Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY Hildegarde Kushner ’57 Excitement was high at the Jameson house. The family was preparing for a birthday. Ted, the oldest boy, was sixteen. He had just received his license and was itch- ing for a chance to try the wheel. So, off he went. Mrs. Jameson was out in the kitchen put- ting the finishing touches on the cake. “New, let’s see, a few sprinkles here, and a few more there. Oh yes, let’s not forget the candles. Ted, where are you? Where did you put those candles? Gosh. I can never keep up with that boy! He is always rushing around.” Mr. Jameson was in the living room put- ting up the last of the decorations. “One streamer here ought to finish the job. I wish Ted were here to help me. With his speed we could be through in no time.” Sisters Sue and Joan were upstairs in their bedroom dressing for the party. “Hurry up. Joan, you lazy thing, or you’ll be late for the party.” “I'll be there in a second; just as soon as 1 get this darn dress on. It’s too tight.” “Well, no wonder it’s tight; you didn’t even loosen the belt. I’ll bet that you’d even forget your head if it weren’t permanently attached.” “Where’s Ted? If he doesn’t hurry, hell be late for his own party. “Don’t worry about him, Sue. With his speed he could be back in five minutes before the party starts and still be ready for it on time.” The doorbell rang. “Can that be a guest already? Ted isn’t even back yet! Oh, it’s Sue, Ted’s girl. Come on in, Sue.” “Hi, Mrs. Jameson. Hope I’m not too early. Can I help with anything?” “Well, you’re right on time, and if you really want to help, you can put these candy dishes out in the living room. Mr. Jameson should be through in there by now.” The doorbell rang again. This time it was the Martin boy and his girl friend. Soon everyone was there, sitting and talking in the living room. A car stopped out in front of the house. Steps came slowly up the walk. “Everyone hide,” said Mrs. Jameson, “and don’t come out until I tell you to.” “Why, hello, Sheriff. Come in. We’re just waiting for Ted to come home.” “Sit down, Mr. and Mrs. Jameson; I have something to tell you.” The Sheriff looked down at the floor un- easily. Groping for the right words, he finally sadly said, “This is about your son, Mr. and Mrs. Jameson . . “Why, what are you trying to tell us, Sheriff?” “Your son’s car struck a tree on Route 42. Ted was thrown clear.” In a choked voice he continued, “It was all over quickly. Ted was killed instantly.” The silence which followed was broken by sobs. Someone said, “He’s not coming. Ted won’t ever know that we wanted to wish him ‘a very happy birthday,’ ... or will he?” Nine

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SOMERVILLE HIGH’S SHOT SESSION Dorothy Shubow ’57 I had graduated from Somerville High a few years ago and was visiting some of my teachers when I noticed this boy and followed him down the stairs. I saw that his sleeve was rolled up. He had a funny look on his face, as if he were nervous and anxious. Fi- nally he arrived at a door where other boys and girls were waiting in line. The smell of alcohol filled the air. When I managed to peek inside I noticed nurses and doctors all in the process of administering inoculations to these pupils. I had extra time so I waited until the last pupil filed out. Then I walked over to one of the nurses, and asked her to explain what the inoculations were for. It was then that I found out that Somerville High is one of the many schools playing its part in the destruction of polio. But there was much more I wanted to know. I enjoyed a very interesting conversation with Mrs. Cahalan, one of our school’s nurses, and learned much about polio that I didn’t know before. Each year thousands of young people of high school age are stricken with this dread disease. Polio will continue to cripple and kill teenagers as long as there are unvacci- nated teenagers for the virus to attack. To- day plenty of Salk vaccine is available, but vaccine on the druggist’s shelf does not pre- vent polio. It must be injected into your arm to do any good. The injection which is nearly painless takes only three seconds. The first shot begins to take effect in from seven to ten days. The second shot is given two to four weeks after the first, and brings a sharp rise in protective antibodies. For long-lasting immunity, a third or booster shot must be given seven months later. Recently over 1,000 adults, teenagers, and young children were hit by polio in the Chi- cago epidemic this past summer. Of that number, not a single paralyzed person had received three shots of Salk vaccine. This does not mean that the Salk vaccine has con- quered polio. Thousands of doctors all over the country are now, at this moment, work- ing on a better cure for polio. Already Dr. Hilary Koprowski nf the American Cyana- mid’s Lederle Laboratories has been develop- ing a new kind of vaccine that can be taken through the mouth. So, you see, polio is not conquered yet, but we now know that its control is possible, and as more and more peo- ple are vaccinated, the rate of paralytic polio will steadily diminish. As I walked out of Somerville High, quite satisfied with my visit here, I began think- ing about what the nurse had told me. Before I knew it, I had changed my course to visit my family physician and ask him if I might get these polio shots. The nurse con- vinced me. How about you? THE WHITE PLAGUE Joan Berry ’56 Ed. Note: Annually the Christmas Seal drive, sponsored by the National Tubercu- losis Association, helps to aid TB patients in hospitals and also furnishes money neces- sary for further research in the long effort to stamp out the disease. The following ar- ticle was written by one of last year’s gradu- ates who was stricken with TB while in high school. Naturally she wanted to warn others about the treachery of the first stages—of how quietly and painlessly the tuberculin germ can get started in anybody’s system. Since the paper was received from Joan too late for our final issue last spring we decided to publish it this year. The incidence of TB in Somerville is said to be high. Already this years, one of the seniors has had to leave school to receive the hospital treatment re- quired. Written at the hospital, Waltham, May, 1956 by Joan Berry ’56 The tubercle bacillus is the very prevalent tuberculin germ carried in the lungs of every human being. It remains inactive as long as the body resistance is kept up, but as soon as the resistance drops the germ has its chance to take over. If able to take hold, it usually, though not necessarily, infects the lungs first. If not detected in time, tuberculosis can spread to every living organ. (Turn to page 22) Eight

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SOMETHING TO SEE Marilyn Ince ’58 A milky white frost glazed the windows of every house, irregularly placed, in the town of Fillvington. The wind whistled through the naked trees, and myriads of silvery stars covered the sky. Golden moonbeams skipped on a nearby brook as God surveyed His handi- work. Everything was at rest. About 2 A.M. the shade went up in a second floor window of the Vickerson house. Someone opened the window and looked out, but not for long. After a while, shivering from the harsh cold air, Lee closed the window, and filled with im- measurable excitement and wonder, she fumbled in the dark for her housecoat and slippers. Making all the noise which she tried not to make, she finally found the ob- jects of her search, and also woke her room- mate. Startled by the confusion, Brenda asked rather drowsily, “What are you doin’ up and where are you goin’ this time o’ night? Brrr, it’s awfully cold in here. Why don’t you go back to bed?” Caught unaware and still excited, Lee an- swered with her Oriental accent, “Oh, Brenda! I am sorry to have waken you, but I was in a hurry to go outside.” “Outside,” ejaculated Brenda. “Are you foolish? Why it’s practically freezing out there. Why in the world do you want to go outside?” “Oh, come to the window, Brenda, and you will see why.” Brenda reluctantly went to the window. “Is it not beautiful,” continued Lee. “Isn't what beautiful? Maybe my eyes de- ceive me, Lee, but I don’t see anything out there unless you mean . . . .” “Yes, Brenda, that is what I mean, and that is why I wish to go outside, now.” “Oh, Lee, it’ll probably be there in the morning, and if it isn’t it’ll be back again sometime. C’mon, let’s go back to bed.” “No, Brenda, I cannot wait until morning, and it may not come again for some time. Maybe you think me foolish, but I want to go out now.” Smiling, Brebda replied, “All right, Lee, I’ll go with you, but you’re sure to catch cold, since you’re unaccustomed to this weather.” “I don’t mind,” replied Lee. And so, wrapped in their coats the two girls tiptoed downstairs to go outside. Lee had come to this country from Ceylon to go to school, and, becoming very close friends with Brenda, she often spent much time at Brenda’s house. Everything that she had seen here was a marvel to her, and she was a careful observer, as most foreigners are. To her, being in America, and attending one of the best colleges in the world, was even more than a dream come true. It is a secret wish in the hearts and minds of multi- tudinous young children. Then, it becomes a reality for some, while for many others, it remains merely a fantasy for which there can be no hope. Can you imagine, therefore, how grateful and how enthralled Lee was? If so, you understand, then, why she could find beauty and splendor in the simple things which we think trivial and ordinary. You understand, too, why she wanted to go out- side on this frosty, bleak night to see some- thing that to her was new and wonderful. After the girls returned to bed, Brenda fell asleep immediately, but Lee lay there wide-awake. She was too thrilled and excited for sleep. However, about three days later Lee had a vivid reminder of this venture, when she was in bed with a dreadful cold. It was terrible while it lasted, but she bore it all very well, and not long afterward she was normal and healthy again. A few weeks later she and Brenda were busy doing their Christ- mas shopping. As you can imagine, Christ- mas that year was two-to-three times more exciting for Lee than for Brenda. However, being pushed and shoved about in the big de- partment stores by the other Christmas shop- pers was exasperating to both girls and was something that Lee could not understand. As she said in a letter to her parents, “The peo- ple in America are always in a hurry. They rush from one place to another, yet I know of no special place to where they must rush. Their means of transportation is so quick and easy, but they persist in practically trampling all over you in order to go some- where.’ Ten (Turn to page 13)