Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 1C During the past years the Radiator has been for- tunate in having a large number of pupils take an active interest in the Poet’s Corner. Much talent has been shown on the part of contributors, and the editors have all expressed a certainty that the poetry page of the High School paper is a decided success and asset. The beginning of the year is the most difficult how- ever. A Senior class has gone and a new first-year class has arrived. In this way some of the regu- lar contributors have departed and whatever talent is hidden in the Sophomore class will not be discov- ered until much later in the year. So we urge you not to be slow in submitting any poems you may have, however poor you may think them, for the editor may disagree. The poetry page cannot live on its reputation, nor can it continue to exist if we receive no co-operation. If you know of anyone who writes poetry, then let the editor know. If you have written some yourself, bring it along and the chances are you will see it in print. The editor will attempt during the coming year to maintain the standard set by.the Poet’s Corner, and, if possible, raise that standard to an even higher de- gree of excellence. John E. Pierce, 1027. GLORIOUS AUTUMN Sunbeams dance upon the river. Shine on autumn leaves so bright; Then one’s heart begins to quiver, For such beauty gives delight. Trees are wrapped in red and brown; Leaves are scattered here and there, Gold and rubies on the ground; Carmen berries everywhere. Skies are hazy like a dream, Pearly clouds gaze down upon Enfolded sunny spots of green, Tangled vines of golden fawn. ja ' e . Flitting in the crystal;air, Halting gaily ir. the trees, Flocks of busy birds are there Trilling sweetest melodies. ( Sparkling river,—shady trees, Glorious scene, with woods around, Flaming ruby, golden leaves! Seems to me like fairy ground. Pearl Doyle, 1927. AN OLD SALT'S DREAM A rosy dawn and a running tide, and a white-capped vacing sea, A wet salt wind and stinging spray, and a white sail flying free; Low-hung clouds with a fringe of rain, the sea gull's wheeling flight, The sun-kissed sea on a tropic day. and the light of the moon by night. Feathery palms on a sunlit beach, the flash of spray and spume, The plunging bow of an outbound ship, a scarlet para- keet’s plume; These things I dream on a gusty night, when the sea wind's blowing fast, A fading dream of a vagabond’s life; how I long for the.years gone past! John E. Pierce, 1927. A MOTHER’S FAREWELL TO HER (Till.I) Close not thine eyes, sweet child. Ah, close them not! My heart V Throbs; if those blue orbs dim A ’Twill rend my bieast and part From out my body. Thy form Lies still, but thine eyes Gaze into mine, like twin — Pools ’neath an azure sky, Reflecting in their depths The secret of the universe. Thy hand grows cold, dear child, It trembles so! Sweet Lord, Reach down and hold apart those Heavy lids that droop and droop With ever-failing strength Over my child’s eyes. They shut! They flicker, gaze but once, A look of dazzling fire Eye to eye to mine, fixed. Then close! O God, they close Forever, and the lamps of Love are screened. Thy form Is motionless, the flesh Is dead; thy soul is gone To Heaven with thine eyes! John E. Pierce, 1927.

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12 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR My Summer in France By Louise M. Saunders F I were a writer or a painter I might de- scribe a very interesting summer in France, but being neither I can only try to give a little idea of it. The month of July we spent in the study of French at the Sorbonne, or Uni- versity of Paris. The course was an exceedingly in- teresting one from two points of view: First, because of the different nations represented, and second, be- cause of the nature of the course. Over twenty of KNTKANCK TO BLOIS CHATEAU AT BLOIS. PRANCE the United States were represented besides almost every country in Europe. The morning was given over to three hours of classroom work, and in the after- noon four hours were spent in visiting the historical spots in and around Paris, all under the direction of French professors. These included such noted places as Versailles, Fontainbleau, Chartres, Amiens, Vin- cennes and Sevres outside of Paris. In Paris the Gobe- lin Museum and factory, the Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned and the cage in which she was confined two hours before her execution; the fam- ous Louvre, Luxembourg and Rodin museums, and the churches of Sacre Coeur, the Madeleine and the well- known Notre Dame. One could go on endlessly describing the things of interest in and around Paris, but I will mention only a few. The Cathedral of Chartres with its beautiful stained glass windows, said to be the most beautiful in the world, was very interesting to me. I reached there at midday and had the opportunity to climb 312 steps to the tower and see the enormous bell rung. My imagination wandered back to Quasimodo in Notre Dame. Then, too, the Gobelin factory with its wonder- ful tapestry was instructive. I saw the men at work and was told that 14,000 colors were used and only one square meter a year was accomplished. Sevres, famous for its pottery, was most novel. Here I had a chance to see the making of china from start to finish. At the end of the course, under the direction of the Sorbonne and accompanied by a French professor, a trip was arranged to the French Alps and the Pyre- nees. Starting from Paris we traveled to Lyons, the capital of the silk world. Here we spent a day in see- ing le Musee des Tissus in which were beautiful silks of different periods. From Lyons we passed over the Swiss border into Geneva, Switzerland, where we stayed two days. The beautiful snow-capped Mont Blanc in the distance, its wonderful lake and its clean streets, not forgetting to mention the famous Peace Conference building, make this an historical spot. We could not stay long enough in Geneva; Chamo- nix and the famous Mer de Glace, the scene of “Le Voy- age de Monsieur Perrichon,” was our next destina- tion. Leaving Geneva I had a very eventful day. Start- ing early in the morning by auto bus, I first had to deal with the customs officials. Finding I had nothing dutiable they allowed me to pass. Chamonix we reached by noon, after having had a wonderful pan- oramic view of Mont Blanc with its snow cap and its glaciers. I had scarcely begun my ascent in a train up Mont Blanc to Mer de Glace, when one of the worst thunder storms of the season broke forth. The Mer de Glace was reached, but no descent on its surface was possible. On my return to the village I was in- formed of a landslide, and so in order to reach my next destination it was necessary to climb some dis- tance along the side of a hill. The hotel was finally reached. Although dampened as to clothes, the spirit of the party in which I was traveling was not, for around a table lit by candles (the storm having put the lights out of commission), we sang the familiar “Frcre Jacques” and “Au clair de la lune.” Traveling through Chambery I stopped to see Jean (Continued on Page 19)

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3-1 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR Back row (loft to ri«ht): Alice 12. Ayes. Marie E. Kenney. Frank L. Alcierc. Gladys M. Grant. Katherine M. Quigley Front row (left to right): Ruth E. Danforth. Marie B. Damery, Mar- guerite Connolly. Amy S. Irish OUR NEW TEACHERS Miss Ayes, Room 303, is a graduate of Boston Uni- versity. and has taught in Newton Falls, N. Y. Her home is in Somerville. Miss-Kenney, graduated, from this school in 1922 and from Radcliffe in 1920. She enters this school as a cadet teacher in the chemistry department. Mr. Alcicre, Room 303, is a graduate of the Boston English High. He received his A. B. and A. M. from Tufts. He has taught at the Boston English High, Hyde Park High, and substituted in this school in 1922. He has also spent four years in research work for the government. Miss Grant, our new health supervisor, graduated from the Rhode Island General Hospital. She has been school nurse in Somerville for five years, and is a resi- dent of this city. Miss Quigley is a graduate of the Chandler Normal School. She has taught in the high school of Concord, X. H., and the Northeastern Junior High, Somerville. Miss Danforth is a graduate of Boston University, and has studied at Northeastern University, Illinois. She taught in Minnesota and in Indiana, and last year at Bourne on Cape Cod. Miss Damery graduated from the Somerville High School in 1922 and from Radcliffe in 1926. She is a cadet in the biology department. Miss Connolly is a cadet in the Latin department. She is a graduate of this school and of Radcliffe. Miss Irish is in the cooking department. Other additions to the faculty are: Mrs. Clark, who is substituting in the Latin department; Miss Helen Marshall, a graduate of this school and of the Mass- achusetts School of Art, who is assisting Miss Brad- ford in the art department; Miss Ruth 'Dyas, a grad- uate of this school and of Boston University, who is working in the English department; Mr. Hoban, a graduate of Somerville High School and of Boston Col- lege, who has been appointed a temporary teacher in Latin and History. A Lesson Taught by Experience By Thelma Magoon, '29 This summer I had the opportunity to work in a drug store which was located in the heart of the White Mountains. From the store 1 could see Mount Wash- ington, the highest peak f the Presidential Range. Around about are probably ten mountains, all of which are large, leaving the town in which the store is situ- ated in a valley. The valley is very dry in the sum- mer as the rain clouds divide and go each side of the mountains. Unless it rains for miles around the val- ley gets no rain. One Sunday the druggist whom I worked for had a pile of boxes and waste in the back yard. There had not been rain for a month, but as it was not breezy he thought it best to burn up the rubbish. As soon as he had lit it, a strong breeze came up. Discover- ing that the blaze had got beyond his control he called the people and me to help extinguish the fire. Now there are people who talk and say: “If I had an occa- sion to be near a fire and was asked to help put it out 1 would do so and so.” Well, that is just what I had always said. But, alas, t was paralyzed. I didn't know which way to turn or what to grab. The strong wind was blowing the flames nearer the store every moment. While I was standing there thinking other people were in action. Finally I seized a basin but (Continued on Page 15)