South Paris High School - Chronicle Yearbook (South Paris, ME)

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28 THE CHRONICLE That is why the ten-second lane was made. When the number of players was reduced to five, it became a high scoring game. The omission of the center jump after each basket made the game faster. Various offenses are used in basket- ball. One of them calls for three men outside, one man in the pivot and one man floating under the basket. The Paris High School team uses the fol- lowing offense: one man on the outside, called the playmakerg one man in the middle, called the pivot, one man un- derneath the basket, who is known as the float or sucker: and two wing men on the sides. The most effective defense is the man to man defense. Basketball has changed a lot since the days when peach baskets were used for hoops, but the game is as enjoyable to watch, play, or listen to as it will ever be. B. Snow '53 ilill- THE GIFT OF LIBERTY Few of us appreciate our most won- derful gifts. For example, consider the gift of liberty. How many people real- ize what it is and what it stands for? Men are fighting and dying for it ev- ery day. They are fighting for us, the people of the country, so that we may have and enjoy a free and peaceful way of life. We are fortunate indeed in having freedom of religion, press, and speech. Any day this could be changed, and later we would be sorry we had not taken advantage of these wonderful gifts. Any one of us is willing to live in this country and use the opportunities which are offered, but few of us are willing to take a little time for civil de- fense, Red Cross work or anything else that could aid our country during this crisis. The people of this country are too confident. True, we have won every major war we have fought, but one does not win every time. If we are to have a successful future, the people must work together for the preservation of the gift of liberty. G. Downing, '53 A BOY AND HIS DOG Great-grandfather, telling about the exciting times of his childhood to little nine year old Donnie, began this story: Well, Donnie, today I'll tell you how Shiner and I solved a mystery. When I was about your age, I had a puppy called Shiner. 0ne morning the dog and I went to the woods to play. My mother told us not to go because a man had escaped from a local asylum. Al- though we knew better, we went just the same. Toward noon, after about three hours of walking, we came upon an old shack. When I saw smoke com- ing out of the chimney, I was frightened, for this place hadn't been in use for years. Slowly Shiner and I sneaked to- ward the building. We peeked in the windows and saw a strange man who fitted the very description of the es- caped inmate, as he had a scar on the left side of his cheek and a crooked nose. Hastily, I searched through my pockets for paper and pencil and wrote a note. I then sent the dog home to mother with the note under his collar. After what seemed a long time, I saw mother and some policemen coming to- ward me. The escaped man was cap-

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THE CHRONICLE 27 ies hard and puts all he can into it, he will gain in the end although he may be the lowest ranking member of his class. This was only one of our many dis- cussions on how this motto could apply to life. The remainder of my visit was full of fun and excitement, and I soon found myself at the station saying good- bye and thanking them for a wonderful time. Just before I left, Bobby's father said, I have given your school motto much thought, and I have decided to have a plaque made for my oliice bearing the motto, Not Whether We Win But How We Play. M. Turner, '53 . OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES The problem of pupils being excused from classes to participate in outside activities has been a subject of discus- sion at Paris High School for some time. I think that all extra activities should be held outside of class time. A stud- ent should not engage in more activities than he can schedule without missing class work. When time is continually taken from classes, information is lost by the pupil, and the teacher's time is wasted. When a test is given, the pupil may receive a low mark because he missed important material. I believe that extra-curricular activities will soon become more important than scholar- ship in our school if this practice con- tinues. By having one session of school, I think this problem would be solved. During the afternoon all outside activi- ties could be carried on without taking class time. The students who do not participate would have these hours to do their studying. The rotating schedule might be another answer because an ac- tivity period could be worked in when necessary. As this school has worked under the rotating schedule before, I think it could be successfully carried through. What is the solution to this problem? I think that we should either schedule an activity period or insist that all ex- tra-curricular activities be carried on after school hours. E. McKeen, '53 - BASKETBALL A whistle blows, a ball is tossed into the air: there is a scramble for posses- sion, and another of America's hard- wood court games is underway. Bas- ketball is one of the most popular win- ter sports in the United States. It is an original American game which was formerly played with a rubber ball and a peach basket with the bottom pushed out. At that time there was no limit to the number of players on a team. The game was very rough because you did not have to bounce the ball before you could move, and there were very few rules. As the game gained popu- larity, more rules were made: the num- ber of players was reduced to seven: and the rubber ball was discarded for a leather one. After each basket the ref- eree would have a jump ball at center court. In those days twenty points a game were considered very high. As basketball started being played on a professional basis, it became necessary to do something to hinder the tall boys who merely had to stand under the bas- ket and have someone throw a ball to them above the reach of other players.

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THE CHRONICLE 29 tured without difficulty, as he was com- pletely surprised. That night we read in the paper how nine year old Bobby Drew and his dog, Shiner, had captured an escapee. Be- low it told all about the incident. One week later Shiner and I received awards and medals for bravery. Shiner also got some dog food. Poor Shiner has been dead for eighty years or more. If you come over again sometime, Donnie, I'll tell you another story. I'll bet Donnie went back again, don't you? N. Bradbury, '55 RAIN AND TEARDROPS I walk quietly, solemnly through the light spring rain. A deep cloud of thought shadows me. I feel alone yet surrounded by friends. The rain re- minds me of the thousands of people, the sad people of the world, crying be- cause of the loss of a son or husband, be- cause of the loss of their homes or coun- try, because of the starvation, the cold and the strife. All of these tears fall to- gether in the silent, constant drip, drip of the rain. But when the sun shines and the rain can only be seen in small pools, everything changes. A beautiful rainbow hovers over the world. Wor- ries and heartaches are forgotten, and all the tears are dried. M. Verrill, '54 TRUMAN IS DEAD Truman is dead! It happened yester- day at ten o'clock in the morning. Of course many people who loved him are mourning, but many others are glad that he is gone. Other people don't know, and some just don't care. Poor Truman didn't live a very hap- py life. So many people made fun of the things he did. My aunt even said she couldn't stand to be near the slimy creature. Most of the time he simply lay and sunned himself. People said he was very lazy. I guess he didn't do much for the country. Oh, by the way, if you're interested, poor Truman was my pet turtle. F. Shaw, '54 I WONDER The rain drummed monotonously on the window as I sat in front of the crackling fireplace. I was glad to be inside. Having nothing to do, I went into my fathers' library to get a book. Not knowing which book to choose, I closed my eyes and picked one. The black cover had no name on it. Strange as it seemed, I had never seen this book in all the times I had been in Dad's library. The book was dusty and had a strange odor. Curious, I took the book back to the fireplace and began to glance over the first page. The first sentence drew my attention, for the girl in the story had the same name as I, and she, too, was reading a book in front of the fireplace. I glanced up at the weird, dancing shadows cast by the flames on the walls. I looked back at the book. The girl in the story heard a strange noise, like the clanging of chains, coming down the hall. Suddenly I froze-what was that strange noise I heard? It sounded like chains clanging from the hall! Beads of perspiration stood on my fore- head, and my stomach muscles froze