Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

Page 19 text:

SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR II Rivers By Dorothy Hallberg, ’32 Y first experience with a river, or winding stream as it may more cor- rectly be called, was when I was seven years old. This stream flowed through our back yard, and was only two or three feet deep (sufficiently deep to make one of my age wet enough to catch cold.) We were playing “Blind Man’s Bluff ,” and I was “it.” Not know- ing where I was going, I walked right to the river and fell in. Between my “yells” and “screams” I managed to swallow a great deal of water. I was a bit timid of rivers for a short time after that, but now I can sit for hours by the flowing waters, listening to their miniature waves lapping the edges of the stream, with the overhanging willows and birches swaying in the breeze. Now, let us go to the top of a high mountain, and follow a little trickling stream which we find there. It is winding its way among the rocks and trees, then tumbling over a small ledge, where it may rest a while, forming a small pool. It continues its journey to the bot- tom, picking up stones and carrying them along, and purifying its crystal clear water as it travels. We wonder how it increases in size, and use, and we find other little rivulets have joined it, and our stream has now changed to a brook, traveling through green pastures with cows grazing along its green, mossy banks. We continue roaming along our river until we find it flows either into a lake or an ocean. Rivers always have, and always will appeal to both the emotional and practical viewpoint of man. Poets write beautiful poems and songs about the beauty of rivers, and men commer- cialize them, making them means of transpor- tation. Many rivers have been changed by man who has made them wider and straighter, for more convenient travel, but such changes spoil their charm for the beauty lover. The more rivers I see, the more they fasci- nate and interest me. Unlike my first experi- ence I now enjoy falling in rivers (provided I have my bathing suit on), and a swim in their cool, green waters is a delight. How Black Hawk, the Famous Robber, Was Caught Bv Fred Young, ’33 ONE WINTER when Babe Ruth, the famous hockey player, went away for his summer vacation he told his un- trusty servant to unlock all the doors and take the silverware to the bank. The faithful servant failed to carry out these orders and took the silverware to the bank. Soon the front door opened with a bang, and White Eagle, the famous thief, crept silently in the back way. Once inside he took off his stockings and filled them with silverware; he then took a knife and cut down all the oil paintings from the wall. Finding the pantry door unlocked, he took a bridge lamp and bat- tered it down. He then took all the books from there and put them in his sock. So quiet had his actions been that the ser- vant who was in the kitchen eating, did not know of this robbery until a detective rushed (Continued on page 17)

Page 18 text:

10 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR Introducing— ‘ ‘ Us ’ ’ DEAR READER, as this issue goes to the press, it strikes the mind of this more or less intelligent editor that perhaps you would like to know some of the people who get it ready for you. Well, let’s line them up and here goes! First comes that terror of the staff, the edi- tor-in-chief, Warren Russell. He’s the “guy” who tells us to just dash off a story of two for the next issue, but he’s a pretty good scout just the same. Right on his trail is the associate editor, Julia Saparoff, the little girl who carries around a great big load of editorial points. Following right along comes that terror of the Sophs, the Senior Class editor, Irving “Ike” “Muzzy” Murray. We have lots of more names for him too but they can’t be printed. He also has a more or less dizzy assistant in, — well, he hasn’t been appointed yet but he’s sure to be dizzy after working with Mjirray. That sprightly Junior Class editor, Ruth Car- ter, usually has a few bright thoughts up her sleeve, too. The only trouble with her is that she keeps her thoughts right up her sleeve. Our sparkling, scintillating, thrilling (pretty good words, huh?), athletic reports are en- graved by that there master craftsman, Bob Miller. You’ll probably see Bob running around at all the games with his little pad and pencil but then you might not. What’s the difference how he runs around as long as Jie writes up his notes. When you read what your big brother and sis- ter are doing now you’ll know that Rosamond Reiser, the Alumni editor, and her handsome ycung assistant (the line forms on the right, girls) ? David Young, are on their trail. A trio of hard-working girls are Phyllis Down, Eve- lyn Paten and Annette Jervis. And when I say hard working, I mean it. Try getting to- gether a page of poetry, exchanges, or good books some day yourself and then you’ll know what they’re up against. There are a couple of bright young Sophs on the staff, too. They know that when business is falling off for the flag-pole sitters business is picking up for the undertakers, so they go right after the undertaker’s ad. John Albani and Marjorie Michelson, our assistant business managers, I mean. Those jokes (heh-heh-heh), are drawn up by Lawrence (Larry to you) Parr. He’s a joke too. Oops! Pardon me Larry, I didn’t know you were around. Several cute little boys and girls, headed by the supreme royal circulating manager-in-chief, Sherman Levenson, flit about the building look- ing for money from subscriptions, so watch out. For future dodging they are Audrey DeLong, Virginia Savage, Jimmy Kaup. Yes, Frankie Lane’s around somewhere, but just where, no- body knows. There, now that you’ve heard all about us, just how much do you know about us? Noth- ing, do I hear? Correct, Oscar, go to the head of the class. Last, but not least, comes this sparkling scribe. I’m pretty good, am I not? Yes, I am not. (Oh, am I blushing?) Well, so long — A. E.

Page 20 text:

12 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT Parnassus on Wheels A Book Review By Annette Jervis 1TD ARNASSUS 0N WHEELS” by Chris- topher Morley, is a rather unusual story. It is a short novel contain- ing humor, adventure, local color, a little ro- mance and mystery, and a great many inter- esting ideas about books. To prevent her brother from getting books, Helen MacGill buys a whole traveling book store. “Parnassus On Wheels,” as Roger Mif- flin calls his van load of books, is drawn by Pegasus. In order to have time to write'a book of his own, Roger is willing to sell his outfit for four hundred dollars. Helen, know- ing the way the house would be upset if her brother, an author, ever got so many books, buys Parnassus and Pegasus. Roger goes with her the first day to initiate her into the busi- ness of selling books. One of her first lessons is: “When you sell a man a book, you don’t sell him just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue —- you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humor and ships at sea by night — there’s all heaven and earth in a book, in a real book, I mean.” Helen learns many lessons in Roger’s philosophy and inci- dents the reader does, also. One of the chief reasons why I liked the book was because it was so real and true to life. In one place Morley says through Roger Mifflin: “It is better to read a good book than to write a poor one; and I’ve done so much mixed reading in my time that my mind is full of echoes and voices of better men,” and in another, “I think reading a good book makes one modest. When you see the marvelous in- sight into human nature which a truly great book shows it is bound to make you feel small- like looking at the Dipper on a clear night or seeing the sunrise when you go out to collect the eggs.” Roger Mifflin is an odd, likeable character, but a queer person for a hero. One would hardly expect a man small in stature, mild in manner, with a fringe of red hair surrounding his bald spot to rescue the heroine from such dangers as her brother, some tramps, a dog and other perils. The heroine, herself, is rather different from the usual type of story-book ladies, though. Everything comes to a happy ending when she discovers that Roger was not killed in the train wreck because he was being detained in jail. They both come to the con- clusion that “books aren’t a substantial world» (Continued on page 20)