Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

Page 15 text:

Left to right: Robert Fedele, Richord Welch, Cosmo Cornelio, Donold Nougler HOYS’ STATE During the week of June 21-29 the Ameri- can Legion sponsored its annual Boys’ State project at the University of Massachusetts. This program was initiated to give the young men of our state a practical experience in the functioning of our government. Repre- senting the Somerville High School were Cosmo Camelio, Robert Fedele, and Donald Naugler, sent by Post 19 and Richard Welch, sent by Post 377. Upon arrival the boys were assigned to a city or town, and to a county. Each boy par- ticipated in the local government of his as- signed area. He could hold both a local and a state office. In fact, the first steps on the road to political popularity was the local election. But don’t get the wrong idea. It was not all politics, not by a long shot. As a matter of fact, after government, the athletic program was the next important thing. There were teams in basketball softball, baseball, and track, or, if you weren’t interested in those, there were tennis matches, gymnastics, or swimming. Each city had a team in the four major sports and usually some representa- tives in the other sports. The winning teams all received certificates of athletic merit. Of course, as you probably know, the name Boys’ State, meant just that, all boys and no girls. Each night the phone lines were jam- med with calls from lonely boys to their girls, and mail call was a bedlam. Now, getting back to politics. The munici- pal elections were barely over and the local governments had just begun to function, when the work began again, this time for the state and county elections. There were rallies, speeches, party conventions, posters, and heart-to-heart talks. The Boys’ State newspaper, edited and staffed by the fellows themselves, played up the elections in a big way. When all this excitement was over and the air was clear of confetti and hoarse cheers, six fine young men found themselves in constitutional offices of Boys’ State. It is indeed an honor and a privilege to be chosen as a participant in Boys’ State. Some five hundred boys attended, chosen on the basis of scholarship, character, and standing in their class. They represented schools from all parts of the Commonwealth. Since they used the regular college dorms, they were able to obtain a true picture of college life— study, athletic and social. (Ed. note. Why aren’t Somerville High School girls represented at Girls’ State? Wo- men are assuming a larger share in govern- ment each day. A girl, therefore, needs as much training in politics today as a boy. She, also, must have adequate experience in the functioning of our government. After all, our first woman President of the United States must be efficient!) Seven

Page 14 text:

RUSSIAN SATELLITES Louise Price ’58 “Russians launch new satellite!” “Red moon circles earth!” “Russians conquer space!” These were the head-lines that glared from every newspaper; these are the words that newsboys shrieked; this is the development that shocked the world. Con- sequently, people have since been seeking to determine what this means to us and every member of the free world. Since the world has learned of these Rus- sian satellites which are soaring through space, Russian prestige has soared also. This new achievement goes far in convincing peo- ple of every nation that Russia has emerged as a first-class military power in the age of missiles and atomic weapons and that it is seriously challenging the leadership of the United States. The Russians called their first device that “Sputnik”—meaning earth satellite. It was propelled into its earth-circling path some- time on Friday, October 8th, by multiple- stage rockets. The site of launching is not known but is believed by American authori- ties to be “somewhere north of the Caspian “Sputnik I” is round, about 22.8 inches in diameter, and weighs 184.3 pounds. Four radio antennas project from it and the Rus- sians say that it contains nothing but radio equipment and devices that supply radio power. The satellite is zooming around the earth at a rate of 18,000 miles an hour, mak- ing a complete circuit in one hour, 30 min- utes, 2 seconds, at an altitude of 650 miles. An American expert says it might remain in the sky “a thousand or a million years.” The United States’ missile program was spurred on to even greater action when an- other satellite, “Sputnik II,” was launched on Sunday, November 3rd. This was seven times heavier than the first, was propelled almost twice as far into space, and contained a dog, appropriately named “Mutnik.” The White House and American scientists hailed the Russian step as a great scientific achievement, but some American scientists accused Russia of dispatching their satellites in an orbit which would make American study of the devices the most difficult. Rus- sia was so pleased over its initial success that it informed the rest of the world about the feat before notifying its own citizens. What, exactly, does this mean to us, as part of a free world? Are we being out- witted and out-smarted by men who will use this as a weapon to their own advantage? Must we sit back and allow our pernicious enemies to take command of the vast regions of outer space? Does it take such a “bomb- shell” as this to shock us out of lethargy and into action? Let us not be oblivious to such things! Let us, as citizens of a freedom- loving democracy, take stock of cur scientific progress and contribute in any way possible to further study in this field. “IF WINTER COMES ” Ernest Hart ’58 One of the strange mysteries of life is the autumn leaves. Seemingly, they should change color in the spring. Spring is the sea- son of radiant flowers. Why do the leaves wait to reveal a beauty of color until they have been lashed by the winds of austere autumn? Yet suffering can illuminate the lives of some people. The closer to death, the closer to life. Noticing how the dying leaves of autumn seem to become the new leaves of spring, I have wondered if the leaves might not give us the answer to the mystery of life after death. How ignorant most of us are! Do we ever take time to observe the leaves? In cre- ation we may find the secret of creation. Leaves falling to the ground—only leaves. Never underestimate these messengers frcm Heaven. Six

Page 16 text:

THE MOST IMPORTANT ROOM IN SHS Judith Helmund ’58 Have you visited our school library lately? No? Well, you have an interesting visit in store for you. In the school library we receive about four hundred new fiction books each year. There are books about travel and sports; there are war stories, and many others. For your homework there are books on American History and Government, and Science. Also for your reference work there are five sets of up-to-date- encyclopedias, as well as the Readers’ Guide and an index to peri- odical literature. Speaking of magazines, did you know that in our library we have magazines filed back as far as two years? These include many news and science maga- zines. If you need help in finding material, our librarian, Mr. Hickey, would be very happy to help you. For our enjoyment there are the newest magazines on fashions for girls; science and news for the boys. You make take along a public library book with you to read. The restriction is that students may not do homework not requiring research in the library. Library permits may be obtained three times a day: before school, until 8:27 for any period; during short recess for the fourth and fifth periods; and after school for any period the next day. The library is closed dur- ing the special period but open until 2:45 Monday and Tuesday and until 2:15 other days. So during your next study period or after school some day, why don’t you visit 215, our library? You have a real treat in store for you if you do! DESPERATE MOMENTS Thomas Vartabedian ’58 I’m tense now. The time is drawing closer. Ever since ten o’clock I’ve been waiting for this moment. Slowly I steal off by myself. No one is around now. As yet I feel no one has noticed me. I feel secure. But wait! A noise! Someone’s coming. Hurriedly I dash back into the talking crowd. After a few flustered moments I take a chance, and look around. The man I’ve seen so often, and feared so much, has noticed my peculiar actions. Minutes later I turn again, this time con- fident he’s forgotten me. At last I breathe a sign of relief, only to catch it again as the same man eyes me suspiciously. It’s only a matter of time now. Here’s my chance ... I steal off alone to the corner. I hear a familiar noise. Now is the time! I run frantically down the dimly lighted corridor. Although I hear the sound of foot- steps behind me, I continue running, hoping, praying under my breath that they won’t catch up with me. I'm outside now. Clumsily I grab the rail- ing of the steps. Two at a time I tackle the stairs. As I reach my destination, I grab for a knife that's gleaming. The sweat stops flow- ing from my brow. The impulse I have now is terrific! I’m free! I don’t have a care in the world, be- cause now I’m first in the lunch line in the school cafeteria. Eight