Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 275 ©iris 5ive Japanese JMav A large audience filled Unitarian hall Saturday evening, May 11. when the Girls' Dramatic Club of the Somerville English High School presented a rather ambitious play, entitled A Japanese Ro- mance,” under the supervision of Miss Bertha A. Raymond, teacher of elocution. Whatever may have been the anticipation of the audience con- cerning the evening's entertainment it is safe to sav that no one left the hall without a feeling of satisfaction. For a few hours a glimpse had been given of the life in beautiful Japan, and it was hard to realize that, after all, in the words of I to, it was only “honorable play-acting which had been witnessed. So charming was the spirit of the plav, so sin- cere and natural the manners of the performers, so attractive and appropriate were the stage set- tings, that the whole performance produced an ef- fect far more artistic and pleasing than could be reasonably expected of an amateur production. In everv detail was shown the result of careful preparation and thorough drill. The performance moved smoothly from the time of beginning until its close without any hitch or hindrance. Divided into six scenes, the play gave ample opportunity for stage settings representing various types of Japanese home life. The Japanese garden, the scene of the first and last act, was admirable, while the interior of a country house given in the fifth scene was a veritable glimpse of the home life in the flowery kingdom. More than is usually the case the work of the play was well distributed, giv- ing to each of the leading performers an important and attractive part. In every case the part was sustained with fidelity and charm, bringing to each performer unmistaka- ble evidence of the pleasure and approval of the audience. It was little short of remarkable that these young women could so thoroughly divest themselves of the mannerisms of the Occident and so completely vest themselves with the charm and simplicity and quaint manners of the ()rient. Great credit must be given to them for their hard and long-continued study and to all who have been in any way responsible for the planning and drilling which resulted in so admirable a per- formance. Japanese dances given several times during the play were extremely well rendered. They were interesting in themselves and because of the strong contrast which they presented to the American idea of dancing. Indeed, the Japanese gentleman who instructed the young ladies in the art of Japanese dancing complained of the diffi- culty of the task which lie had in dispossessing the minds of the dancers of the American notion and substituting therefor the Japanese idea of the dance. American girls, lie said, do not understand our dances. They all want to go hippitv-hop all the time. Incidental music was rendered bv two mandolin players. Miss Ruth Lufkin and Miss Elizabeth Chipman. whose playing of Japanese melodies added much to the realism of the scenes of home life. Miss Helen Porter secured instant favor in her rendition of a Japanese love song, which she was obliged to repeat. The part of Euzi. a dancer, was well taken by Miss ()live Long. Concerning the work of the principals it would be almost invidious to make special mention. In all fairness it should be said, however, that Miss Lillian Gunsenhiscr sustained the difficult work of the Princess liana with a certaintv and finish not to be expected of a high school girl. Her work would have been a credit to an experienced per- former. Anna Benjamin played an exacting and hard part in the role of the malignant Sakara, dealer in charms and mysteries, impressively and without exaggeration. Wilhelmina Heilman as Mimosa, Blanche Brookes as Yttki. Ruth Sargent as Yoyo, Minnie Robertson as Haru. and Ethel J. Strom as I to enacted their respective parts with such finish and charm as to make the audience, certainly the discriminating portion thereof, strongly desire to visit the flowery kingdom. The part of Ladv Cecil Cavendish, an English tourist, taken by Miss Donna Damrell. and that of her chaperon. Miss Pendergast. a most ancient Eng- lish gentlewoman, by Miss Eliza Welch, were well sustained and brought out sharply the contrast be- tween English and Japanese customs. As has al- ready been said, the stage settings were extremely well planned and executed, and the costumes were rich and beautiful. After the performance Harry Waldron, who was the efficient stage manager of the production, sold off at auction the posters and flowers which had been used as a part of the stage embellishment. So pronounced was the success of this production that many of those who saw it think that it should be give again in order that those who were not fortunate enough to attend Saturday night might have an opportunity to witness it.

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274 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR XTbe Voice of {Truth 1910 Class poem, lEnolisb Diob School J6 Isabel jf. Grant, £. ’10 M A151.1. R GRANT. Poet 1C. H. S. '•1 seemed to stand upon a shore Where lowering mists about me rolled, And a happy heart was mine no more. For list! upon my ear there tolled Across the tossing billows high A deep-voiced bell which seemed to say: •By morn must thou be on thy way.' “The darkness deepened all around. And lower still my spirit fell. For I could hear no other sound Save dashing waves and tolling bell, Which still pealed forth Insistently, And, os I hearkened, said to me: ‘Stay not thy step: courageous be.’ “One weary night of trial keen Of soul and mind methought I bore, T.ong pondering o'er the passing scene Of joyful days and friends of yore; The garden with Its waving trees. Where many a lesson I had learned, And for whose protection now I yearned. And now a bright light seemed to burn I’pon the spot whereon I stood. Above me glowed the mighty sun Whose deep, strong rays, foretelling good. Fell full upon my upturned brow. Behold! nearby was moored a bark, Which lay untouched by usage mark. “Clear, ringing voices I could hear. And sought to know whence these could be. And lo! were scattered far and near Youths, launching each his craft at sea, And laughed and sang at work the while. And as I scanned their faces bright, Chance wakened me to real light. “Dear friends, we stand upon this shore, Far gazing o'er the sea of life. And each ins unused bark must lower. To sail amid tire world’s great strife, hieh never may delay our course If. armed by hope and courage strong. We shall attack each wave of wrong. “The darkness near the shore will cling; it speaks the doubt and fear of youth. Winch does insist in everything. Hut wavers and succumbs to truth. ‘1 hat we to some poor, eager soul A portion of our cheer may give, God grant us power to nobly live. And now the garden green and fair. Whence with faltering feet we turn, is cherished Alma Mater's care That has guided us to learn Many lessons of varied text. May wisdom's sunshine bathe the place, And mark the spot with sacred grace. List! Duty's bell is pealing clear With summons plain to waiting youth. Its call shall fall on grateful ear. Not solemn toll, but voice of truth. Calling us to the voyage's end. At last we walk in wondrous day. Our faith in God. who shows the way. Bv courtesy of the Somerville Journal the editors are able to publish the class poem, al- though it was not ready to place with the other Ivy Day Ivxercises in the front of the Radiator.

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2 6 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR —■■ •- - —■ Somerville, 5; Brockton, 4 Somerville won from I'rock I on at I ’ roadway field in a well-played game. 'I he hitting: of Mil- more and Larks featured. The score:— Innings ...............1 2 3 1 5 ( 7 $ 9 Somerville ..............0 1 0 2 n l u 2 —6 Brockton ................0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0—I Batteries—Like. Laurie. Knox. Donahue. Wardwell. Laxon, and Williams. ------------------------—— Stonebam, 9; Somerville, 6 On May 2s Stoneham plaved Somerville at Broadwav field, and defeated us In a score of 9 to (i. Somerville played very poorlv in the field. The score:— Innings ...............1 2 3 I 5 0 7 8 9 Stoneham ................0 2 0 5 0 2 1 0 1 9 Somerville ..............0 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 1—0 Somerville, 4; Borebester, l Somerville played Dorchester in a league game on May 30 at Broadwav field and defeated them in a well-played game. I to 1. Two errors in the first, followed bv three hits, gave Somerville the lead. After that Somerville was unable to fathom Brennan's dcliverv. Som- erville pulled off three double plavs during the game. Like and Brennan both pitched good ball. The score:— SOMERVILLE. r. b.h. p.o. a, e. Mathews, s.s................. o o o 0 2 Norton, s.s.................. o 0 2 1 1 Williams. 2b................. ] 0 4 4 0 Mixer, r.f................... ] 1 i p Milmore, If.................. 1 o 0 0 0 (»inn. c..................... 1 o 7 1 0 Barks. 31»................... 0 1 0 1 0 Miles, lb.................... 0 1 12 0 0 Boss, c.f.................... o 0 1 0 0 Bike......................... o 0 0 3 0 Totals .................... 4 3 27 11 3 DORCHESTER. r. b.h. p.o. a. e. Rauchal. 3b.................. o o 0 | i Eraser. 2h................... u o 2 3 1 Hoernle. s.s................. p i o 2 0 Brennan, p................... 0 o p 4 p Hyer. l.f.................... ] p p p 0 Reagan. 2b....................p p o | .» Kennedy, c................... p 1 0 0 0 Tongas, r.f.................. p ] j p p c.f................... p p 0 p p 1 3 24 11 4