Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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4 THE SOMERVILLE RADIATOR EDITORIALS An editorial in the last June issue referred to the new staff in a highly complimentary manner. We return cordial thanks for this and other courtesies received from the past management. Rut we do not yet feel the confidence in ourselves which they expressed for us. As we take up our work, we realize what a task is before us. A great deal is expected of the Radiator. It is exceedingly diffi- cult for us. with little or no experience, to uphold the previous high standard and at the same time please a set of intelligent, but critical and widely- differing. readers. We expect to meet many diffi- culties, and perhaps disappointments, but to over- come these successfully, and to maintain a paper that shall be, as it always has been, acceptable and pleasing to its supporters, is the earnest hope of the new staff. Our greatest aid will be from you, schoolmates. We must have your attention to our efforts, your indulgence for our mistakes, and your support, both literary and financial. Re- member, the welfare of the paper is not by any means wholly in our hands. The duty of the editor is merely to gather and collate the material fur- nished by the student body. The business man- agers should not be forced to meet the Radiator's financial needs by hunting ads” alone, but by a reasonable amount of yearly subscriptions and cash sales, as well. All can help with pecuniary sup- port. And those who are gifted with a ready pen should feel it their duty to contribute stories, poems, social reports, and class notes. If you will furnish the quantity, we will guarantee to select the right quality. K V» v Old friends of the Radiator may find it some- what changed under different administration. There will be slight rearrangements suggested by our predecessors’ experience or by our own ideas. Such will be made only because we strive to pre- sent the best paper possible. In editing contribu- tions, impartial fairness will be used. An article will stand on its own merits, aside from personal influences. So if the results are not satisfactory, (! ) not be t o quick in judgment. We invite thoughtful criticism, to show us the trend of our readers’ opinions and wishes, but not hasty con- demnation. r r r The Somerville High Schools extend you a hearty welcome. Freshmen, offering you many op- portunities of acquiring knowledge and of develop- ing mental, moral, and physical strength. You have now been here long enough to appreciate siune of the customs and advantages of the schools. You begin to realize that a person is good only for what he is worth. If you wish to make a name for yourself you must get right into the harness and work for it. You will meet fair play from teachers and schoolmates, but no favoritism ; but you will not find it very difficult to make and keep your place. We boast that our athletes play the clean- est. pluckiest kind of a game; that our scholastic distinctions are bestowed only on those who have proven by conscientious, steady application that they are deserving. Longfellow says: The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well.” You have four years before you to make either a success or a failure—failure if you start in with the idea of having a good time, suc- cess if you take high school as it is meant to be taken. Then the pleasure will offer itself. In this connection we wish to call your attention to the Letters to a Freshman,’’ beginning in this number. They are written by one who has had ex- perience in the subjects he discusses, and so knows how to make every point significant. Although you may think them a bit sermony. they are well worthy of your serious consideration.

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V X 3 livVIv ISATIN ENGWSM SCHOOL» Vol. XVIII. Somerville, Massachusetts, October, 1908. No. 1 The Radiator I published by the Somerville Latin and English High Schools on the last Thursday of every month during the school year, and only important news matter can lie received after the 10th of the month. Matter for insertion r.ay l c left with any of the editorial staff or mailed to the editor at the English High School. In contributing, write onone side of the paper only and sign full name ( this is for reference only). Communications, according to their nature, should bo addressed to the editor, business manager, or exchange editor. Manuscript must lie accompanied by necessary postage to insure its return. Terms, 75 Cents per Year Single Copies, 10 Cents SOMERVILLE JOURNAL PRINT Editorial Staff associate £Dltor VIVIAN BEERS. L.. '09 £Ditor= fn=Cblef ERNEST V . CHAPIN. E., ‘09 Business kanaser HOWARD A. MacLEAN. L.. '09 £xcbatige £bitor LORINNE R. WHITNEY. L.. 09 assistant Business fflanaoer STUART FOSTER. E„ ‘10 Sporting £0itor Second assistant Business dfcanager PERCY G. WHTMAN. E.. ‘09 J. ELIOT SLATER. L.. ‘09 alumni £bitors treasurer L. ELIZABETH CHICKERING. L.. ‘08 GEORGE M. HOSMER (Faculty) EDNA F. TEELE. E.. '09 Staff artist M. ESTHER SHAPLEIGH, E.. ‘10 Class lEbitors Xatln School ALLISON NEWTON. ‘09 HARRY H. GREENWOOD, ‘10 MELVIN J. MESSER. ‘11 FRANCIS J. MAHONEY, M2 JEitflUsb School LESTER C. GUSTIN. ‘09 ANDREW HANDLEY. ‘10 ARTHUR LEIGHTON. ‘1! OLIVER CHURCHILL, M2

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TIIK SOMERVILLE RADIATOR 5 Much as we regret to lose Mr. South worth, we consider ourselves fortunate in securing as able a successor as Mr. Clark for superintendent of schools. He comes from Washington, D. C., where he has been prominent in educational work for years. Mr. South worth has been conscien- tious and energetic in his duty. Mis many years of service have gained for him innumerable staunch friends in teachers, pupils, and citizens. All join in wishing him well at his retirement. Especially has he the admiring regard and good will :f the high school students. Judging by the way the people of Washington regretted to lose Mr. Clark, we believe that he, also, will prove a wise and skilful director of the school system of which we arc so justly proud. 5 . K We are glad to notice that interest is being taken in the orchestra. This is a project that all musi- cally inclined are interested to help. Although several valued members have left, there is still talent enough in the two schools to make a suc- cess. When the players who. out of 1,700, are brilliant performers enough to form a school or- chestra have been systematically drilled for a time, they will be able to produce real music, harmoni- ous and accurate. The pioneers of last year ac- complished highly creditable results. Now we ex- pect them, after a season’s experience, to be an even more pleasing feature of the numerous re- ceptions. debates, plays, and dances that we are all looking forward to this winter. r Debating is a subject which seems to be receiv- ing much attention in the last few years. The English High society is in active operation, and several smaller clubs which were started last year among the underclassmen will probably soon be working again. In the Latin School one or more clubs may form, to contest among themselves and with the English School. These arc favorable signs, for there are few. if any, better means of improving the mind, quickening the intellect, and acquiring self-possession than debating. It is no small art to stand before an audience and give con- clusive arguments in clear, forcible English. A word battle with a keen opponent trains the ear to be quick in catching the important points, the mind to grasp the argument clearly, and the judg- ment to criticise and refute it. Our debaters, then, are worthy not merely of tolerance, but of respect and even admiration. Many who do not feel ca- pable of taking aggressive part are anxious to see the inauguration and success of interclass and interscholastic debating. . Seniors, do you realize that this is the last chance? Eight months more and you will be graduates! Then will you look back and say. 1 couldn’t have done better.” or will you say with vain remorse, I wish I had made the most of my last year”? Great changes can be wrought in eight months. A deficient pupil can make up con- ditions and finish with a fair record: or a good scholar can relax and get through merely on suf- ferance. It is the time for the business man to put the final polish on his training: for the prospective college student to clinch the last hold on his prep- aration : for every one to snatch at Knowledge,— the life-preserver that our Alma Mater llings to us as we arc launched into the current of the great world. . . The Somerville High Schools open with an at- tendance of 1.700. a membership far beyond their capacity. Especially is the English School over- crowded. It now holds fully 1,200 pupils, twice the number originally designed as the extreme limit. Ibis naturally results in great congestion. To help the trouble, the desks have been set in double rows, seats have been put in several rooms intended only for laboratories, and lastly, the Annex was built. Hut still there is no elbow room and. worst of all. 1,200 pairs of lungs are con- suming the cubic feet of air sufficient for only half that number. W hat is the conclusion to be drawn from these conditions? We must be thoughtful in the use of the corridors and staircases. Since there is none too much room, we must exert our- selves to keep our places. Our very misfortune offers one advantage, a magnificent opportunity to learn to observe the rights of others.