Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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6 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR EDITORIALS The staff takes this opportunity to express appre- ciation to the editors of last year, whose work made the past year such a success in the history of the Radiator, and seeks the hearty co-operation of the faculty and school in endeavoring to carry on that obligation we have cheerfully assumed and which we hope to fulfill. Few can realize unless in direct con- tact with the staff of a school paper the amount of work that is required by such a publication of the edi- tor and his associates. Far too many hold the impres- sion that whatever is printed in the paper is written by members of the staff. Such is not the case and ought not to be the case. Every editor shares the re- sponsibility of producing the issue at a stated lime. The one thing every editor desires is co-operation from his classmates and co-workers. Will you help him attain it? Will you prove your interest in the school itself and in its activities by doing so? Please remember when submitting material to give your name, year and home-room number. These arc very essential. If your contribution does not appear when you expect to see it, don’t blame the Radiator. We appreciate your co-operation and work. We are particularly grateful to those, both teach- ers and pupils, whose contributions have helped to make our first issue of the Radiator a success. The school takes this opportunity to extend its deepest sympathy to Mrs. Topliff in the loss of her only sister and to Miss Fury in the loss of her father. One cannot help but notice the growing enthusiasm that has been felt in the school by the introduction of tennis circles. Tennis in the high school is a game which has been introduced in recent years. Up to that time baseball, football, and track were the major sports. Now tennis opens a new field to both boys and girls, and has an exceedingly promising future. It is the desire of the promoters of this sport in our school, as well as of the members of the teams, that the matches will receive hearty support by a large number of enthusiasts. THE GENERAL OBSERVER Now that the Sophomores have found that there isn’t an elevator and that Room 101 is not the manual train- ing department, we hope they will soon begin their first installment of a bigger and better education. A good example of the amount of attention paid in a Junior chemistry class was given the other day when one of the budding youths replied to the teach- er’s question that there were two kinds of thermome- ters, Fahrenheit and Centipede. War has been declared! Preliminary skirmishes are held daily at 12 noon in the lunch room. Makes good winter training for the C. M. T. C. students. Speaking of Camp Devens. Have you noticed the manly forms and ruddy complexions of some of our boy friends? We heard that, speaking in the vernacu- lar, it’s a pretty good racket. We wish to congratulate the Sophomores on the business-like way they are co-operating with the traf- fic squad, especially on the second floor East.

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— — —» mi — i — ii — ii M r — n — r — n m ii im u — 3 1 v ? ( odu 262147 TABLE OF CONTENTS o o o FRONTISPIECE, Frank H. Wilkins ..................... 4 EDITORIALS ......................................... 0 FRANK H. WILKINS, George M. Hosmer ................. 7 “A CRUISE IN SOUTHERN WATERS,” Lucy I. Topliff. 8 “DAD’S KEN,” Alice Dunlap ......................... 10 “MY SUMMER IN FRANCE,” Louise M. Saunders ......... 12 POET’S CORNER ..................................... 13 OUR NEW TEACHERS .................................. 14 “A LESSON TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCE,” Thelma Magoon, ’29 14 WITH OUR TEACHERS DURING VACATION ............... 15 CLASS NOTES ..................................... 10 CARTOON ..................................... 20 ALUMNI NOTES ...................................... 2! ATHLETICS ........................................ 23 EXCHANGES ......................................... 24 NOV 20 28

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR Frank H. Wilkins The death of Mr. Wilkins two weeks ago Thursday morning, October 7, came as a sudden shock to our teachers and pupils. Though he had been ill since school opened, we had not realized the seriousness of his condition. Indeed, only the day before his death he had been sitting in his chair, so earnest was his purpose to “carry on.” As Mr. Avery stated in a special notice to all teach- ers and pupils toward the close of the session follow- ing the news of Mr. Wilkins’ death: Mr. Wilkins has been a teacher in this school for twenty years, and for twelve years has been Head of the Preparatory Department. During that time he has come in contact with hundreds of pupils who have received from him advice and instruction of a high character. They and all others who have come in con- tact with him will remember him for his splendid teach- ing and for his personal interest in them. In honor of his memory school was dismissed at 1.30. Afternoon school work and all other appoint- ments were cancelled. Pupils left the building quietly that in a simple yet expressive way they might show their respect for Mr. Wilkins and their sympathy for his family. Mr. Wilkins was born in Charlestown in 1873. He was graduated from the Warren Grammar School. Just as he was ready to enter high school, his parents moved to Somerville, and he was graduated from the Somer- ville High School in 1891. He not only won high rank in scholarship, but was honored with the office of major of the high school battalion. The boys of the early nineties will recall 'he military drill of those days. For family reasons Mr. Wilkins felt obliged to give up his intention of going to college. After three years of work in the business world he found himself able to continue his education, and in 1898 he was graduated from Boston University, College of Liberal Arts. All through his college career, however, he worked Saturdays in Faneuil Hall Market. This experience coupled with his three yeais’ employment between school and college gave him a knowledge of the world of affairs that was of great value to him in his con- tact with pupils. It may most truthfully be said of Mr. Wilkins that his life’s work was teaching. The first two years were at Horace Mann High School in Franklin, then followed two more years in the principalship of the Plainville High School. His first work in Somerville was at the Prescott Grammar Evening School. Here for three years, while at the same time he was in the Revere High School during the days, he taught four nights a week in the winter term along with his for- mer teacher and friend, Mr. Charles F. Murray. Many men, widely scattered, remember with giatitude the inspiration these two associated teachers gave a score of years ago to boys who were early obliged to give up their schooling. It was in 190G that Frank II. Wilkins was hired to teach Latin in the Somerville Latin School. Mr. Bax- ter knew his scholar. The boy who had learned Latin could teach it. At the resignation of Mr. William D. Sprague in 1914 he was made Head of the Classical Course. One would like to quote the words of tribute that a thousand pupils might give to their teacher. Al- ways forceful and interesting, with a rare gift of il- lustrating the principles of language, Mr. Wilkins taught Latin as a language still living. His mind was keen. With teachers and pupils alike he was quick at repartee, yet never unkindly. We just liked him. In these later years, as more and more detailed work devolved upon him in advising pupils about their courses, and filling out the many application blanks connected with their entrance to college, he was very faithful and painstaking. And to all the duties of the day for many yeais he added his work in the eve- ning high school. Surely to the schools of Somer- ville, where he early gained that fine-scholarship, in- stilled by Mr. Hawes, Miss Fox, and Mr. Baxter, whom the boys and girls of one and two generations ago can never forget, Frank Wilkins gave the full measure of devotion. He will long be remembered by pupils, fellow-teachers, and his friends about the city, which was his home so long. Many of his fellow-citizens, who did not know him personally, will not soon forget his untiring devotion to his son Hollis, who for more than three years needed constant care and brought many sleepless nights to his watchful parents. It seems as if we had lost our friend and teacher in his prime, just fitted by his experience for many useful years to come. The Somerville High School is grateful for his life, and shares with his wife and his son Malcolm, the sorrow at his parting from us. George M. Hosmer.