Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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12 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR Poetry Dean C. Swan, Jr. We welcome and print upon the poetry page of this first issue of the Radiator, several poems which exemplify the high standards that have been maintained in this department in its in- fancy the previous year, under the competent guidance of John Holmes. The poetry page is relatively new to the Radiator. It is young, the product of the younger generation. It shows and illustrates the growing appreciation among that generation for the higher and loftier ideals which only poetry, the beautiful language of all time, can express. Notice the soothing effect to be gained from the lulling of soft sounding words in Charles Jellison’s poem, “Sunset,” and then in con- trast mark the startling emphasis and beauty of the swaying, rhythmic force in Beatrice Mann’s “Valkyrie.” These poems merit the appreciation of our readers. “The Flag,” by Eva Monk, is of peculiar and exceptionally pleasing style and structure. It abounds in beautiful sentiment and tributes to Old Glory. Frank J. Calandrella’s poems, “Paradox” and “Night and No Return,” are splendid examples of free verse and furnish the reader material for further thought. These poems should prove the means of in- spiring others to evidence their appreciation by submitting poetry of their own. Should we find at the close of the coming school term that we have succeeded in encouraging former lovers of poetry to further appreciation and that our page is instrumental in the formation of new and lasting acquaintances with the more beautiful thoughts of life, as expressed in poetry, we shall feel convinced that the poetry page has fulfilled its mission! PARADOX Voice issuing from the body Low, low and melodious Then growing, straining From the breast. Crying to whom, expressing what? O Singer, your mellow voice Breaks something within me. But when I hear you again T’is-the same. What is it within me That breaks, but is never broken? Frank J. Calandrella. THE VALKYRIE Swords dripping with red blood, Men reeking with life-blood. Beards tossing, shields clashing, Ground spotted with red. Ho! come I souls seeking, Dead warriors seeking To bear to Valhalla Where dwell hero-dead. Flash, lightning! crash, thunder! Leap higher, ye tides! Shriek, scream shrill, ye tempest. A Valkyrie rides! Hair streaming in stormwind, Gold tossed in the whirlwind, Steeds’ hoofs striking fire-sparks Wherever they touch; Mail flashing through darkness, Bright silver through blackness; Blue eyes darting lightning As onward we rush. Flash, lightning! crash, thunder! Leap higher, ye tides! Shriek, scream shrill, ye tempest. A Valkyrie rides! Over plain, over mountain, O’er valley and fountain, O’er fjord walled by grim crags, O’er storm-troubled sea. Steed’s mane tossing wildly, I speed on, undaunted, Souls seeking for Odin, Wherever they be. Flash, lightning! crash, thunder! Leap higher, ye tides! Shriek, scream shrill, ye tempest. A Valkyrie rides! Beatrice E. Mann, 1925. NIGHT AND NO RETURN I wait under the trees for you. love, And high up, near the sky, they cry. Is not the fighting over, love. Or has the winged death Poured the red o’er your breast? I stretch out my arms, love, But only the wind sobs into them. Frank J. Calandrella.

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 11 The following Somerville High School boys have been awarded scholarships for the aca- demic year 1924-25 in Harvard College: S. H. S.. 1924, Harvard, 1928: Noobar Danielian, Samuel M. Dupertuis, Charles P. Englehardt, Joseph Pacifici, Charles K. Ranger, Richard C. Wal- dron. Dupertuis has received the Somerville scholarship, founded by Dr. George L. Baxter, for so many years principal of the Somerville High and the Somerville Latin Schools. S. H. S., 1923; Harvard, 1927: Arnold H. Engborg, Samuel Taylor. Richard J. Walsh, Louis Levinson. Walsh has the credit of re- ceiving the grade of A in English A, a marked achievement in the Freshman year. S. H. S., 1922; Harvard, 1926: Lawrence L. Daggett, Albert G. Forbes. S. H. S., 1921; Harvard, 1925: Andrew C. Berry, Gustav A. Hedlund, John G. Murphy. Out-of-course: Paul J. Hanlon. For all men in the Sophomore, Junior and Senior classes the award of a scholarship means the recognition of a very high grade of work, since after the Freshman year no man is allowed to receive financial aid whose grades do not average FI or better. Surely honor is in some degree reflected upon our school, where the sixteen boys prepared for Harvard, and the school can well feel a debt of gratitude to Harvard for so generously assisting our faith- ful and able students. MANDOLIN CLUB The Mandolin Club has commenced this year very successfully with the following officers: Marion Knight, president; Monroe Burbank, vice-president and treasurer; Eleanor Packard, secretary and librarian. This year there are twenty-nine members enrolled in the club. The new Sophomores are as follows: Lillian Silliker, Jerry Caso, Kenneth Butterfield, Manuel Lima and Janet Putnam. SPANISH CLUB. . .The Spanish Club held its first meeting of the year September 20. The officers for this year are as follows: Cecilia Viveiros, president; An- tony Forte, vice-president; Ruth Covert, secre- tary; Richard Bollard, treasurer. The following committees were chosen: Rules and Regulations Committee—-Evelyn Hutchinson, Lillian Corrieri, Jerry Caso. Entertainment Committee—Gladys Herder- hurst, Veda Lohnes. Hospitality Committee—Mary Hogan, Edna Elder, Joseph Bollard. The number enrolled is not large, but a cam- paign has been started to secure more mem- bers, especially Sophomores, inasmuch as there are only ten in the club at present. With the very helpful co-operation of the Spanish teachers wc hope to make this year even more successful than last. CHESS CLUB The results of the election of the Chess Club are as follows: James Reed, captain of the team: Wesley Dupertuis, president of the club; David Warsowe, secretary; Edward Fenn, treasurer. Last year Somerville won the cup and we are going to do our best to have it again this year. Manuel Lima. Harold Greenough, Arthur Affannato and Henry Taylor are the Sophomore members. Eighty-five pupils have elected debating. ORCHESTRAS Both of our orchestras are starting this year with extra large membership. The first or- chestra has thirty-one members, the only Sophomore being Frances Bonney. The second orchestra, of about fifty, is composed mostly of Sophomores.

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 13 THE FLAG I am your flag, The outward and visible sign Of the great spirit of a nation. I stand for all things Wonderful and God-fostered: Freedom, education, safety. I stand for all things Wonderful and man-revered; Power, wealth and beauty. I am the poetry Of tall, rugged mountains, Rearing lovely pinnacles to God. 1 am the wonder Of great singing cities, Chanting understanding unto God. I am the grandeur Of far wheat-sown plains, Kneeling in their pureness to our God. I am the symphony Of bird-filled cathedrals, Raising perfumed aisles of trees to God. All these things am I, your flag. I am the Holy Grail Of old world peasantry, Seeking freedom and book-learning. I am the wand of the world, Enchanting ignorance away Into the imagery of knowledge. I am the spirit Of parthenons of learning. I am the goddess Of justice and truth and light. I am the spirit Of fearless Americans, Swift as running Olympians In the path of truth. I am your flag, The outward and visible sign Of the spirit of a nation. Eva Monk, 1926 SUNSET There’s a dull red glow in the west to-night. There are great blue clouds in the sky so bright. There’s a soft, warm breeze blowing from the sea, And the drowsy waters are as silent as can be. I can hear the grey gulls crying as the sun sinks low, And the water’s rippling laughter on the sand. I can hear the ship’s clock tolling the knell of parting day, While the church bells answer on the land. I can see the vagrant schooner come cutting through the bay; Making for its haven ere the close of day. Now it drops its briny anchor in the bay so deep and still, And the tired sun sinks softly behind the dark’ning hill. And the cannon’s echoing thunder attends him to his rest, While the timid mother sea-gull is frightened from her nest. And a thousand lights are burning in the homes along the shore. As the twinkling stars in heaven come to light the earth once more. Charles Jellison. A Message to Somerville High School Pupils From a letter written by Bagdasar Krekor Baghdigian, Somerville High School, 1911, and dated September 28, 1924, we copy the follow- ing extracts, knowing they will interest any of his friends who read them, the pupils who, like himself, are foreign-born, and all who re- joice in another’s accomplishment. “There is much fun, not in occupying a place made for you by someone, but in blazing a new trail. Please give my love to your boys and girls. Tell them to be kind to foreign-born students, and help make things pleasanter for them. Tell them they themselves are the mes- sengers of the spirit of America, and that that message is delivered in deeds of thoughtful- ness and kindness, rather than in mere words. “America has a great mission for humanity. That mission will only be fulfilled when Ameri- cans have become conscious of America’s task, and exemplify Americanism in their everyday activities.’’ Mr. Baghdigian is director of a counsel bureau, established to help meet the needs of the foreign-born, in Kansas City, Missouri. Last summer he had a trip to the Pacific Coast, lecturing with the Ellison-White Chautauqua, and he is the author of two booklets, “No Half- Hearted Loyalty” and “Americanism at Work.”