Ridley Township High School - Archive Yearbook (Folsom, PA)

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PRIZE STORY-ANN IVE athletes went into the last lap of their usual mile practice run, but not in the same spirit they had shown in previ- ous running. They all knew who would win, but four of them were going to do their best to prove that they were wrong. For a stretch of twenty-five yards, in that last lap, the boys were as one, but suddenly with lightning speed a blurred figure left the rest as if they were standing still. To the watchers it seemed to have been like a bursting star which, for an instant, shines brightly and then is seen no longer. Of course, they had excuses for the fact that the four runners did not close the sixty yard gap made by RayH Len's brilliant sprint. But then they would never know his feelings at that time. Only Len himself would ever know-yet Coachv had an accurate, though clouded, suspicion as to what had caused him to sprint instead of simply nosing', out the leader. While the milers gathered their monkey suits, Coach stood with the stop watch in his hand muttering He is better than ever in spite of it all. He stopped and, avoid- ing an onlooker, he thought, like the musician who after days of hard practice finally hits the right note, though somewhat bitterly, Yes, that's it-in spite of it all.', Thinking of this could not but bring back to his memory THE Len of three, two, one year, even two months ago-or perhaps this was the real Len-not the light-hearted, care-free boy whom Coach U had met several years a.go. Today was one of Coach Bobis most important of his life. No wonder! His protege had a chance to be one of the three milers who would represent Uncle Sam in the Olympics. He was glad momentarily, and could have blessed her, the thought of whom-he was now convinced-had caused Len to make the sprint that cut his record time to 4.11 and placed him in the running. Before the idea had been entirely formulated in his mind, bitterness filled his heart and disappointment, failure, defeat seemed ready to overwhelm him. Was it not her fault that the real Len had gone, leaving behind only an image-a shadow of his former self? Had he not made Len understand that his sulking, down-hearted manner would not help matters, that his lifeless running, except for that sprint of today-the only one in the last two months- might stop him from realizing his one great ambition, that of beating Albo. Perhaps he had not made this very clear. Well, he would today. Bob had entered, mechanically, into the silent locker room. The forbidding atmosphere was broken by Coach's,', I want to see you at my office, Len, in ten minutesf' His voice was hard and cold. Shivering at the thought of a showdown, Len wondered why this hour had arrived when his one aim had been smashed. Nine minutes later found Len in Bob's oflice. lNIister Len, do you realize, began Bob in a severe tone. He stopped and began again in a very different tone. Len, you know that you have a chance of going to England to run against the best the world has to offer. but you have got to beat this marvel, Allbo. Judging by the way you have been running this year, you wonit be close enough back of him to eat the cindersf' Bob paused and, drumming his fingers on the desk, went on- You know what this means to me, Len. I have always wanted to have a runner of mine enter the Olympics in the event which I have loved the most-the mile. Like you, Len, I had a chance to enter into these important fames, but I was a fool and the attempt I made was not worth two cents. For goodness' sakes, Len, next Monday go to the starting line and Page Thirty-one

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STATISTICS HE Class of ,35 is composed of fifty- one members of which twenty - eight are girlsand twenty-three are boys. No, our population is not very large, nevertheless, we can easily make up for that lack in the fact that every member of the class is a conscien- tious, ambitious and energetic person who accomplishes twice his share of work in the daily run of every-day life. Any member of the class will admit that the class as a whole has an A ranking beside any class in the State and we need not be afraid to say nation' ' for that matter. According to statistics, we find that the average height of a high school boy of normal weight is 5 feet 9 inches, and our boys average 5 feet 10 inches, so we have tha.t to be proud of even if the girls do fall short a few inches. The average high school girl of normal weight. should be 5 feet 5 inches, and our girls measure 5 feet 3 inches. If the total class weight of six thousand eight hundred and forty-six pounds were placed in Mr. Sharer's former Lizzie I am afraid there would be left only a grease spot to show the remains of a once greatly admired car. The average weight of the class is one hundred thirty-four and twelve fifty-firsts pounds. We can proudly say that we have no underweights in the class. Now, if all the boys and girls were to gather in one heterogeneous group and if one belt were purchased to go around this group it would have to be at least one hundred twenty-six and one-twelfth feet long. Even if we were placed in this large belt, only a small space in comparison with the average amount of space we take up in daily routine of work, I am afraid we would have to break through that belt because some kind of a spontaneous combustion might result. Think of the Hercules of the Senior Class Q Archie', Ramontj being confined to such a small space and then you will agree with me that that which I have said is true. I am afraid that I shall have to admit that there are a number of Suitcase Simp- sonsu in our class. However, the average size shoe for boys is seven and one-half. The boys might well save the community a Fire Company if all the boys would go stamping fires. Watch those feet, boys, when you dance! The pedal extremities of the average Senior Girl of the Class of '35 is six A. Stop, look and admire, boys! Blue was acclaimed as the favorite color of the class. Nevertheless, we are never blue ourselves, but are indeed true to that certain 'K youf' The favorite movie star was found to be Dick Powell with Shirley Temple as his runner-up. Sports of all types, including football, basketball, hockey, swimming, dancing, horseback riding, and tennis were acclaimed as tl1e most outstanding interests of the class. Dramatics ranked next in order. This analysis of the heroic threads QSeniorsl, so rich, colorful, interesting and romantic, of the Ridley Township High School will give deserved recognition to the dauntless spirit of our Alma hlater CR.T.H.S.j .whose endurance, valor, and heroic achievements will be our boastg and whose ideals will guide our distance. E. BI. IVTONASTERO, K. P. 0. K. Page Thirty

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forget everything and everybody. Concentrate on running. Allbo is plenty good, but you can beat him. Do this for your sake as well as for mine. Len listened to Bob's unusually long speech with mixed emotions. He Wanted to win that race badly. How, how could he? Something deep in his throat seemed to choke Len, so he simply turned slowly and with his head bent, without a Word of explanation, walked out leaving Bob with a puzzled expression on his kindly face. Len left the college grounds walking witha slow, ragged step. His destination was not clear in his mind-nothing was-he Wanted to walk and walk all alone and think. It appeared to him that all bad luck had picked him as a victim. A curse came to his lips, but it remained unuttered. He didn't give a hang anyway. But still, why--- angrily he jabbed his hand in his vest pocket and began to tear the piece of paper he had taken out. Before he had executed his thoughts, doubt assailed his mind-he wanted so badly to believe that he had misread it. He sat on the grass and read slowly, You have been asking a chance to prove your love. Lose the race Monday. Af, There it was, a five-year-old boy could understand it. That was settled, Albo would brag another victory and Coach Bob would-. Dazedly he found his way to the dormitory. Ignoring his roommate, he lay fully dressed on the bed weeping noiselessly and woefully. Len appeared in perfect health on the day of the race, and the people marvelled at his calmness before such an important event. From Friday night until then, Len had been a mental wreck, but now, the only thought in his mind was that perhaps Albo would beat him regardless. After descending into the locker room, Ray,' began undressing. Coach, who stood beside him, wondered why he did not seem to be nervous, why before other races- Where in the--f!', Len suddenly stopped but finished meekly, are my shoes. Coach,' answered in a matter-of-fact way, There they are, son. Len looked sheepish and merely said HO Yeh. He could not tell Bob that he had lost that note. ' Last call for the mile, last call for the mile, was heard while Coach U saw Len walking out of the room-his one hope seemed to go with Len, leaving him sad, angry, and resigned, all at the same time. At the barking of the starter's gun, four runners left their holes, two were out there to make good and surprise everyone, including themselves, one was out there biding his time-he had the race in Len's pocket or somewhere, the other was out on the track-to get it over! Of course, Len had run his race before it actually took place. Nevertheless with Bob's hope to consider, with the fact that he and Albo were enemies, and with her standing beside the track, cheering for him, it was only nattual that he should be puzzled. Len wanted to run for all he was worth, but that innocent piece of paper seemed to unfold itself before his very eyes and Lose the race 'i appeared to him to be a challenge. The runners went into the home stretch with Len in last position, fifteen yards behind Allbo. Len could not help but notice again Ann waving her arms yelling for him to win for her. There they were, two facts which he could not reconcile-the note and Ann. Half a mile was gone and the two leaders were dropping back. Allbo was still strong though breathing hard, but Len was as fresh as ever. For half a minute loyalty to the college, duty to Bob and above all love for Ann-the ugly note out of his mind- ran a-muck in him, and then suddenly Len forged ahead. The fans numbering well over Hve thousand, had sat Watching two fairly good milers run their hearts out at the same time that a first class one was pacing through a mile and another was leaving him a hundred yards behind. Page Thirty-Iwo