Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 11 THE STUDENTS’ COUNCIL This is to serve as a statement of the aims and ideals of the Council and as a plea for “Honor and Progress.” For the benefit of first-year pupils we will give a brief summary of the Council’s organi- zation. The Students’ Council consists of the four officers of all three classes: Floor proc- tors, elected by the room proctors and serving as their head, and two members of the faculty, Mr. Mahoney and Miss Browne. The president of the Senior Class automatically becomes the president of the Council. All members- have full and equal privileges of debate and voting. The wide scope of the Council’s activities may be shown by a general resume of last year’s business. The Council adopted a plan for better filing to relieve the congestion in the corridors, conducted assemblies, assisted in campaigns, acted as a reception committee and ushers at school functions. The Council does not desire to manage the affairs or to dictate the policies of the school. In truth it possesses only the power of sug- gestion to the headmaster and influence among the students. All achievements of the Council have resulted from the co-operation of the students and the faculty. The Council aims to be the connecting link between the head- master, the faculty, and the student body. To upper classmen: You are familiar with the work that the Council has done. Help and carry through its plans in the future as loyally and well as you have done in the past. To first-year students: Become acquainted and interested in the activities of the Council. To the entire student body as a whole: Choose as your proctors, those whom you believe best fitted to carry on the work of the Council. Always regard the Council as YOUR organi- zation, formed to look after YOUR welfare and striving for the best interest of YOUR school. Receive and carry out its suggestions, knowing that they have been offered by a body com- posed of YOUR classmates, attempting to solve YOUR school problems. THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT Once again, with the opening number of the Radiator, football and other school activities are enthusiastically reviewed and planned and equally as enthusiastically read. But there is another part of the school life which pertains to the cultural side—books—which ought also to be viewed with a great deal of interest by the student body. As our school library is typical of many other libraries in the country—and we hope it is a little better than most—it is fitting here to mention the first public library in the United States. It is quite generally known that Benjamin Franklin established the first public library. The circumstances, however, are interesting, and may be found in the “Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.” Franklin belonged to a club in Philadelphia called the Junto Club in which was held many discussions under various topics. The members collected all their books in the clubroom to aid in reference work, but the books did not receive proper care and the plan was soon abandoned. However, it pro- duced an idea in Franklin’s mind, and in 1731 he began subscriptions for the first public li- brary. From this small beginning has followed the countless libraries scattered over our land, even our own much prized Somerville Public Library. Of this latter we are privileged to have a branch within our High School with a librarian who gives aid and instruction in its use. Each Sophomore English class is required to spend one period a week in the library to receive instruction from the librarian on the general use of the library. Miss Woodbury, our school librarian, is now devoting all of her time to the school, having been employed by the school department in- stead of on part time by the Public Library. Here is a list of books the librarian recom- mends:— The Honorable Peter Stirling, by Ford. The Light That Failed, Kipling. Colonel Carter of Cartersville, F. H. Smith. Monsieur Beaucaire, Tarkington. The Virginian, Wister. How many have you read? Dorothy Obear.

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10 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR “To The Swift . . By Richard J. Walsh, 1923 T was the eve of the big Thanks- giving Day game. In all parts of of the great city were the hilari- ous supporters of the rival col- leges, Trenton and Rathtun, which, on the morrow, would fight for what practically was the championship of the United States, for they had smothered all their other rivals, each in its own way, Trenton with its widely-known steam roller “system’' and a wealth of material from which to choose, Rath- tun, mainly through the efforts of Bob Spence, its captain, and the grit and ability of the small squad representing the little, unheard of col- lege. Rathtun had not been able to afford a coach, but the team’s victories were being at- tended with financial success and the Athletic Association was considering . . . “There’s Sam Alton,” said the hotel clerk, who was condescending to talk with Spence, whom everyone else was seeking in order that they might off-handedly remark to their friends later: ‘Oh, yes, I was talking to Bob be- fore the game’; the clerk who had—by his own affirmation, at least,—talked with many Presi- dents of the United States, was too lofty to seek this vulgar honor, hence the condescen- sion, continuing with his conversation. “He was the All-American quarterback who made such a name for himself at Princeton. He’s had a hard time, sick for months, lost his job, and gradually lost his grip, till now,—well, he does what odd jobs he can. He’s bringing up a small brother, too. In spite of all his troubles he’s still interested in football. He always comes in to see the visiting teams. I suppose it brings back the days when he used to arrive with his team for the big game. Whenever he can scrape together the price he goes to the games. This year, I guess, he hasn’t enough to celebrate the day by eating, much less buying a ticket.” Now Bob Spence was naturally kind-hearted, so, when he looked at the man designated, the first thing he noticed was that the former player was clothed rather lightly for such a chilly evening. Bob also had that valuable ad- junct to a kind heart—tact. It is not surpris- ing, then, that he drifted casually over to Alton, introduced himself, and drew that pleas- antly-surprised individual into a discussion of football. During the conversation, in which the two men became quite friendly, Mr. Alton amazed Bob hy his wonderful knowledge of the game, which showed his football brain to be as great and active as ever. Bob Spence was a great quarterback because he knew how to use his brain as well as his body. After he had received some remarkably sound advice from the once famous, but now forgotten, quarterback, this brain of his went rapidly into action. Before he bade Alton good night he invited him to see the morrow’s game on the sidelines with the Rathtun team, and to give them such a talk before the game as he had just heard. Spence recognized gen- ius when he saw it. Sam Alton jumped at the chance to mix once more in the football atmos- phere. Before Bob went to bed he sent a tele- gram . . . “Boys, first of all, be game! Trenton out- weighs you. You’ve got to fight from whistle to whistle in order to have a chance, not to mention victory. And Captain Spence, watch your team. If a man is injured or tired re- place him, no matter who he is. Remember, a good, fresh man always outplays an injured or tired one. Your only hope is speed, so when a man begins to slow down the team send him out. As both captain and acting coach you have a tremendous responsibility on your shoulders. Your school trusts you to prove worthy of it. Show it that it’s right!” No one would have recognized the speaker as the inconspicuous, humble Mr. Alton of yes- terday. Once more he was the “great Sam Alton,” tense and excited with that thrilling uncertainty which pervades every locker room before an important game. The great game began. The harder and more spirited playing of the light Rathtun team was manifest from the outset, but even that, while smothering the Trenton advance, availed for naught when it came to carrying the ball. Bob Spence ran his team like the ex- pert he was, selecting plays carefully, and sub- stituting players when he thought it neces- sary. Early in the third quarter he began to feel a pain in his leg, which slowed his playing until he found it hard to keep pace with the other fleet backs. “I ought to go out, I suppose,” he argued to himself, “but this is my last game, it’s my last chance in college.” (Continued on Page 12.)

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12 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR With Members of the Faculty This Summer R. AVERY took many auto trips and toured New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Mr. Tuttle made an extended automobile trip through New Hampshire, Maine and Quebec, including visits to the White Mountains, St. Anne de Beaupre, Mon- treal and Lake Champlain. Mrs. Topliff visited Philadelphia and Valley Forge. Mrs. Card enjoyed a seven-weeks’ camping trip in the wilds of Canada. She lived in a tent, traveled by canoe, cooked over a campfire and in general lived the simple life. Miss Welch made the trans-Atlantic trip in company with Miss Porter and Miss Giles. Their tour included Holland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and the battlefields of France. Mr. Hosmer was at Ocean Park, Maine, and there enjoyed a new experience, deep sea fish- ing. One seven-pound pollock caught in a morning’s work. Miss Lyle spent five weeks in lumber camps on shores of the Bay of Fundy where there was but one train a day and Indians were a com- mon sight. Miss Saunders made a five-weeks’ trip through the White Mountains and Canada. She climbed Mt. Washington in a Dodge car. Miss Burnham toured the West, taking in Yellowstone Park, Rocky Mountain Park and Glacier Mountain Park. At the latter she en- joyed some horse-back riding. Mr. Plantinga spent the summer at Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Miss Harvey was at summer school at the University of Maine. Mr. Sears spent the summer on a farm in Charlemont, four miles from the Mohawk Trail. Miss Joel took an automobile trip through New York and the Great Lake region. Miss Bell studied psychology at Harvard, specializing in character analysis and mental gymnastics. Miss Cunningham visited the Catskills and Green Mountains. Miss Brown spent the summer at Penobscot Bay. Miss MacDuflie was in the White Mountains. Mr. Mahoney had complete charge of the Somerville Playgrounds. Miss Teele kept house. Miss Arrington studied at Harvard Summer School. Mr. Colman raised potatoes. Mr. Sprague worked all summer. Mr. Hayward taught summer school. Miss Newborg was at the Ocean View House, Block Island. Mr. De Cellos was at Hampton Beach. Miss Woodbury was at the beach at Quincy, Mass. Miss Bradford played nurse, sketched and drove an automobile. Miss Tuell industriously pursued rest and enjoyed “a book and a sunny nook.” Miss Merrill and Miss Batt spent the sum- mer in Concord and Methuen and incidentally tutored with a Ford Sedan. Both “passed.” “TO THE SWIFT . . ” (Continued from Page 10.) The teams were lined up and Bob called the signal, a quarterback run. He received the ball and sped around the end, with excellent in- terference, five yards—ten yards, finally the goal posts loomed up before him. Then the strained leg began to slow him down, and al- lowed the swift Trenton quarterback to over- take him and bring him down on the ten-yard line by a hard and sure tackle. Bob pulled him- self to his feet, his mind made up. In his heart he knew that, although the Rathtun supporters were wildly cheering his name, he had failed them, for that long run of his which had car- ried the ball to within scoring distance should have carried it to a score. When he had slowed down he had lost the score; had a fresher man been there he would have made it. Probably in the next couple of plays the ball would be pushed over. Well, he had forfeited his chance, Alton was right, he should have given way to a fresher man before. Before the cheering had ceased he walked to the referee and reported quietly, “Spence out,” then jogged to the side lines. The spec- tators were amazed. “Can it be that Spence is quitting, apparently uninjured, merely because he has been tackled hard?” they asked one another. Bob’s face burned. Did they think that he would quit when before him lay the chance for which he had been praying his en- tire college career, of being the cause of a vic- tory over the famous Trenton team. Well, it was all in the game, and —