Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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6 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR ANGELO DELANI Emily Wright, ’22. Rosa Maria, a celebrated contralto, having just delighted an audience with her singing, was leaving the theatre on her way home when her attention was arrested by the soft strains of a violin, faintly heard above the uproar of the city. It was unusual to hear a street musician in that part of the city, so she listened a moment. Gradually, as the simple melody of the music came to her list- ening ears, she began to wonder who was playing. She stepped into the street, and moving with the crowd came to the place where the violinist sat. Angelo Delani was poor, lame, and father- less. His father had been a great violinist and had taught the small Marco to play on his beloved violin. The boy, being of a musi- cal temperment, took to the instrument read- ily; but when the father died leaving him penniless, Angelo was at a loss what to do .to earn his living. Reduced to his last coin, he was forced into the street, and sitting in a remote corner, began to play to rest his tired mind. Gradually a group of listeners gathered, and soon, all unknown to Angelo who was lost in the land of music, a crowd was listening to the sweet tones of the violin so deftly played by one so young. Among them was the fair Rosa Maria, drawn by the strains of her favorite song, listening spell-bound to note after note. As the song ended the crowd dwindled away until only Rosa Maria was left with the boy. Angelo was sitting very still, utterly discouraged with life and all things in gen- eral, when— “Child! Where did you learn to play like that?” It was the beautiful Rosa speaking. “Oh, Senorita,” said the boy, startled, “I did not know anyone was near.” Then followed a conversation in which it was disclosed that Angelo was alone in the world except for some unknown relatives in Great Britain, whom the father had men- tioned once but not called by name. He was now fourteen years old and had been living in an attic room with his old nurse. She had but recently died, and now Angelo was turn- ed into the street to starve. Rosa Maria was fascinated more' and more by this strange, lame lad who could play so beautifully. Be- fore the conversation ended she had deter- mined to take him to her home and care for him. Meanwhile, Rosa Maria’s old chauffeur had begun to get uneasy about his mistress. He had seen her turn down the street, and as it was very late, and she had not returned, he decided to find her. He had walked down the street a way when he saw his mistress and the boy coming toward him. When they met, Rosa explained that she was taking the boy home, and accordingly the old servant took the lad into his arms and made his way back to the car. We must now leave them on their way home, and skip over the space of four years in which Angelo has grown to be talf and manly. He is now eighteen years old and has studied with celebrated masters in Germany and in his own beloved Italy. We find Rosa Maria and Angelo journeying to England to visit the Senorita’s friends of whom she had often spoken to him. A month later. Lady Vincent, a friend of Rosa’s was preparing to give a musicale. Lady Vincent’s musicales were very popular among her many friends, and she wished to make this one better than usual. Having lately met the young Italian violinist and heard of his success, she determined to have him play at her musicale. When she asked him he replied that he would be very pleased to assist her. The night of the musicale arrived, and a close observer might have noticed in the audi- ence a white-haired, refined appearing gentle- woman. She possessed a clearly cut profile, rather stern lips, and very kind eyes. This was the Lady Montgomery, a lover of music and a very dear friend of Lady Vincent. The first numbers of the program were up to the standard of Lady Vincent’s musicales, and then came the announcement that Senor Angelo Delani would play a few selections as a special favor to the hostess. The moment Angelo came before the audience Lady Mont- gomery might been seen to start suddenly. Where had she seen those features before? The expressive eyes, the clearly cut profile, and the kind but rather stern mouth. Then, for the first time, she noticed that he was lame. She wondered how he could have be-

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' $JLSLSLSLSLSLSlSLSlJl QJLTJLJL jLiLSLQJULOJLSLSLJULSLSlJUlJLP.JUU o e ; t °o SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR hmnmnr inrrdTrinmnnnrin VOL. XXIX SOMERVILLE, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, NOVEMBER, 1919 No. 2 The Somerville High School Radiator is published by the High School on the third Thursday of every month during the school year, and only important news matter can be received after the lirst Thursday of the month. Matter for insertion may be left with any of the editorial staff or mailed to the editor at the High School. In contributing, write on one side of the paper only, and sign full name. Communications, according to their nature, should be m uled to the editor, business manager, or exchange editor. Manuscript must be accompanied by necessary postage to insure its return. Term», 75 Cent» per Year Entered as second class mail matter at Boston P. O. Graduation Number, 25 Cents Other Numbers, 10 Cents PURITAN LINOTYPE EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF L. CURTIS FOYE, ’20 ASSOCIATE EDITOR BUSINESS MANAGER DOROTHY BAKER, ’20 HARRY S. SMITH, ’21 EXCHANGE EDITOR ISABEL CARPENTER, '20 SPORTING EDITOR C. ALVAH MITCHELL, '20 ALUMNI EDITORS HARRIET FORD, 20 ALENE HOLMAN, '20 ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGERS HOMER ROWE, '22 LINCOLN HIGGINS, '22 STAFF ARTIST HELEN STEERE, '20 TREASURER GEORGE M. HOSMER (Faculty) LIBRARY EDITOR ADVISER LILLIAN PIERCE, ’20 A. MARION MERRILL (Faculty) CLASS EDITORS FRED LITTLEFIELD, '20 JOHN C. DUNBAR, '21 ASSISTANTS DOROTHY BAKER, '20 DONALD H. MILLER, '2J. WALTER N. BRECKENRIDGE, »22

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 7 come lame. She hardly heard a note which he played, she was so wrapt in joy at having found that which to her had been lost. After the last number she asked to see him privately. Of course her request was granted. Having been introduced she hesitated to broach the subject which was uppermost in her mind, so she began: “Senor, I wish to congratulate you on your success in music.” Angelo acknowledged the remark very gra- ciously and then the Lady thought it best to introduce her subject. “I wonder if you will think me prying and rude if I ask you about your early life?” Her kind eyes seemed even kinder, and her face younger now, as she listened for his an- swer. It came at last, “Why certainly not, my dear madam.” His curiosity was arroused now, for he wondered why this strange, motherly person could possibly want to hear of his commonplace life. “I wish to know if you remember anything of your mother,” she was saying. “I remember only that she was very kind and good. She died when I was but five years old, but father used to speak of her often to me. He said that my features resembled hers, but I hardly think they can because mother was very beautiful.” This modesty on the part of Angelo greatly pleased the Lady, but she went on— “Do you know that twenty years ago my young daughter, Anne, eloped with an Italian musician whom she met at just such a musi- cale as this? They were together almost every day after they met, and when he was suddenly called back to Northern Italy, be urged Anne to go with him. She dutifully asked my consent, but I—(her voice broke) I refused to let her go. I thought it strange that she did not make a scene, but I saw the reason when that night I found she had gone. My heart turned against her then, and I thought I never wanted to hear of her again. I did not hear, until seven years later when word came that she had died, leaving a small son to the care of her husband. Of course I knew the father would do all he could for the boy, but I thought that I could do more for him, so I employed searchers to find him for me. They did not succeed, and for thirteen years my heart has ached for the grandson I could not lavish love and care upon. “Tonight, I had almost forgotten, but when I saw your face it all came back like a flash. My boy, you have the very features of my daughter, could you possibly be my own, own grandson ?” Angelo’s face was a study. He was so taken aback that he could hardly utter a sound. It was now his turn to tell his story, so he began, relating in every detail the story of his life. One thing he omitted, however, how he became lame. Lady Montgomery noticed the omission and hesitatingly asked him, “Would you mind telling me how you became injured?” She immediately hated herself for asking the question when she saw the shadow that crossed his eager countenance. “It was an accident,” he said, “I was four years old when it occurred. My nurse and I were walking on a city street, and iii attempting to cross to the other side, I was knocked down by a pair of runaway horses. The carriage passed over my knees, breaking one leg and so shat- tering the knee of the other that when I re- covered, the shattered limb was much shorter than the other. I think my nurse never for- gave herself for letting me cross the street unaccompanied by her.” As Angelo’s story agreed almost exactly with Lady Montgomery’s, they both were satisfied as to the relation between them. When the fact was announced that the young Angelo Delani was the grandson of Lady Montgomery, his popularity grew more and more. Later, when the grandmother died, she left her entire estate to Angelo. He shared it with the now middle-aged Rosa Maria, who had assisted him in his time of need. We regret very much the delay in the publication of the October issue of the “Radiator.” This delay was due to the printers’ troubles which are so prevalent in the country at the present time and which even the staff cannot overcome. We hope that there will be no delays in the future.