Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR 73 We cordially add our regrets to those the Rindge Manual Training School must feel in its loss of Head Master Morse. Mr. Morse has been ap- pointed, by Governor Guild, to the responsible and desirable position of secretary of the Industrial Commission. Mr. Morse has been an enthusi- astic. efficient teacher. We. as his neighbors, arc sorry to lose him. K . One day no school. Too cold! Next day no heat. Too warm! Rather a curious combination of weather, isn’t it? « K The March R diator will be devoted to articles of interest to the alumni. Contributions are earn- estly solicited from any member of the alumni, and ill be very gratefully received. --------------------------------- Resolutions V hereas, by the Divine will of our Heavenly Father, the bcioved sister of our friend and instruc- tor. Miss A. Marion Merrill, has been taken from her. Resolved, that the undersigned, representing the pupils of the Somerville English High School, ten- der her our heartfelt sympathy. William Henderson, President, ’07. William Hoyt, President. ’OS. Willard Davis. President. '09. Ernest Hall, President. ‘10. H %o$t Opportunity Xv II. jf. ID., '07 Within a little cottage, Bordered by the street. There dwelt a pretty maiden Both affable and sweet. And with her dwelt a maiden aunt, A Quaker good and true, And not much older than the niece Was wise and staid Aunt Sue. Now the maiden had a lover, A likely, straight young man, Who loved the maid with all his heart, And daily sought her hand. But the maid was young and flighty, And though she loved the lad, She loved much more to tease him, And make him sore and sad. “Now. John, you must remember. You’re not the only one, For there is Philip Brewster, The Doctor’s only son. “And then there’s young Frank Giblard, Who’s going to study law. And. John, you’re not by any means, At all without a flaw.” So thus she teased and plagued him, And joked him all the while. And when Aunt Sue would chide her, She’d answer with a smile:— “Of course, 1 know he loves me. Dear, stupid fellow he! I can flirt about with other lads, But still his wife I’ll be.” And then the little Quaker Would shake her pretty curls, And say. “Thou should’st remember That there are other girls.” So thus she fluttered here and there, Till John much sadder grew. And sought the little cottage And comfort from Aunt Sue. And she would say as softly And sweetlv as could be. “Dear John, thou must be patient, I know she loveth thee.” So much more often did he come, The maid was oft away, lie seemed less sorry than at first, And was but glad to stav. So thus it went for many months; At length with joy he cried. “I’ve won, I’ve won, the Quaker aunt At last shall be my bride!” The maiden young no longer is, And holds it quite a sin To look at John and Sue and think. “Ah, me! what might have been!”

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72 THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR EDITORIAL'S As prophesied in our last issue, the question oi the abolition of fraternities and sororities has arisen in Somerville, and the following extract is the re- sult of the school board’s discussion :— “The question of the influence of secret societies in high schools is being discussed very generally throughout the country, especially in the West, where they are most numerous and have made the most trouble, and where the.most successful efforts have been made against them. In a recent court decision the following seven objections to these so- cieties were given : The detrimental influence upon the schools, the evil effects upon the pupils, their practical useiessness, their undemocratic nature, the false standard they erect in opposition to the ideals of the school authorities, their danger from the standpoint of school government, and, finally, the inherent viciousness of any system which makes paramount the decision of immature minds on questions of social or other distinction in the schools.’ “Each of these reasons was supported by strong evidence. While these societies now exist in our own high schools to only a limited extent, unless checked they will surely increase and may occasion much trouble. It is therefore “Resolved, that the school board of Somerville joins with principals and teachers in looking with strong disfavor upon secret societies in our high schools, and urges both pupils and their parents to use their efforts and influence to discourage the for- mation or the extension of any such organizations.” 'flic claim put forth that these organizations arc pernicious to the best interests of school life may in general be true, but in Somerville, so far as we can learn, there have been no organizations with principles antagonistic to those of the school. To sustain the above statement we quote Mr. South- worth in his annual report of 11)05: “There has been no conflict between school authorities and secret societies (save in a single instance)”; all of which goes to show that although fraternities in the West may have been proven as detrimental to their schools’ welfare, there is as yet no reason for their abolishment in our schools. It is exceedingly gratifying to the pupils at large that no definite action has been taken upon the matter, and it is their earnest hope that such action will be indefinitely withheld. Doubtless the most effective means toward bringing about the above result will be the continuance of such action and attitude on the part of the societies themselves as may merit the approval of the authorities. ► K The difficulty between the authorities of the Uni- versity of Maine and the State Legislature is most regrettable. The Legislature’s refusal to grant an appropriation for the use of the college, which is in great need of such aid, shows a deplorable amount of narrow-mindedness on their part. When dissolution threatens a college, especially a state college, the state government should be the first to respond to an appeal for help. Seniors: few short months, astonishingly short months, and—can you realize it?—our High School course will be finished. Congenial friends will separate, perhaps never to meet again. Our care- free. irresponsible boyhood and girlhood days will have come to an end. and before 11s will be life’s great battle to fight, a contest which is sometimes won, but more often lost. It is a serious matter, Seniors, and is worthy of serious consideration. Are you prepared for the fray? Can you fight a winning battle? If not. make these few last months worth while. Make them a period upon which you may never look with regret. a r r The recent outbreak of scarlet fever in Somer- ville had at first all the features of an epidemic. The efficiency of the Roard of Health, however, came to the rescue, and the alarm predominating at one time amongst the residents has somewhat subsided.

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74 THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR Brounfc tbc Campfire -TSv m. S. flbaulsbg, ’os 'Oyi ES. I always did like that story,” said Edward Robinson; in fact, f might vl say, I was brought tip on it.” yJL 1 The first time I heard it.” inter- rl,ptC(i Fatty Gibbs, “I really enjoyed it ; but that was in 1801, and I have heard it seven times since then.” These remarks were made as the result of the storv about the man who invented a flv-trap, told by Maurice Thompson. The three boys were camping out in the Maine woods during their summer vacation, and now that their supper was finished they were lying around the fire and ‘‘swap- ping” stories. “You fellows think you’re smart, don’t you?” said Maurice, “but just the same that’s a better story than either of you could tell. Is that so?” queried Fatty. “I could tell one right now. better than that one.” All right, go ahead.” Thus enjoined. Fatty began: “About twenty years before the Civil War a family named Clark- son settled in the northern part of Michigan. The family consisted of the father and mother and four sons. One of the sons, James by name, was slightly lame; but all the others were in good health. “Mr. Clarkson and his sons built a fine house for the family with no tools but their axes. Their nearest neighbors, a family named Wilkins, lived a mile and a half away; but they did not mind that, for they were a jolly crowd. However, during their first year’s stay there, they were greatly sad- dened by the death of James, the lame one. who. al- though lie had never been robust, had not been con- sidered sickly. “After this their life passed along without any verv important occurrences, until the three boys had grown up to manhood. The father and the bovs were accustomed to rise early in the morning, and taking a lunch with them, go out into the woods and cut lumber. They did not return home again until sunset. “One August day Mrs. Clarkson sat sewing in one of the upstairs rooms, when she heard the front door open, and heard steps coming up the stairs. As she thought it was her neighbor, she said: ‘Come right in, Mrs. Wilkins.’ “But the steps passed by her door, which was shut, and continued to the end of the corridor. Then they stopped. Somewhat alarmed at this she crossed the room, opened the door, stepped out into the corridor and looked up and down. No one was in sight! “Then she remembered that the steps had been uneven, as though the person walking by was lame. The place where the footsteps halted was right in front of the door of the room occupied bv her son Tames before his death. Although she was greatly disturbed by this occurrence, she said nothing, as she did not wish to alarm the family unnecessarily. “On the next day, however, she contrived to have Frank, her youngest son, stay at home with her. About ten o’clock Mrs. Clarkson went out to feed the hens, and Frank was left alone in the house. His mother had been gone about five min- utes when the front door opened, and some one, after crossing the hall, began to ascend the stairs. Why. I wonder what makes mother walk so lame.” thought Frank: but as he was just in the midst of a story, he did not go to the door until the steps had gone by and had entered the room for- merly occupied by James. When he heard the door of his brother’s room shut, he got up. and walking to the door, entered the corridor. “ ‘What arc you doing in there, mother?’ he asked, for none of the family were in the habit of using the room, and in fact it had not been open at all except once a year when the spring cleaning was going on. “Getting no response to his inquiry, he stepped to the door of his brother’s room, and cautiously opened it. He was almost afraid to put his head inside the door, but, mustering up his courage, he boldly entered the room, and quickly glanced around. The room was empty! It was only the thought of his mother that kept him from crying out. “He soon regained his courage and began to think that it was all his imagination, so he closed the door and returned to his book. Here his mother found him when she returned, but she did not notice that anything was the matter with him. “Several days more passed without Mrs. Clark- son’s hearing the footsteps, and so she began to wonder if she really had heard them at all. or if it had been only the foolish fancy of her mind. “On the very day. however, when she had come to this conclusion, she heard the footsteps again. It came about in this way: It was the custom with the Clarksons to retire early, and this particular evening they were all in bed by half-past seven. The family slept in two adjoining rooms on the sec- ond floor, which were situated across the hall from the room which had belonged to James. “Thev had not been in bed more than half an hour when the front door opened and the shuffling steps ascended the stairs and walking by the two sleeping rooms entered the room opposite. “ ‘Did you hear that noise?’ Mr. Clarkson asked his wife in a hoarse whisper. “ ‘Yes, what was it? ’ “The boys had also heard the noise, and finding that their parents were awake, they came trooping in frightened out of their wits. Well, it appeared that they had all heard the steps before, but had not spoken for fear of alarming the others, and be- cause each one had thought it was due to his im- [ Continued on page si.]