Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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10 THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR Soliciting advertisements By? 3uUa jfreefcman, X., ’OS. T p y 71 H, dear! It’s all very nice to be an ZOVik editor, I suppose, but 1 simply cannot solicit ‘ads’ of people I do not know. At any rate, I shall not go alone. If I only dared to resign; still, mother would feel very badly, so that is out of the question.” Thus Helen Ilowes soliloquized after she had been given a list of places to go to in order to obtain advertisements for the Jabber- wock, her school paper. As misery loves company, she felt a little relieved (although it was rather mean) that three other girls had the same un- pleasant task before them; one of them. Marian Howard in ordinary life, was now the chief of the business committee, and had given her a list of six places which must be visited that same afternoon. These places were Metcalf’s drug store, a sewing machine company, a shoe shop, a furniture store, a fruit store, and a laundry. The places were all widely scattered; all of them, however, except one, which was quite a distance out in West Roxburv, were in Boston. By great good luck. Helen persuaded a class- mate, Isabelle Worcester, to go with her. Marian had already given her some blank receipts, an old copy of the Jabbcrwock, some good advice, and the different prices. Therefore when the 2 o’clock bell for dismissal rang, she and Isabelle raced to the dressing room, put on their wraps, and hurried off. As Metcalf’s was the first place on their way down, they went there. Timidly and blushing furi- ously, Helen stated her errand to the clerk. He was very pleasant to her, but he told her that tne advertising manager did not have his quarters in this store and that if she wanted to see him she would have to go to the one on Trcmont street, near Houghton’s. Poor Helen felt greatly disap- pointed. The first venture had been a failure, and it’s hard if anything goes wrong at the outset. But was it really a failure? Wasn’t there a wee chance left that she might succeed at the other store? So, with raised hopes, they set off again. The next place on their way down was the shoe store. It was the Krcak Shoe Shop on West street. The girls stopped before the building to gather the last remnants of their courage before entering. Finally, going in. they were asked by a nice old gentleman what they wished. Helen showed him his “ad” in the paper, and asked him if lie wished to renew it. Following her chief's advice, she as- sured him that all the girls would patronize him, and after he made sure that no other shoe firm had an ad in it he gave her a ten-dollar one. Then, in a very businesslike manner, she gave him a re- ceipt, although she could hardly keep from shout- ing for joy. When they came out they saw Marian, and told her the good news, and when the former said she had been to three nlaccs and had not been able to get a single ad” Helen executed a war dance on the spot. Feeling greatly pleased with herself and the whole world, she and Isabelle pursued their way to the machine store. 'I hey found it had its quarters in a very pretty little room, which had tables and chairs strewn everywhere. They sat down near one of the tables, and a man came over to ask them what they wanted. Again Helen had to do the talking. He was a young fellow, and he seemed most stupid. '1 he firm’s ad” in the paper had to be shown him about twenty times, and he could not remember the cost of it for two seconds. At length he said that he was not the manager, but if the girls would leave a copy of the paper he would try his best to get the ad” for them. But they had only one copy of the paper, which no doubt would be needed at the other stores. Finally a compromise was effected: they were to send a copy of the paper that night, and if they would call the next afternoon he would tell them whether or not the manager could advertise in the paper. Isabelle then proposed that they go down to the furniture store, and on the way back they could stop at Metcalf’s downtown store. So they went to the furniture store, which was ’way down on North Washington street, near Adams square. But the people there were very busy, and after a brief inter- view asked the girls to come the next day at about o’clock. Luck now seemed to be against them, for they were disappointed at Metcalf’s again. The manager was not in. l ie was there on certain days only, and the poor girls were told that if they would come on Thursday he would be very happy indeed to see them. There was only one town place left now, and these forlorn maids tried to find it. Then truly were they lost in Boston’s maze of streets. Have you ever been to Commerce street? If you have, you will appreciate the woes before these brave, but ignorant, girls. They asked policemen how to get there, and finally, after a dozen had been asked, they found the place. It is very far away, near the wharves. Well, after they had finally found the place, which is in a most disreputable part of the city, they were told that the owner was

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TIIK SOMERVILLE RADIATOR 9 tictli century. Around the walls were paintings of noted Virginians. e passed on to the architecture and machin- ery building, where we saw the latest model of a locomotive engine, with its cars. There was a section of the East river tunnel, also a section of the East Poston tunnel. The Waltham Watch Company have on exhibition a watch as large as a barrel. '1 he mineral building is divided into two sections, one containing minerals and the other containing the exhibition of the cattle industry. Gold, silver, and all known minerals are displayed. The differ- ent states are sending on their mineral products. Alaska has a particularly large exhibition. In the second section there are many small stockyards. Gentlemen stand there to explain the different ways of branding and caring for cattle. As we entered the agricultural building, one of the young ladies in our party, seeing what she sup- posed to be imitation apples, said she would like a real apple. As we reached the apple display, the gentlemen in charge asked if we would like some. On learning that they were real, everyone said: “Yes.” They were a little soft, but of good flavor, and it was a unanimous vote of thanks which the gentleman received for his kindness. Corn was displayed from a very pretty booth made of ears of corn, with the stalks woven between in places. This build- ing contained the prettiest display of all {possibly it was because there was something to eat at nearly every booth). At the extreme end of the fair we saw a small building with a large horn or megaphone on the top. Through this a man announced that the building on which he stood did more towards educating the peoples than .all the schools. It was a home of the Filipinos, Japanese, Amazons, and Indians. These buildings constitute about all at present completed. When fully in order, it will be with- out doubt a magnificent exposition. We were somewhat divided in returning; some went by the early boat, and some by the eight o'clock. As for myself, I went with a few on the steamer to Newport News, and took the car to Point Comfort. We had ridden so long that a walk was proposed by one. We walked abut fif- teen minutes, and took the car for home. The conductor told us we had walked through Blood- field, so called because of the murders committed there about thirty years ago. The next day we visited Hampden Institute, a school for boys and girls of the colored race. The boys take the wood-turning and all the branches in manly work, the girls sewing, cooking, and a study of current events. We also visited the Soldiers’ Home. The grounds surrounding it are very beautiful. Just beyond we saw acres of graves. The stones looked beautiful in rows like an orchard whose trees are laid out in straight lines. In the afternoon we were taken on board the English cruiser Good Hope,” and shown all over this boat. We all agreed that it was a very nice boat, but not as good as some of our own. That night we stayed on the steamer “Point Comfort” for Washington. As the water was calm, we had a very enjoyable trip. At 0.45 we passed Mt. Vernon, and arrived in Washington at about eight o’clock. We had breakfast at our hotel, and then started for the Capitol. We were shown some court rooms, and climbed to the dome. As this was called the whispering room, one of our party went around to the other side and whispered. We heard her. but not distinctly. She said it would never do to have our rooms in the school like that. Another interesting place visited was the Mint, where we saw paper money printed. We were told that each bill was printed three times and counted fifty-six times. We next visited the Treasury building. This building contains a reserve fund of about fifteen millions in small coins, about eight millions in gold, and $300,000 in pennies. Hc: c they grind up old bills and sell the ashes for $40 a ton. In the White House we entered the room in which Alice Roosevelt was made Mrs. Longworth. In this room are three chandeliers, which each con- tain (5,300 pieces of glass, and a piano valued at $ -22,500, presented by Steinway Company. We saw the pictures of several of the Presidents’ wives. Some of the party went up in the Washington monument, from the top of which the view is mag- nificent. Most of the marble of the monument was donated by some of the states and higher lodges of this country. At night we visited the Congress Library. As you enter, on the left and right are corridors; in front is the Congressional Library. It is a beautiful sight at night when lighted by electricity. On the left corridor are manuscripts and two relief maps of Washington, one as it is. and the other as it will be; on the right are the reading rooms. The trip to Mt. Vernon pleased all, as a sight of Washington’s home always does. We started for Philadelphia at eight o’clock. We reached there at about ten o’clock, after trav- eling at times as fast as a mile in forty-eight sec- onds. We were taken through the Mint in this city, and also visited Wanamaker’s great depart- ment store. Both interested us greatly. We dined at the Windsor Hotel, and after a walk around the city, took our train for New York, our sightseeing finished, and only the short steamer journey remaining of our delightful vacation tour.

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THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR 11 lo vn South at sonic food fair, and would not be back for two weeks. If she wished, the editor could send him a letter at the end of that time, as he was traveling about, and his exact address was not known. Then Isabelle refused to go any further, and our undaunted little editor had to continue her way alone. There was only one place left, a laundry, but it was at the furthest end of West Roxbury. After a long, dreary ride there, the owner said he was sorry, but he could not afford to advertise in school papers any more, as it had been costing him quite a sum every year, and he received no adequate return. Thoroughly disheartened and fatigued, Helen went home. Her brother sent a copy of the Jab- berwock to the machine shop for her, since she had just swallowed her dinner and gone to bed, without doing a single home lesson. Thus ended an excit- ing and weary afternoon spent in soliciting adver- tisements. ------------------------ Derbert at tbe flMav? IContinucd from page 7.1 Mr. and Mrs. Good invited us to a theatre party with two or three friends of theirs, and of course we had to accept, because Herbert works for Mr. Good. What I saw of the play was real interest- ing ; it was at the Castle Square, and I always did like that theatre. We was in one of the lower boxes, and you know how they stick out into the audience; so everybody could see us easy. I Icrbert sat in the front row at one side, so that he could lean back against the wall, and right next to him was one of the ladies Mrs. Good had invited, a Mrs. White. 1 thought that Herbert would make a fool of himself, and so I spoke to Mrs. Good. So she says to Herbert: ‘Herbert, your wife wants to sit up front where she can see, won’t you please change places with her?’ But Her- bert says: T'm satisfied, this scat's good enough for me. If she wants to be in the front row, there’s plenty of room side of Mr. Good.’ I saw it was no use to make any more talk about it. so I settled down to watch the play. It wasn’t long be- fore Herbert pushed his chair back and lie went to sleep. You know what a red complexion he has anyway, and when he’s asleep it looks a good deal worse. Besides it was hot inside the theatre. “I knew that Mrs. White was watching him and that she thought he’d been drinking, so I stepped over to him and says: ‘Herbert, you change places with me, and then you can go to sleep where no one will see you.’ But he was only half asleep, and he kind of started up and rubbed his eyes, and then he says so we ah could hear hinr ‘I ain’t sleepy. I’m watching the play.’ Well, it isn’t any use arguing with him when his mind’s made up, so 1 gave in. But inside o’ five minutes he was fast asleep, his mouth was wide open, and you could hear him snore fifteen feet away. I could sec out of the corner of my eye that Mrs. White thought he had been boozing and was sleeping it off. Well, he did look like it. And she was looking over her shoulder at me as though she pitied anyone who had a drunken husband. I knew that even if I should say: ‘My husband ain’t drunk, lie’s only tired.’ that Mrs. White wouldn’t believe me; so I spoke to Mrs. Good again. She understood it all right, and so she went up to Herbert and shook him so’s to wake him up, and then she says: ‘Your wife is tired and wants to go home, so you wake up and go along with her.’ Well, lie knew that he’d been asleep and he was kind o’ ashamed, so lie obeyed meek as a lamb, and 1 got him home all right. But I know that to this day that Mrs. White thinks I’ve married a drunkard, and all the talk in the world wouldn’t convince her to the contrary. “I guess it will be some time before 1 go out with Herbert in the evening again. I wouldn’t go through an experience like that again, no, sir, not for ten dollars. I know Herbert will be glad to hear you’ve called, and I’d wake him up only that he needs the sleep. Listen!----- There, can’t you hear a kind of grating noise? Well, that’s him snoring. “Well, I’m sorry you must be going. Good- by. Come again.” --------------------------- Somerville jfootball IRujbt A high-class vaudeville and dance will be given at Odd bellows hall, Winter hill, as a reception to Coach Hafford and Captain Sham ’s football squad on Thanksgiving night. The talent includes the Umberto band and orchestra of forty-two pieces; Irving Joy, of Portland, Me., with latest illustrated songs; Miss Florence Belk, trombone soloist; Miss Mabel McCarthy, fancy dances; Joe Roth, German sketch ; 1C. Stanley Nichols, musical mono- logue : also a burlesque football skit by Nichols and Roth and Chick Fox vaudeville company. The entertainment will commence at 7.45 o’clock; the dancing will start at 10 and continue until 1 o’clock, with dance music by the Lawrence orchestra. Coach Leo Hafford and Captain Sham's football squad will be present as guests. An invitation has been extended Mayor Charles A. Grimmons, who will be present as guest of honor.