junior Woman’s Club and Rainbow, and has recently been an officer in the latter. Carole Lom¬ bard seems to her to have achieved near perfection (could that be because of Clark Gable?). Since wind is Bet¬ ty’s pet peeve, we wonder what she did on the night of September 21, 1938. Betty has had the good fortune of doing office work during the summer, and she plans more work or prep school next year. Mr. Businessman, here comes another secretary. Evelyn Comey Evelyn is the cheerful little miss who makes up a big third of “The Melody Gems”, both singing and play¬ ing the piano. She has had a speak¬ ing part in various assembles and has been a soloist in the A Capella Choir. She definitely plans to make music her life. If she doesn’t broadcast, then she’ll be Music Supervisor in a high school. “Evie” has enjoyed R. H. S., its Glee Club, and its dances—so much that she plans to take a P. G. in preparation for B. U. Conservatory of M usic. Seven The Pioneer 19 40 Tom Connelly Tom, more intimately known as “The Rabbi”, has been president of Hi-Y and a member of Student Council and the Service Squad. We can well un¬ derstand why he was given a post on the first floor. We also understand that Tom has recently bought a new car (it is a car, isn’t it?) and was surprised to find the gas tank much larger than he had anticipated. More than once, Tom and a certain red¬ headed fellow have been seen tenderly pushing this vehicle toward an un¬ known destination. Tom wants to be a successful financier; it ought to be easy—he dresses and looks the part right now. William Connelly Of course, this is our football cap¬ tain, “Speed”. He was always one of the hardest players on the squad and one of the best when it came to sports¬ manship. “Speed’s” injury during the football season made him one of the few of us ever to have a dance held in his honor. He has been a faithful member of the Student Activities Committee and the A Capella Choir. Speed” is taking the Civics and Busi¬ ness Course, but hasn’t decided what he will do next year. However, this summer he will go to C. M. T. C. at Fort McKinley. “Speed’s” ambition is to make good, and we know he will. Kathryn Conron Kathryn is that quiet young lady whose uncanny way with poetry has had Miss Devaney’s first period Eng¬ lish class wondering whether she would surpass Browning or Milton. Kath¬ ryn, who also answers to the appela- tion of “Spiffy”, plans to trudge the boards of Ye Olde Highe Schoole again next year before departing for Wheaton. “Spiffy” confesses that her greatest thrill (Att. Mr. Spencer) was translating the “Aenied”; that her most boring times were at assem¬ blies on jobs. She has belonged to the “T. N. T. Club” and has played basketball for three years. Marcit Courossi “Meg”, with the classic features and copper-colored hair, aspires to be a model, or to work in a department store. She’s expert at ping-pong, has been on the basketball squad, and en¬ joys tennis and bicycle riding. Her favorite spot is beside a radio, but she emits an “Oh, phooey!” when there is too much advertising on a good pro¬ gram. She likes boys that are tall, dark, and not too handsome, and good dancers that are not conceited. Does that describe the one and only, “Marg” ? Barbara Currie “Strip Tease” Currie she was called in those days! (Honest, “Barb”, it was just to see you blush!) She’s a member of Junior Woman’s Club and goes for anything in the line of sports. She’s been on almost every R. H. S. team, from field hockey to bowling. Cdby Junior College is waiting for “Dynamite” at the end of this year, and after college, she intends to be a big-time buyer. She loves assemblies that run over time and hates boys who debate in history. Another pet aver¬ sion is remembering dates, and off¬ hand, we’d say she’d rather dance than eat. Betty Dalton Remember “Bets”, that flirtatious }roung lady with the long lashes and flashing smile? She’s a member of Junior Woman’s Club and is secretary of the one and only “Clique”. Lately, although her hobby is dates, her inter¬ est seems seriously concentrated. This summer Betty plans to mix work and play, and next year she’s going to Westbrook Junior College to prepare for life as a designer or as a model. Here she’s especially enjoyed dances, most of which she’s helped run ! Stanley Davis “Stan”, better known to friends as “Red”, is the leading exponent of the “Jazznocracy Club.” He claims that he’d rather be in the company of his “sax” than anyone else. (Appearances are deceiving; at least, we’re sure that his favorite hangout is Walnut Street!) “Stan” hasn’t any particular ambition as yet, but he dreams of becoming a success in the musical world. We un¬ derstand that your ideal is Jimmy Dor¬ sey, “Red”, and that you want to be just like him. Well, remember your old school friends when you’re passing out autographs! Lorraine Day Lorraine will never be forgotten as Milly-Lou, the brat in the Senior play. “Rainy” enjoys her school work, es¬ pecially chemistry, but could get along without homework. Glee Club certain¬ ly will miss her! This summer she is going to recuperate from the hard task of keeping up with life. The majority is always right, so when “they say” that Lorraine’s hair grows redder every day, it must be so. Don ' t worry Lor¬ raine, most great people have red hair. (Editor’s note: Now which member of our write-up staff could have written this ?) Eight John Dissel We’re used to seeing “Long John” wielding one of “Charley’s” brooms af¬ ter 2:30 or flinging newspapers in the general direction of doorsteps as he cavorts around town on his trusty bi¬ cycle when most of us are just getting out of bed. Yes, John, we can un¬ derstand why your chief hobby is “sleeping”; we wonder how you ever find time for the other ones: swim¬ ming, bowling and skating. “Diddle” has one wish to make that the rest of us echo; he hopes the world won’t be too hard on the Class of 1940. Bernard Doucette If you see the members of the Cross Country Team rolling on the ground with laughter, you will know “Bernie” is cracking a joke. He is one of those fellows who are always working; he has a paper route in the winter time and is a cook in the summer months. If you rave over the fried clams at Sailor Tom’s, you can hand the credit to our own “Bernie”. He does enjoy good times when they come his way, especially if some fair lady is around to help him do so. He is going to continue study along the engineering line next year at night school while he holds down some lucrative position or other in the daytime. Harold Doucette Harold’s prime ambition is to see the world. We’d say there are certain spots on this globe that he’ll have to skip right now. Before he embarks on his world cruise, we can probably find our friend at the Recreation Hall. Harold’s favorite subject is book-keep¬ ing. Many of us are surprised at that choice, but “Hal’s” a hardy gent. Don’t forget to send us a post card from China and to keep away from Hitler! Christine Ellis “Christine” to people who don’t know her, but “Tina” to her friends! “Tina’s” been trucking on down the corridors of R. H. S. for these three years. Her only particular idea about the future is that she would like to sing with an orchestra. So far, she’s been training in Glee Club. She would like to have everyone know that jitterbugs are not crazy, and she claims that Paul Whiteman agrees with her on this point. Well, everyone to his own opinions, “Tina”. Theo is a girl who wants to be a lawyer. To this end, she w r ill go to Pembroke College next year and then to law school. Law may seem a strange profession for a girl, but we wish her as much success as Portia had. Theo has been active in sports, being on the hockey and bowling teams, but her favorite sport, believe it or not, is football. My, what mas¬ culine tendencies! All kinds of best wishes, Theo! Erdine Farwell Listen — do you hear that soulful moo-o-o-o? It’s “Dean” calling to her friends in the Maine pasture. “Dean” may giggle a little in Latin IV, hut she usually knows the answers—especially the meaning of “remugio”. She holds the office of corresponding secretary in the Junior Woman’s Club, is a high officer in Rainbow, and has slaved for the “Pioneer” as staff secretary. She has two ambitions: to get her driver’s license and to be an English teacher. She plans to attend Boston University next year, but will spend the summer near that certain alluring pasture. Dean’s” pet peeve is being reminded that a chicken is not a mammal. Helen Foster During her three years in R. H. S. Helen has been one of our most en¬ thusiastic secretarial students. Next year she will further prepare herself for work in this field by attending a business school. The summer months, however, will find her enjoying a va¬ cation in New Hampshire, where her ambition is to someday own a farm of her own. Helen’s pet peeve is hearing “No School” come over the radio for what seems like every town but Read¬ ing. A farmer’s life a bustling one, Helen, for a girl who confesses that her favorite hangout is “bed”. Betsy Foxcroft Betsy is a friendly person who al¬ ways seems to be busy with something (or someone). When it comes to Ger¬ man, she is just about tops. We don’t see how you do it, “Foxy”! “Bets” has been a member of the Girls’ Bas¬ ketball Team, the “Pioneer” board (she garnered more ads for this issue than the magazine has ever had be¬ fore!), the Senior Carnival Commit¬ tee, and the back-stage crew of our play, “June Mad”. (Betsy put the boys to shame, we hear, nailing the set in place.) We’ll wager she has had few dull moments this year—or any other year. The Pioneer 19 40 Priscilla Garey Red hot rhythm swinging fast—it’s just “Pussy” on the brass! Yes, she has the high ambition of showing the world that a girl can be as good as any boy on the drums ! “Pussy’s” diet con¬ sists of dancing and more dancing. However, her pet peeve is jitterbugs! She’s an active member of Rainbow. And, most exciting of all, she has al¬ ready found employment. Why, she’ll escape finals and everything! Alice Goodwin If on some dark and dismal day you see a ray of sunshine loping down the corridor, it’s none other than our own Alice, better known as “Boogie”, sports editor for two years of the one and only “Pioneer”. In addition to her participation in sports, “Boogie” can and does compose poetry when she s in the mood. Her fertile brain has most recently conjured up the Class Will, with “Dave’s” help, of course. “Boogie” is a staunch member of Rain¬ bow and Junior Woman’s Club, and admits that she has a partiality for red heads from out of town. For some reason or other, history fasci¬ nates her. John Greenleaf Here is another staunch member of the Service Squad and Hi-Y. “Jack” is also the boy we see around town in a Buick. He likes driving very much and says that his uppermost ambition is to own a car. In fact, he tells us that his most thrilling moment was when he got his driving license. “Jack ” has taken the Civics and Business Course in school and should find him¬ self a good job if employers know a steady, capable fellow when they see one. Waldo Grover “Wally” came to our midst from Euclid, Ohio, last fall. He says there are strong arguments on both sides of this business of being the son of the superintendent of schools! Since he has been with us, “Wal” has joined Hi-Y, blown up an automobile, ably guarded the lighting effects for “June Mad”, pursued the Business Adminis¬ tration Course, and become a valued customer of a neighboring Sears Roe¬ buck in his search for new Darts to that car. After either Mass. State or Iowa University, “Wal” is going to be a factory manager of some lucky auto¬ mobile company. Ruth Hamilton A good nurse can always make a place for herself in the world, and we are sure that Ruth will reach the heights, for she has already shown her interests and capability as a doctor’s secretary. Among her favorite sports are roller skating, tennis, and basket¬ ball, and appropriately enough her fav¬ orite subject is physiology! (We “looked it up”, too.) This summer Ruth is going to have a real vacation and “ride, ride, ride.” George Hamm Who was the manager of our foot¬ ball and soccer teams during ‘38 and ’39? Right! It was “Ham ‘n Eggs”. (Speaking of food, deep down in George’s heart there is a special little spot saved for—watermellons.) When not too busy with managerial duties, George could be found with the Rifle Club or in one of the classes of the Business and Civics Preparatory Course. Daily, he traversed the dis¬ tance between our school and the Jun¬ ior High in pursuit of his favorite sub¬ ject, shop. Let’s hope you g;et that job next year, George. Wallace Haselton Here’s “Hezzy”, formerly known as the Great One”, mostly, perhaps, be¬ cause of his scholastic abilities, but not wholly, for “Hezz” was a vitally im¬ portant member of the “Foxy Five”. He hopes one day to become a history professor and in preparation for this will go either to Tufts or Clark next year. “Hezzy” is extremely versatile, having held many positions, from A. A. collector to being a farmer in .the Grange. He is most well known as an “egg-man”. (We understand that his eggs are of the very best quality and reasonably priced.—advt.) James Hawes “Jas”, this is just to let you know how empty the school will seem with¬ out your devastating humor, so especi¬ ally prevalent in English class. We hope the rumor is true that you’ll be back for a P. G. You must remember that it was only by a few days, chronologi¬ cally speaking, that you lost the title of Class Baby to “Normie”. You could do worse than grow old grace¬ fully right here in R. H. S. until you’re ready for Harvard! (Then, too, you’ll probably be more apt to have the $2.20 for those orchestra seats at plays if you postpone those bills from the bur- ser’s office for another year). 19 40 The Pioneer Marion Henderson Brown-eyed Marion is good natured and full of quiet humor. She is a de¬ voted Grange member and holds ' the office of Lady Assistant Steward. Af¬ ter high school, she is going to a school of nursing. One big thing in her fav¬ or is that she doesn’t believe in being bored. Rainy days and the music of Brahms are her particular delights. Thus we can understand why her pet peeve is clashy, jazz orchestras. Some¬ day she w T ants to take a trip all by her lonesome. Richard Henderson Here is the mathematical giant him¬ self! Many a time “Hendy” has con¬ founded all of us with his baffling geo¬ metric proofs. And in the German III class, he is depended upon not only by Miss Ernst, but by three of his less persevering classmates. He has tri¬ umphantly completed the Scientific Course in preparation for entrance to Tufts Engineering School next fall, and is now ready to work in any one of a number of fields during the summer. He has had experience as a painter, gardener, carpenter, and (hold your breath) baby tender. The “Great One”, besides opera, goes in for outdoor sports, including skiing, skating, and mountain climbing. Robert Henderson One of the foremost students in Reading High School and one well known to all of us is “The Little Great One”, alias “Bob”. “Bob” has been a wizard in all subjects, although, like his brother, he prefers math and chemistry. He has been one of the most enterprising members of both Hi- Y and the Young People’s Fellowship. “Bob’s” ambition is to become either a chemistry or physics professor at a large university, in preparation for which goal he plans to work a year and then enter an engineering college. Here’s luck to you, “Bob”, and to our children when they enter as your stu¬ dents. ' William Hennessy Here we have that rootin’, tootin’, wild “Bill”, whose hobby is the educa¬ tion of his teachers, with baseball run¬ ning a close second. The foremost am¬ bition in the heart of our young com¬ rade is “a school of the pupils, by the pupils, and for the pupils”. He in¬ tends both to work and to go to school after graduation. e feel that in whatever occupation he engages, he will, with his winning smile, get by. Walter Hilton Run, fellas, here comes “Snapper”. Imagine how an opponent must have felt when “Walt” came charging down the floor dribbling that little ole squash or got away a fast serve on the ten¬ nis court! His pet peeve is Glee Club, but, like the rest of us, my boy, you must learn to appreciate great art—in the making. He, too, is a member of Hi-Y whose favorite hang-out is the True residence. With all our fem¬ inine faces to pick from, he insists on going out of town for inspiration, but he still hasn’t found his big moment and he personally thinks this world is, after all, “a funny old place”. Robert Hitchcock Those of you who like North Read¬ ing will find a kindred soul in one “Galahad” Hitchcock. Any of you who would like to see yourselves as others see you have only to ask “Bob’s” opin¬ ion to receive a frank and truthful appraisal. In case you would like to locate him any evening, just call North Reading 59, ring 12. Although he’s been with us only a short time, he’s made plenty of friends; in fact he says that the best thing about R. H. S. is its “grand bunch of fellows and girls.” Among other things, “Bob” hopes to attend West Point and to visit Hawaii. B. Franklin Hodges For many a long year, “Ben” has been rated with “Sherm” as the last of the “rugged individualists” (so they styled themselves), to whom the fairer sex simply did not exist. But the Sen¬ ior Play came and went and only “Sherm” remained, for “Ben” had been induced to abandon his individualistic tendencies. “B. F.”, of course, was the highly efficient stage manager of our production, and apparently one of the leading ladies made a big impression. The rest is history! “Ben” has been a member of DeMolay, Hi-Y, and the R. H. S. Band. Next year he is de¬ serting us to join the ranks of the University of Maine, where he will dash through some simple subjects. William Hoffman We’re almost all sure that “Bill” is deserving of the title of genius. Math¬ ematics seems to be a cinch for him, and we are certain that he is one of the happier moments in Mr. Halpin’s life. “Will” is rather reserved by na¬ ture and therefore is undoubtedly a boon to all of the teachers. All in all, he is a good fellow and is well liked by everyone of us. Here’s to your success, “Bill”; were cheering for you! Eleven The Pioneer 19 40 Irving Holcomb Do you want to buy a turkey? “Hoke” learned plenty about these cre¬ atures when he was trying to raffle them off in the interest of his hockey team. He is a born athlete, being co¬ captain of the Baseball Team and the mainstay of the Hockey Team. What with being president of the Student- Council, a member of the Hi-Y, and the constant driver of his father’s new car, he keeps himself quite busy. He hates to be called upon to recite, says that he’d much rather be on a desert island with a good book (?) He ex¬ pects to be at Cornell next year. Don’t worry, “Irv”, your high pressure sales¬ manship will get you anywhere. Barbara Holden “Barb” claims she hasn’t a care in the world. She strongly believes that one should enjoy youth while she’s young. Barbara is pursuing the Sec¬ retarial Course and someday hopes to be a buyer for a large store. She be¬ lieves that she’s in heaven when she is dancing. “Barb” is at her best when debating—in class meetings or in U. S. History. We hope, “Barb”, that you will always have that happy-go-lucky spirit. Vivian Hook Besides being one of that ever popu¬ lar trio, “The Melody Gems”, “Sandy” is also an officer in Rainbow and a member of the A Capella Choir. Next fall may find her a student at the Katherine Gibb’s Secretarial School in New York—but right now she is busy making plans for a summer vacation in New York and Canada. She agrees with Alma and Evelyn that the most thrilling moment of their lives was the day “The Melody Gems” received a contract for weekly broadcasts. May¬ be if the girls get a lucrative position by September, “Sandy” won’t have to pound typewriter keys for a living. John Hrynowsky “Hiram” is the boy you must have seen in action at every football, bas¬ ketball, and baseball game, for he starred in all three sports. We shall always remember him as a crashing end on the football team, a steady guard on the “Foxy Five”, and a pit¬ cher with plenty of stuff in baseball. “Hy” says that he enjoyed dancing more than anything else at R. H. S., and in connection with this enthusiasm we notice that he has taken quite a liking to the sophomore class. He is going to prep school next year, and from there on to college. Good luck, “Hy”! Audrey Humphrey Audrey enjoys a good opera, es¬ pecially when the star is someone im¬ portant like Lawrence Tibbett. What ' s he got (besides a voice) that we boys haven’t got? Next year will find her one of our numerous P. G.’s. Work is her hobby and she has had lots of it. Employers, if you are interested, she would like to add some additional in¬ formation about herself! “I’m five feet, eight inches tall, almost eighteen, and blonde.” She can type with the best of them, too. Raymond Hutchinson “Hutch” is the best errand boy Hoods ever produced ! My, won’t the manager miss him as he treads the path to Northeastern next year. He has been active in the interests of Hi- Y, the Service Squad, and the Grange. He also is an ardent supporter of big league baseball and just loves to pilot a certain brunette around the dance floors. “Ray” is planning to be an of¬ ficer in the Army Air Corps. Schol¬ astically he should make the grade, if being chosen a Faculty Honors speak¬ er at graduation is any indication. William Jaques Although you don’t hear a great deal from “Bill”, he is still very much with us. He is a representative to the Stu ¬ dent Council, a member of Hi-Y, and as nearly as we can figure out the last faithful member of the “O. F. F.”. He has enjoyed chemistry and biology at R. H. S-, but not study periods because for him they came too few and far between. He was an outstanding mem¬ ber of the Soccer Team this past sea¬ son. He participated in most of the other sports as a spectator, but he is a good one. It is “Bill’s” ambition to get into college and to stay there. We feel that such a man will not be de¬ terred from his goal. Winnifred Johnston Girls, if you want your hair done in the latest style, go seek out “Winnie”. After leaving high school she plans to go to Wilfred Academy, where she will learn the ten easy lessons on how to look to get your man! She con¬ siders being a Senior her most thrilling- moment so far. Don’t we all? This summer will find her touring the Can¬ adian wilderness. Lucky girl! T votive 19 40 The Pioneer Horace Jones Ten years from now when you hear the favorite band of the day or when you pick up a book on the foreign situation in West Bavaria, you will undoubtedly find that one Horace Q. Jones has had a finger in both pies. “Jonesie” hails from the wild and wooly North, where men are bold and women, fair; his face is quite a fami- iar one on the “North Reading Troop Transport”. “Jonesie” is an honor student and member of the Hi-Y, the band, and “George ' s Club”. Undoubt¬ edly the excellent portrayal of country bumpkin in “June Mad” was one of his best and easiest accomplishments. Horace says he would like to teach mathematics if he survives Harvard, where he expects to study along clas¬ sical lines. William Jones William is one of the boys whom Mr. Dixon appreciates, for during the home-room period he can always be found at his desk studying. “Casey’s” favorite sport is baseball, but he says he certainly was thrilled when the “Foxy Five” beat Stoneham. He has plowed through the Civic and Business Course, with typing being his favorite subject. After graduation, “Casey” plans to work hard and earn himself a place in the sun. Bette Kimball Flash ! Here’s the peppy little lady whose pastime is definitely jitterbug- ging. Bette’s immediate ambition is “to acquire some oomph” this summer, and then she plans to go to art school this fall. Hers has been the unpre¬ cedented honor of having her cover de¬ sign chosen for both issues of the Pioneer” this year; her posters have adorned many a bulletin board. Bette goes in for skiing, open-houses, and “extra vacations.” You can most al¬ ways see her at Torre’s with the rest of the gang. Leslie Kittredge “Les” is that tall gentleman with the engaging grin that has set many a feminine heart thumpinfc, but so far he claims his greatest thrill is run¬ ning fast ski trails. “Kit is president of the R. H. S. Rifle Club and a mate in Sea Scouts. He abhors, more than aught else, being called by his full first name. His ambition is to be in Civil Service and to grow up to be like his brother and Mr. Dixon. Richard Lawler “Red is one of the most popular fellows in our class. His prowess on the football field Thanksgiving day helped save our name at the expense of Stoneham. He’s president of the Traffic Squad, has served two years on the Baseball Team, was a very es¬ sential member of the “Foolish Five , and never missed a Hi-Y meeting. “Trawler” enjoys class officers and sophomores most and abhors short skirts and skinny legs. When not vis¬ iting other nobility, our Carnival King- can almost always be found in Am- back’s living room. He’ll be back next year for a P. G. Dorothy Leach “Dotty” is undoubtedly one of the cutest girls in the Senior Class. (Did you see her as a model in the fashion show? Have you noticed those dimples?) Her ambition, she says, is “to live happily ever after.” (Is that where “Stan” comes in?) “Dot” is going “to have a heck of a good time” this summer. (Again: is that where “Stan” comes in?), and then on to business school and a job. Jeanne La Fave “Hi-Ho, Silver!” and in comes “Jean- nie”, tap-dancing and singing. Even so, her real star is hitched to a diploma from Wilfred’s Academy, where she will study hairdressing next year. “Pee-wee”, as she’s known to her closest friends, can usually be found at Winnie’s, maybe doing U. S. History, for that’s her favorite subect. This summer she plans to appear on the Major Bowes’ program. We’ll be lis¬ tening ! Albert Leman A set of drums, a tousled dark head, and a mischievous grin—these spell “Blackie”, our ace drummer, whose ac¬ tivities including hitchhiking to “all points north.” He has a sense of hu¬ mor and rhythm that puts us all in the mood. His pet peeve is people who ask, “Who’s Gene Krupa?” “Al” has all the dope on swing and what it takes to produce a real swing num¬ ber. He’s just been marking time as well as beating it out during his so¬ journ at R. H. S. Why, he roams the corridors like a lost soul, but it’s hard to keep track of a little whirlwind, isn’t it, “Blackie”? He plans to make drumming his life work; we know you’ll drum up a lot of trade, “Blackie.” Thirteen The Pioneer 19 40 John Leonard When “Lenny” is not in school, he’s usually at the library. His favorite sports are baseball and swimming. His idea of Utopia is either of two things— a tour of the United States or a camp¬ ing and hunting trip. Just now, John is taking the Accounting Course and plans to go to a business school, whence he will proceed in search of a job that will enable him to buy his dream—an automobile. Richard Lewis No doubt you’ve seen “Dick” many times operating the motion picture ma¬ chine at our assemblies. “Dick’s” up¬ permost ambition is to see Mr. Spen¬ cer run in a cross country race. His pet peeve is ankle socks on girls. (Do we hear a chorus of “ayes”?) He states that his most thrilling moment, so far, was “seeing New York City and other things.” He enjoys the classics, even to the extent of choos¬ ing a topic like “Pietas et Gravitas” for his Faculty Honors speech on that momentous day, June 5. Walter Lewis “Lewey” is of the more quiet type to be seen about school. But still water runs deep, they tell us, and Walter seems to prove the adage, for he sets his own ideals, has no thrilling mom¬ ents, dislikes women, and says that the best way to get along in this tough, two-fisted world is to “keep your big mouth shut”. His ambition is to see the world, yet earn some money at the same time. Since he is a Sea Scout we can think of no better way to ac¬ complish his aim than to “join the navy and see the world”. “Lewey’s” hobby is stamp-collecting and we hope that on his world-trip he may get some fine specimens first-hand. Hubert Lieberman A few years from now when you read your favorite comic strips or survey prominent cartoons on subjects of current importance, they will un¬ doubtedly have been drawn by “Hu¬ bert”. He has practically lived on the third floor of R. H. S. and his car¬ toons have been found in the “Pioneer”, on the bulletin boards, and in Room Two. Next year he plans to pursue his studies further at Massachusetts Art. May your brush never run drv, “Hubie”! Norman Lloyd The “Dean” is one of our leading “hep-cats” and has played with sev¬ eral orchestras well known in these parts. He also has other interests, which center, at least at this writing, in Melrose, but “Norm” readily admits he is fickle, so, women—beware ! One of his great joys in R. H. S. has been the German classes, and even Miss Ernst confesses that the periods would have been dull without the amazing, albeit trying, personality of the “Pres¬ ident of George’s Club”. “Norm” ex¬ pects to be seen strolling about the spacious Bates campus next year, after a summer playing with some band. His colorful performance in “June Mad“ as Mervyn will long be remembered. Gertrude Lorgeree “Gertie”, or “Lefty” to her special friends, hopes to attend Wilfred Academy next year to learn the art of hairdressing. She is one of the fortunate ones chosen for membership in the A Capella Choir and likes all sports, especially a good football game. Being a Senior she says is to her tops in thrills (what about Freddie?), but getting up in the morning or passing in homework still stumps her. Some of us will doubtless encounter “Lefty” this summer—either “job hunting or dancing under the stars at Kimball’s.” Mary Maguire Salve, Salutatorian ! (For the benefit of non-Romans, “Salve” means “hail!”) Since Mary is a student of Latin and likes it, we greet her with that lan¬ guage. She is, she says, not pursuing but being pursued by the Classical Course. Mary is a member of the Junior Woman’s Club, likes to knit (as witness her numerous sweaters), play tennis, eat pork chops, and sleep when not studying, which is often. Ac¬ cording to her present plans, Emman¬ uel College will receive the manifold benefits of her presence next year. Margery Maguire “Midge’s” amiable disposition has al¬ ways been a great attraction for friends both in and outside of the Senior Class. She likes to cook and to sew; the latter pastime should help in getting for her the “oodles of clothes” that she wants. ‘ Skeets” is another member of Junior Vv Oman’s Club and, as a typical club¬ woman, would advocate a worthy social improvement: the installing of an auto¬ matic dishwasher in every home. She ' s disliked long exams and short assemb¬ lies and being told to “speak louder please” everytime she’s called upon to recite. Fourteen 19 40 The Pioneer Earle Madden “Buck ' s” the tall lad with a grin and a fast ball. The “Earl of Forest Street” resides in good old North Reading and commutes daily to his domain off Main Street via Lane’s 7:10 Special. “Buck” has an in¬ clination toward the sea and expects to join the navy. There seems to be a sea going epidemic among those who live on the banks of the mighty Ipswich. It’s all right, “Buck”, but its pretty hard to play baseball at sea— and what will the 7:10 do without you? Mary Maling Mary’s greatest claim to fame is her superb characterization of “Penny” in our class play, “June Mad”. Long will we remember this latest display of her admirable histronic abilities. It would seem that she would head for the theatre at once, but next year will find “Two Bit” at Mass. State. She has recently done a splendid piece of work as literary editor of our year¬ book. Mary’s hobbies are reading and tennis; her favorite subjects, math and biology. Miss Ernst is her ideal. (If only there were more dispositions like Miss Ernst’s in the world!) We can hardly wait to see your name in lights, Mary. Alma Mansfield “Dimples” is the demure miss who has a knack for winning her way into everyone’s heart. She is a member of the “Melody Gems”, the famous trio, who have already made quite a start in the world of music. Alma’s most thrill¬ ing moment was the time when the trio was asked to broadcast weekly. Well, it’s nice to know that we can simply snap on the radio and listen to the sweet voice of “Dimples”, our musical ray of sunshine. Some fellow will cer¬ tainly be in luck, for her hobby is cook¬ ing. Katherine McDonough “Dutchie”, as she was nicknamed after her appearance in our Senior Play, is going to be a doctor’s secretary. Next year will find her either a P. G. or in business school. Dramatics and sports such as swimming, dancing, and bad¬ minton hold her greatest interest. Kay says her pet peeve is being stopped by the numerous red lights in the square. You’re not the only one ! May Melanson May has her heart set on being a gym teacher. We’re sure that if any¬ one will make a good gym instructor, May will, because she loves sports so much and is such a grand sport her¬ self. She especially likes to “swing a tennis racket, pile up the turf with a golf club, bowl a string or two or three, or go down to the deep blue sea”. Next year will find her either at Westbrook Junior College or at Sar¬ gent—just biding her time. This sum¬ mer, in advance preparation for that future, she’ll be counselor to “forty sweet cherubs” in New Hampshire. Richard Merritt Hold everything, gang! Idere comes that superman of sport, “Dick” Mer¬ ritt ! “Dick” was plugging up the right side of the line for Coach Holgerson in football; then he shed his cleats and helmet to play basketball and lead the “Foxy Five” to the Middlesex League Championship and the Tech Tourney. Now, with basketball over, “Dick” turns to baseball, where he is first string catcher and his big bat drives in many a run for R. H. S. In addi¬ tion to all this athletic activity, “Dick” has been an efficient member of the Service Squad and Hi-Y and recently has been indulging in our most popu¬ lar indoo r sport with a certain dark¬ haired lass from up north. Betty Miller Betty is one of our outdoor girls, being interested in every conceivable sport. Tennis is one sport where she has a marked advantage over her op¬ ponents, since she’s ambidextrous and has no back-hand worries. After an¬ other summer at her favorite hideaway in Maine, she plans entrance to Colby Junior College, where she and “Barb” will be the campus cut-ups in short order. Betty offers one piece of ad¬ vice to everyone: when you see a grey Pontiac coming, duck! She should know ; she should know! Clark Nyman If you see a venerable blue and yel¬ low Ford streaking about the sedate Reading streets, undoubtedly “Joe” is at the wheel. He enjoys driving as much as anything, even if those who accompany him are not always rest¬ ing easily and enjoying the countryside. Joe” has been a member of the Serv¬ ice Squad and was on the Costume Committee of the Senior Play, even if “Frankie” did do all the work. Our most experienced tennis star, he has earned his letter for three years. Fifteen The Pioneer 19 40 Virginia O’Brien A good-natured pal is “Ginny”, for she’s always ready to lend a hand, whether it’s typing for the “Pioneer” or any other job. She is an ardent R. H. S. basketball and football fan. Clothes, clams, climbing mountains— these are among her enthusiasms, while conceited people have no place in “Gina ' s” circle. She’s good at mind¬ ing children, likes to try her hand at hair-dressing, and hopes to obtain a secretarial position. But for a real thrill—ask her about that rocking yacht in the rain. Louise Pattison Little and demure, “Patty” is sweet¬ ness personified. Her hobby is music and her ambition is to be a singer and whistler, which shouldn’t be hard be¬ cause she has received prizes for her double whistling. In fact, her greatest thrill was when she was giv¬ en a radio audition. She likes to meet singers and actors and to see them perform. Your message to the world, “Patty”, is “Laugh and the world laughs with you.” Ours to you is “Whistle and the world will clap for Eileen Peters Did you ever see a little “half-pint” running busily around with a duster after school? That’s “Pete”, or “little Pete”. She likes to work and keep busy. Her favorite expression is Good things come in small packages” —very appropriate, we think. “Joe” likes to do arithmetic, loves to eat, or to have a good time. She aspires to drive a truck; that should be easy for one with so much ambition. Sherman Poland Sherman is that red light which stops many a sophomore in the process of doing wrong in the first floor corri¬ dor. Besides his post on the Service Squad, “Sherm” has been an active member of the Hi-Y, the Student Coun¬ cil, and the Cross Country Team. Well did he play the part of Mr. Har¬ ris in the Senior Play. In his spare time Sherman has waltzed through a snap course in preparation for a stay with John Harvard for the next four years. From Harvard he will climb to the Bar. Success to you, “Sherm”, and please remember us if we ever become entangled with John Law. Muriel Powers Muriel we shall long remember as the hilarious “Efifie”, the maid with a laugh in every line, of “J”ne Mad’ Often at the end of the fifth period, “Rusty” has been seen reeling down to the lunchroom after a stiff forty- five minutes of chemistry. She doesn’t exactly dislike chemistry; it’s just that formulas bother her. Muriel enjoys Latin, and she emphatically declares that it is the Latin she enjoys. “Blondie’s” been on most of the girls’ sports teams and she vows that her most thrilling moment to date—posi¬ tively—was meeting the Arlington and Medford football teams in one and the same room! Norman Putnam “Putt” is one of our future engin¬ eers. He has been absorbing the knowledge of the Scientific Course, and naturally, majoring in math. If “Scrooge” (another of his titles) had a week to do as he pleased, he would travel and meet people. In reply to our query about his ideal, he charac¬ teristically said, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” (We would). He has been an active member of Hi-Y and DeMo- lay; in the latter he has been an offi¬ cer. John Quinlan “Jay Boy”, or “Johnny”, is quite a lad. Active in Hi-Y, baseball, football, and basketball (as an important mem¬ ber of the “Foolish Five”). “Jay” has personality all his own. His glamor smile is quite commonly seen in the R. H. S. corridors as he gallops through the turmoil of students. (We say gal¬ lop, because he usually is in a hurry to get home and catch a little sleep.) After graduation John expects to at¬ tend Boston University, then to join the ranks of job-hunters, and ultimate¬ ly to become a business man. At pre¬ sent he is training quite hard. For example, you will find “Jay” either asleep in the shade down on the Wash¬ ington Street Ball Field or bound up north to get a haircut. Martha Randall Cruller” is the attractive little miss with a bright smile for anyone who happens her way. She is an enthus¬ iastic member of Rainbow and Junior Woman’s Club. Martha maintains that her ambition is to be free—with no accounts for anything to be given to anyone. Her pet aversion is danc¬ ing with someone who can’t dance, and her hobby is collecting old bottles. (Tsk! Tsk!) “Cruller” claims that she’ll love to make someone a happy wife, but confesses that she simply can’t stand washing dishes. Sixteen 7 9 40 The Pioneer Patricia Remick A woman of many interests is “Pat”. Some of the strongest of these center about art, Glenn Miller, Rainbow, po¬ tato chips and “one evening in Sand¬ wich, New Hampshire”. Dark-eyed Patricia wants to become an interior decorator, and perhaps in the not too distant future we shall see her decorating establishment—a big success —on Boylston Street. But this sum¬ mer “Patty” is going to loaf and rest before entering Westbrook Junior Col¬ lege. Perhaps she will jaunt up to Sandwich, N. H. Who knows ? Ehwood Richardson In this corner we introduce “Bull” Richardson. The “Bull” denotes hard work, for “Rich” is about the hardest working fellow in school. When “Bull” isn’t working, he’s playing, and his favorite sports are football, hockey, roller skating and chopping wood. In school “Rich” likes English. We ad¬ vise you to avoid the woods in the early morning, for “Bull” will hit any¬ thing within three feet with his shot¬ gun. Now, don’t say we didn’t warn you! Helen Robbins Everyone knows our good-natured, peppy little cheerleader, whose enthu- iasm has inspired and comforted even the most downcast fans. Her ambition is to “marry a good man and have a family”, but in the meantime she is going to try to get a job—and have a good time. Sports of all kinds have played a large part in “Sunshine’s” life, “jitterbugging” being not the least prominent among her activities. Any¬ one could acquire at least three new ideas for dance steps just watching (at a safe distance, of course) her and “Tina” at their “rug cutting”. Helen’s planning on being a secretary; if at first she doesn ' t succeed, we’d suggest she make a profit along Terpsichorean lines. Chester Roberts If you want to find “Chet , look in at Ainsworth’s Stamp Store. He will be there “swapping yarns”, selling some of Randall’s Crullers, or buying stamps. He plans to play golf and go bowling this summer. “Chet” is a jun¬ ior assistant scoutmaster, and his ideal is “any bachelor”, and his ambition is to get through school and be a bach¬ elor. “Chet” would like, however, to spend at least one week this summer t n a camping trip with somebody else to do the dishes. Now, we ask you; can he stay a bachelor with ideas like that ? Dorothy Ruderman Friendly “Dot”, who is studying to be a secretary, should find no difficulty in getting employment because of her pleasant disposition. She has a kind word for everyone and enjoys watch¬ ing the dancing at noontime. She in¬ dulges ever} ' morning in one of her favorite sports, hiking to catch the bus. Early rising has made her appreciate sleep when vacation rolls around. Next to bike riding, she enjoys a good book and, “for heaven’s sake”, a hot dog. Jean Sargent One of the busiest people around school this year (or any year) has been “Jeanie”. She was official typist for the “Pioneer”, no mean job in it¬ self, and any other typing or mimeo- graphng work that had to be done was usually sent to Jean. On top of that she managed to walk off with Class Honors. She has worked hard as a waitress both in the summer and after school. The class honored her by se¬ lecting her as representative to the D. A. R. good citizenship convention. If Jean could spend a week doing as she liked, she would study shorthand, speed typing, and other things that steno¬ graphers do, and, on the side, she would indulge in some drawing, which, confidentially she does to perfection. Jeanette Sargent Jeanette, or “Measles”, is a young lady who likes the domestic life, whose pet peeve is “blondes”, and whose am¬ bition is to have a farm in New Hamp¬ shire. Perhaps she’ll go to Burdett next year. She lists her preferences— animal, vegetable and mineral (?)—as “fried clams and ice cream (the lack of punctuation is her idea), peaches, roses, kittens, and spinach.” Her habit of collecting pictures must have had plenty of encouragement during these, our last days at R. H. S. Grace Schofield If you see a sweet-looking maiden with a dreamy look in her eyes con¬ suming huge portions of fried clams some fine day, we are sure it will be Gracie. However, her ambition is not to find bigger and better clams, but to become a pianist. She plans to study music after high school in order to make that dream come true. Grace is an active member of Rainbow and Y. C. S. She has been studying to be a nurse, and we wonder if, like some others who have pursued this course, she dreams of catching a handsome young interne; but Grace at least claims membership in the “Heart Be¬ longs to Daddy” school. Seventeen The Pioneer 19 40 Edward Selfridge “Red” is one of our busy classmates. Hi-Y and Demolay are his clubs, and these together with a paper route keep him pretty well occupied. Our red¬ headed friend is ignoring his second million because lie’s still looking for the first, and when he finds it, he’ll visit the capitals of the world. Right now, though, rumor hath it that” Red’s” interest resides right here on Main Street. Are we right? Of course we are. Ruth Shumaker “Ruthie” has long been one of the outstanding members of the “Pioneer” Board and much credit is due her for the many long hours she has spent striving for the success of our mag¬ azine. By additional hard work she has landed in the honor group. How¬ ever, this summer “Rufus” plans to have fun and enjoy life. She confesses a great weakness for Irish stew with dumplings and says her greatest an¬ noyance is keeping her cash account. (How many of us wish we had one to keep !) She is enthusiastic about Rain¬ bow, in which she holds office. She hopes some day to be either a foreign correspondent or a feature writer. mr Olive Skane “Bones” has been one of our most valuable sportswomen. She’s wise, however, not to let basketball, bowling, and hockey interfere with her ambi¬ tion to become a private secretary. Her pet aversion is conceited people and she is anything but conceited herself. She took a little vacation from school this spring and enjoyed a delightful visit to our great capitol. Some of us will see you in business school, “Bonesie”. Roberta Smith “You’d be surprised!” is “Bobbie’s” favorite expression, and you will be when you learn what she is planning to be! This tiny one is going to make her patients see red when she brings in their trays. Next year will bring her back to us for a P. G.; then off to study nursing she will go. This summer will find her taking a much needed rest on some beautiful lake. Ve know you’re one exception to the belief that red hair is a sign of terrible temper, “Smitty”! May you radiate some of your color into the cheeks of your in¬ mates. Natalie Staples “Nat” is one girl who always greets everybody with a bright sunny smile. “Kitten” is free, white, and loves to cook; her fondest ambition is to be an airline hostess. This summer she’s goinp ' to Maine to rest up for her hard work next fall as a student nurse. Another such willing and helpful per¬ son you’ll have a hard time finding and with her cheerful disposition, she’s sure to succeed. Keep aiming high, “Nat”! Doris Steele “Dotte” is getting ready to desert us for New Hampshire. We think she’d beg, borrow, or steal a ride to Hanover! Pier chief ambition is to be one of N. H. U.’s brilliant students and she certainly is headed in that direc¬ tion. She has been famous for her “Clique”, for car troubles, for making friends, and for planning at least every other dance we’ve had. She belongs to Junior Woman’s Club, Rainbow, and the “Pioneer” staff. Don’t forget to spend your summers in Reading, “Dot”; you’ll have to come back to see “Buddy”, we know, anyway. Stanley Stembridge “S. S.” is one of the few members of the class who pursue the Classical Course. Of late, he divides his time between Reading and Winchester. When he has happened to be in Read¬ ing, he’s managed to keep busy as the doctor in the Senior Play, as a member of the Service Squad, as chief justice of our traffic court, as a mem¬ ber of Hi-Y, and as a Junior Rotarian. Stanley is the president of the exclu¬ sive Redheaded League. He expects to. go to college next year, possibly Bos¬ ton University. According to “Sherm”, Stanley is “one of the last members of a dying political race.” David St. Hilaire, Jr. Toot! Toot! Clear the street—it’s “Dave” coming like the wind in that grey Pontiac. This Summer will find him exploring the wilds of Maine and maybe fishing for his favorite food — salmon a la Sebago. Next year he plans to finish a course at St. Paul’s Cathedral and then go to Burdett to learn how to take over his father’s business someday. Just at present, Dave” is president of the Y. P. p.. news editor of the “Pioneer”, and past trailmaster of the American Outdoor Club of Maine. E ' ghteen 19 40 The Pioneer Charles Sullivan Introducing the learned “Senator” from North Reading and one of our Class Honors speakers at graduation. No. 5 on the Honors Parade, “Sully” follows the Business and Civic Course, because lie plans entrance to North¬ eastern next fall. If he continues on his present successful way, he may well fullfil his consuming ambition to be ad¬ mitted to the Bar. Charles is a re¬ nowned history scholar, and as a re¬ sult of his oratorical ability has added to his already sizeable collection of laurels. Sophisticated youth gets him down ; he’s probably seen too much of it on his job as a Service Squad man. Robert Sullivan “Bob” is one of those lucky fel¬ low ' s who intend to loaf and play ten¬ nis this summer, since tennis ranks with baseball as his favorite sport. He cites as his chief hobby reading, one which many of the rest of us would do well to develop. “Bob” has enjoyed the sports and assemblies most at R. H. S-, and he confesses that he’s been slightly averse to homework. Recent¬ ly, he’s learned to drive a car, an ex¬ perience he lists as his most eventful moment to date. With that large vo¬ cabulary of his, “Bob” should early talk his way to success. Phillip Surette “Phil” is taking the Stenographic Course and he is reported to be quite successful. However, “Sleepy” has other pastimes, such as ping pong and boxing. (We wonder if the boxing- lias anything to do with t hat nickname —“Sleepy?”) Jim Farley will be in¬ terested to know that “Phil” votes democratic in the problems class. Keep it up, “Phil”! Fred Swett “Freddie” is one fellow that doesn’t cause any trouble and is liked by every one whom he meets. His favorite past¬ time is hunting and he has made many trips to the wilds of Maine in search of game. While Fred’s in civilization, the Grange holds his fraternal alle¬ giance and he is an active member of that organization. “Fritz has a mech¬ anical leaning and can be seen sail¬ ing about Martin’s Pond in a motor boat which he owns and operates. His favorite food is venison, and in this, it is plain to see his sporting tendencies. We all hope that bred will be as lucky in hunting success as he is in hunting game. Barbara Tasney Hold everything! Flere comes “Barb”, that little bubble of enthusiasm, whose favorite pastime was dashing through the corridors or standing on guard for a certain couple sixth period. “Barb” was a member of Glee Club and somehow got through the Secre¬ tarial Course. She has a yen for mis¬ chief-making and a heart of gold. She certainly made some of our classes ex¬ citing. Her favorite comic stip is “Lil’ Abner” and her hangout for the sum¬ mer is Hampton Beach. Some of us are sure to see you there, “Barb”. George Tedeman This young man has certainly “won friends and influenced people” at R. H. S. with his friendly disposition. (Eh, Vivian.) Everybody knows “Ted”. Why, he’s the reason we go to Duncan’s for a pot or pan when the Five and Ten would do just as well. We’re expecting great things of George—he’s already held employment in a greenhouse, a factory, and a hard¬ ware store. Such versatility! Rita Toussaint Rita does not like to be pushed around, and, if you’ve ever tried it, you’ve probably decided that maybe it was just as well not to do any more pushing. She is a member of the A Capella Choir and may often be heard singing cheerily, either with “Gert” or by herself. “Toots” is one of those collecting-fiends, gathering up all sorts of things wherever she goes. She wants to be a telephone operator. Have you ever heard of “Mike”? Rita has. Robert Van Laethem “Cuddles” Van Laethem was born in Belgium and since then has grown to be seventeen years old and six feet, one inch tall. His hobbies in¬ clude stamp collecting and dancing. His disposition is, we quote him, “swell, fine, perfect, super-colossal . His most thrilling moment so far was New Years, ’39-‘4(). Tell us more about it, “Van”. His favorite subject is “Ann”, which should account for the origin of “Cuddles”. “Van” is one of the best book-keepers in his department; a po¬ sition should come his way soon. Nineteen 19 40 The Pioneer Joan Vasey “Peanut 11 is one of the newest ad¬ ditions to our class, having joined our ranks only last fall. She has taken on what she like to call “an irregular business course.” The thrill of Joan’s life came “in meeting one certain person.” Why must we have all the secrecy, Joan? Since she is interested in dramatics, it i s only natural she should admire Bette Davis. The immed¬ iate future holds forth a summer in Sci- tuate and Springfield, followed by work or further schooling next fall. That sounds pretty good to us, Joan. Marilyn Vaughan Does anyone need a rug? If so, call on “Skeezix”; rug making is her hob¬ by, and she plans to make rugs and tend her garden this summer. Marilyn sings with the A Capella Choir and is a member of Rainbow. She wants to become someone’s secretary in the not too distant future. Paging Conrad Nagel of the Silver Theatre Program: “You have an ardent admirer in the form of one Marilyn Vaughan.” (We know how you feel, “Skeezix”; we think he’s swell, too.) Mary Ellen Ward Any time you need an expert nurse, just call in Mary Ellen. In order to prepare for her chosen career, she plans on a P. G. plus a year at college before going into training. Quite ap¬ propriately, her ideals are those most famous members of the profession, Florence Nightingale and Edith Cavell. Mary Ellen reports that she recently enjoyed the New York World’s Fair. Accounts like hers make the rest of us more resolved than ever to get there this summer! Mary Ellen has been an enthusiactic member of Glee Club and we hear that she plays the piano very well, too. Charles Warren “Charlie” is the fellow with the classy sport coat that you see cruising through the corridors. However, that coat isn’t the only classy thing about “Charlie”. He says that his favorite subject is history, but right now we’d say the name is “Buddy”. Is that correct, or is the R. H. S. Walter Winchell off his beam again? Again it is rumored that “Charlie” will take out his Read¬ ing citizenship papers soon. Marjory Wentworth “Margie” is one of our quieter girls, but she enjoys reading, badminton, swimming, skiing, skating and tennis. She must like typing, too, because she ' s always working for the “Pioneer” or for some teacher. This summer she is going to Maine, where we hope she will enjoy some of her favorite sports. She claims she was most bored per¬ iods 6, 7, and 8, but someday you’ll miss those quiet afternoons, “Margie”, as all of us will. Gosh, Marjory, we’il miss you, because you’ve been a real pal! George Whelpley We immediately think of George as the dashing collegian of our Senior Play, “June Mad”. We shall not quickly forget his work in the role of Roger and the part he played in the success of the production. George is enrolled in the Comprehensive Course and, wonderful to say, takes particular delight in those two banes of most of us—French and math. He advocates government control of labor, and con¬ demns people who think they are bet¬ ter than others, especially those who don ' t hesitate to show it. George hopes to find some sort of work and be a success at it, as we know he deserves to be. Elisabeth White All hail to our valedictorian! Well does “Betty” merit this highest of se¬ nior honors, for she has worked long and hard to surmount the intricacies of the Classical Course. And now after the battle, comes the reward. “Betty” has sung with the A Capella and Con¬ gregational Church Choirs, sometimes as soloist. Her greatest thrill was the performance by the Metropolitan Opera Company this spring of “Die Walkuere” with Marjorie Lawrence, her ideal, singing the leading role. A P. G. course, followed by Bates, will further prepare “Betty” for the suc¬ cessful life she can’t help having. Herbert White “The Foxy Five” played a very im¬ portant part in this year’s program and we all remember “Sherbert” White for the part he played as high scorer of the Middlesex League in bringing the championship to Reading. “Herby” does not concentrate entirely on this sport; he is also co-captain of the baseball team and a fine business stu¬ dent to boot. “Sherbert” plans to take a P. G. and then become a book¬ keeper. However, it looks as though he may be side tracked from his am¬ bition for a while, since he has be¬ come interested in “Katy’s Ranch for Wandering Boys.” Such an interest will make “Sherbert” like dancing yet! T wenty 19 40 The Pioneer Earl White We present “Oil” White and his guitar. “Oil seems to have the right slant on life. He has no peeves and he really appreciates the education he is receiving. Everyone knows that he is a hard worker and a man of few words. He intends to do office work and try his hand at writing. To ac¬ complish his aim, Earl will probably take a P. G. We all wish him good luck and await his best seller. Florence Whittaker We welcomed Florence into our midst only this year. She promises to bring fame to the Class of 1940 b y her best selling stories and articles in the not too distant future. Right after graduation she’ll be looking for a po¬ sition which will allow her a little spare time with a typewriter. As for her qualifications, well,—she’s managed a paper route, taken care of children, done some crocheting, and tried her best to master bookkeeping. Under¬ standably enough, she tells us that to date she has never found time to be bored. Catherine Witham “Kay” is that tiny girl from up North Reading way whom we have seen limping around the corridors of old R. H. S. recently. Just before Senior Carnival, “Shorty” banged up her ankle, but thank goodness it’s all mended now, and she can dance to her heart’s content once again. She has been a member of the Student Coun¬ cil and vice-president of the “T. N. T. Club”. “Kay” confesses that the most thrilling time of her high school life happened on the Fourth of July in 1938, way back when she was a soph¬ omore. (We’ll just bet it was the fire¬ works!!) She has studied to be a secretary and someday hopes “to get a good job, work a few vears, and then __?” Dorothy Young “Dot” is a member of Junior Wo¬ man’s Club and holds the office of Nature in Rainbow. She hates to greet the morning sun and she can hardly wait until 2:30 comes around. She loves to eat (food is her favorite sub¬ ject), and her ambition is to “marry and live happily everafter.” “Dot” says she hates to repeat things she’s already said, but her sense of humor lias saved many a quarrel. Richard Young “Dick” is well known because of his driver’s license and the big hit he has made as a dancing partner of the sophomore girls. “Rich” is mechanical¬ ly inclined; he likes to fix electric ma¬ chines, and to cook. (Maybe a know¬ ledge of mechanics would help in the culinary art.) More power to you, “Rich”, in your ambition to become an electrical engineer. John Zynsky John is the studious lad who jumped from Latin II to Latin IV. (Don’t ask him how). John spends his spare time drafting house plans, but girls, he says he isn’t going to settle down yet— first comes a course at B. U. This summer he is going to join the ranks of the laborers, and when he isn’t working he’ll be eating chocolate cake. The thing John has enjoyed most dur¬ ing his stay at R. H. S. has been his courses with Mr. Fitzgerald. His am¬ bition is to be a success, and we are all sure that he will be. Norman Atkinson This turn toward the sea is getting serious. Even “Normie” is planning to go down to the sea in ships—not too far down, we hope. “Norm” spends much leisure time at that famed New England resort, “Henry’s Service Sta¬ tion.” Hunting seems to be his fav¬ orite sport; just what he hunts is not known at the time of publication. We might say that “Norm” has very defi¬ nite opinions on various subjects and his views are usually unshakable. A strong will denotes a strong mind, no? Jean Blier Jean has the worthy ambition of be¬ ing a private secretary and so she will continue her studies at business school next fall. She enjoys swimming, danc¬ ing, and office work. By the way, she says her ideal is tall, dark, and hand¬ some. (Can that be the attraction in Melrose?) Jean spends most of her time carrying notices around for Mrs. Tilton; now that graduation is ours, we won’t duck when we see her com¬ ing with one of those white “sum¬ mons slips from the office. William Campbell Any time you want to argue, just for the sake of controversy, call for “Soupie Campbell. You will probab¬ ly find him defending a point in his problems of democracy class, in the lunchroom, at Austin’s Lunch, or wherever he may be. “Bill” does not intend to become a lawyer, however; he wishes to continue with his study of mechanics until he can develop a new type of motor. After his success has been attained, he plans to spend a few weeks every year hunting or fish- T uienty-onc The Pioneer 19 40 ing. “Soup” could really develop into a good mechanic with the background that he already has. Give our regards to the grease monkeys, “Bill”, and put them all to shame with your new mo¬ tor. Margaret Carney “Marg” is one of our future secre¬ taries. She says that her favorite music is the bell that rings at 2:30. (Why, “Marg”!) But not even a va¬ cation will keep her from being a suc¬ cess, for she is going to spend the summer looking for a job. Skating and souvenir collecting fill many of her spare hours. Although her favor¬ ite hangout is the library, she has yet to learn to like poetry, which, she vows, bores her more than anything else. We all hope you will have that position before July, “Marg”. Bette Carter Bette, commonly known as “Liz”, is unusual in that she dislikes school work. (How could she?) “Liz” breaks down and tells us that she would really enjoy school if it weren’t for exams and homework. She con¬ fesses that she would like to be Sonia Henie’s successor, and from what we hear, she’s doing pretty well. “Bet” says that nothing worries her, though she would like to inherit a fortune. She believes in not looking for trouble but in enjoying today while she can. En¬ joy on, Bette; the world is yours. Bernadine Conefy “Bernie” is that busy bee you see buzzing around the office. If it isn’t a notice, it’s the attendance slips. We are sure she is a big help to Mrs. Til¬ ton, our very efficient secretary. “Ber¬ nie”, sometimes known as “Connie”, spends her spare time reading and em¬ broidering. She has taken the Busi¬ ness Course and hopes to work next year. We all know you’ve had plen¬ ty of experience so you ought to be a big success, “Bernie” and as your mes¬ sage to the world is, “I am coming!”, we all know it will be waiting for you and treat you kindly. Helen Crane Helen never has very much to say, and so we can understand why people that talk too much are her pet peeve. During her three years at R. H. S. she has been diligently pursuing the Ses- retarial Course, and her ambition is to get a good job. We all know she’d have a position tomorrow if only some employer knew how restful she is to have around. Among her hobbies are dancing, collecting pictures, and “Babe”. Best of luck, Helen. John Donovan When asked the ambition uppermost in his heart, “Jack” replied: “A secret!” Nor were we surprised; this T icenty-two lad’s provocative mystery has piqued more than one gal’s curiosity. We’ve a suspicion he prefers masculine com¬ rades : he was co-captain of football, secretary of the Braves Hockey Team, and his favorite hang-outs are Dan’s Recreation Hall and Ye Okie Reading Pool Room. “Jack’s” ordi- arily an impassive gent, but he will admit to a thrill once over a 79 at Sagamore. After school he’s going to work; somehow we felt it would do no good to inquire at what. Good luck, anyway, “Jack”! Frank Doucette Frank’s ambition is to get a really good job, and, since he has been suc¬ cessfully following the Civics and Busi¬ ness Course, it is quite likely that he will attain his goal. Although “Sub”, like many another of us, has an aver¬ sion to homework, this antipathy has been at least partially made up for by his associations with girls. “Sub” is an outdoor sportsman and goes in for swimming, huntin’, and fishing. All good wishes to you, Frank, and may you “land” that job. Irving Dunn Everyone can use a good manager to help him get along, but there are few as capable as “Irv”. As head manager of our “Foxy Five”, he did a job worthy of recognition, and he managed the football and baseball teams like a veteran. To some people “Irv” might be better known as the “Butterfly”, or the “Checker Player”, (catch on Betty?), but to most of us he is the fearless soul that drives the “Torpedo”. “Irv,” may become a print¬ er after graduation, providing he doesn’t enter the gasoline business. Don’t forget, if you need gas, head due north and buy it at Dunn’s Service Station! Shirley Field Doctor, did you say you wanted an able nurse? Well, here’s one who’ll cheer up any patient. Shirley plans to work a while and then she’ll join the White Parade. Her outside activities include being vice-president of the Pil¬ grim Fellowship and such sports as swimming and dancing. She has most enjoyed her English classes and the speakers at assemblies. Shirley’s a good typist and quite a vocalist if re¬ ports of her singing in a certain choir are true. Evelyn Franklin “Eve” is often seen peddling about town on the well-known “wheel”, for bicycling is her hobby. When not bicycling or battling studies in high school, “Ev” liked to play tennis, swim, or just enjoy a nice romantic story. Having taken the secretarial course in school, she plans to be a secretary— how strange! She thinks it will be nice not to have to worry about home¬ work any more. Upon being question¬ ed, she said her most thrilling moment (so far) was a speed-boat ride! No merely exciting moments for Evelyn ! Kenneth Gaw “Kenny”, whose smile is rarely dim¬ med, is known for his carefree, happy- go-lucky disposition. Basketball is his favorite pastime, while, on the other hand, studying is “Ken’s” idea of nothing at all. He regularly under¬ takes expeditions to Wakefield and has become virtually a resident of that principality, for he is seen there con¬ siderably more than in Reading. (We wonder what the attraction is?) Best of luck to you, “Ken”, and may you maintain that carefree nature and live to a ripe old age. Alice Gorey Alice is pursuing the Practical Arts Course and likes to design and make clothes. She plans to attend some school next year, but like many of the rest of us, just can’t decide which one. Alice is another of these people who enjoy getting into arguments—she con¬ fesses a flair for debating in Problems of Democracy. This summer Alice will rest, have a good time, and prepare for more studying. What a prospect! Here’s hoping that you enjoy your next school, Alice, as much as you say you did good old Reading High. Edson Gray “Ed” has been one of the hardest working members of our class. For three years he has caddied at Meadow Brook Golf Club; last summer he worked on his brother-in-law’s farm, and this winter he has been busy af¬ ternoons and Saturdays in a local store. And for this summer he plans more work! With ambition and determina¬ tion such as this, he can’t fail to ac¬ complish what he most desires—to go ' to Mass. State next year. At R. H. S., “Egg” has derived the most pleasure from dancing at lunch period and from his favorite subject, art. For diversion, he plays (or at least plays at) the drums and harmonica and indulges in such sports as tennis and bowling. Margaret Griffin “Peggy” is looking forward to her diploma as the biggest thrill in her life so far. She ought to be succes- ful, for her motto is “Do the best I can”. Chewing gum and bike riding are among her favorite sports. Repe¬ tition bores her, but being misjudged is the thing that most annoys her. The pause that refreshes, especially between bells and during lunch period, is her delight. Her ambition is to be successful in controlling her temper. Good luck to you, “Peg”—trying is half the battle. 19 40 The Pioneer Donald Hills Donald is that noisy(?) individual who is friendly to all. He has been very active in school as a member of Hi-Y, tbe A Capella Choir, the Soccer Team, and the “Pioneer” staff. His pastimes are bicycling, model railroad¬ ing, and photography. He hopes to make the latter his profession. To this purpose he plans to take a course in photograph} this summer and in the fall perhaps to continue his study of it. Judging from your record of achievements, “Chatterbox”, and from those snapshots you took of the Senior Play in the making, we’d say you have a future. Eleanor Jayne “Sukie” is the girl whom many of us have probably seen riding horse-back over the highways and by-ways of Reading. Riding is her hobby, al¬ though we understand that the more advanced form of locomotion, motor¬ ing, is giving her horse some competi¬ tion. She likes art better than any other subject, and she plans either to go to a school of designing or to fol¬ low in her mother’s footsteps and be¬ come a nurse. We recommend the latter course, since her ambition is to marry a great surgeon. However, for the summer she has procured work in a New Jersey hotel. Among her di¬ versions are swimming, boating, and the opera. She has a great desire to have a season subscription to the opera and sit in the orchestra! We wish that the very choicest seat may be yours, El”. Robert Jones Here’s to “Jonesie”, that good-natur¬ ed fellow who looks quiet but isn’t. He enjoys playing golf and anything con¬ nected with drawing — including Mr. Kibbee—is fun for him. History class¬ es and “having to stay in the house” have been his chief worries. Although lie’ll be working next year, this sum¬ mer Bob’s going to forget school and 1 ave a good time. Likewise, my boy, likewise! Edward Keene You would without doubt agree that a person who eats “wheaties, the break¬ fast of champions,” has great possibil- ties for a bright future. In keeping with your expectations, “Bud” has big plans after R. H. S., since he pro¬ poses to attend The United States Diesel Engineering School and become a certified welder. “Ed” supplements this ambition with a desire to tour the U. S. and see America first”. He tells us that his biggest thrill came after the Lexington football game. “Chunk” has set himself a definite noal; we know he’ll make the grade. Thomas Lacey One of the more dashing of our class is Tom. When not sweeping certain women off their feet, Tom is kept busy by the Civic-Business Course, his gardening, and work he has to do— in other words, he is pretty busy. He is an active member of the Baptist Church and sometimes teaches classes. Does he have fun, we wonder? His hobby is farming and he wants to be a farmer some day. You’ll make a fine one, Tom. Robert Mason “Bob” was active back stage during the Senior Play and played center on the Intermural Championship Basket¬ ball Team. “Fat” says that he would like to inherit a million dollars and then retire to spend his life fishing and hunt¬ ing (do we blame him?). Any evening that you would care to see him, just call one of his secretaries and you will be directed to his office, which is to be found approximately three feet from the end of the library wall. David McGee “Fibber” is the fellow who drives around in that flashy Ford. “Fibber” hopes to be a millionaire and intends to start his career by proceeding with his scholastic attainments. He has been a member of the “Pioneer” ad¬ vertising staff for the past year. He states that his favorite foods are pick¬ les and apple pie. (Let’s hope not both at one and the same time.) “Fibber’s” antics and jokes have en¬ livened our drab existences ever since we have known him, and we feel sure that those who come in contact with him will be equally enthralled by his sunny disposition. Joseph McGrath Most any time of day you can find “Jitterbug Joe” curled up beside a radio listening to the 9:20 Club. But besides his copious enthusiasm for swing, he also takes a particular de¬ light in football games, and Joe tells us that one of the most thrilling mom¬ ents in his life was the spectacular triumph of Reading over Stoneham on Thanksgiving Day. Joe also has his antipathies and foremost among these is a Democrat in any form. After he obtains his diploma, Joe plans to relax and bask in the warm summer sun¬ shine—with his radio, of course. Marjorie Moses A cheerful disposition is “Muzzy’s” chief virtue. She is never in a mood not to be in the mood. She loves to eat (ask her friends) and play the piano or organ, especially classical mu¬ sic ; people like to listen to her, too. “Mose” likes to participate in nearly all kinds of sports—notably riding and swimming. She is active in Rainbow, always being in demand to play the organ there and at the church. “Muz¬ zy” does not like to study, and who can blame her when there are other more interesting things to do. She took an irregular course in high school and her ambition is to mar . . . well, she’s ambitious, anyway. Charles Nickerson Since Joe Louis is getting old and may need a successor, it looks as though “Nick” has a job cut out for him. “Charlie” played football and was on the championship Intermural Bas¬ ketball Team. It was on the latter that he got a chance to really show what he can do when the going gets a little rough (remember the final game?). “Nick” says that he may join the Navy and follow in his brother’s footsteps. Of course, no one can pre¬ dict the future, but it is safe to say that the Class of 1940 is here turn¬ ing out a really good hombre, who can and will make a good sailor. Virginia Perkins Here comes “Ginger”, the tuneful songbird of the A Capella Choir, a staunch member of the Girls’ Basket¬ ball Team and of the Student Radio Club. “Perk aspires to be another Kirsten Flagstad or Deanna Durbin, and with that pleasing voice and cheer¬ ful disposition she can’t miss. She thinks big brothers are wonderful and pities those without them. Any time, almost, “Ginger” can be found in Med¬ ford, so opera agents take note! Willard Perkins “Perk”, active in all sports, was our star back in football. He also gave valuable slugging assistance to the baseball team and participated in the intramural basketball games. “Willie” is taking a Civic and Business Course, and after graduatioin he expects to find work. He may do surveying with his father or he may pursue some other vocation; nevertheless, he is “going to work if there is a job available!” Don ' t worry; there will always be something for you, “Perk”. Harold Roberts The big moment in “Babe ' s” life, his favorite subject, his hobby, and his ideal is Helen. “Helen who?” do you ask? Better ask “Babe”. Or Helen. “Babe” is a hard worker and he should succeed in whatever he wants to do. He says his favorite pastime is playing rummy. With whom? We ' ll give you three guesses. His ambition—to get rich quick. Many want to, but few actually do. Let’s hope you ' re one of the few, “Babe”. T wenty-three The Pioneer 19 40 Anthony Rose “Tony Rose” is our candidate for Coach’s pitching staff; he has every¬ thing except rubber tires and four- wheel brakes. At present “Rosy is a Democrat serving as Republican floor leader in his problems class. Figure that one out. Attention, girls: “Tony’s” main interest at present is getting mar¬ ried, but no one need apply unless she has a million dollars in govern¬ ment bonds. Next to matrimony, “Tony’s” main aim is to graduate from high school. Hang on, “Tony”; it looks as if you ' ll make it. Anthony Sarcone “Tony” is that handsome lad whom all the girls seemed to cheer for when R. H. S. was playing basketball. Bas¬ ketball provided him with hi s big¬ gest thrill, the “Foxy Five’s” winning the league title. “Tony” also played golf and became captain of the team in his junior year. Right now he’s left us to take a job, so it looks as if “Tony” is getting a head start on the climb to success. Ronald Sawyer Here is that fellow who has as many sobriquets as there are stars in the sky—“Rollo”, “Snipe”, “Chesty”, and “Chick”, to mention only a few. “Rol¬ lo” should be well known to all, for he is the one who plays that keyed reed instrument of the oboe family (namely, the clarinet) while hiding behind the conductor. In “Chick’s” case, the clar¬ inet is mightier than the sword, for he aspires to enter the New England Conservatory of Music and thence to become a member of a symphony or- estra (the Boston Symphony is his preference). Lots of luck, “Snipe”; we’ll be applauding you from the loges. Jo Anne Stewart If you see a shock of red hair over at Tedd’s it probably belongs to “Jinx” Stewart, that gal from Watertown who has adorned our campus since last October. We know her so well that it’s hard to realize that she has been with us less than a year. Jo Anne takes the College Course and next year will probably add a little color to Portland, Maine, as a student at West¬ brook Junior College. Jo introduced that ever useful expression “Jinkers!” to the vocabulary of R. H. S. Some¬ day she is going to be head buyer for one of this country’s leading depart¬ ment stores. Good luck, Jo! Robert Storey Surely you know “Bob!” He is the nergetic lad who wandered away at our Senior Carnival. He is perhaps our most active member of the Boy Scouts, having held the position of patrol leader, quarter master, scribe, T wenty-four and secretary. “Bob’s” hobby and fav¬ orite subject is chemistry, but he har¬ bors a deep and abiding dislike for “Macbeth”. His ambition is to get his high school diploma; we don’t see why he has any trepidations. He is an en¬ thusiast for the well-known sport of badminton. “Bob” is planning to work and go to school. What more can we say than “Good luck to a good scout!” Charles Taylor He may be “Charles” to the office record, but to everyone else he’s “Chuck”. Basketball is “Chuck’s” sport. He was a stalwart member of the lo¬ cally renowned “Foolish Five”, and his presence added glitter galore to the classy quintet. As to future activities, “Chuck” is undecided, but he will state that he is partial to the sea. Regard¬ less of what “Chuck” does, he has a disposition that will carry him through to ultimate success. Anthony Tine “Tony” says that his dream-week would be one in which he played the part of principal of a school. Just what the effect on the pupils would be is a matter for conjecture. Perhaps we might guess that the old school would be a sort of seventh heaven for those who don’t like to study. Like many another member of our beloved school, Anthony hangs out at the lib¬ rary, where he is reported as doing some studying—when he hasn’t any¬ thing else to do. He liked biology while in school, and perhaps that is why he says his hobby is collecting jitterbugs. Quite a hobby, we would say, because all the said bugs we have seen were quite lively. But “Tony”, or “Curlylocks” as a certain sophomore would have us call him, seems to have mastered the technique. Ruth Tooley Ruth spends her time collecting pic¬ tures, and we know these past months must have added many to her collec¬ tion. She has passed the Home Econ- nomics Course and enjoyed everything but ripping out the stitches. Besides liking Practical Arts, she has spent some of her time working as a wait¬ ress at “The Coffee Cup” in Reading. Just as a sort of avocation, Ruth has enjoyed refereeing basketball at th e Junior High. After resting up this summer, she plans to work—perhaps, she says, “slinging hash”. George True One half of our only pair of twins is George, a member of Hi-Y and Pre¬ ceptor in Demolay. George has labored through the Accounting Course, and present plans show a P. G. or business college for the future. Dances and football he has found the most enjoy¬ able part of R. H. S. George wants “to make real money and have a snap¬ py car.” Not a bad idea, “False”! He finds girls’ knee socks particularly dis¬ tasteful. Considering their popularity this winter, he must have gone through a lot of silent torture while on traffic duty, with all our co-eds prancing by. W ill you give us a ride in that car someday, George ? Richard True “Dick”, our smiling twin, is a member of Hi-Y and De Moiay. He has studied business administration. After spend¬ ing the summer in New Llampshire, he plans to take a P. G. and then go on to business school. “Dick” seems to enjoy dancing immensely, and al¬ though he hasn’t indulged until lately, lie’s right up there, “Charlie-Walk” and all. We’d expect “Dick” and his brother “False” to be alike even to their ambitions: to get a good car! You’ve been a bright spot, “Dick”; don’t ever lose that smile. Agnes White Frequently to be seen in the vicinity of the library is “Aggie”; in fact that famed spot is her preferred hang-out, where she holds rendez-vous and does home-work. She shuddered to even think of oral reports in high school, but she liked assemblies. “Agony’s” ambi¬ tions are to get a secretarial position and to travel — maybe around the world. She likes to run errands and to eat, but homework annoys her, Never mind, “Ag”, we don’t like it either, but they say it’s good for you. Marjorie Wright A bashful grin, a dainty blush, and blue eyes. Yes, it’s “Margie”, that quiet but mischievous girl whose hobby is doing the “Charlie-Walk”. She loves to swim and to play tennis. She’s studying to be a secretary, and plans both to work and study further. We wonder what is the secret of “Mar¬ gie’s” peaches-and-cream complexion? We all know that she will brighten things up in a dull office as she has in school. Leonard Wright “Lenny” is not only one of the most flashy members of the widely cele¬ brated “Foxy Five”, but he ranks with the finest basketeers in the league. Studying has never particularly in¬ trigued “Ben”, but bookkeeping has been his favorite subject (next to bas¬ ketball) in R. H. S. This summer he plans to work, now that he has finished high school before it finished him. If lie could spend one week doing exactly as he chose, “Lenny” says he’d spend it in North Reading! “Ben’s” ambi¬ tion is to get married, and late bulle¬ tins indicate that he is well on his way to reaching that goal. 19 40 The Pioneer NAMES IN THE NEWS CLASS ELECTIONS Girl Title Boy Jeanette Davis Most Popular Richard Lawler Eleanor Pestana Best Looking Tom Connelly Martha Randall Best Dressed Harry Barr Barbara Currie Cutest Leonard Wright Jeanette Davis Best Athlete Richard Merritt Christine Ellis Best Dancer Tom Connelly Betsy Foxcroft Most Personality Tom Connelly Jean Sargent Most Ambitious Charles Sullivan Jeanette Davis Most Versatile Wallace Haselton Muriel Powers Wittiest Horace Jones Elisabeth White Teacher ' s Delight Charles Sullivan Lorraine Day Teacher’s Bane Horace Jones Elisabeth White Most Likely to Succeed Charles Sullivan Dorothy Leach Most Likely to Wed First Stanley Davis Barbara Gonnam Best Natured Franklin Bryant Elisabeth White Most Serious Robert Henderson Evelyn Comey Class Giggler James Hawes Betsy Foxcroft Most Flirtatious Clark Nyman Eleanor Pestana Most Sophisticated Harry Barr Christine Ellis Gum Chewer Robert Hitchcock Eleanor Pestana Class Couple, No. 1 Richard Merritt Girl Title Boy Dorothy Leach Class Couple, No. 2 Stanley Davis Elisabeth White Most Scholarly Charles Sullivan Eleanor Pestana Heartbreaker Tom Connelly Barbara Currie Most Vivacious Horace Jones Muriel Arthur Neatest Harry Barr Catherine Witham Most Cheerful Richard Lawler Dorothy Babcock Most Dignified Stanley Stembridge Jean Sargent Most Courteous Stanley Stembridge Jeanette Davis Best Sport Herbert White Mary Maling Class Actress (Actor) Norman Lloyd Jeanette Davis Ideal R. H. S. Student Richard Fellows Bette Kimball Class Artist Hubert Lieverman Betty Miller Class Baby (Age) Norman Lloyd Muriel Powers Class Clown Horace Jones Jean Sargent Class Worker Richard Fellows Jeanette Davis Best Leader Charles Sullivan Evelyn Comey Most Musically Inclined Stanley Davis Grace Bowers Chatterbox Horace Jones Bette Kimball Scatterbrain Horace Jones Helene Ernst Favorite Teacher Imrie Dixon Edith Kimball Junior Girl (Boy) Rae Amback Mary Maling Robert Tucker HUMOR A certain tiny and attractive young Senior was driv¬ ing her beach wagon when something went wrong with the engine. The traffic light went from green to red and back to green, and still she could not get started. The traffic cop, Mr. Lawler, finally strolled over. What’s the matter, Miss?” he inquired. “Haven’t we got colors you like? Mr. Quinlan: “John, have you had your multipli¬ cation tables yet ? John: “No, we’re still using plain desks. Irving (reporting on baseball for the “Pioneer”) “What shall I say about the two peroxide blondes who made such a fuss at the game? Editor Adams: “Why, just say the bleachers went wild.” It was Barbara’s first visit to the country and feed¬ ing the chickens fascinated her. One morning she caught a glimpse of a neighbor’s peacock sunning him¬ self on the lawn. Rushing indoors, B. G. sought her uncle. “Oh. Franny,” she cried, “one of the chickens is in bloom.” Betsy Foxcroft Twenty-five The Pioneer 19 40 Remember: that at the first assembly of the new year, we were ad¬ dressed by an Egyptian lady who has made a lecture tour of the United States? She contrasted for us the modern Egypt and the backward Egypt, the government and the life of the people. She also told about the pres¬ ent relations between Great Britain and Egypt and of the general feeling of her people toward Great Britain. After her talk, an opportunity was given for a discussion period. that on January 31 the Seniors, as guests of the prob¬ lems of democracy classes, had a look at the town gov¬ ernment through the eyes of several town officials? Mr. Leon Bent, town accountant, spoke about “The Use of Money”. Mr. Sias, of the Electric Light Department, gave a concise report on the “Operations and Organi¬ zation of the Municipal Light Company.” Finally, Mr. Welch, of the Board of Public Works, reviewed the functions of the different departments under the juris¬ diction of his board. A question period followed. that the girls, on February 1, were shown the film “The Private Secretary” by a representative from the Fisher School? After the machine was finally running satis¬ factorily, they saw the perfect secretary contrasted with the undesirable one and then formed their own opinions as to which one they would try to emulate. that to celebrate Lincoln’s birthday the school watched the film “Abraham Lincoln”? It was enjoyed by both young and old. Due to unforeseen events, the machine stopped and the picture as well. Most everyone was disappointed at missing the assassination, but the film ended appropriately with Lincoln saying, as he stood in his box, “God bless you all”. that a very delightful musical program on March 8 was under the direction of Mr. Peck? The orchestra, con¬ ducted by Mr. Sakas, was well received and much en¬ joyed. The A Capella Choir sang a group of three se¬ lections, consisting of “God Is A Spirit”, “Requiem”, and “Roll, Chariot, Roll”. The chorus, under Miss Giles” direction, sang “Night In June”. Evelyn Comey and Vivian Hook sang very effectively for us and then the well known trio contributed “Let’s All Sing To¬ gether’ . Mary Bronk rendered a piano solo with “Cho¬ pin’s Waltz In A Flat Major”, Mary Delano delighted everyone with “Boy Crazy”, a reading. Mr. Althoff presented the medals for the Tech Tourney, and to finish the program there was a “Saxaphone Medley” by Stan¬ ley Davis, accompanied by Irving Brogan at the piano. that on March 15, Mr. F. B. Smith of the U. S. Secret Service was our guest and brought a moving picture entitled “Know Tour Money”? Afterwards he very generously offered to answer questions. The most per¬ fect counterfeit bill ever made was passed among us for inspection. When we left the hall, each one of us looked at his money—just to be sure. that on March 22 there were two assemblies? At the early assembly, Dr. Harold Major spoke to us on “The American Way”. He was a very entertaining as well as instructive speaker. At the eleven o’clock assembly the students remained in their rooms to hear Easter music. To those fortunate enough to rate a seat in the hall, Gilbert Camp read a passage from the Bible. This was followed by a very inspiring and worth while essay on “The Lenten Period” by Evelyn Comey. After hearing it, we thought more deeply about the real meaning of Easter. The chorus then sang a selection written by Miss Giles, and they also sang “Jerusalem”. The A Capella Choir sang a group of three numbers: “0, Bone Jesu”, “Ave Verum”, and “Hospodi Pomilui”, after which school was dismissed for the vacation. that on April 5 the new seating plan was put into opera¬ tion, greatly improving the old method? Miss Nichols, Mr. Holgerson, Mr. Althoff, and Mr. Spencer awarded the medals for their respective sports. Mr. Leslie Flint urged us to keep our eyes on “The Signals Ahead” if we wish to arrive in the round house of success. Wal¬ lace Haselton presented the school with a placque, rep¬ resenting this year’s Middlesex League Basketball Cham¬ pionship, which was accepted by Irving Holcomb, presi¬ dent of the Student Affairs Committee, on behalf of the school. that on April 12 there was an assembly for Juniors and Sophomores? The A Capella Choir sang two numbers and the chorus gave one selection. Virginia Perkins sang, much to our enjoyment, and Joseph Anderson played a violin solo. Mr. Peck spoke a few words about the need for new band members and the assembly closed as the orchestra played. that on May 3, there was another enjoyable musical assembly under the guidance of Mr. Peck? “The Melody Gems” rendered several selections, among them being “Leanin’ on the Old Top Rail”, “The Singing Hills”, and their own version of the “Little Red Fox”. John Hilchey gave a drum selection. The choir sang “Lil- T wenty-six 19 40 The Pioneer oam’s Shady Rill , “Nightingale Song”, and “Funiculi, Funicula”, the solo part in both songs being taken by Evelyn Comey. that on April 26 the Malden Civic W. P. A. Orchestra entertained the Sophomores and Juniors with a delight¬ ful program? They played several selections, among them being “Blue Danube”, “On The Level”, “Gossip”, and a medley of Stephen Foster’s songs. This enjoyable program closed with the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner by the entire assembly. that on May 9, at an assembly, Mr. Sussmann discussed the medal won by the “Pioneer in the Columbia Scho¬ lastic Press Association’s nation-wide contest? He urged the Juniors and Sophomores to try out for the staff and to support the “Pioneer financially next year, thus mak¬ ing our magazine bigger and better than ever. (Don’t forget!) Announcement was also made of the fact that Clarence Fraughton was awarded first prize, Roland Carpenter second prize, and Arthur Knapp honorable mention in a poster contest sponsored by the Massachu¬ setts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Quite a clean sweep for the R. H. S. art department! Erdine Farwell SOPHOMORE DOINGS Two hundred and twenty-eight members strong, our Sophomore Class entered Reading High last September. As soon as we had grown accustomed to our new sur¬ roundings, we formally organized and elected the fol¬ lowing staff of officers: Harold Holmes, president; Nancy White, vice-president; Nancy Holcomb, secretary; Russell Coombs, treasurer. This has been a happy and profitable year for our class, and though we haven’t done much as a group, individuals among us have distinguished themselves and the Class of 1942 in various school activities. Just at present, our big moment looms on the social horizon-— the annual Sophomore Hop, scheduled for May 24. The committees have planned to create an Hawaiian setting, complete even to a hula dance in authentic costume as part of the “floorshow”! Committees, as announced re¬ cently, are as follows: decorations, Stanley Hrynowskv, Barbara Teel, Beatrice Ruderman, Kay Maling, Gloria Shane, Joyce Pollitz, and Martha Spaulding; music, John Mentes, Winnie Poland, Clifford Toussaint, Jean Dodge, Walter Schofield, and Elinor Abbott; refresh¬ ments, John Hegarty, Marion Langiell, Gertrude Thieme, Al 7 ce Robinson, and Leonard Rose. Miss Simon has added much of her usual enthusias¬ tic help to the planning of our dance and we are all grateful to her for the aid that she has given as our class adviser. To the various other teachers of the Sophomores, we wish to extend our thanks for a most pleasant and profitable year. Nancy Holcomb JUNIOR COMMENTARY W hen we are Seniors we can look hack on this as a memorable year, which has held much fun and acti¬ vity for everybody . Largely because of a full program, our class has not held any elections this year. We, therefore, find ourselves with the same staff that guided our Sophomore destinies: Stella Pollitz, president; Rob¬ ert Eisenhaure, vice-president; Lillian Davies, secretary; Robert Taylor, treasurer. They have ably led an am¬ bitious class. Our most exciting meeting came just prior to the Junior Prom. Naturally, there was abundant contro¬ versy over the planning ol our annual dance, but at last committees were chosen and definite arrangements under way. The Prom was held in December with a snow scene for its setting. Under the chairmanship of Stella Pollitz, it was a glorious success. Other commit¬ tee chairmen included: Lois Ives and Robert Tucker, decorations; Dorothy Stratton, music; Ruth Perley, re¬ freshments; Virginia Davis, publicity; and Lillian Davies, tickets. Because the Class of 1941 has always been successful in the social field, we are sure that the Junior-Senior Reception will satisfy and delight our guests. Plans for it are now going ahead at a rapid pace. The entire class wishes to thank Mr. Halpin, our adviser, for his counsel, and all the teachers for their help in making this a pleasant year. Lillian Davies HI-Y Starting the new year, Hi-Y attended a meeting with the Wakefield Hi-Y Club in Wakefield and listened to a very interesting talk by Dr. Helen McGillicuddy. The following week in January we held an “Information Please” program at which our master intellects were certainly both displayed and dismayed. On the evening of March 28, Lieut. Colonel Boutwell, Commander of the Boston Air Corps, spoke to us on the “World War- Past and Present”. His talk was greatly enjoyed and was voted one of the best of the entire year. Other in¬ teresting speakers during April and May were as fol¬ lows: Mr. Brewer, who spoke on Hi-Y; Mr. Holcomb, who gave an informative discourse on architecture; anti a potential South American speaker, who is apparently still in South America. As was the case during the months from September to December, intervals between meetings were devoted to swimming at the University Club and record jazz sessions. The crowning affair of our season was the Spring Formal, held at Mt. Hood Country Club on May 3rd, with Allan Mark’s orchestra supplying the music. This gala event was surprisingly successful. Hi-Y boys from four towns shook the moth halls out of their tuxes and attended. Confidentially, we made a profit just b y the fuzz of our chinny-chin-thins! The year closed offici¬ ally on May 14, with the election of new officers. The T nenty-seven The Pioneer 19 40 HI-Y CLUB Front row: Donald Hills, Henry Jaques, Alfred Gianascol, Benjamin Hodges, Russell Coombs, Kenneth Anderson, David Little¬ field, Hdward Selfridge, Ronald Sawyer. Second row: Joseph Anderson. Horace Jones, John Hrynowsky. Irving Holcomb, Tom Connelly, Mr. Spencer, Raymond Hutch¬ inson, Sherman Poland, Richard Fellows, Glenn Davis, Paul Connelly. Third row: Donald Taylor, William Morrisey, George True, Richard True, Norman Putnam, Newton Dickie, Woodbury Titcomb, Robert Henderson, Rae Amback, Robert Tucker, Waldo Grover, Norman Lloyd, Kenneth Coombs, Richard Lewis. Fourth row: Charles Sullivan, Vernon Williams, John Crooker, Robert Taylor, Harry Barr, Franklin Bryant, Gilbert Camp, Howard Bates, Gregg Brewer, Walter Hilton William Jaques, Stanley Stembridge, Richard Lawlor, Bruce Putnam. retiring officers were Tom Connelly, president; Sherman Poland, vice-president; Richard Fellows, secretary; Ray Hutchinson, treasurer. We wish good luck and the best of everything to the new officers, who are as follows: Glenn Davis, president; Donald Taylor, vice-president; Paul Connelly, secretary; Woodbury Titcomb, treasurer. Hi-Y would like to thank our adviser, Mr. Spencer, Mr. Sussmann, and the school for their helpful co-opera¬ tion with our club and our subsidiary, the Service Squad, which boasts a full compliment of Hi-Y men. Tom Connelly SENIOR PLAY On Friday evening, March 29, the Senior Class pre¬ sented “June Mad”. “June Mad” deals with the prob¬ lems of Penny Wood, a fifteen-year-old who renounces the male element forever—until Uncle Mervyn comes home from college with Roger Van Vleck (whose fathe r belongs to two different country clubs) in tow. Roger, in search of amusement, sets poor little Penny’s senses agog, even to the extent of producing “Lush Love, a poem written especially for you, Roger.” Then Miss Julie Harris enters and with her come the complications. Mervyn considers her his, but Roger and his accordian take her into custody. Penny, desperate and heartbro¬ ken, appears at the dinner dance in a red strapless even¬ ing gown from the “Bon Ton”. Events take an unex¬ pected and pathetic turn. Penny has just about deter¬ mined that her destiny will be a convent when Chuck Harris, her next door neighbor and childhood compan¬ ion, personally experiments with his own invention, a glider, and brings the household back to its senses in short order. Roger is forgotten; Penny “discovers” Chuck, Dr. Wood returns to his speech in peace; Mrs. Wood is contented; Mr. Harris is proud; Julie and Mervyn are reunited; Millie Lou, Mervyn’s “Boswell”, is reconciled, and Elmer and Effie are—well, just Elmer and Effie. We think the play was a super success, if whistles, ' applause, and a packed house count for anything. But the fun we had at rehearsals was worth twice any trouble we might have had putting on the show. Afternoon lunches, Saturday rehearsals, side-splitting night sessions menaced by third floor “ghosts”, and those fascinating fencing lessons will probably remain longer in our memories than the actual presentation. At rehearsal, also, we could really appreciate the indefatigable efforts of our backstage crew, the tireless energy of Betsy Fox- croft, Barbara Gonnam, B. Franklin Hodges, Jr., Nor¬ man Putnam, Gilbert Camp, Waldo Grover, Jeanette Davis, Barbara Holden, David St. Hilaire, Rae Amback, Richard Fellows, Richard Lawler, Richard Lewis, and Richard Merritt. We of the cast—Dorothy Babcock, Stanley Stembridge, Mary Maling, Sherman Poland, Katherine McDonough, Lorraine Day, Eleanor Pestana, Carleton Adams, Harry Barr, Horace Jones, Muriel Pow¬ ers, Norman Lloyd, and George Whelpley—are deeply T wenty-eight 19 40 The Pioneer “THE MELODY GEMS” DRUM MAJORS Vivian Hook, Evelyn Comey, Alma Mansfield SENIOR PLAY The Pioneer 19 40 SENIOR PLAY CAST Front row: Katherine McDonough, Dorothy Babcock, Mary Maling, Mrs. Weins, Eleanor Pestana, Lorraine Day, Muriel Powers. Back row: Carleton Adams, J Jorman Lloyd, Harry Barr, Stanley Stembridge, George Whelpley, Plorace Jones, Sherman Poland. grateful to them all. Needless to say, at the perform¬ ance itself, our tuxedoed ushers and begowned ticket sellers added the proper note of grandeur and finesse. Now, we come to the third, the last, but the most important paragraph of retrospection. Our whole-heart¬ ed tribute goes to our coach, Mrs. Jean Wiens, and to out¬ class adviser, Miss Helene Ernst. Infinite patience was theirs. All of us fell a profound admiration before the end of the first rehearsal for our coach’s consummate knowledge of the theatre and the ins and outs of acting. Much credit for a smooth performance is hers. Once more we are indebted to Miss Ernst for the untiring good humor and dispatch with which she handled the many committees involved. Penny (alias Mary Maling) MUSIC NOTES During the second half year Reading High has been very aware and proud of her three musical organiza¬ tions—Chorus, A Capella Choir, and the R. H. S. Or¬ chestra. Such songs as “Juanita” and “Home Sweet Home” (the latter must have brought sudden tears to the eyes of members of Miss Ernst’s homeroom listening next door) rang clear in our soundproof assembly hall during the practice sessions of the chorus. This organi¬ zation has made real progress under the capable direc¬ tion of Miss Evelyn Giles. Under her guidance, a new interest, particularly among the boys, has arisen in c horal music. Miss Popolf has taken care of the piano accompaniment. Mr. Peck, our music supervisor, is most proud—- and rightly so—this year, of his new organization, the A Capella Choir, which contains the best voices among the student body at the R. H. S. Having been so suc¬ cessful in this, its first year of singing, the choir has limitless possibilities ahead for the future. Some of its favorite songs to date are “Roll, Chariot, Roll” and “Olaf Gryvagson”, which were sung at the Civic Orches¬ tra Concert, “Requiem”, “I Dream of Jeanie”, and its latest song, “The Musical Trust”, about old Zip Coon who “couldn’t get a penny for his yellow flute.” The outstanding success of the A Capella Choir is due to the patient, untiring efforts of Mr. Peck and his ability ' to coax every bit of music out of us. The accompanist for the choir was Mary Bronk, who always does such a fine piece of work. All of which brings us to another tribute—our so¬ loists. Mary, of course, has played many solos in as¬ semblies for us. Next comes Mr. Stanley Davis, “a young college student of about twenty-one years” ac¬ cording to his latest notice in a neighboring press. No one will ever forget the fine performance he gave when he “wowed” us with a medley of songs on his saxa- phone. Virginia Perkins has sung for us again as de¬ lightfully as ever. Last among the soloists, but not least because there are three of them, are “The Melody Gems”. Alma, Evelyn, and Vivian. These three have sung at assemblies as well as at many other places and are the center of attraction noon times in the library, where they do their bit of rehearsing for the weekly radio broadcast that is now their chief enthusiasm. Continued on page 57 Thirty 19 40 The Pioneer take the initiative. The door stands open. Can you afford, forgetting your responsibility to your country, to let this opportunity to prepare yourselves to better serve America and democracy slip by? Elisabeth White, Valedictory Pietas et Gravitas The Romans had two words whose meanings should he applied to the creed of every American: pietas a sort of super-patriotism, and gravitas, eternal moderation. Pietas and gravitas proved to be splendid safeguards for the Roman Republic. While such virtues of all true Romans were applied to government, the empire flourish¬ ed, but when they were neglected, grand old Rome feli into decay. The decay and greed which followed the golden age caused the internal destruction of the empire. The steady leadership of older and wiser Romans was disregarded for the policies of more devious politicians. Vices slowly over-ran the whole nation. After many wars of conquest, slaves and grain poured into Rome as tribute from subjugated nations. This surplus of men and food caused unemployment among the Roman citizens in general. As a result, most male citizens came to the city of Rome to look for succor, but only the selling of their votes offered any reward. This caused the masses to ascend to power and with them citizenship was extended to everyone without re¬ gard to qualifications. Liberty became license, and tried and proven traditions such as pietas and gravitas were replaced by new types of isms. Dictators took advantage of these isms and began the mass slaughtering of those who desired to preserve the culture and traditions of Old Rome. The cream of manhood and leadership was exterminated and the republican form of self-govern¬ ment vanished. A race of people who had never had self-government came to power; for when citizenship was extended, the Orientals took advantage of it. Are pietas and gravitas not good watchwords for us today? I thoroughly believe they are. If we are to survive as a republic, we must carefully guard our voting franchise; we must see to it that the mantle of public service falls only on the shoulders of the reliable; we must uphold our ideals; we must be eternally vigi¬ lant. The history of Rome contains a lesson for us. If we fail to take heed of this lesson, the future will be uncertain. If we profit by this lesson our form of gov¬ ernment will continue on and will serve as a model to all people throughout the world. Richard Lewis, Faculty Honors THE PLACING OF RESPONSIBILITY Today, as in other generations, there is a great ten¬ dency to misplace the responsibility for the future of our civilization. This tendency is never more apparent than at a graduation, for at this time the youth is re¬ minded of the burden he must bear and the great ob¬ stacles he must overcome. The graduate is given the impression that as soon as he leaves school the privilege of leadership will fall upon his shoulders. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth: he must serve a long and arduous apprenticeship before his day of recognition arrives. Certainly true responsibility is not bestowed with his diploma. Our dominant generation must face the world and its problems. Those who are mature must use their maturity and experience to good advantage; they musL leave the youth something to build the new order on when the battle is over. It is self evident that the great¬ est need for reform lies in the political realm. Both national and international politics reflect the crying need for career men in this field. It was the neglect of affairs political which caused the present poor con¬ ditions. An educated electorate and an enlightened and honest leadership would never have allowed such evils to accumulate. The youth of the world asks for nothing but an op¬ portunity to prove his worth when the time comes for such proof. We are all confident that the present re¬ sponsibility will be met firmly, and we give our assur¬ ance that the coming generations will be ready, willing, and equipped to accept the burdens placed upon them when the time for such action presents itself. Charles Sullivan, Cl ass Honors. THE CODE OF THE ROAD A man who has one hundred dollars that his wife has given him to deposit will usually dri e carefully on his way to the bank. Other men will drive cautious!} when they have in their car passengers whose possible injury their insurance does not cover. Still others ma carry a mental memorandum of the more dangerous hours of the day and the more dangerous days of th week for driving and govern themselves accordingly. But ideal road conditions will come only when all men are so educated that they appreciate the value of safe driving at all times. Summer is nearly here, and with it more cars will be on the road. But it won’t be these cars that will cause the trouble; it will be their drivers. Only a frac¬ tion over one percent of the accidents last year were due to defective cars. Major causes were the careless driver and the careless pedestrian. In eight -two per¬ cent of the cases, plain disobedience to the most elemen¬ tary rules was indicated. Thirty-three The Pioneer 19 40 One cure, of course, is education. Today hundreds of people are engaged in teaching the principles of good driving, concentrating on the education of the young driver, however. In schools every year there are safety drives. But many of the drivers on our roads have not been taught by competent instructors, and have acquired incorrect and dangerous driving habits. These faults should be corrected. But the moral issue involved us even more important than this educational one. Do we want to drive carefully? Do we want to obey the law or do we choose to cross Prescott Street and Summer Avenue against the red light because we think we can get away with it without being noticed? The code of the road is a code of honor and skill. Skilled drivers are responsible drivers. Educated driv¬ ing pays dividends morally and financially. Raymond Hutchinson, Faculty Honors. WOMEN AT WORK Over 2300 years ago Euripedes declared, “A woman should be good for everything at home, but nothing away from it.” Throughout the centuries, men have been reluctant to abandon this point of view, and women until recently have acquiesced. But today, America’s civilization is characterized by the advancement of women in new fields. For the American girl graduate many opportunities lie waiting. Schooling for girls was not of any importance to our colonial ancestors. In 1788, Northampton, where Smith College now stands, is reported to have voted that it would not waste the town funds on the education of girls. The clamor for equal education with men be¬ came so great, however, that in 1837 Mary Lyons found¬ ed Mt. Holyoke Seminary for Girls. Soon afterward came Vassal ' , Smith, Wellesley, and Bryn Maur. Ober- lin granted the first bachelor’s degree to a woman in 1841, after it had courageously opened its doors to women on the same terms as men. The crisis brought on by the World War found women trained and eager to step into business and professional vacancies. Today many diversified positions are open to women; there are many famous personages whom our graduates can emulate. Elsie MacGill, M. I. T. graduate, is Canada’s only girl aero engineer; her job includes the designing of military planes. Through newspaper work and magazine experience, Willa Cather rose to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1922. Dorothy Thompson, once a social worker, sought new excitement as a foreign correspondent. She earns about $25,000 a year with a syndicated column, radio commentating, and magazine articles. Bette Davis, once looked upon as a fame-struck girl with “no more sex appeal than a stringbean”, has twice won the Academy Award. Today, Euripedes would, in the light of such suc¬ cesses in varied fields, probably re-state his quotation to read, “American women have proved to be good for everything, both at home and away from it.” Jean Sargent, Class Honors. HUMOR “You look nice enough to eat,” said the admiring young man. “I do eat,” replied S. T. severely. Miss Ernst (catching Normie Lloyd looking out the window)—“Norman Lloyd, you stop that!” Normie (watching a tornado (?) approaching): “I’ll try to, if she comes this way.” Franklin Bryant: “Have you any four-volt two- watt bulbs?” Gilbert Camp: “For what?” Frankie: “No—two.” Gilbie: “Two what?” Frankie: “Yes.” Irving: “I’ve a surprise for you—two tickets for the theatre.” Grace: “Fine, I’ll start dressing at once.” Irving: “Yes, do, my dear. The tickets are for tomorrow night.” Mr. Halpin (finishing a long algebra problem) : “And so we find that X equals O.” James Hawes: “All that work for nothing!” Miss Zimmermann: “Every day we breathe oxy¬ gen. What do we breathe at night?” Junie Gray: “Nitrogen.” Gertrude: “Did you sweep behind the door, Rita?” Rita: “Sure! I swept everything behind the door.” Harry, Jr.: “What is college bred, Dad?” Harry, Sr.: “They make college bread, son, from the flour of youth and the dough of old age.” At the end of the school term, prizes were awarded. When one of the seniors returned home his mother chanced to be entertaining callers. “Well, Tom,” said one of the callers, “did you get a prize?” “I didn’t exactly get a prize,” responded Tom, “but I got a horrible mention.” Betsy Foxcroft Thirty- four p 19 40 The Pioneer THE FACULTY Front row: Mary Devaney, Elva liuckley, Elizabeth Maclver, Helen Stanwood, Carmen Simon. Second row: Helen Zimmerman, Marian Pratt, Elizabeth Batchelder, Alice Hayden, Alberta Drury, Helen Ernst. Third row: Philip Althoff. Herman Wheeler, Imrie Dixon, Reginald Kibbee, Joseph Fitzgerald, Russell Taylor. Fourth row: Rudolph Sussmann, Luke Halpin, Samuel Peck. Pictures of several of the staff not in the above group are to be found elsewhere in this issue of the “Pioneer”. - f r PIONEER BOARD Front row: Kay Witham, Mary Maling. Dorothj Babcock, Erdine Farwell, Nancy Holcomb. Carolyn Campbell, Eleanor Pestana, Katherine Conron, Beverly Pitman. Middle row: Russell Coombs. Donald Hills, Charles Sullivan David McGee, Shirley Field, Shumaker, Betsy Foxcroft. Lois Ives, Doris Steele. Evelyn Comey. Back row: Donald Whitford, David St. Hilaire, Sherman Poland, Horace Jones, Gilbert Ca bridge, William Jacjues, Kae Amback, Glenn Davis, Richard Fellows. Carleton Adams, Lucille Gonnant Claire Johnson, Jean Sargent, Ruth mp, Gregg Brewer, Stanley Stem- Thirty-five i The Pioneer 19 40 Senior Banquet Speeches CLASS PROPHECY The sun sank in a blaze of glory behind the purple ridges of Piker’s Peak in North Reading. The oncom¬ ing dark night with a rising mist shut out the valley. Only the top of the peak was silhouetted in a dark rag¬ ged outline. At its summit there stood a small dingy looking building. It was the observatory, laboratory, office, and home of that great scientist (1965) Professor Warren Eldridge Hill—a learned man steeped in the field of astronomy and other nonsense. He was a queer looking little man with small beadlike eyes; he was rather short and stooped of stature, with long hairy arms and legs. His apparel included a brilliant green skull cap that covered his gray matted locks, long green corduroys, and an ancient moth-eaten sweater—relics of the late 30’s when they had served as his green en¬ semble at R. H. S. He wore huge tortoise rimmed glass¬ es through which he gazed at the heavens. (They were more powerful than the most powerful telescope in the world.) Now, for six months, Hill had been studying the stars and the heavens and he was talking with his secre¬ tary, May Melanson. He spoke in a deep gutteral voice. “May, my child, I shall be frank. This world, at ex¬ actly three minutes after five, 1966, is going to come to an end. It is going to be hit by a huge meteor, which is now 46,000,000,000 miles from the earth and heading straight on. We must be quick. There is only one way to escape and that is to have a rocket plane built to leave the earth. I have decided to take my class at R. H. S. with me as they were my best friends and will make enjoyable companions. We shall have my agents, you know, of the I. G. C. round them up. They’re good at that sort of thing,” concluded the little professor. Two months passed and the first I. G. C. agent re¬ ported to Hill: “Sir, I have brought you some of your former friends. I have gone all over the world to get them but they’re here. At my left are Atkinson and Birkmaier; they’re the heads of that huge dairy farm down the other side of the mountain. Next, may I proud¬ ly present that glamorous girl, Miss Bowers, who’s modeling at Saks, Fifth Ave., New York. But to you, Prof., she’s just Gracie. Here’s Evelyn Comey. Boy, Professor, you ought to hear her sing—she was in a broadway review last fall. Ah, and here is someone you’ll remember: Jeanette! Miss Davis is now happily married to a Slippery Rock graduate. She helps him run his meat market in Memphis. Over there, that quiet looking man you will remember as Bill Jaques. He’s heading the Latin department at M. I. T.—Mudville In¬ stitute of Tech. Behind him is that cute one, that Mar¬ tha Randall , now the wife of Percival Darlington Bums- tead, the famed English icythiologist. Oh, yes, and there’s ole Hy; you remember Johnny Hrynowsky, star athlete. We used to call him “Star”. He’s running a haberdashery in Brooklyn now. “Hey, Hezzy, come up here and meet Professor Hill. Professor, Hezzy has finally got to be Mayor of Woburn. What a city that will be when Hezzy gets out of office! The tax rate is already going up. In the rear there are Frank Doucette, Eddie Keene, and Bill Jones. They’re joint owners of the Omaha Trucklines. They’ve made their money in the liquor-hauling business—of course it’s on the level. Well, well here’s old Hitch, Bobby Hitchcock, world famed polo player and play¬ boy. He’s got as much money as anyone in the country. Say, Professor, you know those swell figure drawings in Esquire —well, meet the artist—Miss Bette Kimball, still beautiful and single. Hubert Lieberman next to her is also an artist; he draws cartoons for the Chicago Tribune and has them syndicated in 563 papers through¬ out the United States. Remember Dick Lewis? He’s president of the More Power Electric Light Company in Schenectady. Here’s Sherman Poland, state attorney number one. He’s in line for the U. S. attorney general¬ ship. “I had a hard time getting A1 Leman, but I got him. He’s been playing with his orchestra at the Ritz Savoy in Hollywood, you know. I also found Earl Madden and Herb White of the Cardinals, that St. Louis base¬ ball team. They’ve been up in the big time for twentv years and Madden was voted best pitcher in the National League for six years, while Herbie led the batting aver¬ ages in 1950 with a tremendous .484. There are Charley Nickerson and Tony Tine. They own three tugboats in New Orleans. Eleanor Jayne and Alice Gorey, by the way, are cafe owners in Las Vegas. Out there in the gold fields, they do a good business. And there’s Dot Leach; she runs that ritzy riding school down on Long Island. She is a famous horsewoman now. And here come the three bad boys: Richardson, Selfridge, and Swett. They’re running a gambling ship off Seattle. They are really good guys, even if their occupation is rather shady. There’s Clark Nyman of Universal Stu-. dios. He’s made his name in the movie world. “Two more of baseball’s immortals are here—Red Perkins and Dick Merritt, outfielder and catcher respec¬ tively of the world champion New York Yanks. Perk was leading batter for the Yanks for four successive years and Dick broke Babe Ruth’s record of sixty homers by smashing out a total of seventy-three four base knocks in 1952. John Zynsky, the stout one sitting down over there, is a recognized builder and contractor. The name of Zynsky and Son is well known throughout New Eng¬ land building circles. Anthony Sarcone has been a pro at Meadowbrook for ten years and in 1949 won the na¬ tional open in Chicago. Babe Roberts and Tonv Rose run an open air market in Decatur, Illinois, Professor, and Georgie Tedeman has his own advertising business, occupying three floors in the Empire State Building. Charles Warren, over near the wall, is an accomplished skier and instructor. He has taken part in three Olym- Thirty-six 1940 The Pioneer pic winter sports carnivals. Walter Lewis and Tom Lacey are partners in their own company, which makes washing machines deluxe. Joe McGrath is a manufac¬ turer of dog food, and here comes Charles Taylor— that famous man of mystery. He is reported to be a government agent, but that is only a report. Richard Avery (he’s the little thing behind that great big fel¬ low) is making a fortune up in North Reading on the fines he collects from speeders. He’s sheriff, you know. And that great big fellow that I mentioned—the one all covered with soot—is none other than Walter Hilton, a very successful chimney-sweep. Here’s Virginia O ' Brien; she’s a vacuum cleaner demonstrator and she makes the vacuum cleaners sound so glamorous that the last fellow she sold one to embraced the thing as soon as he got it. Then, here’s Kenneth Gaw, the curator of a museum of rare species of algae. And Barbara Cleve¬ land, who has finally perfected a method for removing wrinkles from prunes. Finally, may I present the world- famous jockey, Joan Vasey, who has made such a name for herself riding the world’s slowest race horse, ‘Moon¬ shine’. “That’s all of my contribution, Professor Hill. Here you have a class of people, the cream of the world. All have made their fortunes in some sort of occupation or another and all stand by, ready to do your bidding.” Irving Holcomb, Agent No. 1 CLASS PROPHECY PART II Dear Hill: I understand you have contracted the Henderson brothers to build a rocket ship. Good enough! I spent day and night in a seemingly endless search looking for those people you assigned me. Many times I was dis¬ couraged and wanted to throw up the whole job, but one of your agents never gives up. The first name on my list took me to the wilds of Siberia, where I found Barbara Gonnam. I was quite sorry to find her leading a hard life. She has ten child¬ ren, ranging from two to fourteen years. I was fortu¬ nate in finding that her husband is none other than a class mate of yours, Donald Hills. As I understand it, he is a big shot labor leader who does nothing but shoot off his mouth about the evils of the Russian government. After speaking to these two about your idea, I convinced them that you are right, and they have agreed to go with us on our journey. On my trip back to civilization via a rushing rocket, 1 met that demon of the rocket waves, Norman Lloyd, and his famous mechanic, Bill Campbell. We had a long talk and I found that on our first stop, which was France, we would be able to see that exotic French dan¬ cer, Mine Fifi Currie and her partner, George Hamm. We spent an enjoyable evening at the theatre, and I managed to contact these two. Now came the problem of locating Doris Steele and Buddy Arthur. The last time they were seen was in Joe’s Hash House in London, England. 1 found that they were there on some secret mission for the United States government; so I went to Washington and inter¬ viewed the fearless head of the Secret Service and found him to be a former classmate of yours by the name of Edson Gray. He informed me that his two agents had been fired because they had tried to undermine the government by using their sex appeal. However, he promised to get in touch with them and arrange for their departure with us. Now comes a sad tale in the darkest part of Asia. Dick Lawler and Rae Amback are reported to have been killed by a tribe of head hunters while they were mark¬ ing out a path for a new rocket line. Some say it was Lawler’s hair that caused their heads to be lifted. Boy, what people won’t do to add color to their ceremonies! It took me nearly three days to find Betty Dalton, since she is constantly on the move. You know how these society girls travel. Harry Barr was located for me by pure accident, since I came upon him traveling incognito. He had his secretary, George Bridges, with him; and I guess Harry was arranging some big business transaction in South America. One of my most troublesome people was Katy Browne. It seems she was one jump ahead of me (and the sheriff) every place I went. Finally, I found her just about to wrap her arms about some old boy with plenty of dough. She agreed to go with us, provided that she could take her Santa Claus. After questioning her, I found that Santa was Leslie Kittredge, who had struck it rich in some mining field. Irving Holcomb was easy to locate, since his name appears on his comic strip (“The Puny Man Makes Good, or Look What Charles Atlas Did for Me! ). I found Irv Dunn and Arthur Batchelder busy with a national chain of gas stations, with Joan Leonard as supervisor of the eastern branch. I sent Tom Connell) a wire and didn’t receive any answer for three days. Boy, these television stars are busy. However, he in¬ formed me that Stan Davis would go with us as our chief entertainer on the trip. Stan, of course, is a great friend of Toni’s and they will both leave together for your o bservatory. We are also lucky to have Speed Connelly as one of our prospective guests, since he will undoubtedly be able to help calculate our course with his tremendous volume of mathematical knowledge. It took a little time to locate Bernard Doucette and John Greenleaf, but when I did 1 was quite surprised to find them both engaged in the newspaper business. I thought they were doing good work, but some people say that theirs is just a scandal sheet. They were play¬ ing up the slaying of Ruth Hamilton, whom I found to be a former classmate of yours. 1 was quite sorry to find an actress with such talent lost to the world. 1 went to the funeral and found the grave diggers were John Donovan and Ray Hutchinson. The) were both Thirty-seven The Pioneer 19 40 STUDENT COUNCIL Front row: Joyce Pollitz, Dorothy Arnett, Barbara Tones, Stella Pollitz, Irving Holcomb, Mr. Spencer, Jeanette Davis, Bar¬ bara Gonnarn. Second row: Kay Witham, Fleanor Pestana, Roland Dewhurst, Alfred Gianascol, Sherman Poland, Tom Connelly, Nancy White, Marjorie Webster. Third row: Russell Coombs, Richard Fawlor, Carleton Adams, Franklin Bryant, Glenn Davis, Herbert White, Donald Hitchcock, Richard Fellows. SERVICE SQUAD Front row: Back row: Richard Fellows, Charles Sullivan, Richard Fawlor, Raymond Hutchinson, Tom Connelly. Sherman Poland, George True, Clark Nyman, Stanley Stembridge, Irving Holcomb, Rae Amback, Richard True. Thirty-eight 19 40 The Pioneer glad to have a chance to see you again and promised to bring their old alehouse friend, Bob Jones, the trans¬ continental bum. Dick Young was not to be found, as he had left for the moon Saturday in a home-made rocket ship. Well, that makes four people gone from the ship and four less to feed. Ben Hodges and Mary were living in a little hovel in the i ew ork slums. Ben is still on relief and seems to enjoy it. ‘’Fat’ Mason owns his own green¬ house and all his financial matters are handled by Ches¬ ter Roberts, who just inherited a great fortune from his uncle. I found that Jay-boy Quinlan was involved in a larceny charge, so I bailed him out and arranged to have him leave with us. After he left, I found my watch missing. This completes my list. I hope all has been done to your complete satisfactoin. Respectfully submitted, Wallace Haselton, Agent No. 2 CLASS PROPHECY PART III Calling Warren Eldridge Hill—Calling Warren Eldridge Hill—This is to report the whereabouts and location of various members of the Class of 1940. Please consider the following as my final report: After leaving the observatory, I decided to go dir¬ ectly to Washington, the nation’s capitol, and inform our President, Charles Sullivan, a former outstanding member of the Class of 1940, of the plight of the world. I was greeted graciously by the President’s wife. You will remember her as the former vivacious Kay Witham. The President was immediately concerned with the wel¬ fare of the country’s people. I was sorry to inform him that only a limited number of people could embark on this trip in the rocket ship; namely, the Class of 1940. He didn’t wish to leave his country in peril, but he readily saw the advisability of not crowding the rocket ship. He and the First Lady were making plans for transportation when I left the White House. My next stop happened to be in Austin, Texas. It was a dreary, dismal night and I decided to seek proper lodging. I was told to engage someone to take me to the Ruderman Dude Ranch. The name sounded very familiar to me, and I decided to seek lodging there. When I arrived, I found the owner to be none other than Dorothy Ruderman, the darling of the West. She gave rr.e much information as to the whereabouts of several members of the class. She herself is making plans to transfer her ranch to other hands. Upon Dorothy’s advice, I stopped over in Holly¬ wood, or Follywood as it is now called, to seek an in¬ terview with the great movie star, Eleanore Glamarr (formerly Eleanor Pestana). She has just finished a great picture. Though quite a bit older, Eleanor still has maintained her youthful beauty and individuality. She is planning to take her special plane to the scene of her youth and to other members of the class once again. As I was leaving Eleanor’s dressing room, I happened to see a “Shadow magazine. Suddenly, I remembered that a former member of the class is the head of the Shadow Magazine Corporation—none other than Robert Storey. I boarded a plane for Chicago and was ushered in to see Robert, after much red tape. It was harder to see him than the President. He was tak¬ ing a nap in his private office. Being informed of my mission, he immediately sniffed mystery and excitement. Of course, he will come as soon as possible. He is bring¬ ing you some of the most recent publications of the magazine which has thrilled him since his days in R. H. S. While I was in Chicago, I decided to see two, or maybe three, other people. Helen Foster was my next member. She now heads a cosmetics corporation. She has a monopoly on cosmetics, which the President and his representatives are trying to break. Margit Courossi was found in the creative department of John Dissel’s “Apparel Shop for Smart Young Women”. She was busily engaged, and I had to wait for half an hour be¬ fore I could get a chance to talk with her. Her employer and she will come as soon as they can get their present work cleared up. I passed through Washington again and perceived the President’s secretary, Louise Pattison, efficiently making arrangements for their hurried departure. She was very enthusiastic about the trip. North Reading is a place very near to her heart. She has not been there since 1941. As you will undoubtedly remember, the First Lady and she have always been inseparable In New Tork, I sought out William Hennessy, the editor of a Communist newspaper. He was in the midst of some “hot material” and I waited patiently for some bit of recognition on his part. He disliked the idea of going on the trip with other newspapermen and particu¬ larly with the President, who is much opposed to the ideas set forth in this newspaper. Nevertheless, he con¬ sented and we can be sure of some very enlightening remarks during the trip. Shirley Field’s Hospital was my next stop. Shirley has been engaged in this humane service to mankind for a great many years and operates the hospital in an expedient manner. She was planning to retire anyway, so it will not be difficult for her to leave her work. The city of New York will miss her and her good w r ork, though. In Florida, I came upon the dynamic Roberta Smith, owmer of the Giants, the baseball team. She was showing one of the players how to throw an effective fast ball and how to hit the ball so as to bring about a home run. In her middle age, she is very active. In a straightforward manner she told me she would leave immediately. Her one regret was that she could not take her beloved team along with her. When leaving Florida, I came upon a trailer. Upon closer examina¬ tion, I found the occupant to be Helen Robbins. She owns a trailer industry and operates it throughout the United States. She amalgamates business with pleasure. Expect her in one of her trailers. Thirty-nine The Pioneer 19 40 In Boston, I found Christine Ellis in the office at her Home for Aged Jitterbugs. She readily consented to come. Her venture has proved to be a tiresome one. Operating a home of old women who used to be particu¬ larly spry is a hard job. Jeanette Sargent, a part owner in a truck corporation which operates from Boston to Zanzibar, was also found in her office rapidly dictating to a foreign looking secretary. She is coming in one of her trucks. Upon learning the whereabouts of William Hoff¬ man, 1 traveled to Detroit. I found him dictating to Margaret Griffin and Jeanne LeFave, his indispensable secretaries. William is a maker of candid camera s in this city and reaps a neat net profit at the end of the fiscal year. His most dependable customer is Leonard Wright, a candid camera fiend; he will come only upon agree¬ ment that he bring his candid camera. He is bringing you one, too, Professor. You and he can take pictures on Mars. Margaret was making arrangements when I left. At Macy’s, I found Edith Arsenault and Pat Rem- ick, top-notch models who have been doing that kind of work since they left high school. They now model the more mature dresses, but once presented a very fas¬ cinating picture in the youthful styles. In Chicago, I listened to a case being tried by Phil¬ lip Surrette, the eminent criminal lawyer. I watched him deliver a convincing summary of the case to the jury. His client was acquitted. I caught him in a mo¬ ment of triumph, indeed. I hurried to the Chicago air¬ port and found Eileen Peters descending from a trans¬ continental flight. She is, of course, the well-known aviatrix. She has been lost twenty-seven times, but her courage has not been surpassed. I ran across Audrey Humphrey, Frank Buck’s successor, in a cage in Chicago. She was making a tour of the United States. She wanted to bring her pet panther, but I discouraged her. I made arrangements to have Eileen fly Audrey to North Read¬ ing. They will undoubtedly arrive together. I hope Eileen does not choose this time to get lost. I decided to round up the last person on my list who was in the United States. Warden John Earl White of Sing Sing was relectant to come, but I convinced him that his prisoners would not miss him. He is going to seek a pardon from the governor for all the inmates before he leaves. 1 took an ocean liner to Europe, where I came across Robert Van Laetham, U. S. Minister to England. He disliked leaving foreign affairs in a muddle, but i convinced him of the necessity of leaving at once. While in England, I came across Alma Mansfield of the Mans¬ field Amateur Hour. She was traveling in Europe trying to find prospects. In Paris, I heard of the presence of a strange psychologist. It was none other than Barbara Tasney. This brilliant person was setting Paris agog with her findings of the mind’s workings. Rita Tous- saint, who is head of a fortune-telling syndicate in Am¬ erica, and she were dining in a little cafe on the Rue de la Paix. In Norway, I looked up Vivian Hook, the U. S. Ambassador to Norway. You have undoubtedly read of her accounts in the newspapers. Agnes White, the only woman in the Supreme Court at present, was found in Sweden. She had just arrived two days be¬ fore me and was saddened at the thought of leaving. Florence Whitaker, poet laureate of Texas, and Olive Skane, an eminent novelist and a profound scholar, were engaging in a few recollections of former school days. Olive still maintains her charm and poise; Florence still delights in doorknobs. In Denmark, I found Dr. James Hawes vacationing. His capable secretary, Jean Blier, greeted me warmly and ushered me into his suite. He has gained considerable weight and boasts a double chin and a moustache, which he delights in twirling. I left him dictating rapidly to his secretary. In Switzer¬ land, I found Professor Norman Putnam taking a few days away from his laborious studies. He recently met Natalie Staples, a worthy acoustics authority, and Mar¬ jory Wentworth, the developer of activism, who were staying at the same hotel. I then ventured into Rumania and found Allie Benton, the famous lady boxer, showing the peasants a few tricks. Bernadine Conefy, the social re¬ former, and she were engaged at the local entertainment house for the next three months. They cancelled their engagements and are flying back to the U. S. A. and you, Professor Hill. In China, I came across Betty Blaikie, a mission¬ ary’s wife. She and her husband have been doing con¬ structive work among the underprivileged. They have done much good, and it is a shame to interrupt their doings. They are planning, however, to leave the mis¬ sion at once. From China, I went to Japan. There, 1 contacted Marjorie Wright, who is the leading bacteri¬ ologist from America. Her experiments are known all over the world. She would come only if I allowed her to bring her microscope. In Egypt, I ran across Bette Carter, the leading authority on hieroglyphics, doing some special work for a museum in the States. When I was passing through Cairo, I perceived a very lonely- looking woman sitting on the wide veranda of a hotel. Upon closer observation I found her to be Margaret Carney, who is a very close friend of Miss Carter. Miss Carney is, as you know, the leading historian of all the colleges in America. She was very anxious to come back to North Reading and see some former classmates. She and Bette are traveling part way by comet. I went back to England and looked up Dorothy Young, who, I understood, had married a wealthy Eng¬ lish nobleman. She was drinking tea on the terrace when I found her. She is bringing her husband along. I was forced to go back and trudge through Moscow to find a brilliant American woman. I had an opportunity to come face to face with her in the evening. Winnifred Johnston, a member of the Class of 1940, is a leading theorist, or ideologist on government. She was trying to find local color for her book on the Russian govern¬ ment. An agent of the Czar is escorting her to your observatory. Traveling southward to Italy, I stopped at Naples and found Helen Crane, an outstanding ento¬ mologist, digging for a special kind of bug. To her Forty 19 40 complete disappointment, I told her to leave her bugs at home. Next, I took a boat to the Virgin Islands and discovered Harold Doucette, head of a sugar cane in¬ dustry. He is bringing you some choice bits of sugar cane. Once more back in Shanghai, I found Gertrude Lorgeree running an orphan’s home. She threatened to bring her orphans. Expect them, too. Last, but far from least, I found Dorothy Babcock in Guatemala, where she has been attempting to acquire a tan but in¬ stead has only a batch of freckles. (Remember, she always did freckle!) Dorothy, as you undoubtedly know, is Dorothy Thompson’s successor. Her articles are always full of common sense and interest. She will lend spice and variety to our trip. We ll all see you soon! Jean Sargent, Agent No. 3 CLASS PROPHECY Part IV At last, one evening, the old school bus came to a jerky stop on the summit of Piker’s Peak, and the in¬ mates started to pour out, bag and baggage. One pom¬ pous gentleman (tall hat, gold headed cane, tails—you know the type) walked along, deeply engrossed in a heated dispute. “But I tell you, Adams, it’s outrageous! You’re weakening the very foundation of the state with these editorials in your radical paper. Why, that last one on tax reform.” “Arrr rats! Just because you’re the honorable Gov¬ ernor Bryant, you think you got the right to bleed the whole state!” “Why, you!” But suddenly a funny little creature came running up to them. “Now, now, boys, there won’t be any taxes on Mars, you know.” Lo and behold, it was none other than Snipe (Ronald Sawyer, in case you’ve forgotten after all these years) bubbling, per usual. He turned philanthropist in his old age. “Well, I’ve got to find Vivian—haven’t seen her, have you?” As he turned to go, he knocked over a pile of boxes which Barbara Holden was carrying. “My dear Miss Holden, forgive me! I’ve knocked your clothes all over the ground,” he murmured, but continued to retreat in search of Vi¬ vian. “Clothes! Those are my orchid plants, you wretch —the rarest specimens from my truck farm. Oh, Frank¬ ie, help me pick them up before some of them get lost! And you help me too, Carleton,” but the radical editor had disappeared. Barbara Holden, however, wasn ' t the only member of the crew laden down with luggage, for presently Dorothy Bailey descended from the bus, dressed in a paint daubed old smock and dragging after her a con¬ glomeration of paint, crayons, brushes and similar para¬ phernalia which she had salvaged from her quaint old studio on Cape Cod. Following her came Waldo Gro¬ ver, holding some sort of queer gadget which he was explaining to Gilbert Camp, the great explorer. “You The Pioneer see, just push this lever, and this arm driven by the waterproof battery will drive through sand until it hits the clam. The contact will cause this red light to flash, and the vacuum system will bring the clam to the sur¬ face. That’s my new clam digger, and for an extra fif¬ teen dollars I can add a heating system which will thaw out the clams if you want to dig them when you’re at the South Pole.” Suddenly a voice interrupted, “Oh no! no! I want to buy that,” and the two men looked up to see Erdine Farwell . “My girls simply dote on clam bakes; I’ll buy fifty.” “Your girls—fifty!” Gilbert gasped and turned rather pale. (Explorers don ' t go for women—apt to hamper them, you know). “Yes, fifty. Oh, that’s right; of course you wouldn’t know—I mean my seminary, my charm school in Ver¬ mont.” But before the explorer and inventor had time to faint, Kathryn Conron arrived, clad in—of all things —-a ballet skirt. She started to throw herself upon Er¬ dine with a gleeful squeal, but Miss Farwell, eyeing her severely, held her off. “You silly child! Where’s all that common sense you had back in 1940?” “Oh, I don’t bother with it any more; my manager does that,” Miss Conron replied with a whimsical little giggle- “Well, she’s doing a pretty had job of it now,” Erdine commented dryly, but just then Jean Sargent came puffing up to the group. “What do you mean—I’m doing a pretty bad job of it? I’d just like to see you be manager for a mem¬ ber of the Ballet Russe and play nurse maid to her at the same time! Here, Spiffy, for goodness sake, put your coat on.” But Spiffy, meanwhile, had espied Betty White and Marion Henderson surrounded by a group of very sober, bespectacled little tots and, in a series of twirls, was dancing toward them. “Ye gods!” Gilbert groaned, “not another family?” “Of course not, silly,” Jean threw back as she rush¬ ed after the ballerina, “just their group of maladjusted geniuses. You wouldn ' t have to be told that Betty White and Marion are the nation’s leading child psychologists if you’d stay away from the South Pole long enough to read a newspaper!” As Gilbert and Waldo turned to go, Gregg Brewer came rushing toward them. ‘Well, well, well! Good to see you back, pals. Have you heard the latest gossip ? Dorothy Barstow is wanted by the police for robbery and arson. Our own Dotty turned gun-woman. Wow! What a scoop for my Winchell column!” “Your Winchell column? “Sure, you know—old story—marries boss’s daugh¬ ter—boss retires, son-in-law takes over—and there 1 am in charge of Winchell’s gossip column.” “Now the world is coming to an end! Waldo groaned. Then suddenly, “Say, look over there—George Whelpley with two women, and look at those hats! If that’s not food for your column, then 1 don’t know what Forty-one The Pioneer 19 40 George, hearing his name, came toward them. ‘ ' Oh be quiet, Grover. This isn’t class scandal. These are merely two of my models, Theo Farr and Marilyn Vaughn, and the hats they’re wearing are my latest crea¬ tions, straight from my Paris salon. ’ Just then two new voices broke in with, “Wow! One added, “You better not let the girls wear those things to Mars!” and the other chimed in with, “They 11 think we’re declaring war.” “Well if it isn’t the True twins! laughed Marilyn. “You’re dressed like a million dollars,” added Theo. “What in heaven’s name have you been doing for a living?” “Oh, don’t get excited, girls!” Dick retorted. “It’s just a correspondence course in individuality,” and George continued, “Sure, you know our motto: ‘There’s nobody like you in all the world. Stop being a double; be yourself!’ ” While the twins were talking, Horace Jones had sauntered up to the group. “Well-1-1, if that isn’t clever of you boys. But I’m not doing so bad for myself, if I do say so.” “Bet it’s not within the law,” Dick mumbled. “Whadaya mean? I’m professor in a dramatic school—head of the technique department and I take classes in long clinches myself.” Just then another new comer arrived. “Well, hello, boys.” They looked up to see a rather chubby Eskimo— but no! closer inspection revealed Betsy Foxcroft. “You don’t need to stare at me. I merely went to Alaska to be a missionary and I married an Eskimo. Moreover, I’m not the only one dressed like a freak. See that fez bobbing around over there? Well, that’s Stanley Stem- bridge, straight from Turkey. He almost brought his harem, hut we told him there’d be more women on Mars so he left them in Turkey to blow up with the world. And have you seen those two girls in satin over-alls? Well, they’re Ruth Tooley and Mary Ellen Ward, part¬ ners in a truck farming enterprize—truck farming with glamour. And there’s Betty Miller in a football outfit; she’s taken Dick Harlowe’s place at Harvard. Done things for the Harvard football team Harlowe never dreamed of.” At that moment, four familiar red-heads joined the group—Lorraine Day, Muriel Powers, Virginia Perkins, and Jo Anna Stewart—clad in red shirts. “Well, where are you from—Russia?” Jonesy wise cracked. “Yes, citizen Jones, and no remarks, please,” barked Muriel Powers. “We overthrew Stalin,” remarked Lorraine. “Yes, and plan to overthrow the Martian govern¬ ment when we get there,” continued Virginia. “And, Citizen Jones, we’re starting with you!” was Jo Anne’s chilling climax. “Such people as that miserable old hobo over there with freckles will be completely reformed!” Lorraine commented. A bystander who had been listening to this display put his oar in with, “That miserable old bum happens to be David McGee, a good friend of mine.” “Sir!” said Virginia, turning to the new comer, but she stopped short, for there stood what looked like Dick Fellows except that his formerly slender face was puffed to the size of a balloon. When she finally recovered, she continued, “And you shall be placed on a diet! You’ve been eating too much.” “Oh, you’re bats! You’d look like the moon your¬ self if you’d spent your time as a soc ial worker in a New York epidemic of mumps instead of strutting around like a rooster!” Other familiar faces of 1940 were to be seen in the crowd. For instance, there was Ruth Shumaker, wearing a sun bonnet and carrying a milk-pail. Rumor had it that she ran a retreat in Maine, where she advocated the “simple life” (cows and buttercups and that, you know) and perhaps it was so, for there was a baby heifer tag¬ ging along at her heels. Alice Goodwin came cart¬ wheeling up to her and, when Ruthie gently murmured, “Whatever!” Boogie just yelled, “Oh don’t let me get you down! We trapeze artists do this all the time in the circus. Say, you know we’ve got an awfully famous class. Just about everybody’s a champ.” “A champ? Whatever!” “Why, Mary Maguire and Margery Maguire are at swords points to see who’ll get the internati onal cup for speed-knitting. Margery is the Italian champ and Mary is the German champ. And Evelyn Franklyn won the Woman’s Bicycle Race at the last Olympics, and Grace Schofield and Janetta Boyd are a world-famous concert pianist and violin duo, and Priscilla Garey is the world’s baton twirling champ, and Kathryn McDonough is the Eastern States’ Tennis Champ, but whenever you com¬ pliment her she just wails, ‘I know, but look at the freckles I’ve developed!’ and—and—and omigosh, what people!” “Well, Boogie, you missed one champ,” said a new voice, and there was David St. Hilaire. “See this medal? Well, that’s what I got for being world’s fastest kiddy- car rider!” “Yes, and that’s why we’re here—to take care of you,” said another voice, and David looked up to see two crisply starched nurses, Betty Coan and Betty Beau¬ dry, eyeing him severely. “I suppose you’re st raight from a hospital, or some¬ thing,” David remarked. “Hospitals give me a pain.” “No,” replied Betty Coan, “we’re straight from our convalescent home on the Riviera.” “You know, it’s the former Windsor Estate where the Duke and Duchess spent their early married days,” continued the other Betty. “Oh yes, yes” mumbled David. “Convalescent homes—they give me an even worse pain.” Just then Betty Coan gave a scream and ran toward Robert Sullivan, who was wandering around through the crowd rather aimlessly. To calm the group, quite naturally startled by this outburst, Betty Beaudry ex¬ plained that Robert Sullivan was one of their star con- Forty-two yf i � r i l t ‘ 1 p ; u ' • huim: Marilyn Vaughan Olive Skane Gilbert Camp Robert VanLaetham Mary Maguire Franklin Hodges Marjorie Wentworth Jean Sargent John Zynsky Dorothy Young Louise Pattison Alice Gorey Allie Benton Jeanette Sargent Alice Goodwin Bette Kimball Kathleen Browne Kathryn McDonough Betty Carter Evelyn Franklin Martha Randall Tom Connelly Mary Maling Dorothy Barstow Dorothy Bailey Betty Miller Norman Putnam Doris Steele Leonard Wright Marjorie Wright Horace Jones Charles Nickerson Robert Jones Betty Coan Kay Witham Barbara Currie George Whelpley Charles Sulliv an Barbara Tasney Eleanor Pestana Richard Fellows David St. Hilaire Wallace Haselton Harry Barr Norman Lloyd Rae Amback Marjorie Maguire Ronald Sawyer Muriel Powers Jeanette Davis George Bridges Barbara Holden Richard Young Alma Mansfield Vivian Hook Betty Blaikie Ruth Shumaker Lorraine Day Dorothy Babcock Gregg Brewer Donald Hills Anthony Rose Muriel Arthur Gertrude Lorgeree Agnes White Jeanne LeFave Coach Holgerson Theo Farr Arlene Peters Richard Avery Gerald Coleford Robert Storey Anthony Tine Harold Doucette I )avid McGee John Greenleaf Thomas Lacey Stanley Stembridge Robert Sullivan Richard Lew is William Jaques El wood Richardson Alice Humphrey Erdine Farwell Olive Porter Margit Courossi Helen Foster The Pioneer 19 40 valescents, who had formerly been a famous spiritual medium, but who once when in a trance hadn’t come all the way back. While she was talking, a slightly chubby individual, dressed in a stunning yet conservative dark blue reefer and a globe trotter hat appeared. She wore gloves (a rare thing in this gang) and she gently rocked a baby carriage as she stood listening to them. When they turn¬ ed to look at her, she smiled and said very happily, “Hello, everybody.” “Muzzey!” cried Ruth. Sure enough, it was Mar¬ jorie Moses. “Well, what have you been doing for amusement?” “Oh, nothing. I got married and I live in a little cottage with roses over the door, and a husband, and a baby. It’s nice.” At that moment the door to the observatory opened and there stood the stooped, fuzzy, begoggled old scien¬ tist. A hush fell over the crowd. Then in his quavering, gutteral growl he said, “Classmates, I greet you. It is with joy that I tell you that the meteor which one year ago I calculated to be 46,000,000,000 miles from the earth, was, in reality 46,000,000,001 miles from the earth, and, instead of crashing into the earth, will hit the moon. Bye now!” Dorothy Babcock, Agent No. 4 CLASS WILL We, the most illustrious and honorable Class of 1940, who are about to become a part of the milling throng seeking fame and fortune, do herewith bequeath and bestow these humble gifts. It is our fond hope that all recipients will utilize them to their best ability and always remember their class—who just couldn’t forget them. We Bequeath: 1. A leather bound hook on etiquette to Irving Holcomb so that he may always have a sufficient amount of “Grace”. 2. This silver-trimmed, super-action compass to Bob Hitchcock to aid him in those frequent journeys to the North and also to provide for his welfare in case of possible loss of direction. 3. To Stan Davis, whose “hot licks” have long re¬ sounded through these stately halls, these ice cubes so that his temperature (not his music) may be a little cooler in the days to come. 4. To the Juniors, who have so faithfully obeyed our slightest whim, the sole right to enforce rules and make the other children toe the mark. 5. To Coach Holgerson, whose skiing at the Car¬ nival was commented on by all who witnessed the exhi¬ bition, this feather-stuffed, satin-bound pillow to be care¬ fully reserved for the next carnival—whereupon he may use it at his own discretion. 6. To Dickie Merritt, these roller skates so he can speed to North Reading and thus eliminate any of his less agile rivals. 7. To Mrs. Wiens, this one word—“THANKS”— for having coached the most commendable performance to be seen in dear oT R. H. S. for many a moon! 8. To Jeanette Davis, this periscope to be of gen¬ eral assistance in enabling her to see over the steering wheel when she maneuvers around town. 9. To those handsome twins, these bee-u-tee-ful moustaches—a red one for George and a white one for Dickie. Never again shall we become befuddled upon encountering the two together! How True! How True! 10. To Charles Sullivan, our “Answer Man”, this six-month engagement on “Information Please” so he can step into his own class and compete with the rest of the experts. 11. To Normie Lloyd, this pair of fur-lined car¬ pet slippers so the students will no longer be annoyed by the commotion when he strides across the study hall. 12. To Mr. Fitzgerald, this lovely barometer and a crystal ball. We are sure that he will enjoy the for¬ mer very much, as it will save him the trouble of buy¬ ing a newspaper to watch for storms at Senior Carnival time. The latter will enable him to set the date right the first time. 13. To our diminutive Barbara Currie these fans. Perhaps she can find a good use for them. 14. As June is the month of brides, this tin plated can opener to a becoming subject. Miss Devaney, will you step forward and be the happy recipient of this erstwhile gift? 15. To our treasurer, who is well known for sar¬ torial perfection, this dime hanky. Just a fond remem¬ bran ce of happier days. 16. To one member of the back stage union, B. Franklin Hodges, this copy of “June Mad” so he may learn Carleton’s lines and go into further cahoots with Mary Maling. 17. To the one and only Mr. Halpin, teacher of mathematics in this institution of higher knowledge, this beautifully embossed marriage license. The cost was exactly $2.00, and certainly such an expensive gift can¬ not be overlooked. 18. To the School Board, this copper penny, very genuine, to start a fund for a new assembly hall in the Reading Senior High School. 19. To Miss Ernst, this pencil holder, so she won’t have to put a pencil in her hair. (This token was by special request.) 20. To the members of the faculty, who have strug¬ gled these three (?) years to instruct us in “book-larn- ing” and are (we hope) proud of their efforts, with due consideration—“ALONE”. 21. To the incoming Senior Class, our unpaid bills, which include some twenty odd bills for articles given forth in this last statement of the Class of 1940. Having composed this masterpiece after much pen¬ cil-pushing on our part, we close with no farewells or goodbyes-—just so-long everybody, and good luck! Alice Goodwin David St. Hilaire Forty- four 19 40 The Pioneer CLASS HISTORY Sophomore-Junior Years, 1937-1939 Hello! Well, here we are again way back in the fall of ’37. Remember? On that memorable day we stood—a group of fresh-cheeked, bright-eyed, ex-froshs —before the awe-inspiring pillars of R. H. S. And did we have ideas! “We ll show this place a thing or three,” we piped and then dashed noisily into that frightening era known as “The High School Age”. For a week we shivered in our boots, gaped at the famed statutes, bravely took the mild contempt of the school as a whole, obeyed all orders, and in general enjoyed ourselves. Then, after the newness wore off, we settled down to work. Our first class meeting waj held in the spring, and the following officers were elect¬ ed: Jeanette Davis, president; Atice Goodwin, vice- president; Richard Fellows, treasurer; and Barbara Gonnam, secretary. Under petite Jeanette’s capable guidance we steered our social course for the outstand¬ ing moment in any sophomore’s life—the annual Sopho¬ more Hop. Thanks to a splendid class spirit, fine of¬ ficers, and the aid of our adviser, patient Miss Simon (God bless her!), this event was a tremendous success. Over ninety couples attended. We’re not bragging, but (ahem) we have heard it said that the class of ’40 is a very promising group. It was in our sophomore year that such athletic prodigies as “Red” Lawler, “Dick” Merritt, “Perk” Per¬ kins, and other fellows began to show their grit on the old gridiron. “Just wait,” they said, “until we’re Sen¬ iors and grow a little bigger!” Athletically, the re¬ mainder ot the year was taken up with baseball, basket¬ ball, and golf. After the mid years (and we will say this: we did pretty well for beginners) the snooty Sen¬ iors began to sit up and take notice of us. “Will you look at that,” they sneered; “those measly Sophomores are getting “A’s!” Then came the day of reckoning. The Seniors graduated. Old scores were settled, and we were brutal¬ ly thrust into a new stratum—that of full fledged Jun¬ iors. By this time we had acquired the sophistication and glitter of savants and other such worldly creatures. Class officers were again elected, and again, Jeanette Davis was chosen to guide the proverbial ship of state, with the assistance of Barbara Gonnam as vice-president, Eleanor Pestana as secretary, and Dick Fellows as treas¬ urer. Thus armed, we nonchalantly began to fill our new capacity and to feel a warmer relationship with the Senior Class and a bored condecension toward the new Sophomores’ squealing and incessant “Could you tell me where Room Two is, please?” “No, no” we whisper¬ ed, “don’t go in there; that’s Mr. Halpin ' s room! The above-mentioned worthy succeeded Miss Simon as our class adviser, and he immediately commenced to pound through out craniums the fact that our treasury stood at nil plus, which, he explained, is a geometrical term meaning broke. This scare gave us a sprinkling of gray hairs, but we all got together and pushed. With our determination and Mr. Halpin’s formula for financial success we managed to raise enough filthy lucre to war¬ rant the giving of our Prom. To quote that literary gem, The “Pioneer”: “This year’s Prom was the outstanding dance in the school’s history.” There, how’s that? Again, athletically, members of our select group captured stellar honors. The boys (and girls) gave their all until we literally permeated the sport writeups. Again, we tackled exams and wiggled by until we stood once more at graduation week on the threshhold of a new and glorious era. We closed the year with the brilliant Junior-Senior Reception, which left Mr. Halpin beaming into his book of theorems. Now that we are members of the “elect,” we are wondering which bother¬ ed us the most way back there as Sophomores—the aloof¬ ness of the Seniors or the snobbishness of the Juniors. We wonder if we acted that way. Tom Connelly CLASS HISTORY Senior Year, 1939-1940 Listen, dear class mates, And you shall hear The special events of Our Senior Year. On the sixth of September in ’39 We came back to school A feeling fine, Remembering this was Our last year here. The struggle in athletics Was pretty drear But our gay cheering section Filled us with cheer. The exams were a gloom, And deficiencies, too; For who among us Did not have a few? Assemblies were frequent And none (?) of them bores; Noon dances were famous Though some stood in the doors; Lunch period was the favorite; Detention was a bore; Calls to the office were not So frightening as before. Some of us played hockey; Some shone at basketball, Others in football or baseball, And a few at debates in the hall. “No School” days and fire drills Made pleasant recesses, Forty-five The Pioneer 19 40 While sickness caused others Absence excesses. The Tramp Dance was a high light As was the dance for our captain; The carnival made our sky bright After no snow—and more snow— Made the date so uncertain. From the start to the drop of the curtain The Senior Play was a wow, And flowers were well-deserved As each player took a how. Junior Prom was a joy And the Yodeling-Jive Sport Dance, too; Some went to the Junior Woman’s Club one And to the Sadie Hawkins, not a few. Some bowling and swimming In special small groups went; Bulletins kept us posted On each coming event. Photos at Sargents— To be or not to be? My Lord! did that proof Really look like me? Class rings were beauties And proudly worn; Dues were necessary But made us forlorn. Hi-Y Formal and Sophomore Hop Added fun to our year— And this week of graduation With parting so near. The faculty, too, So loyal and dear, Helped us oft and much In our Senior Year. Always patient with guffaws and giggles in class, They toiled with us faithfully And helped us to pass. Association with teachers And class mates while here Grew closer and dearer In our Senior Year. This school is a mem’ry But its high standard sincere Means success in each endeavor And teaches us duty so clear. With a sigh of regret That this is all history, But with high hope—we go forth To seize opportunity! Here’s to the past days we happily knew! Here’s to the gay days we’re now living through! Here’s to the glad days I’m sure we shall see! Here’s to you, class mates, with good wishes from me! Kathryn Conron HUMOR Betty: “Just think, mother, a poor worm provided the silk for my dress.” Mrs. Miller: “Why, I’m shocked that you should speak so disrespectfully of your dear father!” Guide: “This castle has stood for six hundred years. Not a stone has been touched, nothing altered, nothing replaced.” Dickie: “They must have the same landlord we have.” S. T. Currie: “I should like to try on that dress in the window.” Clerk: “Sorry, lady, but you’ll have to use the fitting room.” Richard Merritt, applying for a job, asked, “Have you an opening for an office boy?” “Yes,” said the employer gruffly, “and don’t slam it on the way out.” Virginia: “Hello, there postman!! Got a letter for me?” Postman: “Is this package yours? The name is obliterated.” Virginia: “It couldn’t be mine. My name is O’Brien.” Eleanor: “Can this coat be worn in wet weather without hurting it?” Fur salesman: “Lady, did you ever see a skunk carrying an umbrella?” Blackie Leman: “Yes, old pal, I’m the fastest man in the world.” Kay Witham: “How come?” Blackie: “Time flies, doesn’t it? Well, I beat time.” Lenny Wright: “Dad, you are a lucky man!” Mr. Wright: “How is that?” Lenny: “You won’t have to buy me any school books this year. I’m taking all of last year’s subjects over again.” Betsy Foxcroft Forty-six 19 40 The Pioneer BASKETBALL The Reading High Basketball Team, better known as The Loxy Live, had a most successful season, being undefeated in twelve league encounters, winning the Middlesex League Championship, and going on to the Tech Tourney, where they were nosed out by a solitary point. This point might have resulted in winning the tourney because Lramingham, the team which beat The Loxy Live in the opening encounter, went on to win. The Loxy Live opened their official league session by defeating Lexington to the count of 26 to 13. Read¬ ing next dropped Concord 32 to 22 on the local court, and a few days later edged out a two point 25 to 23 victory over Belmont. Up to this point Belmont had been conceded the league championship, but after The Loxy Live had taken their measure, people began to wonder if Reading had another championship team in the making, and, as the season progressed, the team be¬ gan to get more and more attention. Reading’s fourth victory was chalked up at the expense of Lexington, who bowed 26 to 14. After dropping Stoneham 34 to 20, our boys- closed fast to beat the scrappy Wakefield Quintet on the Wakefield floor, 35 to 31. Led by sharp-shooting Herbie White, who scored 21 points single handed, The Loxy Live mopped up Winchester 42 to 23. Their eighth victory came at the expense of Concord by the score of 33 to 23, a triumph which they soon followed with a 34 to 26 victory on the Belmont floor. The game with Stoneham proved to be one of the most exciting of the season. Trailing until the final minute of play, The Loxy Five slipped a basket through the hoop to give themselves two points and a hectic 2 1 to 26 victory that clinched the championship. By defeating Wakefield 45 to 36 and severely trouncing Winchester 49 to 25, The Foxy Five concluded the season with a clean slate. While the first team had been obtaining all this glory, the second team, or The Foolish Five as they persisted in calling themselves, were doing a very effec¬ tive job in mopping up their opponents. When the season was concluded, it was discovered that they had “fooled” their way into a two way tie with Lexington for the League’s second team championship. For several weeks before the season had closed, talk of the Tech Tourney was ubiquitous. Everywhere we went we could hear groups of students avidly engaged in discussing the chances of The Foxy Five, and White, Merritt, Hrynowsky, Haselton, and Wright became the toast of the school as well as of the town. Finally the night of the Tech Tourney arrived and The Foxy Five, accompanied by a goodly number of loyal rooters, journeyed to the Hangar Gym, where one of the most thrilling battles of the year took place. When the final whistle sounded, Reading was trailing by the score of 42 to 41, and Framingham eeked out what proved to be the closest victory of the entire Tourney. During the game Dick Merritt was nothing short of sensational, scoring 19 points before he was benched via the four foul route. After the active play in the tournament was concluded he received the honor of be¬ ing unanimous choice for all-tourney center, an honor which he well deserved. Top scoring honors in the Middlesex League were carried off by diminutive Herbie White, with sharpshooters Lennie Wright and Dick Mer¬ ritt not far behind. Upon examination of the figures it was easily ascertained that Reading had the best team in the League, both offensively and defensively, as they scored more points than any other team while holding their opponents to a minimum of points scored. Hats off to a grand team and a grand year! The “Pioneer” wishes to take this belated opportunity of con¬ gratulating Coach Althoff and the players for their good work and it is our fervent desire to find another champ¬ ionship placque in the first floor corridor in the not-too- distant future. Those who were awarded stars in addi¬ tion to the medal which was won in the Tech Tourney were Herbie White, Dick Merritt, Lennie Wright, Wal¬ lace Haselton, John Hrynowsky, Dick Lawler, Rae Am- back, Walter Hilton, Tony Sareone, John Quinlan, and Chuck Taylor. The two managers, William Connelly and Robert Dunn, were awarded letters for their season s work. Carleton Adams Forty-seven The Pioneer 19 40 VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM Front row: Anthony Sarcone, Walter Hilton, Richard Merritt, John Quinlan, Rae Amback. Back row: Wallace Haselton, Richard Lawlor, Herbert White, Leonard Wright. Not in picture: John Hrynowsky, Charles Taylor. BASEBALL When Coach Holgerson called out the 1940 base¬ ball aspirants, he found nine veterans reporting for ser¬ vice. The team, after a month of practice, shaped up as an outfit strong in hitting but somewhat weak in pitching. The first game seemed to prove just the op- possite, however, as in it—the opener with Lexington— the Reading stickmen garnered only five hits. But after that game, the boys came through, true to form. After losing the heartbreaker to Lexington, we really went to town and chased the boys in blue back to Stoneham with a 31 to 21 shelling, a game that featured heavy hitting and loose fielding by both clubs. Also we de¬ feated the strong Belmont club and the team from Win¬ chester—the latter game providing the spectators (as well as our coach) with plenty of thrills. Holding down the first sack position was “Jack” Collins, a left handed slugger. A real hitter and a de¬ pendable fielder, “Jackie” saved the infielders embar¬ rassment on many an occasion with his brilliant stops. Again at the keystone combination were “Sherbet” White at second and “Hokie” Holcomb in the short field. These two were co-captains and played their parts well in guiding their team to a successful season. John “Jay” Quinlan was stationed at the third base sack for most of the season. A possessor of a strong arm, John robbed many a player of base hits with his fast throws on slow rollers and bunts. Out in the deeper gardens, “Red” Perkins patrolled the left lane. “Red” was really a slugging sunset. It was a common sight to see a brilliant wave of color go streaking around the bases for extra base blows. In the center garden, “Blackie” Stephanian took his share of the fly balls. He was a good fielder, but the thing that he excelled in was hitting. “Blackie’ loved to hit, and that is one reason why he batted well over the 500 mark as this “Pioneer” went to press. In the sunfield, handsome “Woody” Titcomb (“Brush, Brush’ to his friends) did his duty. Again, this blonde lad was strictly a slugger, always a dangerous man to have at the plate with men on base. “Dick” Merritt held the backstop position. His strong arms caught many a runner off base as well as on steals, and his tremendous hitting drove in the runs when they were needed. “Dick” was the fastest man of that slow trio, Titcomb, Stephanian and Merritt. Tit- comb was reported to have done the 100-yard dash in as little as 25 seconds, but that was only a rumor. Three pitchers composed Coach Holgerson’s hurling staff: “Obie” O’Brien, our “Little Sir Echo” from last year, “Andy” Anderson, the 180 pound, redhaired sophomore, and “Tony” Rose, the surprise of the year. “Obie” did a good job in his hurling and was really a credit to our team. “Andy”, though somewhat inexperienced, turned out to be a promising twirler and in two years should really prove his worth. “Tony” surprised us all by going into the Winchester game in the seventh inning and holding the enemy, in addition to which he himself helped to win the game with a triple. Incidentally, “Obie” also got a triple in one game. “Wrinkle” Kelly and “Mouth” Crooker composed the second string mound combination with “Mugsy”, between his many antics, throwing a good ball. All of the boys appre¬ ciated “Mugsy” and his locker room performances. Of course, the team missed that great Edgar “Stinky” Davis. However, Edgar is again twirler, we Forty-eight 19 40 The Pioneer BASEBALL TEAM First row: Janies Robertson, Gerald Colford, Clarence Arsenault, Charles Collins, Arthur Knapp. Second row: John Quinlan, Woodbury Titcomb, Jack Collins, Richard Merritt, Irving Holcomb, Coach Holgerson, Herbert White, Albert Stephanian, Donald O’Brien, Anthony Rose. Third row: George Beaumont, Michael Stephanian, Robert Perry, Donald Douglas, Glenn Davis, Robert Anderson, Joseph Mer¬ rill, Harry Irons, Ralph Frotten, Leonard Rose, George Mar;hetti, John Crooker. understand, for the Mudville Juniors. He is a lad of tremendous possibility and some day, if he works hard, we are all sure that he will make the grade for the Mud¬ ville Intermediates. And not to forget the great Dunn, our manager, let us all say that he did a good job. “Irv” was always on the ball; he gave a good account of the equipment. All in all, there was a great crew of fellows out there, and a grand coach. We really did have fun and got good experience for future reference, Our sched lule follows: April 24 Reading 0 Lexington 1 April 30 Reading 31 Stoneham 21 May 3 Reading O o Belmont 6 May 7 Reading 3 Concord 5 May 10 Reading 16 Winchester 15 May 14 Reading Lexington May 17 Reading Maynard May 21 Reading Belmont May 24 Reading Concord May 29 Reading Wakefield May 31 Reading Winchester June 3 Reading Maynard Irving Holcomb HOW FOOTBALLS ARE MADE An Article With An Eye To The Future A football is an oval piece of air around which the skin of a pig has been carefully wrapped. Anybody knows that. But what few people seem to realize is that we can’t use just any air for footballs. We’ve got to have a special kind of air. It has to be super-heated and subjected to pressure so that it will stand a lot of thumping without getting dents in it. When Congress is in session, air from the House of Representatives is the best football air we can procure. If this air is un¬ available, we see Mr. Dixon and the period 4 U. S. His¬ tory class. Both of these have shown plenty of ability to take punishment. This air is then sliced into rec¬ tangular “blocs” and shipped to the factory in specially built football coaches. A spacious football coach can hold a lot of super-heated air. At the factory the “blocs” are broken into convenient pieces with air hammers, cut into the familiar oval shape, and placed on the assembly line. Meanwhile, in another part of the plant, pigs are busy shedding their skins and running off to the minced ham department. Once in awhile we find a recalcitrant pig who refuses to shed his skin. 1 hese little rebels are sent into the Boris Karloff room, under the manage¬ ment of Coach Ormsby, where a workman makes faces at them and scares them out of their skins. The skins are then cut into the proper shape and stretched tight 1 over the oval hunks of air as they come down t he assem¬ bly line. After that there ' s nothing to it. The footballs Continued on page 57 F orty-nine The Pioneer 19 40 FOOTBALL SQUAD Front row: Joseph Carder, Howard Bates, John Donovan, John Hrynowsky, Malcolm Johnston, Fdward Keene, Coach Hol- gerson. Richard Lawlor, Willard Perkins, Jack Collins, Donald Dacey, Richard Merritt. Second row: Tames Bain, Robert Tuttle, Albert Stephanian, John Crooker, Glenn Davis, Gordon Watkins, John Kelley, Rae Amback, Harry Barr, Robert Anderson. Third row: Michael Stephanian, Thomas Hubbard, George Black, Joseph Anderson, John Dagdigian, Thomas Hay, Russell Mer¬ rill, Joseph Marchetti, Bruce Putnam. Fourth row: Rudolph DeRosa, Roy Sherrod, Robert Henderson, James Robertson, Stephen Callan. TENNIS TEAM Front row: Henry .Tuques, Rae Amback, Robert Sullivan, Clark Nyman, Franklin Bryant, Howard Bates. Second row: Chester Gunn, Stephen Callan, Norman Floyd, Richard Lawlor, Richard Lewis, Coach Althoff. Fifty The Pioneer 19 40 SOCCER TEAM Front row: Carleton Adams, Philip Burbine, Norman Putnam, Donald Hills, Richard Fellows, George Hamm, Roland Carpenter, Roland Dehurst, William Jaques, Walter Hilton. Second row: Martin Shapiro, Henry Jaques, Thomas Jacobs, Robert Perry, Kenneth Hills, Leonard Rose, Warren Winn. Third row: David Littlefield, George Brennan, Harris Pratt, Donald Baisley. CROSS COUNTRY TEAM Front row: Second row: Stephen Doucette, David Sheldon, Mr. Spencer, Anthony Tine. Richard Lewis, Robert Burrows, Arthur Batchelder, Sherman Poland, Bernard Doucette. Fi fty-two 19 40 The Pioneer GOLF TEAM Front row: James Bain, John Donovan, Carlton Luce, Alden Heath. Second row: Alexander Dissel, George Whelpley, Harry Barr, Mr. Spencer, Stanley Davis, Horace Lander. GOLF When the spring manages to roll itself around, you will always, if you look hard enough, discover the Read¬ ing High golf team in action. This year we started our season against what was supposed to be rather weak opposition. You can understand and sympathize with our surprise, therefore, at finding that the first four matches, having been fought every yard of the fairway, spelled defeat for us. Of course, at the time this article is being written we have not played our schedule out by any means, and the team itself has been chagrined by the losses to a point where it does not seem likely that we shall lose again! We forfeited only one team member at last year’s graduation; hence, we were pretty sure of ourselves. But fate, or whatever else may have had a foot in it, relieved us at the start of the season of two more play¬ ers, Higgins and Sarcone. We still have and are using three veterans of last year: Donovan, Barr, and Lander. Remaining members of the team, whose golf prowess goes not unheeded, are Davis, Hitchcock, and Luce. Our substitutes are Whelpley and Heath. We should like to express our gratitude to Mr. Spencer for the time and enthusiasm he has given us; we hope sincerely that we shall be able to show him our thanks by winning the rest of our matches. We are also indebted to the new pro at Meadow Brook, Clark Morrow, for allowing us two or three days a week, which ever was needed, for the playing of our home games. Harry Barr TENNIS With but two exceptions, which can be chalked up to last year’s graduation, Coach Althoff has an all vet¬ eran tennis team this year. There are seven Seniors on the squad, most of whom have seen service for the past two seasons. Mr. Althoff thinks that with the material on hand we should win all our matches and make a good showing in the Belmont Interscholastics this yeat - . The squad members include these Seniors: Robert Sullivan, Clark Nyman, “Dick” Lawler, Norman Lloyd, Richard Lewis, Franklin Bryant, and Rae Amback. Junior members are Chester Gunn and Howard Bates. Among us there is one lone Sophomore—Steve Callan. Thus far, we have defeated Danvers 4-1 and Stoneham 3-2. The remainder of our schedule is listed below: Reading at Vermont Academy Reading at Wakefield Reading at Danvers Reading at Stoneham Wakefield at Reading Belmont Interscholastics at Belmont Rae Amback Fifty-one 19 40 The Pioneer GIRLS ATHLETICS GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Front row: Viola Arsenault, Betsy Foxcroft, Muriel Powers, Barbara Currie, Betty Miller, Jeanette Davis, Margit Courossi, Kathleen Browne, Olive Skane, Katherine Conron, Florence Duggan. Second row: Lucille Gonnam, Frances Wheeler, Dorothy Doherty, Barbara Merritt, Esther Frotten, Barbara Bryant, Dorothy Arnett, Sonia Courossi. Dorothy Stratton, Doris Margeson, Elsie Mason, Alma Towle. Third row: Agnes Meuse, Virginia Perkins. Eleanor Williams, Gertrude Dahlquist, Jean Dow, Claire Johnson, Elinor Abbott, Patricia Lane, Jennie Gromyko, Patricia Donegan, Evelyn Peters, Bette Ellis. BASKETBALL The girls’ team again prepared very enthusiastically for another basketball season. Plenty of good material appeared at our first practice, and prospects looked very bright. The Seniors who stood faithfully by through¬ out the season were Captain Jeanette Davis, Betty Miller, Kathleen Browne, Olive Skane, Barbara Currie, Margit Courossi, Kathryn Conron, Muriel Powers, May Melan- son, Betsy Loxcroft, Virginia Perkins, and Betty Beau¬ dry. Juniors included Captain Sonia Courossi, Dorothy Arnett, Jean Dow, Dorothy Stratton, Esther Erotten, Florence Duggan, Barbara Bryant, Gertrude Dahlquist, Elsie Mason, and Patricia Donegan. Sophomores were Captain Alma Towle, Evelyn Peters, Barbara Merritt, Jennie Gromyko, Betty Ellis, Claire Johnson, Elinor Abbott, Eleanor Williams, Frances Wheeler, Marguerite Marstella, and Viola Arsenault. The season started with Arlington, our old unbeat¬ able enemy, defeating the Seniors and Juniors. The Sophomores, however, managed to withstand the terrific bombardment. The results were as follows: Seniors, 20-25; Juniors, 17-26; Sophomores, 15-13. The next week, although our hopes before the game had been high, we returned in defeat from Winchester. The heart¬ rending, so near but yet so far scores were Seniors, 14- 19; Juniors, 13-16; Sophomores, 17-21. Our first real evening session came when we showed Lexington that they couldn’t treat us as they treated the boys this fall in football. We were proud victors with scores that certainly made up for our recent beatings: Seniors, 29-13; Juniors, 36-3; Sophomores, 18-14. But shortly thereafter our friends from Melrose came over and mowed down the Seniors 22-29 and the Juniors 22-35. Again our little Sophomores managed to save our faces with a score of 18-16. This year, for the first time, we played Swampscott. We were so near the ocean that we almost went for a swim. Our first game with this team ended in a victory for good old Reading to the tune of 31-15 for the Seniors, 18-14 for the Juniors, and 26-12 for the Sopho¬ mores. Our return game with Swampscott proved an¬ other victory for the Seniors 27-11 and for the Juniors 27-25. In our last game of the season, we completely downed Wakefield in a glorious finale to the basketball season. Captain Jeanette Davis made the last basket ot the Senior team’s career, which was most appropriate, and the final score was 21-19. The Juniors defeated the Wakefield girls 32-18. The Sophomores ended a very good season (having lost only one game) by win¬ ning 24-11. Because of her unending patience, we Seniors wish to leave to Miss Nichols our hearty best w ishes for Fifty-three The Pioneer 19 40 GIRLS’ TENNIS Front row: Kathleen Wright, Alma Towle, Marjorie Webster, Lucille Gonnam, Nancy White, Natalie Coker, Frances Wheeler, Barbara Merritt, Dorothy Munro, Elsie Mason. Second row: Constance Scharton, Katherine Conron, Muriel Arthur, Betty Dalton, Mary Maling, Barbara Currie, Mae Melanson, Betty Miller, Betsy Foxcroft, Margit Courossi, Jeanette Davis, Barbara Gonnam, Edith Arsenault. Third row: Edith Kimball, Donna Packer, Frances Madden, Patricia Donegan, Evelyn McLeod, Marjorie Batchelder, Betty Shannon, Priscilla Nichols, Theo Farr, Joan Vasey, Virginia Perkins, Barbara Tasney, Marjorie Wright, Phyllis Gormlie, Evelyn Greenleaf, Marilyn Maxon, Florence Duggan. Fourth row: Kathlene Browne, Betty Kimball, Betty Parks, Baarbara Bryant, Dorothy Arnett, Jennie Gromyko, Jean Dow, Elinor Abbott, Claire Johnson, Patricia Lane, Carolyn Lumsden, Jean Danforth, Stella Pollitz, Dorothy Stratton, Lillian Davies, Helen Farr, Phyllis Garey, Sonia Courossi, Barbara Bird. future victories. She has abundant talent among her incoming Seniors and Juniors. A practice game the Seniors will remember vividly was one with the ninth graders, who had us worried for a while. The score was 12-11. Next year’s Sophomores would seem all right, too. Margit Courossi TENNIS Spring rolled merrily in, and as early as possible the courts were swarming with tennis fans practicing forehands, backhands, and other techniques. It wasn’t long before the season was in full swing, with a record number of eighty-five girls turning out for the tourna¬ ments! Needless to say, there was plenty of competition and no lack of games for anyone. For those who wanted to play on the tennis team, an elimination tournam ent was arranged. At this date, results have just been an¬ nounced, the following girls having made the squad: May Melanson, Barbara Gonnam, Betty Miller, Alice Goodwin, Betsy Foxcroft, Dorothy Stratton, Jeanette Davis, and Carolyn Lumsden. With additional practice, of course, others may make the grade according to Miss Nichols. Although our schedule has been made up, so far (May 15) no outside matches have been played. The team consists of good material, with all players holding their own and shaping up well. We hope to have a suc¬ cessful season and more than break even. Alice Goodwin Fifty-four BOWLING “Crash! Bang! A spare? No, a strike!” Yes, you’ve guessed it, bowling was off to such an accompaniment for another bang-up year. More than ever, 1940 seemed to bring out enthusiastic attendance. Why, somedays one actually had to wait half an hour or more for the chance to bowl. Lots of fun and good sportsmanship were to be found at Dan’s Place on prac¬ tice days. There were laughs galore when somebody took a tumble on her knees or let the ball drop acci¬ dentally on the foot of a hapless team mate. The poor pin-boy never knew quite what to do when Betty Miller heaved that trusty arm of hers, and “Barb” Currie never did quite bowl her best with that ever present male gallery to fluster her. Six girls this year entered the amateur bowling tournament in Boston. They were Jeanette Davis, Betsy Foxcroft, Betty Miller, “Prissy” Nichols, Claire John¬ son, Theo Farr, and May Melanson. Melanson and Johnson won respectively the fourth and the thirteenth prizes. The Seniors reluctantly retiring from the squad ex¬ tend a hearty wish that next year’s team have a striking¬ ly bright future! May Melanson 19 40 The Pioneer FIELD HOCKEY r Front row: Theo Farr, Jeanette Davis, Barbara Currie, Winnifred Poland, Elsie Mason, Frances Wheeler. Back row: Frances Madden, Sonia Courossi, Miss Nichols, Muriel Powers, Olive Skane, Mae Melanson, Claire Johnson. CHEER LEADERS Edith Kimball, Florence Duggan, Dorothy Stratton, Sonia Courossi, Christine Ellis, Martha Randall, Helen Robbins, Jeanette Davis. Fifty-five l •I The Pioneer 19 40 Some are old, some are new (in fact a lot are new this year), but they aren’t borrowed (they’re ours for keeps), and they come in all colors of the rainbow. One of them arrived in a specially gay shade of red—the “Alpha” from Wilmington. This little number covers news well: we doubt if anybody in the school escaped Dame Gossip’s eagle eye. Also in red, the “Tewksbury Hi-Lights” offers a good literary section with book reports playing an im¬ portant part. We found another good literary department in “The Mirror” from Waltham. The drawing that accompanied the nautical story “Off the Point” was outstanding; it would be nice to see more such illustrations. “The Focus” from Saugus is an exceptional maga¬ zine, for there are actually more poems than prose selec¬ tions in the literary department—and they’re good poems. Congratulations to your budding poets. Still, everybody likes a story, you know. Ipswich sends “The Cub” with its clever “Diary” and the encouraging editorial “Spring in Poland”, a happy relief from the pessimistic war editorials so abun¬ dant at present. “School Life”, the magazine from Melrose, devotes nearly all of its space to literature, as the news is cover¬ ed by “The Imprint”, Melrose High’s newspaper. We received and enjoyed both—especially “School Life’s’ clever ditty “Ye Gods in 1939”. This exchange column just wouldn’t be the same without “The Stick”, official tattler and recorder of de¬ bates, feuds, and general goings-on at the State Teachers’ College at Fitchburg, and “The Stick” probably wouldn’t be said “Stick” without its “Ash Tray”, in which prob¬ lems of the moment are discussed with such a dash of whimsy. Andover’s Punchard High School sends a neat magazine, “The Punch-Harder , just filled with excellent essays, which might, however, be balanced with more stories and illustrations to good advantage. “The Reflector” fr om Woburn offers a sheaf of good editorials and a good literary department. We were pleased to see “Boogie’s” (Alice Goodwin to the un¬ initiated) poem, “To the Seniors”, reprinted from our 1939 June issue. “The Red and Gray” has the novel idea of printing quotations which pertain to the material on the page. The frontispiece, “Season’s Greetings”, and the cover were attractive. A new member of our column, “The Academic Observer” from Utica Free Academy, Utica, New York, made a big first impression (with the skater on the cover) before it was even opened. We liked your page of snapshots and your clever gossip column in verse. “The Monson Spirit”, another newcomer, hailing from Monson Academy in Monson, Massachusetts, is marked by the excellent news write-ups, and Professor Integer Vitae’s Dorothy Dix for boys was as funny as it was impractical. Stoneham’s “Authentic” sported a beautiful white football on a blue cover—very stunning—and the sports items were well written. A plumper literary section would help. Something totally different to which we always look forward is “The Cryptian”, which comes from the Crypt School in Gloucestor, England, full of all the tradition and dignity which only the publication of a school four hundred years old can offer. “The Hanover Harpoon” from Hanover, New Hampshire, is making its first appearance in this issue. We enjoyed reading your ski-news particularly, and the Tri-Hi-Y column struck a responsive chord among the members of our would-be Tri-Hi-Y. The beautiful new Spaulding High School in Roch¬ ester, New Hampshire, sends ns its “Red and White” with attractive illustrations at the head of each depart¬ ment. Your poetry has improved immensely! Fifty-six 19 40 The Pioneer What should blow in from Nashville, Tennessee, but our old friend the “Fogg Horn ' of the Hume Fogg High School. This paper seems to have a gift for snap¬ py editorials that get to the point in a minimum of words. We quote one of them: “What I think— 1 ve got an idea Some of the students in this school Resemble a certain species of donkey. They brey perpetually. Our auditorium is no Stockyard or livery stable. The least we can show is courtesy. Our courtesy is not here. It’s terrible. It’s lousy. It stinks. You get the idea; So do others. We don’t like it; Furthermore, we’re going to Do something about it. We can’t ask for money to Build a stall To ac commodate, well—you know what. So let’s act like the swell Students we are.” Barnstable’s “Clipper”, with its extremely attractive block prints, tucked clever jokes and ditties in spare corners; for instance: “A clergyman named Fiddle Refused to accept a degree. Said he, “It’s bad enough to be fiddle Without being Fiddle D.D.” “The School Spirit” from the girls of the David Hale Fanning Trade School in Worcester makes a regu¬ lar appearance in our mail box just about every month. Its spirited articles are as good as ever and the covers are becoming increasingly attractive. “The W. H. S. Hill Quill” from Walpole sends its usual good literature and clever jokes. From Burlington we welcome the “Keyhole”, which lives up to its name with its well-covered news articles and gossip. One issue was dedicated to the football squad. (Did they get free copies?) The “Blue and White”, a newspaper from parts south, Savannah, Georgia, to be exact, offsets its well written news with a story. We enjoyed the column “Girls’ Fashions”! Concord’s “Voice” seems to include the news of the whole school without resorting to a gossip column— very refreshing. Your French club sounds like lots of fun. And so—thank you all for your exchanges; they have contributed to one of the largest, most successful exchange columns we’ve had. Until next year, au revoir. Dorothy Babcock MUSIC NOTES Continued from page 30 The poor statues in the library, when looked at Thursday morning after orchestra rehearsals, have a more thoughtful expression than ever, but under the direction of Mr. Paul Sakas, the orchestra is making rapid progress. Its members certainly can “go to town” during assemblies and inflame that old R. H. S. spirit in the hearts of each and every listener. Called “the band” last fall, they were faithful at all the football games—right on hand to play us to victory at the Stone- ham game. Certainly, no finer tribute could be paid to any school than the one that our musical groups pay to R. H. S. Evelyn Comey HOW FOOTBALLS ARE MADE Continued from page 49 go through the joke department of the “Pioneer” where they’re soon in stitches and ready for any fate. We firmly believe that several new-type footballs will find high favor this coming year. There’s the glider type which we’ve designed to shoot out two wings whenever it is kicked and which could conveniently, and if necessary, soar right out of the stadium. If you’re afraid of intercepted passes, we offer a porcupine foot¬ ball which sprouts quills whenever an opponent touches it. Then we have the concealed grip football. When the runner receives the ball from the center, he simply pulls out what looks like a suitcase handle and carries the pigskin as he would a satchel. It’s practically im¬ possible to fumble this ball! We have placed great hopes in our brand new hanging-cord football—a good type if your forward passer is overstrong. Where the ball is heaved, a cord with a weight on the end is re¬ leased. As the pigskin sails over the receiver’s head he simply grabs the hanging cord, pulls the ball down, gallops to the goal. The future Reading High Team might be interested in our fishline football for punting purposes. When you punt the ball, you merely retain in your hand one end of a strong fishline, the other end being attached to the ball. The opposing safety catches the ball, but you yank it out of his hand and your end falls on it, if he’s anywhere around. Still another model is the ball for the runner like JoJo Robishaw. When the player exceeds the speed endurance of your fastest player, the ball suddenly turns red, goes into a reverse spin, and dovetails back to the line of scrimmage. We suggest that Coach look up the further abilities of this ball or else hire Jesse Owens next year for end it Ipswich has any more like JoJo. If you wish to obtain any additional information on this matter of bigger and better footballs, mail a half dollar to Coach Holgerson and demand a quarter¬ back—preferably Amback, as he can do your math. David St. Hilaire Fifty-seven The Pioneer 19 40 - MEMORIES I’m sure that when R. H. S. holds no more in store for me And rules and regulations I can easily defy, My mind, not crammed with boyish tricks, will just be all at sea— That I am bound to miss the place, I do not dare deny. When in my leisure moments I am prone to reminisce, Among my favorite memories I anticipate a few: My geometric proofs which somehow always seemed amiss; Lunch time and those well-filled bowls of stew; The witty Spencer version of the famous Cicero, With Lucullus called the Vanderbilt of the B. C.’s; Miss Devaney’s smiles and nods at quips of so and so While giving “Sherm”, her office boy, the list of absen¬ tees—ah me! I know that when I’m president, the tests I had in school When matched with tests of life will seem but as a game of pool. James Hawes GEORGE AMD LOUIE On the northern shore of Long Island there are many coves and inlets. The westernmost of these in¬ dentations is a shallow bay. Extending inland for per¬ haps two or three miles from the edge of this bay is a meadow, through which once ran a tidal river. On the three sides away from the bay, the meadow is hemmed in by low, rolling hills. This was once a beautiful val¬ ley, but with the expansion of the great metropolis it became New York City’s rubbish heap. Through the years, layer upon layer of ashes and other debris col¬ lected, until in 1935 the whole northern end, an area of nearly a square mile, was buried to a depth of ninety feet. The dust of ashes filled the air, and only when winter’s cold slowed the decomposition of garbage here deposited could one breathe normally in the neighbor¬ hood. One writer called this place “The Valley of Ashes ”, which was indeed appropriate. It was not cold that October night in 1935. The thermometer probably did not read less than fifty-five degrees. But a chill west wind, added to a typical Long Island dampness, made it seem like twenty-five degrees. At a certain point where the ashes met the bay, the wind had blown away the characteristic odor of the dump. Instead, it now carried a distinct odor of alcohol. If one had been standing at this point, he would have heard, growing louder and louder, the strains of a song, the words of which went something like this: “Drunk lash night, drunk the nishe before; and I’m gonna get drunk tonishe like I never got drunk before!” At length the high point of the concentration of the C2H50H va¬ por was reached as two gentlemen in slightly disordered evening clothes arrived at the spot. “Look, Louie,” said the first to reach the water’s edge, “here’s the Atlantish Ocean. Louie, ain’t ish beautiful?” “G’wan, George, thash Lake Erie.” “Whether ish Lake Erie or the Atlantish Ocean, ish still wunnerful. Louis, do you realishe that right over thash way, acrosh the Atlantish, liesh Englund?” George pointed in the direction of the Bronx shore, which was invisible because of the thin mist. “Georgsh, you’re jush ignorant,” said Louie, ex¬ haling indignantly. “Anybody knowsh that Meshico ish on the other side of Lake Erie! - - Georgsh, did you hear anything?” Both were silent for a moment. The only sound was that of the wind rustling the few wisps of meadow grass which were hardy enough to withstand the pollution of the bay. “No,” replied George at length, “but if you did, maybe the British are coming acrosh from England.” He turned, raised his hands to his mouth, and shouted in a loud voice, “To armsh, to armsh, the British are coming!” “Shh! 1 hissed Louie. Then he said in a hoarse whisper, “I thought I heard a voice call for help.” “G’wan No! Look! It ain’t the British! Theresh shomebody out there in the water. It must be the feller you heard call.” “Yeah, it mush be. Man the life boash! Women and children firsht.” “Louie, wheresh the scosh?” “I dunno. Washoo want ish for?” “We gotta have a shtimulant before we go in thash co Id water. We mishe cash pneumonia.” “Thash right, where ish it? I gave it to you.” “No, you din’t.” “I take ish back, Shorsh; here it ish,” said Louie, holding up the half empty quart bottle of scotch. He lifted it to his mouth and drained half of its contents Fifty-eight The Pioneer 19 40 with a gurgling sound. “Wait!” cried George. “Gimniee shum. I need shtimulation ash mush ash you do!” He unceremoni¬ ously grabbed the bottle and emptied it except for two or three drops. “Thish,” he said, “is to revive the poor drowning pershion with!” He placed the vessel on the ashes. “Take off your shoesh, Shorsh, show you can shwim better.” For several minutes they struggled with their foot gear, finally succeeding in removing the shoes. “Here we go to the reshcue,” said George, starting off away from the water, while Louie plunged into it. “Shorsh, Shorsh! Where are you?” “The water mush be froshen, Louie—I’m walkin’ on top of ish.” “Shorsh!” “Over thish way, Louie; it’s all ishe.” At this point George tripped on the mortal remains of a Model T Ford. When he regained his feet, he was again headed in the direction of the water. As he reached the edge, he cried, “Hey, look out, Louie. The ishe ends here; we gotta shwim.” So saying, he entered the water with a ponderous splash. “Shorsh! Wash happened? Have you drowned, too?” “Here I am, Louie,” said the other, reaching his side. “D’ya sh’pose he’s shtill alive, Shorsh?” “Mush be! We hurried ash fasht ash we could.” (It had taken them a half hour.) “I wunner what he’sh doin’ there?” “Maybe he wash trying to shwim from England and the British are coming. To armsh! To armsh!” “I’ll bet he’sh a Meshican. Are we shtill at war with Meshico?” Their splashing had brought them nearly to their objective. “Here we are, Louie.” “Yeash. Theresh the fellow, and he’sh not moving - - - Shorsh-D’ya shposhe he’s-?” “Naw, jush unconshush. Come on, we gotta work fash. You take hish head, ‘n’ I’ll take hish feet.” “OH! SHORSH!” “ ’Shmatter?” “He ain’t gottany head!” “LOUIE! He ain’t got any legsh either.” “We mush find the resh of him. I wonder what he did with it.” “Wait! We’ll ashk him. Maybe he knowsh where he ish.” George thumped on the victim’s chest. “Hey, wake up! Where’sh the rest of you? Washa do with your head?” “He won’t talk.” “Lesh try and find the resh of him.” The two floundered off in opposite directions. When at length they splashed back to the victim, Louie said, “Find anything, Shorsh?” “No, joo?” “No. Wa’shall we do now?” “Guesh we’ll have to be shatishfied with reshcuing what we’ve got,” replied George. “Yeah, we can hunt for the resh in the morning.” “Lesh go, Louie; heave ho, heave ho.” After a few minutes Louie shouted, “Land ho. We’re aground, skipper. Haul him onto the shore.” “Louie, you were a life shaver one summer. Give him artifishal reshperashun.” Louie seated himself astride the still form and press¬ ed down with his hands on the back. A great fountain of water arose. “Ish workin’, Louie. The watarsh corn¬ in’ out of him!” “Out-goesh-sha-bad-air. In-comesh-sha-good.” “Here, make him drink thish,” said George, produc¬ ing the three drops of scotch. “It’ll do him good.” “Where ? Hish mouth wash in hish head and hish head’sh gone.” “Gimme it, Louie; I’ll show you.” He poured the few drops onto the stump of the neck. “There, thash ought to do ish.” “Oush-goesh-sha-bad-air. In-comesh-sha-good.” “Mornin’sh cornin’, Louie.” “Oush-goesh-sha-bad air. In-comes-sha-good. Oush- goesh-sha-bad-air-In-comes—-” Gradually the great heaps of ashes, tin cans, wreck¬ ed automobiles, old gas stoves, oil drums, broken bot¬ tles, and other articles took form. At seven o’clock, Officer Patrick O’Brien was pounding his beat around the shore line of the bay. He came upon two gentlemen who were snoring loudly. With each outgoing breath a cloud of alcoholic vapor arose. The bluecoat ungently rolled one over with his foot. “Come aun naw, me laddies, wake up. Come aun, wake up and hear the birdies sing.” Louie was the first to awaken. He had slept, but not long enough to wear off the effect of all the alcohol inside of him. He quickly resumed his artificial respira¬ tion. “Oush-goesh-sha-bad-air. In-comesh-sha-good Oh, offisher, where did you come from? Shorsh! Here’sh a pleesh offisher.—Look at that. He’sh gone to shleep! Shorsh, Shorsh! wake up.” “Washmatter?” “Wake up, Shorsh, a pleeshman’sh here. Shame cm you going to sleep at a time like thish!” “Pleeshman? Oh! Wunnerful—call oush the er- meshensy shquad. Give him shum oshigen.” “Yeah. Gesh the coash guard—the whole “You Esh Navy”. Find thish mansh head’n legsh. He can’t live without hish head!” “Come aun naw, me hearties, it’s only an auld dress¬ maker’s dummy. Let’s get goin’. Leave the dummy here. We’ll go to a nice bar, where we can get aull nice and cooled auf.” “Shorsh, did you hear that—dummy! Do you mean shay we washted our talentsh on a dummy! Oh, Shorsh.” “OH, Louie, a dummy. Ishn’t ish dishgushtine? Lesh not cry over shpilt dummiesh. Lesh go to the bar with the pleeshman.” Sixty 19 4 0 The Pioneer Officer O’Brien sat between the two gentlemen in the back of his blue-green limousine. This vehicle had a nice little wire grill door in the rear end, which had a cute little door step. On either side were comfortable pine benches. Louie turned and said “Shorsh, I just been thinking ’bout sheography. Ish Meshico really on the other shide of Lake Erie—or ish Shapan? Gregg C. Brewer A GUIDING STAR Last night I saw a candle in the sky— It was so small it hardly could be seen. And yet its tiny twinkle there on high Made all the heavens peaceful and serene. It made the darkness round me seem obscure, The gloom of night was shut out by its ray. It filled me with a feeling safe and sure. I knew that it was lighting up my way. I wondered if perhaps an angel bright Had put it in the window of God’s home To light a wand’rer’s way throughout the night To guide him on wherever he might roam. I knew though it be vanquished, come the dawn The guidance of its light would ne’er be gone. Evelyn Comey SONG SNATCHES “The Little Man Who Wasn’t There “Sophisticated Lady” “Tuxedo Junction” “I Got Rhythm” “Who’s Sorry Now “N’ya, N’ya, N’ya” r?” George Bridges Betty Dalton David St. Hilaire Bette Kimball Seniors ‘The Foxy Five’ I Thought About You” Homework over the weekend “The Wind and the Rain in Your Hair” Clark’s Ford “Watching the Clock” Eighth Period “Comes Love” Pestana and Merritt “Faithful Forever” “Charley “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” Office Refrain “Oh, Johnny!” “All in Favor Say ‘Aye ” “A Man and His Dream” “Don’t Worry Bout Me, I’ll Get “A Table in a Corner” “Gotta Get Some Shut Eye” “So Far So Good” “The Man That Comes Around “Chatterbox’ “Drummer Man” “Five Foot Two With Eyes of Blue “Turn on the Old Music Box “What’s the Matter With Me?” “It ' s a Wonderful World ’ THE TEDDY BEAR The white and furry bunch upon my bed, With stuffing leaking through its tattered paws And glassy eyes that stared from lifeless head— From whose worn patches poked a few loose straws, To most was but a wooly bunch of fur, A lifeless toy as bare of soul and sense As all the straws that stuffed its body were. It gave no hint, that stolid countenance, What life this toy had lived, what secrets known, What kisses had been lavished on its head, What childish arms had clasped it for their own; Yet still it perched upon that quilted spread, Still loved, still clasped, though shabby now with wear, The king of toys, a tattered teddy bear. Dorothy Babcock John Quinlan Senior Class Meetings R. Lawler, J. Davis Along” Elisabeth White Torre’s at 2:30 “Stan” Davis Sophomores Mr. Sussmann Horace Jones “Blackie” Leman Jeanette Davies Lunch Period Band Practice June 5 LAMENT It really is a pity, To think how long I sittee, Making words to fittee, Going nitty witty In dashing off a ditty! Gregg Brewer SONNET TO A SOPHOMORE Oh, haste thee, gentle sophomore! Anon— The bell in clarion tones a warning cries And tells of tardiness. It shouts, “Be gone!” To each late pupil ling’ring here. It tries To make him go to class—to leave his date In time, that Mr. Sussmann need not have Another come into the “Lair of Fate And wait for sentence to be passed, then leave With rueful countenance and go to spend The afternoon in punishment. In short, Unless you wish to take this chance, my friend, You’d better get to classes as you ought. Oh, haste thee, gentle child. (’Twere best you ran.) You’re late there, young’un; swiftly, quickly, scram! John Hilchey ROOM TEN FirsMo physics, thence to math, Then to French class gone I hath; Now in French class here sit I Gazing at the clouded sky. Since Hugo’s tales are very deep I’d listen not, but sit and sleep— Yet when at length June came round I with an F would be found. And thus since 1 hope to pass, I’ll hear what’s said in French III class! Gregg C. Brewer Sixty-one The Pioneer 19 40 WAS EVER THUS! Bell rings— Period two. Chorus sings— What to do? Home room— Study hard: Comes soon Report card. Must write English theme; Naught in sight Does seem. Open pen— No ink; Ask neighbor I think. Hand sore, Head aches; Write more—- Pen breaks. I - i Theme done. Bell rings; Battle won— Heart sings. Hand in— Teacher beams; Much surprised It seems. Je suis fou! Brains weak: Theme due Next week! Gregg Brewer THE WISH The melody came wafting through the trees As I was lonely passing by the wood; And as I listened wishing that I could With my weak voice the weary world thus please, A nearby tree disturbed by playful breeze Discolored a drab and ugly bird. I should Have passed without a thought, and yet I stood To hear the songs which were sweet symphonies. Although he could not know I liked the tune, I found it gayly echoed in my heart. It helped to cheer me on my way and soon I felt in my small way I’d do my part, And I perchance unwitting bring a boon; Like him 1 might another’s gladness start. Kathryn Conron CINEMA QUIPS “Another Thin Man” . Robert Van Laetham “Three Smart Girls Alma, Evelyn, Vivian “The Jones Family” . Robert, Horace, William “Beau Geste” . Tom Connelly “Gone With the Wind” . Warren Hill “I Take This Woman” . Coach Holgerson “Vigil in the Night” . Before Finals “The Road Back P. G.’s “The Shop Around the Corner” . Woolworth’s “Two Bright Boys” . Faculty Honors “Fast and Furious” . “The Foxy Five” “When Tomorrow Comes” . Library Wall “Of Mice and Men” . Hygiene Textbook “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” . Clark and Frankie “Night of Nights” . June 5 OUR SEVEN WONDERS Can you imagine: “The Melody Gems” with a song? Jean Sargent without a thing to do? Mr. Sussman without an appropriate anecdote? “Red” Davis with straight hair? Mr. Dixon without his ruler? The North Reading students without a bus? R. H. S. without Mrs. Tilton? THE GRAND HUNT One autumn morn I woke to see The rime of frost o’er all the lea; And heard the bay of hounds as thru The distant fields their quarry flew; A hasty cup of coffee hot, Then quick my trusty gun I got, And sallied forth to join the chase Whose prospects made the blood to race; A day afield beyond compare, With sparkling mid-October air, Through forest dell and shaded glen. The chase unfolds, then back again; May Nimrod’s ghost command you try This noble sport before you die. Wallace Haselton THE SILVERY STREAM Slowly now, the summer is ending; The stillness of fall is all around. A silvery stream is quietly wending Its tireless way—onward bound. It passes a field, now golden with wheat, And then through a woodland so dark; It winds through a meadow, where wild birds drink, And echoes the song of a lark. You know, little stream, you’ie a lot like life, Winding and wavering along, First through a forest of hazard and fear, And then through a meadow of song. Betty Gullam Sixty-two Compliments of M. F. CHARLES SONS DEALER IN SCHOOL SUPPLIES 610 Main Street EDGERLEY BESSOM FUNERAL SERVICE Frank Lee Edgerley, Proprietor i Funeral Home, 743 Main St., Reading Telephone Reading 0105 CHARLES L. THORNDIKE Main St., Corner Woburn St. Family Shoe Store MEN’S FURNISHINGS LAMSON HUBBARD HATS ENNA JETTICK SHOES READ WHITE MEN ' S and WOMEN ' S FORMAL CLOTHES READ WHITE RENTED FOR ALL OCCASIONS QUALITY ALWAYS til SUMMER STREET, R0ST0N, MASS. W00LW0RTH RLDG., PROVIDENCE, R. I. Compliments of ARTHUR GRAY’S GARAGE 34 Salem Street Tel. Reading 0010 SEE OUR NEW DEVELOPMENT ON HIGH STREET NEW HOMES REAL ESTATE ROYAL C. JAQUES BUILDER AND CONTRACTOR 93 Grand Street Tel. Reading 1453 Reading, Mass. ■ . £t aMm dla Hlr . .-A, .A. rAa NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY College of Liberal Arts Offers a broad program of college subjects serving as a foundation for the under¬ standing of modern culture, social relations, and technical achievement. The purpose of this program is to give the student a liberal and cultural education and a vocational competence which fits him to enter some specific type of useful employment. College of Business Administration Offers a college program with broad and thorough training in the principles of business with specialization in Accounting, Journalism, Banking and Finance, Public Administration, Industrial Administration or Marketing and Advertising. Instruction is through lectures, solution of business problems, class discussions, motion pictures and talks by business men. College of Engineering Provides complete college programs in Engineering with professional courses in the fields of Civil, Mechanical (with Diesel, Aeronautical and Air Conditioning options). Electrical, Chemical, Industrial Engineering, and Engineering Administration. General engineering courses are pursued during the freshman year; thus the student need not make a final decision as to the branch of engineering in which he wishes to specialize until the beginning of the sophomore year. Co-operative Plan The Co-operative Plan, which is available to upperclassmen in all courses, provides for a combination of practical industrial experience with classroom instruction. Under this plan the student is able to earn a portion of his school expenses as well as to make business contacts which prove valuable in later years. Degrees Awarded Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Science Pre-legal Programs Available FOR CATALOG—MAIL THIS COUPON AT ONCE Northeastern University Director of Admissions Boston, Massachusetts Please send me a catalog of the □ College of Liberal Arts □ Pre-Legal Program □ College of Business Administration □ College of Engineering Name . Address H-34 Compliments of L. G. M. C. HAWES FLORISTS Compliments of THE KINGSTON INN Richard Crooker, Manager, Class of 1936 18 Kingston Street Boston LOOKING FOR A DIGNIFIED VOCATION? STUDY BEAUTY CULTURE IN ITS MOST ADVANCED FORM We prepare young men and women for a life of refinement . . . interesting work . . . security and prosperity. COURSES are complete and systematized, with sound proven principles correctly applied. Our INSTRUCTORS have been care¬ fully prepared to a required standard, and each one is a GRADUATE of the ACADEMY itself. This feature insures capable presentation of all subjects which are essential in any professional training center. CLASSROOMS are spacious and mod- ernly equipped ... an entire building is devoted for this purpose. The number of high-class positions filled by our FREE PLACEMENT BUREAU has increased yearly for more than a decade, assuring undeniable success to our graduates. Moderate Tuition Convenient Payment Terms Day and Evening Classes Further information regarding your own possibilities in this vocation gladly furninshed. Write for free booklet—or visit our Academy without obligation. WILFRED ACADEMY 492 Boylston Street OF HAIR AND BEAUTY CULTURE Boston, Mass. KENmore 0880 NEVER TOO EARLY... OFTEN TOO LATE Lots of young folks starting the first job at a modest salary say to them¬ selves, “As soon as I get a raise, I’ll start to save something”. Raises come along. So do new wants, new desires. That savings account never does get opened. Suddenly the working days are over . . . with no “nest egg” laid aside for a comfortable old age. Regardless of how lit¬ tle you earn, you can save something. Get the habit. Start N O W. Mechanics Savings Bank 643 Main Street, Reading, Mass. SAVING BECOMES AN EASY HABIT when you save the systematic way through our saving shares. Just a little each month and soon you have a good-sized sum of money in the bank for emergencies, or for worth-while spending, or for a growing independence fund. Begin now in the May series—save $1 to $40 monthly to have $200 to $8,000 later. Co-operative 643 Main Street, Reading, Mass. 7 ■ pi I f ipi Ifi 111 H I ipi Ifi ' !■ Ill • 9 Best Wishes to the Graduates RANDALL’S CRULLER SHOP Now on HaVen Street Hot Coffee Served Vt • Economy Grocery Store 8 Haven Street H. L. Sherman Tel. Reading 0929 L. Devaney Free Delivery Congratulations to 1940 Graduates ARE YOU ATTRACTIVE? FOR THAT NEAT AND WELL GROOMED APPEARANCE USE Kernwood’s Personalized Service KERNWOOD CLEANERS Malden 2281 r Placement Service Provided Free to all Graduates 6tt Previous Commercial Training Not Re¬ quired for Entrance Where Success Stories of Tomorrow Begin to Take Form For 61 years, Burdett College has been offering specialized business training to the young people of New England. In its five-story, con¬ venient building in downtown Boston, the success stories of tomorrow begin to take form. Here young men and women acquire solid foun¬ dations in business fundamentals, in skill subjects, and cultural- social studies. They learn to think for themselves, and to think straight. Carry hope into achievement by deciding now to learn more about Burdett College ... its experienced faculty ... its enviable reputation among employers. Burdett College 156 Stuart Street, Boston, Mass. Fall Term Begins September 3, 1940 Send for Day or Evening Catalogue HANcock 6300 T O RRE’S Reading Square MAKING QUALITY CANDY AND ICE CREAM FOR 25 YEARS •W f T Compliments of the Fairlawn Animal Hospital 16 Lowell Street, Wakefield Telephone Crystal 0045 Greetings to the Class of 19 4 0 £u l AUTO SUPPLY STORE 625 MAIN STREET READING 0346 Congratulations 1940 Graduates from the (leoAituj, (leiicziiA ttt “Where Dining is a Fine Art.” 619 MAIN STREET READING SQUARE Extending Heartiest Congratulations to the Class of 1940 9de l 623 MAIN STREET Marion’s Beauty Salon BEAUTY SHOP READING 1669 Pleasant Street Tel. 0116 Evening Appointments Compliments of EUGENE S SHOE SHOP in Street Compliments of Reading Square Market HOME OF QUALITY FOODS Tel. Reading 0890 Free Delivery , Reasonable Prices Good Work Prompt Attention ARCHIE LEVINE CUSTOM TAILOR Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Suits and Overcoats Made to Order. Cleaning, Pressing, Dyeing and Remodeling. Furs remodeled in the latest styles. Tel. Reading 0073-M 175 Haven Street Reading, Mass. Compliments of THE READING THEATRE G. H. ATKINSON CO. FINEST OF MEATS CHOICE FAMILY GROCERIES BIRDSEYE FROSTED FOODS Prentiss Parker,, Inc. W. H. Wightman Co. INSURANCE Reading Office Masonic Block Tie. Rea. 0249 Boston Office 40 Broad St. Tel. Hub. 7880 ADAMS COMPANY LADIES AND CHILDREN’S FURNISHINGS Haven Street Tel. Rea. 1360 W Compliments of FRED S BEAUTY SALON 48 Haven Street Tel. Reading 1599 SALS BEAUTY SALON PERMANENTS OUR SPECIALTY 70 Haven Street Reading, Mass. Telephone Rea. 0456 CO-OPERATION IS THE LIFE OF TRADE! Buy where the consumer Owns the Business Controls the Quality Gets the Profits Now? Why Not Ask Us? Reading CO-OP Society 233 Haven Street ■ ill ill iii A ' ■ AGAIN The First National Bank of Reading SALUTES R. H. S. Its President (Class of 1900) and all officers and employees wish success and prosperity to the members of the Class of 1940 , IIt — —-r ... . ' I nuAce mounting feftKO ' Tu JL or . CORNERS 4—TRANSPARENT REGULAR These fam¬ ous corners will handle every thing from a pos¬ tage stamp to a large map, draw- |«-JUNI0li mg, Qr p Q. tograph. Popular for mounting snapshots on cards or in albums. Four styles, as shown above. In black, white, gray, green, red, sepia, ivory, gold, and silver. Transparent style is of crystal-clear cellulose. NuAce PHOTO HINGES allow prints to be mounted one above the other where album space must be saved. Handy for newspaper clippings or postcards. Ready folded. Just moisten and use. All styles retail 10c package. (15c in Canada). Packed in effective display containers. Ask for sample packages and trade discounts. ACE ART CO. EVERYDAY GREETING CARDS GIFTS APPROPRIATE FOR ALL PURPOSES China, Glass, Pottery and Brass Linens, Leather Goods and Novelties Toys, Dolls and Games H. B. McARDLE Printing and Office Supplies Next to Reading Theatre 565 Main Street Tels. 1647 - 1648 12 Gould St. Reading, Mass. SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY All Departments Co-educational 30 Scholarships available in the Colleges to 1940 High School Graduates Qualification by Competitive Examinations in English or History Cultural and Pre-Professional COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS—day, evening and part-time courses leading to A. B. degree-—120 semester hours. Pre-professional courses (60 s. h.) for Law, Journa¬ lism and Business Administration. Entrance requirement: 15 acceptable college entrance units. Advanced standing for acceptable college credits. Professional LAW SCHOOL—4-year day or evening course. Prepares for LL.B. degree, Mass. Bar examination and law practice. Entrance requirement: 60 s. h. of college credits, obtainable in the Pre-Legal Course of the College of Liberal Arts. COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM—day or evening course, B. S. in J. degree. Includes 60 s. h. of Liberal Arts and instruction in all phases of Journalism. COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION—day or evening course, B. S. in B. A. degree. Includes 60 s. h. of Liberal Arts and specialized instruction in account¬ ing, advertising, business management. GRADUATE SCHOOL OF LAW—2-year evening course, LL.M. degree. Combined Faculties Represent Cultural and Professional Instruction of High Quality and Recognized Achievement Day and Evening Duplicate Sessions Special Summer School Courses Moderate Tuition Placement Service Convenient Location Modern, Fire-proof Building Call, write or phone CAPitol 0555 for catalogs and information about scholarships SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY REGISTRAR Derne Street on Beacon Hill Boston, Mass. MALDEN COMMERCIAL SCHOOL Founded 1903 We invite intelligent comparison A co-educational business college offering courses for beginners and advanced SHORTHAND TYPEWRITING ACCOUNTING OFFICE MACHINES CLERICAL CIVIL SERVICE SPECIAL COURSES SECRETARIAL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Day School - Evening School - Summer School Fall Term begins September 3, 1940 Summer School begins June 24 and July 1 Free Guidance and Placement Service to our graduates 6 Pleasant Street Malden 0256 Send for Day , Evening , or Summer School Catalog Tlie Willis Pharmacy. Inc. Established in 1855 SERVICE AND QUALITY MERCHANDISE wy ■ i f The Graduates Of Today Will Be The fetUd L and Qna mi Of Tomorrow - Get Ready for a Modern Home And Include in the Plans an ■ Electric Range - Refrigerator Water Heater - Washing Machine Vacuum Cleaner Municipal Light Department Reading, Massachusetts W —W IT- —W W � � � � ' HARRY UPSON CAMP V ' if 28 Highland Street Reading Telephone 0835 DODGE PLYMOUTH SALES AND SERVICE Carleton-Walsh Motors. Inc. 508 Main Street Reading Tel. Reading 0894 Why Not r JENNEY SOLVEN JENNEY AER Guaranteed to be the best mo We are equipped for all th Emerson’s Commui Lincoln and Prescott Sts. (Opposite - 4 rhe Best? i fIZED GASOLINE 0 GASOLINE 1 tor fuel value on the market. 4 e service you may require. , lily Service Station Reading Depot) Tel. Reading 0196 _ ’ Compliments of | BELL’S BARBER SHOP A MODERN SHOP IN A MODERN TOWN Austin’s Block Reading Square 4 4 BROWN’S GARAGE 4 4 ALL KINDS OF SERVICE 24-HOUR SERVICE 4 16 Woburn St. Tel. 0231 , 4 4 Compliments of DANFORTIFS PHARMACY Corner Pleasant and Harnden Streets Reading, Mass. 4 LANE’S BUS SERVICE 4 30-40 Passenger Busses for Hire ( Franklin Street Garage Albert F. Lane, Prop. 1 PONTIAC ‘ 4 AUTHORIZED SALES AND SERVICE Tel. 0994 41 Franklin St. Stoneham, Mass. « ■ •W •W •W •W • • W •W • W -w • ■• “ ■� � ■«■ ■� ■ ■� ■ ■ � � ■ ■� ' ' � Make-Up Work in All High School Subjects SUMMER PREPARATORY SCHOOL JULY 1 TO AUGUST 16 Individual Instruction in Difficult Subjects Morning Classes Experienced High School Teachers COEDUCATIONAL $25 a subject—Send for circular. THE FISHER SCHOOL 374 Broadway Winter Hill SOMerset 1800 “We Make Good Things To Eat ” GRATTAN BAKING CO, FANCY BAKERS ICE CREAM AND CATERING 57 Albion Street Wakefield, Mass. Telephone Crystal 1023 Compliments of A FRIEND To the Class of 1940 whose yearbook we have been privileged to produce The Reading Chronicle extends heartiest congratulations and best wishes for the future of each member •W i|r ' ifi .pi ip. .pi if - if r fl ' ' • V � P STROUD SECRETARIAL SCHOOL 603 Main Street, Reading Over the Mary Ann Shop Day Division Intensive secretarial training for young women (high school graduates)— Small classes — Rapid, individual advancement—LOW TUITION payable monthly—Placement opportunities — Day classes start September 3. Evening Division Classes in shorthand and typewriting for beginners — Classes in rapid dicta¬ tion and transcription for advanced students — Two-hour sessions Mondays and Thursday — LOW TUITION payable monthly — Placement oppor¬ tunities — Evening classes begin October 7. For complete information, call Reading 1455 Director: Barbara L. Frost, B. S. Simmons College 1 Lawrence Road, Reading