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

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THE CHRONICLE 33 Why, when I was a young fellow, I used to consider twenty below zero a rather mild day. One winter it was so cold that a visiting Eskimo nearly froze to death. The same winter while I was pouring a cup of coffee, the stuff froze solid before it reached the cup. Even indoors it was bitter cold, so I al- ways sat on the stove. And one winter the lake froze so stiff that the ice lasted all summer. Then another stream of tobacco juice flew across the room and into the cuspidor for another direct hit. But I'll never forget the snow-ball bliz- zard when it snowed one and two pound flakes for two days steady. And talk about deep snow-why one day I tripped on the steeple of the town hall. Yes sir, those were real winters. C. Trask. '52 .T. Winter of '52 Temperatures of ten below, Pastures buried under snow, Heaters running out of oil, Frozen pipes and constant toil. Clearing paths to barn and shed, Hauling feed to forty head: While an icy north'er blows Numbing feet and hands and nose. Some may like this frigid clime. I prefer the summer time! L. Lovejoy, '54 PEACE AT LAST In the kitchen the clock is ticking quietly. It almost seems to say, How sad. How sad. Why is this? True, it is way past time for the family to be up, but it's such a quiet morning that they should sleep late. Yes, so quiet-only the ticking of the clock is heard. Even friendly, noisy Wags is quiet this morning. Not a car has gone down the broad street for him to chase. Wait, there's another sound. What is it that so quietly steals down the street? Ah, just a vagrant breeze stir- ring through the frost-yellowed leaves. Now from downtown the heavy ring of the town clock finds its way into the kitchen. It sounds twelve times, echoes from the hill, is gone. Still the kitchen, the house, and the street are quiet. And on the front porch the headlines proclaim, Army to Try New Weapon This Morning. J. Hicks, '52

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32 THE CHRONICLE Janet. That is one of Dick's tricks- coming with one girl and picking anoth- er to take home. I was hoping he would be satisfied to stay with you to- night. He is the most conceited imbe- cile in town! He does it to satisfy his ego that he can have his pick. Tears were streaming down Janet's face by now. To think that she had been fool enough to come with him. Now he had made a bigger fool of her in front of the crowd. How could she ever face them again. They probably would never accept her as one of them now. Oh, why did she ever come? One of the parents who were chap- eroning the party came in to find out what the matter was. Dotty explained and they understandingly left the two girls alone. Please stop crying, Jan, Dotty begged. Come out and join the crowd with me. Oh, Dotty, I never can face them again, wailed Janet. I want to go home. They'll laugh and laugh at me and I can't bear it. Of course you can and you're going to, Dotty replied firmly. Now come and dry your tears and let's go out and join the others. When the girls rejoined the group, they gathered around and sang for a while. Janet was watching some of the horseplay of the clowns of the crowd when a quiet blond boy sat down beside her. She recognized him immediately. He was Alan, Ellen's date. He laughed at the two, mimicing characters in a re- cent movie. Those two are good, aren't they? he said. Yes, they are, Janet answered. She felt a little stiff and didn't know just what to say, but she soon found Alan was easy to talk to and the con- versation fiowed easily. She soon found she was telling him all about herself, that they had moved to Newbrook three weeks before and how homesick she had been for her old friends. When it was time to go home, she wasn't surprised when Alan asked her to go home with him. She was really pleased that he had asked her. He wasn't exciting like Dick, but she was glad. That night she thought as she climbed into bed that the evening couldn't have turned out better. She had found two new, wonderfully special friends: Dotty, who lived only two houses away and Alan, with whom she had a date for next week. C. Stone, '53 PAST WINTERS It was snowing hard, and the ther- mometer was hovering at zero when I stepped into the barber shop to get warm. In the chair next to the stove sat an old bald headed man, who looked to be all of eighty years old. His plump body, pug nose, and cauliflower ears would give you the impression of a one time wrestler. As he looked out the window with his dark green beady eyes and chewed briskly on a mouth full of tobac- co, he stroked his long white beard and nonchalantly ejected a stream of tobac- co juice across the room into a highly polished silver cuspidor. He was un- doubtedly possessor of expert marks- manship. One of his fantastic tales still lingers in my memory:

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34 THE CHRONICLE THE CARDINAL CALENDAR September: The hustle and bustle of school is heard once more. Hurrah! We're off to the fair for two afternoons! The routine of electing officers and commencing activities has begun. The Seniors get down to business by meet- ing with their parents concerning the Washington trip and also selecting their play. A dance to earn money for their new uniforms was sponsored by the cheerleaders. Senior paper drives start. A victorious football season be- gins with Paris trimming Bridgton. Smile at the birdie-and so the Senior graduation pictures are taken at Port- land. Oxford County Teachers' Con- vention. Too bad-no school. A gru- eling battle between Paris and Norway with the Cardinals victorious. U3-61 October--Varsity Club meets with Mr. Chandler and elects officers. After a special assembly conducted by Mr. Bean. and Mr. Perham, we were determ- ined to wipe out our deficit. Agriculture boys went W to the Fryeburg Fair. Lucky kids! Paris beats Gould and re- ceived its reward-a lunch by Mary MacPhee. Yum! Yum! Three bells- all P. H. S. students out for the Senior science fire drill! Mr. Hickey, state Hre inspector present. Panel discussion on Teen Canteen at the P. T. A., led by Mr. Griffith and Student Council. Hor- rors! It looks just like me! ibut it's only the Seniors choosing their proofsl. Paris beats Jay in last home football game. The sluggers, none other than the P. H . S. baseball team, are honored with a banquet sponsored by Pokey French at Bean's. The boys were each presented with a maroon Paris sweater. M'mm don't they look nice! Freshman Reception with the Frosh being wel- comed amid fun and frolic. Another win for those Cardinals-Mexico the victim. The team, the cheerleaders, and the team supporters were guests of Mr. Bean at his camp in Bryant Pond after this all-important game. Will wonders never cease? An honest to goodness combined Paris-West Paris band has been organized!! Norway and Paris student councils meet to plan a victory dance-traditional between the schools. Good news! No school be- cause of Teachers' Convention. Old story again-Paris wins over Kennett. Goblins and witches-the Juniors give a Hallowe'en Party for the Brick school- ers in the gym. November: Hip, hip, hurrah! Big rally and bonfire led by the band and conducted by the cheerleaders preceding the Norway-Paris game. Next day- heartbreak--Norway beats Paris, breaking our winning streak. I20-213. A, B, C, D, or E? Rank cards are out for the first ranking period. Getting ready for old man winter, the Ski Team was organized. The cheerleaders spon- sor another record hop to earn money for their new uniforms. Won't they look nice for the basketball games. Chose J. V. Cheerleaders to help those J. V. Boys to victory. Sophomore tea for women teachers, faculty wives, and their mothers. Suppers and banquets galore with the Seniors sponsoring one for the Woman's Club and a football banquet given by Mary MacPhee. December: Basketball season com- mences with Paris beating Hallowell. Oh's and ah's echoed through the crowd at the first appearance of the new