Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 7 A BUNCH OF VIOLETS. By Phyllis, E. H. S., '03. RED CLARK and Harry Phillips, quarterback and tackle, respectively, were both in love with the same girl; that is, they thought they were in love with her. which is nearly the same thing. Her name was Grace, and she was a sweet little maid, although she didn’t know a tackle from a punt. She attended all the big games, generally on the top of a tally-ho. and had learned by many patient lessons that when the ball moved toward one end of the field you were to cheer and wave your flag; and when it advanced in the opposite direction, you were to yell. ’’Hold As Thanksgiving Day drew near, interest in the big game became intense, and bets were freely ex- changed. Miss Grace, to be real chic, placed a wager of a pair of gloves on the home team. Several days before the game Fred and Harry happened to call the same evening, and to each she impressed her desire that they should win. The one that plays the best shall be my best friend. she said, as they were about to depart that evening. Each went home with a determination'to do some- thing desperate on the eventful Thursday. ! v two o'clock on the crucial day the interested sun shone down upon a white-barred gridiron. ’em!” or keep still. Her private opinion of the game was that it was dreadfully slow. When Fred called at the house, she would say very charmingly, How do you manage to dodge those other fellows so cleverly, Mr. Clark? and when Marry called, she would look up at the big tackle, and. with a sweet smile, would say. I should think that you would he killed there in that line. Mr. Phillips. Then Harry would blush and think that he had never seen such a sympathetic girl. The rivalry increased as the season advanced, and neither seemed to gain an advantage. Miss Grace and her tame “lions” became a standing joke among the students. framed with grandstands, tally-hos, and bright colors. As the two teams came trotting on the field, cheer after cheer greeted each team from the rival grandstands. Clark and Phillips were sure they saw Grace on a tally-ho near the flag pole. Then came the kick-off, and from that moment the thought of Miss Grace never entered their minds. When the umpire blew his whistle at the end of the first half, the supporters of the blue took one long breath, and then broke forth into such a pan- demonium of joy as only a football crowd can make, as the score stood six to nothing, in their favor, and Clark had scored the touchdown on a double

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6 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR By the time we came up on deck again the Maine was nearing the last stake-boat on the outward trip, which was just off Cape Porpoise. We rounded this with a great whirl of the waters, and then rushed back for the return. The wind, which had been dead ahead, was now astern, so that the smoke following along with the ship covered everything on deck with showers of cinders. The spray stopped flying as soon as we were going with the wind, so that gave me a fine chance to watch the bow wave from the very bow of the boat. As the sharp ram cut the water, this huge wave rose on either side in a beautiful curve, until it almost reached the deck: then it fell with a roar and a smother of foam which was quickly lost ran in closer to the shore. The starboard one was dropped first, in about thirty fathoms of water. As it plunged downward, its chain rushing through the hawser pipe raised curling wreaths of smoke. When both anchors had been dropped, they com- menced to haul them in. but they had trouble with the windlass on the port side, and finally had to finish by hand. This delayed us about two hours, and it was no small task, for the anchor itself weighed five tons, so that it was nearly six o’clock when we turned toward Boston. As we approached home, it was quite dark: the lights on shore shone brightly: and off to our left flashed Minot's never-ceasing 1-4-3. When we neared Boston Light, we saw three small lights watching the bow-wave astern. It was one of the most fascinating sights that I ever saw, and 1 stood watching the roaring waters for a long time. Finally, the first stake-boat appeared ahead, and it was then that the Maine made her greatest speed. Her stacks were beginning to blister from the heat. Looking down the engine hatch, we counted one hundred and thirty revolutions a minute of her cranks, and the whole boat was trembling from stem to stern. As we passed the stake, her helm was put hard over, and she turned in a circle of about three of her own lengths. As they did this, a large American flag was unfurled at the foremast, and we knew that her speed trial was ended. They next gave her an anchor test, and for this swaying wildly from side to side. Suddenly the anchor dropped, and the three lights proved to be the tugs which were to meet us. The tugs coming alongside pitched and rolled so in the heavy sea, which had been growing rougher all day. that it made landing very difficult. How- ever. all were soon aboard, and we started for the city. When we were a little way off, the Maine turned her searchlight on us, and just at that mo- ment. while our attention was on her, the top of a wave swept along the rail of the tug, and a few of us had wet feet for the rest of the evening. It was late when we reached the wharf, but as we parted, all agreed that we had had a most inter- esting trip.

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3 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR pass. The clever work of Clark was on every one’s lips, and many were the cheers that he received front the cheering section. In the second half, the sturdy orange-clad arms and legs had advanced the ball far into the home territory, and the hall was slowly moving toward that line of success. The thirty-yard line was passed, then the twenty, and at last the fifteen- yard line Hold ’em! Hold ’em! Hold ’em!” rings out from the main stand, and, encouraged by this, they make a determined stand on the ten-yard line, but, alas! the ball is pushed over for a touch- down. The orange banners wave for the first time. The ball is brought out for the try for goal from touch- down. The cheering is furious. The kick is care- fully directed by the captain, but it goes under the bar.. Score: 1 1 ue. ; orange, 5. Again the snappy yell of the blue rings across the field, and gray-haired professors fairly split their throats endeavoring to be loyal. With eight minutes to play, they kick off again to the giant fullback of the orange-clad team, who is soon downed. For five minutes they strive to gain through the line, but with little success. A few end plays give them five yards. The ball is in the centre of the field. Two minutes to play. The quarterback glances anxiously across the field to the side line. The coach is holding a handkerchief in his hand. This is the signal for the quarterback kick. ‘‘Play steady, boys,” commands the gritty little quarter. At this signal the quarter receives the bail and kicks it to one side. It lands fairly in the end’s arms, who tears down the field, followed by Phillips and the halfback. The little end hurdles the fullback. Phillips is gaining. Ye gods! who will win? Nearer and nearer, on, on speed the two contestants over the white marks, which seem to fiy by like so many birds. Phillips is certainly gaining. Will he overtake his opponent in time? Phillips sees the two posts which signalize victory for rival and defeat for himself, lie gives one des- perate leap, and straightens out in a beautiful dive tackle. His arms clutch the air desperately; they circle about the runner’s knees! Oh! how good it seems! Then all is blank. The whistle sounds the end of the game, with the ball on the three-yard line, and the score six to five, in favor of the blue. The crowd rushed on the field and carried the heroes around the field on their shoulders. In passing one of the tally-hos, Harry saw Miss Grace toss a bunch of violets to Clark, who in reality had won the game, but he himself had saved it. That night, as the team sat in the parlor of the hotel, smoking their favorite brands for the first time in weeks, the captain came up to Phillips, who sat near the fireplace, and said. What’s the matter. Harry? You don’t look like a fellow that had saved the day for his team.” Never mind. Ned,” said Phillips, “if I did save the day, I lost something dearer to me than that,” and he opened his watch and showed the picture of Miss Grace to his chief, and Ned understood. Two weeks later the stocky little quarterback was receiving congratulations, and Harry had promised to be best man. A FANCY. By A. F. L., L., '03. I saw a small cloud passing. As I lay on the mountain side, With a wild brook near by dashing To the sea, with its wondrous tide. I know not why I wondered At its shape, the face of a child, Not why I lay and pondered On that face so pure and mild. ’Tis childhood’s smile it weareth, Free from pain, or trouble, or care, There is nothing indeed it fcarcth, But hath trust so pure, so rare. 1 watched it passing o’er me. With its changing smile, most sweet, Obscured by a towering pine tree; Now again its smile I meet. Changing, yet ever smiling, On its way o’er that vast blue dome, With a calm sweetness beguiling, Far above the great ocean’s foam. Now from mv sight ’tis hidden, Far over the mountain height, To follow it I am forbidden By a valley, a river, and night. But in thought I can ever follow In its wake through the pathless sky; Though the world be small and hollow, ’Tis a memory I’ll have for aye.