Scituate High School - Chimes Yearbook (Scituate, MA)

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©DDimes 21 LONDON BEFORE THE WAR Frederick Veale, ' 43 IRST isiiali o tli ' ' litllo suhiiibaii town of Barking, with its brick instead of wooden houses. We leave my house and as there is no driveway, walk down a paved path throuf h the front garden into the street. The sidewalk is now the pavement and the shop at the end of the road, a sweet shop instead of a drug store. Our drugstores are chemists ' shops and sell medicine, hot water bottles and cosmetics. How- ever, this little sweet shop sells mineral waters (tonic I, candy, and Wall ' s ice cream. We turn the corner and see a fish shop on our left, and next door a greengrocer ' s. In the fish shop one can buy fried fish and french fried potatoes. They have compartment seats like those in the drugstore, and will serve with the meal tea and rolls and butter. You may take the fish and chips home with you. and it is nothing strange to buy a penny worth of chips. The greengrocer ' s next door is a vegetable shop, where one buys vegetables and fruit. One thing is missing, and that is squash, for we never have that in England. The proprietor is a cock- ney who gives his prices in a typical fashion : The ' taters — oh, tenner er pound, lady. This is sixpence or twelve cents, but then there is no uniformity in our money. The coins one wants to get rid of are threepenny pieces ( 6 cents), for they are twelve-sided and very cum- bersome. Just here we see a white sign with a red band: this is the bus sto|) and here we wait. The bus coming now is ours, for it is going to Marylebon. It is a two-decker bus with the top enclosed and painted silver; it is petrol (gasoline I driven and is coloured bright red. The driver is in a little compartment by himself, and at night pulls down a small blind (shade I behind him to sto|) the interior light reflecting on the wind- shield. There is no door on the alighting platform at the back and no place for one ' s nickels. Instead, the conductor collects the money and gives a stamped ticket in return. The tickets are dif- ferently |)riced. and are stamped by means of a |junch. We are going to Aldgate, and so pay fourpence. or eight cents. We go upstairs to the top deck and sit in the front seats to get a better view. After leaving Barking, we are soon in Poplar, which is the East End, and where a family lives in a single room. Just past here is Linichuuse, wlicre inostl) oriental jieople live. This district is so tough that the policemen walk in pairs and are armed, with a patrol car nearby. The East Side of New York is just as bad, but has more modern buildings. We go on the underground railway at Aid- gate, and here again there are no turnstiles for nickels. This station is very modern with mas- sive stairways and white-tiled sides. Here we catch a train to Charing Cross, and after going down another flight of steps, catch the tube. which is a smaller train. We go on the Picca- dilly line to Piccadily Circus, which is not a vild animal show. As you come out of the tube, ou ask me what all those women are doing around the figure of Cupid in the middle. We go over and they are selling violets in typical charwomen language and are pretty good sales- men. After walking around the rotary circle, we take the first road on the right and come to the well-known movie theatre. Dominion. On our left is Oxford Street, which is jammed with the usual amount of traffic. The large building with the great golden clock is Selfridge ' s which is extremely popular for sales. It is bigger than Stearns in Boston, and probably makes the most money of any store in London. We now feel thirsty, and seeing a milk bar nearby, go in and have a milk shake. These milk bars are the first signs of the American soda fountains. We go into Hyde Park and see the cars driving through, while sheep graze on the grass on one side. In the driveway I remem- ber once watching the coach of the Duke and Duchess of Kent as they went on their honey- moon. The escorting horse guards looked very striking on their well-groomed horses. We enter Park Lane and see Grosvenor House. This hotel has a marvelous fairy-like ballroom, with soft lights, great mirrors and marvelously carpeted stairs. After admiring the old houses in the lane, we decide to go to Trafalgar Square. Here we see a great column with four lions seated at the bottom, and the great Nelson stand- ing at the top. Around this are four great fountains which are continuously kept going. The people who sell bread crumbs do a marvel- ous business, for the pigeons perch on one ' s shoulder or hand to eat the food. They are so tame that they will remain there, and prove a great attraction.

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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.

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22 mmcs We walk towards Whitehall and Marble Arch: with the great offices of the former on our left, we continue on under the arch, and at the end of the street in the dying sunlight stands tlif Buckingham Palace. This is a great symbol of the past as well as the present years, and shows how important the royal family is to England. We once again make our way to the tube, and after a few stops are in Westminster. Here the first thing that greets us is friendly Big Ben. the great clock of London. We walk past it and come to the great Westminster Abbey with all its wonderful architecture. Inside, the altar amazes us and the choir ' s vestry is beautiful. We haven ' t much time now. for we are going to see the show ' Me and My Girl. The cast is headed by Lapino Lane ( a very famous come- dian in England I who made the picture Lam- beth Walk with Sally Grey. He is a poor man who is suddenl) left untold wealth, and an Earl- dom. He is admiring his rol)e when he tri|js and falls into the orchestra pit. Finally the whole cast do the Lambeth Walk, and the audience go home very happy. We meet my cousin who has come for us in her car. and soon lea e for home, although there is still much to see: — St. Paul ' s Cathedral, the Tower of London, the South Kensington Museum and the Ma or of London ' s Banquet Hall, to name just a few. GETTING A JOB Evel Ml I inal. ' 44 Hekk he was at tlie corner diiig store. Yes. sir. here was Howie to ajjph for a job. How sliould he go about it? Oh. well. 1 guess he ll know how when he gets inside. Here ' s hoping, anyway ! Slowly Howie opened the door and sauntered in. He strolled up to the s(jda fountain, suppos- edly to apjjly for a position. The clerk came out and said. May I help you : I want — 1 want — I want, a coke. said Howie. This he demolished quickh . He slid off the stool and walked over to a counter where necktie pins were being sold. ou wish to buy one? said the clerk. 1 — ah — 1 ah — 1 ah. yes. this one. please. ' ' stammered Howie. He carefully applied his new pin to his lie. Looks nice, ' he murmured. Again he started. I uh — uh — uh — I wonder if you have any automatic pencils? Yes, we have a number of them in manv colors. ' replied the clerk. I ' ll take the red one, Howie replied. That will be two dollars and fift cents. ' said the clerk. Come — come — come again? stamni ' red Howie. Two dollars and fift cents. ' said the clerk. ell. )ou see. 1 don ' t happen to ha c it. said Howie. What? asked the clerk. I haven ' t realh . Howie said. Well, young man. we have just the i)lace for ou. replied the clerk. WTiat ' s that? ' asked Howie. Washing dishes. came back the cle k. Well, at least I got a job, said Howie. But what a job! Seagulls and the Ocean Paliich Butler, ' i, ' Hi - M-agulls oxer the ocean dip And whirl and di| and W hirl. Occasionallx the di e I ' or a fish and even UKjre occasionalh (.alch one. But (jncc in a er (weat while the fish arc too big For them and the seagulls are Too weak and the big fish Who are too big for them pull Them under. Seagulls are Foolisli things. They ought to Know belter than to dip and Willi! over the ocean. But the) don t. UNITED WE STAND Barbara Allen, ' 43 The people of our country Stand united in peace and war. Though we hoped for everlasting peace, W e know what we ' re fighting for. Old Glor will alwavs be waving Over tlie land of the free. For we will fight until we have won Victory o ' er land and sea. Though the days and nights seem endless. W e should trv to do our part And pray for the lads who are fighting From the bottom of our heart.