Scituate High School - Chimes Yearbook (Scituate, MA)

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19 THE CAMERA BUG M. Miles, ' 43 (BXmP faiih well known by llie cognos- ceiiti that this high school is a popular stamping ground for that species of insect called photos insecta by the erudite, and Camera Bug by the un- learned. Indeed, it is said that this locality possesses all the qualifications necessary for the well-being of this most interesting bug: days containing sunshine, beginning with a sun- rise and ending with a sunset: occasional fog: a few cloudy days; snow; wind; rain, et al. Since the climate hereabouts meets these exact- ing specifications so well, it follows that this s jecies thrives reinarkabl . Authorities state that, unfortunately, it is in no danger of becom- ing extinct. Let us then take our magnif)ing glasses and spend a day in the life of this amazing creature. Today, the conditions are very auspicious; there is a sunrise, and our bug is up before most of the other species of homo, all ready to go. On the front of the insect we see a curious contrap- tion encased in a membrane and joined to the neck and shoulders by a narrow cord which has the appearance of leather. As we soon find, the membrane around the machine drops away ingeniously. The insect points his device to- wards the sunrise, and from time to time we hear mutters of f.S.6., a hundredth, infinity. Super Plenachrome ' and the like. This gibber- ish is accompanied by a metallic clicking sound. Experts have not been able to account for this. Some surmise that the machine which the insect carries is connected in some wa) with this f|ueer sound. It is interesting, although tiresome, to attempt to make words out of the mumble- jumble ritual chanted before this strange noise. We notice that it is now almost eight o ' clock, and as the younger of the species eat at approxi- mately this hour, the creature makes a mad bee- line or insecta-line for his domicile, only stop- ping to make more clicking sounds at some birds. This process is repeated at the morning meal, during which several of the young of the species submit U) the clicking. This noise, and the reason behind it. is as yet unfathomed. and a for- tune awaits the man who unveils its mystery. During the day. this operation is continually repeated. The machine is pointed at anything from a cloud to a math teacher, although the favorite subject seems to be any (jung female of the species homo, who undergo the process almost willingly. At the end of the day comes a series of proces- ses which are rarely witnessed by any except the creatures themselves. Masfjuerading as mem- bers of the species, several outsiders have been ])resent at these ceremonies, only to have been unmasked and almost killed by the strange in- sects. This account has been pieced together mainly from the last gasps of dying men. who gave their lives that science might live. A small number of insects (large congrega- tions seem to be the exception I gathers in a small room. At a signal from the leader, the light is extinguished, leaving the procedure cloaked in darkness. Gradually, as one ' s eyes become accustomed to the Stygian gloom, one sees shadowy forms bending over one of the machines. It is opened and from it is extracted a thin, rolled membrane. Muttering mystical words, the leader leans over a shallow receptacle and solenml) dips into it the membrane, now stretched out. This operation is repeated twice more. Some assert that the third receptacle is filled with a 95 ' { solution of sodium thiosul- fate. called hypo by the creatures , but of this we cannot be sure. Several miimtes afterwards the light once more shines. While regarding the membrane, held in front of the light, the insects give cries of exultation and ecstasy, and in some cases, we are told, groans of sorrow and disgust. After the membrane has dried, a process which sometimes takes as much as three hours, th( ' creatures once more enter the tinv. darkened room. This time, part of the membrane, which astoundingly is said to have lines and spots upon it, is placed in a boxlike contraption along with some whitish paper-like substance. Then the light is snapped on. and while the box is held towards it, a chant ensues, sounding like one chimpanzee, two chimpanzee, three chim- panzee, or one thousand one. one thousand two. etc. Scientists are undecided as to the significance of this rite. Then the |)aper is re- moved and plunged into the aforementioned re- ceptacles. It is then said that a curious image results, being the exact opposite of the lines and spots on the membrane, black becoming white, and white, black! After this ceremon it is the custom of these bugs to carry the negative and print, as they are called in the jargon, on their persons and to exhibit them to their fellow bugs in a boast- ful mamier. 1 ote: We have learned that there was once

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a niatthbox. The younger fellow, terror in his innocenl eves, tugged at Laurie ' s arm and suc- ceeded in puUiiis; him hack oxer the edge of the crate, hut he was onh a little hoy. and Laurie was too much for his baby strength, so he fled from danger. What followed next happened too swiftly for anyone to take in the gruesome de- tails, but no one cared for details when they saw the man lift the crumpled, broken little hod . l ing so horribly motionless. The wasted, emaciated bones were crushed like so many sticks, and the dirt was covered with sickening blood. There was no longer a challenge in the blue eyes; they only stared blankly at nothing. The look of defiance was gone forever, leaving in its place a helpless, twisted grin, dimples refusing to vanish even in death. Death! Somewhere a hysterical woman screamed and the awful silence was broken. Sick at heart, the man slowly wended his way through the gather- ing crowd, the tin) wrecked form pressed to his aching chest. The next week a new sign stood at the en- trance to the dusty, busy alley. It read: Road under repair. ' Yes. the maxor had at last decided that this sort of thing couldn ' t continue, but it took the miserable death of the nine-year-old son of some wretched mother to make him realize this. Ex- perience is a wonderful, though hard teacher, for with every lesson she brings a hitler dawning. AS I SEE IT William H. Aver. ' 42 EviiHYONE from leading diplomats to drug- store cowboys has had a crack at prophesying the state of the world as it will exist after this war. Therefore. I am going to put down a few predictions as they ajjpear to me. In these da s of attacks and counter-attacks, many of us live from day to day. hardly daring to think of the post-war world. A brief look at what we may expect in the ears to come may help us. how- e er. to fight with a more definite jiurpose in mind. As I see it, the peace following World War II will not be an era of disarmament and reductions in naval strength as it was after the last war. Instead, the world will be dominated by one or two large powers who will keep the sea lanes open to ever one and insure peace to all. There isn ' t a doubt in my mind that the Lnited States will be victorious in this war. I think we shall emerge as the most powerful nation in the world. Our navy will be unsurpassed: our army, the l)est trained and best equipped anywhere: and our ships free to sail the se en seas, trading with all countries on all continents. Oil the other hand. I believe that England will lose a great deal of her power and prestige. India. Australia, and Cans da are becoming more inde|)endenl both in thought and action every (la . hen this war is over, one. and possiblv all three, may break awa from their mother countrv and become separate nations. The class distinction in England, and. in fact, in all of Europe, will probably disappear. This will be one big ad antage that will be derived from the war. On the continent, there will definitely be some changes made. German) will prohahh disap- pear as a nation. The German race will not vanish, of course, but I do believe that it will never again be able to threaten our peace and security. If Russia. England, and the other nations of Europe don ' t see to this, we will. As for the small countries of Europe. I think the) will at least partiall) regain their former status. Thi3 does not, of course, apply to Italy i.nd Austria, which will probably be greatly re- duced in strength, if it is possible to weaken them an more. The Japanese. I believe, will suffer a fate worse than that of any other nation. According to all rules of human behavior and decency, they certainlv deserve neither mercy nor pity from an N one. The) must be taught a lesson that they will iie er forget. How and b) whom this is to be done makes er) little difference, as long as it is done thoroughl) and completely. The Chinese are the logical people to assume the leadership of this part of the world. I hope to see them take on that task after this war is won. That is the post-war world as I see it. Domi- nated b) the greatest go ernment ever created h man. it will. I believe, be able to shake off the effects of this war and mo e on to new heights of freedom and |)eace. « Miss J ines to Ancient History Class: ho was the smallest man in history? au hn Deal: The Roman soldier wlio sh pl on his walcii. •s s » 1 ;-. Sleuait: aughn. Icll me what the prefix mag ' means. .limmie J aughn: Big. Mr. Steiiarf: Then gi e me an illustration. .1. I aiiiilui: I like magpies.

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20 extant in this school a band of such creatures, under the outlandish name of Camera Club. How great an opportunity for intelligent re- search must these amazing and educational in- sects have offered! ON A LOCOMOTIVE Theodore Holland, 44 In my estimation the most infernal machine ever invented by a human being is the locomo- tive or train. It breathes fire and smoke. From its ravenous-looking mouth exude noises that would deafen an ordinary mortal who had not got used to the sound. Although I have heard many argue in favor of trains. I still am not convinced that they should not be bantied from the eyes and ears of the world forever! As a child my native habitat was in such a secluded part of the L nited States that I never dreamed such a monster existed until I reached the age of learning, namely, thirteen. Now it ' s time for you to see the world, an nounced my father, one crisp day in January. Get your coat ' n ' hat and we ' ll go see the rodeo. I complied without suspecting that I was on the eve of an adventure that I would not soon forget. We tramped for two days, and on the morn- ing of the third we sighted the sclllement of North Scituate. I had made the accpiaintancc of automobiles before so the didn t bother nic much: but I did get a sort of stifif neck while peering at the skyscrapers, some of which were four stories high! Finally I heard what sounded like the howl of a wolf and the roar of a mountain lion combined into one. 1 s(jught my father for protection, but he said thai it was only the train. It suddenh tore into iew ! 1 knew at once that I w as gazing upon a dragon! Fire and smoke it breathed, all the while letting ofT hisses like a snake and roar- ing like a bull. A great crowd of people rushed forward as if to overpower the creature when it came to a panting stop, but they were all en- gulfed in its dark recesses. M father rushed along w ith the rest, and I was dragged after him. To my s urprise I was not mangled and swal- lowed, but I saw a large chair and promptly sal in it. After a while the monster got under wav. with many a creak and groan, and we were soon traveling at a terrific pace! A queer-looking individual in a uniform, not like that of the cav- alry which 1 had seen before, came up to me and said. Where ' s your fare? Now I had always thought a fair was a sort of lawn part given in the sunnner by the local church in mv community; so I said. I don ' t know. I haven ' t seen one since last summer. Before I knew what had happened. I was lying in a heap on the ground, and the creature was disappearing around a bend. Ever since then 1 do my traveling on foot and never venture near a train: and when I hear the far-off hoot of its whistle. I look to see if m rifle is primed and read . CAMOUFLAGE Amalia J. Gillespie. ' 44 W K in the world today are great users f)f camouflage. Though we may not think so, we use camouflage practically every day of our lives. The women of the world camouflage their faces in pink and white masks, long black eve- lashes, and glaring red lips. Thev camouflage their hair by pernianent waves which are defi- nitely not permanent. Now. everyone camouflages his thoughts, fo- we in America today must keep our eyes and ears open and our mouths shut. Many devices have also been made for the camouflaging of our armed forces — tanks of splotched green and brown for use in the woods, or soldiers in costumes blending with their sur- roundings. Even the ships ha e their faces lifted to meet the situation. Nature herself camouflages manv animals. White rabbits are ecpiipped with a camouflage for winter by their very whiteness. The ostrich vainly tries to camouflage himself bv hiding his head in the sand. The leopard is camou- flaged for life in the shadows of the forest bv being spotted. And greatest of all camouflagers is the mother kangaroo who hides her babies in a pouch. Nearly e ery body ' s home is camouflaged. Dirty clothes are in attracti e baskets, garbage is in a pretty can. and in some places carpets camouflage the dirt. Camouflage must be an ancient and honorable device with hypocrites for in the Bible thev speak of gilding the lily. In the famous book The Inside of the Cup. Winston Churchill had reference to camouflage when he wrote of the outside that everybody sees, and the inside into which only a few souls may peer. The outside may be golden and engraved with manv noble deeds. while the inside has never been washed. We may feel quite certain that we have never done any camouflaging in the course of our lives. However, nature disagrees vehementlv. As we see, camouflage is one of nature ' s oldest tricks.