Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR i r about time you gave some one else a chance. You just buckle down to business and get your pigskin and be satisfied. Just suppose some other fellow had always stood in your way all through college! Wouldn’t you hate him? Rut Dick Gordon is a man! He’s never flinched once; he’s just kept on plugging. Give him a chance ! ’ Fearful lest he should lose strength to stick to his resolve, he strode rapidly off in the direction of the campus. Half way there he was fortunate enough to meet Gordon crossing the campus. Putting two fingers between his lips, he gave a long, shrill whistle. Instantly Dick stopped and with a puzzled expression watched his captain's approach. I say, Dick, I’d like to have you report on the gridiron at three o’clock for practice. Report, captain? asked Dick with the same puzzled expression on his brow. Gradually it cleared away and left such an expression of amazed wonder that somehow Lilly felt that his sacrifice was more than worth while. Captain Lilly, surely you can’t mean that you are going to make me a regular? Exactly, Dick. From today you are Dart- mouth’s full-back. Lut----- but, why. Lilly Mercian, you are full- back yourself. 1 was. Dick: you are now. And. man. what- ever you do, play with all your might. Don’t let that Harvard team beat us! Lilly Mercian, you’re square! I’m going to play so well for old Dartmouth that this year will be the greatest in her history of football.” Silently their hands met in a strong clasp of perfect comradeship. Zhc .16o? Scouts of Hmevica Bp ill. Chester Milep, ’16 The Boy Scout movement has become uni- versal, and wherever organized its leaders are glad as we are to acknowledge the debt we all owe to Lieutenant - General Sir Robert S. S. Laden-Powell. who has done so much to make the movement of interest to boys of all nations. The I toy Scouts of America is a corporation consisting of some of our most prominent men. who gladly and freely give their time to help this movement that the boys may become good citizens and men of good character. In the various cities, towns, and villages the Boy Scouts are cared for by local councils. These councils are formed to keep the boys interested. In order that the work of the Loy Scouts throughout America may be uniform and intelli- gent the National Council has prepared an Official Handbook to furnish to the patrols of the Loy Scouts advice in practical methods. The aim of the Boy Scouts is to promote the ability in boys to do things for themselves and for others. It is called “Scoutcraft” and makes the boys observant and handy, or able to do things. Scoutcraft includes instruction in first aid. life saving, tracking, signaling, cycling, nature study, seamanship, campcraft. woodcraft, chivalry, patriotism, and other subjects. This is not work, but pleasure for the boys. All that is needed is the out-of-doors, and a competent leader. There have been all kinds of scouts, one being on the danger line of the army, or at the outpost. The army scout was the soldier who was chosen to go out on the skirmish line. I he pioneer was out on the edge of the wilderness guarding men. women, and children. Lut since then other kinds of scouts have been established. These are peace scouts, who learn to know how to live in the woods. W herever there have been heroes there have been scouts, and to be a scout means to be prepared to do the right thing, as the scout’s motto is Le Pre- pared. To be a good scout one should know something about the woods and the animals that inhabit them, as well as to how to care for one’s self when camping. He should know the difference between birds and the difference between bicycle tracks and those of other vehicles. There is another thing which a scout must know, and that is obedience. To be a good scout a boy must obey his patrol leader. He should so discipline himself that he need have no thought but to obey the orders of his officers. Other virtues of a scout are courtesy, loyalty, self- respect. but the most important virtue is that ;f honor. Honor is compared somewhat with self-respect. hen a scout says he will do it on his honor he is bound to do it. 'Flic honor of a scout is a [Continued on page 13.1

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10 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR “While Don pumped her cut, 1 reefed mainsail and jib, took in the top sail and headed across the bay for Sqmin Light. As I had all I could manage in steering, Susie held the mainsheet, and Don. the jib sheet, for I did not dare belay them for fear an extra strong gust might send us over. “By this time we all had our oil clothes on, for every whitecap drenched us with spray. We should doubtless have reminded you of pictures you have seen, if you could have caught a glimpse of us then. ()ur oil clothes glistening with spray, the Dragon heeled over until her rail was level with the water, everybody sitting upon the weather rail, the waves foaming under the bowsprit and boiling under the stern. It was a most exciting scene. Not until we were well past the black buoy, did I dare to tack and go in before the wind, for to jibe in that gale would have meant, everybody swim. Going in we fairly flew. The mainsail was out till it touched the stay on one side and the jib full out on the other side. We left a wake like a racing motor boat. “Hut we couldn’t make the cove. As'there was hardly room to come about. 1 decided to risk it. and jibe her to go in the cove. The wind was not quite so bad in the river, as the point broke the force of it a bit. ■ ‘When I give the word, haul on that sheet quick, Sue! Ready, Don! Cast off the jib sheet! Haul, Sue! Quick!’ We just man- aged to make it without shipping water, and just as we came up to the mooring the wind went down altogether. “If you had been with us, you wouldn't have been quite so anxious to go out the next day in that ‘light southwest breeze’ as you called it.” “Hang it all.” complained Curly, ‘T never get in on the real good ones.” He picked up his chemistry again and resumed the study of the eccentricities of the elements. I thought for a moment. “Curly.” “Um-m-m.” 1 threw a book at him. “Well! What?” “It’s no use, you'd have been sick. Such amusements are for sailors, not lubbers, you know.” ()utraged and insulted, poor Curly retaliated, and in another moment we were rolling on the floor in close embrace. tEbe Struggle m TlKlen m. IPonD, ’13 ILLY Mercian, son of “The Wheat King,” had always lived the life of luxury so prevalent among that class of the idle wealthy. Never had he done a stroke of work in his life. Suddenly, at the beginning of his senior year in Dartmouth, he found himself confronted with a new phase of life. He was no longer the richest man in his class, but. on the contrary, his father’s failure had so greatly reduced his finances that lie saw horrible visions of being dropped from his class. He flung himself full length on the mossy bank, as idly he threw pebbles into the rippling stream below. “By Jove! I'd like to know what I’m good for anyway! And to think dad wanted to make a professional man of me! hy. I doubt if I d even make a decent hod-carrier! But. I’ve just simply got to do something or be dropped. “Let’s see—first there’s Latin. I passed in that, but I couldn't tutor a donkey. German? No, that’s out of the question, too. French? Urn! that’s more like it. Chemistry? That’s it! That’s one advantage of my medical course anyway. Then, there’s English and 1 know I could tutor that. Mathematics I can easily tutor. Oh, I guess maybe I won’t be so poverty stricken after all. “But. ye gods and little fish-hooks, how am I to do all that and still play football? I can’t give up that captainship after trying so hard for it. Besides. I haven’t another full-back to take my place. That's one place where I’m actually nec- essary without one of dad's checks,” Billy added bitterly. ‘‘Still,” he continued, “there’s Dick Gordon, who has been trying ever since his freshman year to make the team. He would make a splendid full-back, too, if he had a decent chance. Oh. hang it all, I want to be full-back myself.” Suddenly Billy sat up very straight, “Why, Billy Mercian, you conceited fool, that's the whole trouble with you. You’re a selfish brute. You’ve always had more than your share; it’s

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12 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR To the Readers of the Radiator:— The editor-in-chief of the Raihatou has asked for something about the library and its new build- ing. This is an opportunity of reaching the high school citizens of Somerville which is very wel- come to the trustees and librarian. Somerville, for various reasons, is one of the best reading populations in Xew England, and the circulation of books from its public library is third in rank according to the statistics of 11)11: being exceeded in Xew England only by Boston and Springfield. It is probable that the figures of this year will show Somerville in the lead of Springfield, and in second place. Reside the number of books loaned outside the building there is a vast amount of reference work, consisting of answers to questions and assistance given to persons studying various subjects. This assist- ance. to be rendered quickly, accurately, and in the most helpful manner, must be given by courte- ous. well-educated, and technically experienced library assistants. The trustees have, during the last year, put into operation a ‘ Scheme of Service” bv which en- trance to and promotions within the staff depend upon ability, which has been demonstrated by rank in school work, in examinations by the library, and in work actually performed with the public. All positions are now filled in this manner. The object is. of course, to give the citizens of Somer- ville. who support the library, the services of the most competent persons to be obtained. A system of apprenticeship is a part of the Scheme of Service.” Apprentices must be graduates of the high school, of high standing, and must give three months without compensation toward the learning of the technical details of the pro- fession. They then begin at a salary of $300 a year, which is at least equal to $9.50 a week in Boston. There are annual increases of $00. up to $(»00 a year, and higher positions which are more than equal to $21 a week in Boston. The time called for by the schedule is KH hours per week, and the vacation allowance is one week during the winter and three weeks during the summer. Attendance at special courses in library schools or colleges is encouraged, and every effort made by the trustees to render the work pleasant. dignified, and satisfying to the staff, and increas- ingly efficient and courteous to the public. They feel that library work has now grown to be a profession worthy of the serious attention of young women who are interested in the people and in the learning of the world, and particularly in making books useful, comforting, and inspiring to the citizens, both children and adults, of Som- erville. And it is their intention to keep the institution abreast of the best experience and methods in library work, and to foster professional spirit and ability - in the assistants. To do all of this work many books, much apparatus of catalogues and indexes to make their contents available, and modern accommodations for the users of the library are necessary. This meant a new building, which, through the good will of the present mayor and city government, and of Mr. Carnegie, the city is soon to enjoy. The new building will have space for about 200.000 volumes, of which 50,000 will be shelved in a beautifully light and magnificent book room. 70x120 feet, with seats for 180 persons. It will be arranged with tables and book cases alternating on what is known as the alcove plan, so that a person may find the books on a particular subject conveniently arranged for examination at a com- fortable table in a comfortable chair. This collec- tion will contain the latest, and most used, and most valuable books on all subjects. In the children's room, which is 70x35 feet, with one hundred scats, there will be eight or ten thousand especially selected books suitable for children, and covering all subjects. 'Hie remainder of the books now in the library will be shelved in a storage stack, to which, from time to time, will be retired books as they become obsolete. 'I bis stack, howeyer. will be so closely related both to the adult and children’s rooms that any book in it may be had in a very few moments. Suitable accommodations arc also provided for the great amount of clerical work necessary in hand- ling the library’s new books and the various proc- esses connected with keeping 100,000 volumes in circulation and in good repair. The exterior of the building will be of light Persian gray brick, with trimmings of terra cotta and of Deer Island granite, and the roof of green