Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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10 THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR TOtnmng Tilts “TOH” .16 j XUalter IE. IDernll, X„ ’07 ITUATED on the banks of a winding river in New England lies one of the many academies for which New Eng- land is so famous. This one has a record of which it may well be proud. Founded in the early ‘forties bv the Rev. James Willis, from whom it takes its name, Willis Academy has turned out many graduates who have risen high in the business or profession they entered. Indeed, two have become governors of their native state: one was an ambassador for a long term to Great Britain ; several have been emi- nent judges, and there arc lawyers, ministers, and merchants galore, some of whom now doubtless think of the time they were caught, while at the academy, making faces at their Greek teacher by his seeing their reflection in his spectacles, and wish that they were boys once more. One autumn day in the year 190—, there stood on the campus of the academy a small group of stu- dents just back from their summer vacation, talk- ing over in loud tones and with much laughter their experiences while separated. Now. fellows,” one of them was saying, 'T11 wager that I had the queerest experience of any of you this summer. One day I was out canoeing near my home, and carelessly I capsized the canoe. Well, you ai! know I can’t swim a stroke, and the water all around that spot was twenty feet deep. I started to flounder around and veil for help, when to my surprise I found that I wasn’t sinking. Well, if you'll believe it, when I investigated the cause, after help came, I found that there was so much cork in the soles of my shoes that it kept me above water just by its buoyancy ’ Tin's story was met with veils of derision, and one lx v said : Sec here now. ‘Fish’ Blodgett, if you give us any more yarns like that this term, we’ll doom you to eternal association with the Freshies.” And with this terrible warning, young Mr. Blod- gett subsided. At tiiis point the conversation was interrupted to greet the arrival of another youth, who was appa- rently well known to all present. “Phil Stubbs, by all that's wonderful, I’m glad to see you again!” exclaimed one. and there were other expressions of joy heard which indicated that the newcomer was, in the well-worn words of the story book, a general favorite. And now let us take a look at our new friend, who is to be the central figure of this brief narrative. Phil at this time was seventeen years of age. and while rather below medium height, showed by his appearance that his muscles were well developed. He was also noted for his swiftness of foot, having won several cups in different school races. He was quite the conventional hero, being the only child of a widow, who, deprived of her husband by a train wreck, had been left with scant means of support. There would have been small chance of Phil’s at- tending school for any length of time under these circumstances, but he was ambitious to obtain an education, and by doing odd jobs around the acad- emy in the three years previous he had earned money to pay his tuition, and had saved enough to allow him his full time for his own on this his fourth and last year at Willis Academy. But to return again to the group on the campus, where by this time the conversation had turned to what is the chief fall topic in almost every academy, high school, and college in these United States, football. “Topsy” Brady, the academy wise man. here making answer to one of his less well-informed classmates, said: Yes, fellows, we've all got to hustle this year, if we arc going to beat those fel- lows from Thornton Academy, for their team is one of nearly all veterans, while we have only three of last vear’s pla vers back, though we couldn't have any better captain than Fred Warner, who’s worth any two ordinary players.” But,” said another, they say that there are plenty of new fellows coming this autumn who have good material in them, so we’ll hope for the best.” Here Phil broke in: Well, boys, I for one am going out for the team, and it 1 do make a position on it. I’ll do the best I can to uphold the honor of the school.” Several others also said that they were going to try for the team, and after this, with promises that they would soon meet again, the group broke up and scattered to their different rooms. The next day marked the formal opening of the academy, and it passed off uneventfully except for the customary pranks played upon certain ones of the “greenhorns” by their elders, the Sophomores, who forgot in the dignity of their new position that they had been just as verdant themselves but twelve months before. And so a week passed by. Then Captain Warner issued the call for the football can- didates. and the athletic season had started. Willis Academy had secured for this year for her coach a young man named Blake, just graduated from L-------- University, where he had been one of the leading athletes. Although this was his first year at coaching, yet he was determined to turn out a good team, and therefore he gave more attention and time to the candidates than an older coach would have done. Seeing Phil Stubbs the first day among the other candidates for the team, he noted that he was quick on his feet, and resolved to sec how he would do at left end. Therefore he as- signed our friend to this position, with two other boys, both heavier than Phil, though nearly as swift as lie. Although it would be gratifying to tell how Phil by brilliant work beat his two fellow-students for the position, such was not the case. When the time came for the final selecting of the team for the Thornton game, the captain favored Phil for

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Till'. SOMERVILLE RADIATOR 9 stem, and the wind blew piercing cold, but the determined lad only set bis teeth the harder and braced himself anew. liis unde had either fainted again or had fallen asleep.—probably the latter, judging front his heavy breathing. Rut there was no chance of sleep for David: although lie was tired, he must remain awake and navigate the knockabout all night, or, at least, until the gale subsided enough for him to anchor safely. And stay awake he did. beating up and down be- fore that faithful lighthouse. The boat pitched and tossed, occasionally the sleeper groaned or spoke, the sea lashed itself into a seeming frenzy of delight over the boy’s predicament, with always that steady four reef blow, blow, blow. After a few centuries of tacking, coming about, and tacking. David began to see faces peering at Inm from behind the wave crests. He heard voices in the air. laughing and shouting at him. The faces drew nearer and took on a threatening look; the voices grew louder and angrier. Then it seemed as though the whole ocean were about to rise and sink the little craft. Sharp pains ran up his back, his legs grew weak, and his eyes went blind for a moment. With a tremendous effort he pulled himself to- gether and took a new position, repeating with des- perate emphasis over and over again: Stand by, child! Stand by! You’ve got to stand by!” A bout this time the wind abated a little, making the steering somewhat easier, as far as physical exertion was concerned. But with the lull came a fog bank which shut in over everything so dense that Dave could not see the other end of the cock- pit. For a moment he was at a loss what to do, until a whistle began to blow with suggestive regu- larity. As it was in the direction of the lighthouse, he decided to use it as he had the light for a range. A beautiful July morning broke. The sun before it had risen very high, burnt off the fog, and, the wind having subsided to a comfortable whole-sail breeze, the sea was as smooth as a mill-pond. Out- side the harbor was seen a knockabout under four- reefed mainsail beating up and down off Great Island Light. At the helm was a pale young giant in the last throes of exhaustion. Me kept up now only by siieer force of will. Presently the knockabout was seen to fall off the wind, slack her sheet, and run for the entrance of the channel. Coming further into the inner har- bor than before, she brought to off the steamboat wharf and hove anchor. Down came the sail, and was furled and stopped almost unconsciously by the brawny lad. The Katydidn't’s tender, con- taining three men. the absent crew, now came up alongside, and the occupants piled aboard. TeJI us----” Run for a doctor; Uncle Dave’s broke a rib!” was their greeting from the exhausted youth. Mr. Chamberlain, who had awaked about sun- rise. cried feebly: I'll tell you all about it. only first give three rousers for the bravest second mate that ever sailed a ship single-handed all night in a four- reef hurricane!” “All right. Uncle Dave. I’m a hero, but I won’t do it again if---” and the second mate fell into the captain’s arms sound asleep. Obe to 5. 111. anb X. jfootball (Air: Maryland. My Maryland.”) I. Oh, Somerville! my Somerville! Fast are nailed your colors high— Fast they will fly. proud in the sky, Just listen to the reason why— ()ur boys are true and play clean game, With honor ever as their aim. ()h, Somerville! my Somerville' For you our cheers continue still. II. Our boys in colors red and blue Upon the check” know what to do. They push the ball straight down the field, And never know the words to yield. We’ve kickers, too. there with the brick, (fur Captain Bowlbv does the trick. Oh. Somerville! my Somerville! For vou our cheers continue still. III. Our line is strong, let's raise this song To the backs who dash along. Tis they we prize, in them strength lies, Gleams courage ever in their eyes. (fur snappy “ends” have got the last,” They stop the halfs and nail ’em fast. Oh. Somerville! my Somerville! For you our cheers continue still. IV. ( ur quarter knows his business, too, ’Cause Mixer works for the red and blue; Our centre Ireland's fat and fair, He’s got the goods, and is right there. Our guards” and tackles fill the list. For all without them would be missed. Oh, Somerville! my Somerville! For you our cheers continue still.

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THB SOMERVILLE RADIATOR loft end. but as the coach thought one of the others somewhat better, a fellow by the name of Cook, the latter got the position, and when the line-up for this last game of the year appeared, the name of Stubbs appeared among the substitutes. Ry this time excitement at the academy was at a high pitch, for the rival school had a team of the best kind, and in the earlier games of the season it had shown up better against certain of the other schools than had Willis Academy. Likewise, the students of Thornton Academy felt certain of the victory: for their men were much heavier, though not so fast as their opponents. And so the day for the great game dawned. Al- though the weather looked forbidding at first, yet as the morning wore on the clouds cleared away, leaving the sky blue and with a strong westerly wind blowing. A half an hour before the scheduled time for the game, the Thornton Academy team and its sup- porters arrived on the grounds, accompanied by a brass band. Then for thirty minutes that group of musicians played for all they were worth, and in direct opposition sounded the strains of the Willis Academy band. Then, greeted by a shout like rolling thunder, the rival teams trotted on to the field, engaged in a little preliminary practice, and the game was on. For thirty minutes the rivals battled, but without anv result. At the end of the first half the score board displayed. Willis Academy. 0. Thornton Academy. 0. and each team straggled to its dress- ing room, there to receive encouragement from the respective coaches, accompanied by dire threats as to what would happen if defeat fell to their lot. After what seemed a short time, the whistle sounded for the second half, and the twenty-two men again lined up. Sitting on the bench. Phil Stubbs had forgotten his desire to get into the game in the one great wish to see the blue and gold of his beloved academy triumph. Again the out- come of the first half seemed likely to be repeated. 11 but as time went on the brute strength of the Thornton players seemed to be beginning to tell on the Willis Academy boys. Hut the cheers for Willis. Willis. Willis, rah, rah. rah. Willis, Willis, Willis! came none the less diminished in sound. Twenty-five minutes had passed, and the ball was on Willis’ fifteen-yard line. Thrice had they been downed without making the necessary distance, but on the third down Cook, worn out by the constant hammering of Thornton's sturdy giants, could no longer stand the strain, and, much against his will, was forced to give up. Then came Phil's chance. With a few words of encouragement from the coach, he trotted into his position, ready to be of down the field with the punt which Warner, playing fullback for Willis, must now make. Straight as an arrow the ball came from the centre’s hands, the fullback’s foot met it dropping, and it started on a long and high kick. On the instant Phil was off down the field with the ball. Thornton's right halfback and quar- terback stood waiting tor the ball, and as it neared the ground. Phil came at full speed toward the two players. At this moment, as the two stood ready to catch the descending sphere, carried outward by the strong wind which was blowing, the ball eluded the grasp of the visiting players, and, quick as a thought. Phil had pounced upon it. and was off with it toward the Thornton goal. A groan arose from the Thornton stands as they saw the game slipping from their hands, and with might and main did their players strive to overtake the man with the ball; but Phil was fresh, they were tired, and the attempt was in vain. Then what a roar arose from the Willis Academy students, for. even if the goal was not kicked a mo- ment later, was not the game won? In the two minutes that remained. Willis held Thornton Acad- emy safe, and the Willis Academy boys had won the greatest game in their history. Was Phil Stubbs, in their minds, at least, in any way less great than the most famous graduate of grand old Willis Academy? No! £bc lE.vpcvtcncce of Ittumbcr 279 16 ? Xoulse Oraiiuicr, JE., '00 HERE shall I be able to find the book- entitled ‘When Knighthood Was in Flower’?” inquired a young lady of one of the library assistants. “I think that it is a new one,” she added. In the next room,” the latter replied. Mv heart gave such a great bound at this con- versation that the type on my pages was jostled up and down: upon this maiden’s approach, it was a small wonder that the letters did not change places and remain so. ... She was a vision of loveliness, with her dainty coloring and pink, bcruffled gown. Oh, such a sweet scent of violets! The fragrance came from the extraordinary large bouquet in her bodice. Then she took me down from my home on the shelf. How lovely it was to be held in a dainty, silk-gloved hand, and to be driven to my temporary home in a carriage! I knew for a certainty that my third cousin. Monsieur Ueaucaire,” would be so envious of my good fortune when 1 told him of it. I had resided in the library for only one week, and during that time I had not been taken out by any person; surely this was a good beginning, but