Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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CLASS CALENDAR — Continued March 29 The election of a Junior Night Committee assures us that our so- cial program is under way. May 14 A fine orchestra concert was en- joyed tonight. May 22 Junior Night. What a glorious time! Entertainment, refreshments, dancing; everything desirable. June 24 Once again vacation time has arrived. SENIOR YEAR 1931 - 1932 September 10 Proudly we set forth on the last lap of our school career. We are Seniors. September 12 The Sophomores are well in hand and the Juniors properly re- spectful. Looks like a very promis- ing year. October 28 Our officers of the previous two years are once again chosen: Robert Hayes, Jean Stackpole, Phyllis Atkinson and Irving Isinger. December 10 Our first class meeting of the year, and we all pledged to make our class outstanding. December 17 The Senior Play Committee is elected, and much excitement pre- vails during the choosing of the cast. January 22 A very successful dance was run tonight by the Student Council for the benefit of the Athletic Asso- ciation. That’s what we call Co-oper- ation. March 17 We watched with admiration the installation of chosen members of our class into the National Honor Society. May they ever live up to this high honor. April 1 The Senior Play proved to be a decided success under the capable supervision of Miss Sutherland and the committee. The cast of “The Mil- lionaire” will long be remembered by us. April 15 An exceptionally good piece of work was done by the orchestra to- night in their annual concert. A most enjoyable evening. April 21 The Sophomores redeem them- selves by offering a very pleasant af- ternoon at their dance. April 28 Three delightful plays were pre- sented tonight by the talented mem- bers of the Players’ Club. April 29 School closes for our last vaca- tion. Many members of the class are looking forward to spending this week in Washington. May 12 We elected today our Class Day, Senior Night and Class Gift Commit- tees. May 20 We all had a fine time at Junior Night. We Seniors, of course, formed a distinguished part of the audience. June 8 Class Day. How much this day means to us this year. June 8 Senior Night. Our last assem- blage, socially, before graduation, but what a grand evening it was. June 16 Graduation! Our school days are over! We are at the cross roads. Wherever your road may lead, good luck, and may we meet again. Seventeen

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CLASS CALENDAR SOPHOMORE YEAR 1929 - 1930 September 9 We shyly, yet proudly, enter the doors of Somerville High School. At last we have taken our places among the honored. September 10 We have taken our places among the honored, but we are sorry to say we aren’t “of them.” They call us a name pronounced with dis- dain, SOPHOMORES. October 9 We have been lost for a month in this vast building, but we are grad- ually getting our bearings. A sweet and friendly organization known as the Traffic Squad has been most help- ful in this respect. October 20 We have discovered where the voice that makes even the mighty bow down comes from, an affable gentleman known as Mr. Pearson. We’ll soon have all the secrets dis- covered. November 6. A mass meeting was held today and we were overwhelmed by the number of pupils in our fair school. January 9 We were informed today that we shall now be allowed to have Class Officers. February 19 We turned out in large numbers to see the Senior play and were duly impressed. February 19 Our election was held to- day and we now have as officers Rob- ert Hayes and Company. March 12 Our officers made speeches full of enthusiasm and zeal, and we are now an organized class. March 19 The National Honor Society Installation was solemnly witnessed by us today, and we firmly resolve to try for membership in the coming two years. May 15 The Orchestra Concert was greatly enjoyed by us tonight. May 16 The Sophomore Dance! What if it was in the afternoon, the Juniors and Seniors will have to work hard to come up to it financially and socially. May 29 We have impressive Memorial Day exercises. June 10 Class Day. We certainly are proud to wear our color, true blue. June 14 Many of our number were fea- tured in the Tercentenary Pageant today. June 19. Our last report cards for the year. June 20. Summer vacation begins. JUNIOR YEAR 1930 - 1931 September 9 This year we enter the doors of Somerville High School with heads held high and a firm step. Are we not Juniors? September 10 How small those Sopho- mores look and are they not the most bothersome creatures? October 1 At our first Assembly today we are reminded of our duties for the year, and we make high resolves to perform them. November 7 Today we re-elected our of- ficers of last year. December 23 We depart for our Christ- mas vacation, anxious to see what Santa will bring. (Of course we know there is no Santa, but one must pre- tend for the Sophomores.) January 23 At an assembly today, Mr. Avery reminded us of the coming National Honor Society election. How desirous we all are of becoming mem- bers. February 19 We witnessed a very fine play tonight, “Nothing But the Truth,” successfully put on by the Senior Class. Sixteen

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CLASS ORATION A GREAT NEED By ARTHUR MARTIN, JR. The human body by chemical analysis is valued at less than a dollar, but character, man’s spir- itual body, is beyond price. Character is an abstract thing, yet it is the cornerstone on which our whole material structure rests. The World War devastated the physical aspect of Europe, and at the same time shattered the morals of the world. Youth, hurled into a sea of uncertainty and tossed about on waves of scepticism, has been like an animal in the water groping for something solid on which to cling. In spite of harsh condemming criticism, youth has been, and is now, gradually pull- ing itself from the water. From somewhere is coming the power to carry on. This source of strength is character, noble character; which is the greatest need of our nation in this era of de- spondency and lawlessness. It has no price attached, so may be had by rich or poor; it is not a reward for athletic ability, so it is not won by physical strength. A fine character may be de- veloped by almost any person, but in this development there is one important factor; the mind must exercise sufficient control to resist all wrong, and to stand by the right, for a good character is the result of personal exertion only. By forcing the body to do the will of the mind, there will, some day, be a generation of Americans that will flinch before nothing life holds. Because every person wishes to build up his character let us for a few minutes examine the process by which others are lifting themselves to greater heights. When the chemist wants to make a new substance he figures out just what may be the pos- sible components; then he arranges, and puts them together. If they do not combine readily, he adds a catalyst, a uniting force, to aid in making the combination. In building character, the same is true, only the elements are the virtues, and the uniting agent that welds them together is self- control; making character the “product of a perfectly educated will.” In the words of Mark Hop- kins, “Man can bear strength of character only as he is capable of controlling his faculties; of choos- ing a rational end; and in its pursuit, of holding fast to his integrity against all the mighty, ex- ternal nature.” Perhaps the direct result of self-control is what may be called mental stamina, the ability to set out on a task and to stick to it until the work is finished. Nature, before she is conquered, demands that a man be persistent and stubborn to gain what he desires. Mountains of troubles, disappoint- ments and failures are heaped upon him continually, and success depends on his determination to climb over them. “Our character is our will, for what we will we are.” Marshal Foch said, “Vic- tory equals will.” Doesn’t it? There is an interesting story in the life of Foch. An officer came to him and said, “Sir, the enemy has surrounded us on three sides, and the line is weakening.” Foch snapped back, “An excellent situation! You will advance.” The men did advance and further- more won the day. This year for the young people leaving school is to be a long battle, with the forces of unemployment and discouragement on three sides, leaving nothing to do but advance. Never before have conditions been such that sheer determination has been so necessary; will power, injected into hearts, minds, and backbones, resulting in something the world must see. An important factor in gaining this strength of mind is a good education, and those who arc this week completing their formal preparation for life careers should remember that this prepara- tion has come mainly as a result of continued sacrifice by fond and hopeful parents. Often parents have gone in shabby dress in order that their children might have a better appearance, and have given up little pleasures, that they might enjoy the social life of their school. Regardless of how great or small the sacrifice, along with years of unlimited guidance, does it not deserve boundless love in return? Now these students possess what the state considers an adequate education with which to face life. Unfortunately, an education does not make a gentleman out of a ruffian. To learn the lessons of books is but one reason for being in school. The very fact that students have been in constant con- tact with one another helps or hinders their progress. This suggests the addition of the next ele- ment in character — courtesy. Two thousand years ago was uttered a command which, if obeyed, would have made this a much better world in which to live. Think of it, a simple sentence that can still revolutionize the entire world! “Whatsoever ye would that others should do unto you, do ye even so unto them.” All pupils have impressed upon their minds that others have certain rights, and the strength of this impression is an important part of character. There are not many things prized above friendship, yet how may friends be won, except through courteous acts? This con- Eighteen