Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

Page 6 text:

THE S. H. S. AUTHENTIC where the pupils thought as much of their Principal as did the pupils of the Stoneham High School. I do not know about the other schools but I do know that he spoke the truth when he said that we all loved Mr. Emerson, for we surely do. This winter the girls of the school have been al- lowed the use of the Armory twice a week in which to play basket ball. The inter-class games were always interesting and sometimes very exciting. In April when the honors were given out we were much pleased when Mr. Keenan and Mr. Dempsey received first and second honors respec- tively. It has oft’ been said that stolen fruits are sweet- est, so thought five Senior boys when they found a partly filled freezer of ice cream in the chemical laboratory one morning. Later in the day when the freezer was carried over to the Dean school, the teachers there, who had planned to have the cream for their lunch, were sadly disappointed. Of course suspicion pointed to the High School. A few days later five Senior boys were told by Mr. Emerson, that those who danced must pay the fiddler, so these same boys very cheerfully and readily paid for the ice cream that had so mysteri- ously disappeared. It was rumored that a Senior girl also knew where some of the cream went to. I cannot tell you who it was but perhaps Miss Waite could give some information. With .the coming of spring one’s thoughts turn to poetry, and we discovered that Paul and Victor were poets of great ability, who spent their spare mo- ments in writing “ Odes to Someone ’ but it seems they should have been called “ Odes to Everyone,” considering the number of girls who received them. When the report cards went out on June 18, we realized that our school days were indeed over, and that we should soon enter into a new life so differ- ent in many respects from the old. We thank the teachers and our principal for all that they have done for us during the past four years, and in the years to come let us ever bear in mind our motto and keep working, “ Ever Onward;’ to higher and nobler things. Viola Mae Smardon. Class Prophecy One dark and stormy day, having little to do, I walked to the book case and taking one of the nearest books, sat down before the open fireplace to read. The book which I had taken was Lowell’s “Vision of Sir Launfal,” and as I sat there I won- dered why I had chosen such a book, but being comfortably settled, did not bother to change it. I did not commence at the beginning, but pondered upon the bits of poetry that came before my eyes as the pages fell open first one way and then an- other. The first passage that caught my eye was, “ Now is the high tide of the year And whatever of life hath ebbed away Comes flooding back with ripply cheer. ” Then the events of my life for the past thirty years came flooding back to me. It was thirty years since I graduated from the Stoneham High School — thirty years— during the last fifteen years I had no news of my many classmates. Another passage caught my eye, “What is so rare as a day in June, Then if ever come perfect days. Why did everything persist in turning my thoughts back so many years to that perfect day in June — the day when we had to say farewell to Stoneham High and each other and set out on our courses in life. My thoughts would dwell upon the graduation day and the graduates. What had be- come of them? Were the memories of that day as dear to them as to me ? Thus I sat and pondered, first on one and then another of the happenings of that eventful day. Suddenly my thoughts were in- terrupted by a voice, one that sounded far off. The voice continued but I could not catch the words. Slowly it became more and more distinct and as I turned my head, I saw a tiny lady rising from the flames in the fireplace. She was dressed in red and yellow just the color of the flames. As she repeatedly nodded and bowed, she herself seemed a part of the fire, but she was not, for she was talk- ing, and at last made her way out of the fireplace and stood on the hearth before me. Then I noticed a tiny wand in her hand and smiling I heard her say, “Oh yes, I know you are anxious to hear about your classmates and it lies within my power to show you all you wish to know, but first you must promise not to be disappointed if some have not done as well as you expected, nor envious if some have surpassed your expectations. If they seem to you to have changed, I assure you that at heart they are the same boys and girls who graduated in 1912.” As she finished speaking, she raised her arm and at once the flames in the fireplace changed their shape and slowly framed a picture.

Page 5 text:

THE S. H. S. AUTHENTIC schools and classes, comprise our present class of twenty-seven members. We immediately drew up a constitution and elected Mr. Mann class president. We had considerable discussion as to what our class colors should be, green and white, or blue and gold. We finally decided upon blue and gold. What two colors could be more appropriate for our royal class, than these ? We also decided upon our class pin, which you see represented. Our class is the last to have class pins, all other classes from now on will have school pins distinguished only by class numerals. Business matters being attended to, we turned our attention to studies. Every class has its faults, one of ours was whispering. It took Miss Sherman just three days to fine it out. Then she said, “ that if we persisted in acting like kinder-garten children we must be punished accordingly,” so many a noon the front seats in Room 2, were occupied until half past one, by such of us as could not get over our childish ways. About the middle of December we thought it would be nice to hold a social, but Paul said we ought to wait until the Xmas shopping was over, so we delayed until the last of March when all, except the hoodlums, met one fine evening at the home of Miss Duplin. There were several that stayed at home. So with a little studying and a little whispering, we passed our first year as High School students. When we returned as Sophomores and entered Room 11, which is on the same floor as the Junior and Senior room, we felt that we were indeed an important part of the school. We had no socials or good times this year except what we got from our school work. One study which we enjoyed immensely was Physics. Especially the stereopticon lectures in Room 14, which we all so well remember. It was strange how a boy who was sitting in one comer of the room when the lights went out, was found sit- ting beside a certain girl on the other side of the room when the lights went on. It certainly was a case of rapid transit. We also began the study of French at this time and Ruth one day translated the verb embarrasser as meaning “to kiss.” Upon being corrected by Miss Kellogg she indignantly replied, “that she guessed she knew what to kiss meant,” and we all agree she does. The Junior year is the most strenuous of all, for this is the time of flower parties. For many years, it has been customary for each boy to see some feminine member of his class safely home after the party. Our boys wished to follow the good exam- ple of other classes and decided to do the same. But it was strange how all the boys wanted to go home with the same girl. Marion certainly had great difficulty in choosing her escort ; we noticed, however, that Carroll was usually the favored one. All boys like sweet things, so we girls always brought fudge. But it wasn’t the boys only who liked sweet things. Doris liked a certain “Sweet” so much that he was always on hand to walk home with her after the flower parties. We worked hard at these parties, but felt amply repaid for all our labor when at graduation time, we heard so many people say that the decorations were the prettiest seen at a graduation for years. In behalf of the Class of 1912, I wish to thank the Juniors for these decorations. We realize the work you have put into them, and sincerely hope that you have enjoyed making these for us as much as we enjoyed making ours for the Class of 1911. Although we had a great many good times this year, we studied, and studied hard. Some of us even burned the midnight oil, a thing we had never done before, nor since. I think our hardest study was American History, but we enjoyed the recitations, especially when we had a new teacher and Mann and Dempsey ex- changed names. We were sorry to lose two of our best teachers this year, Miss Robinson and Miss Fuller. When we returned as Seniors we were surprised to find that Miss Kellogg, also, had left us. Some teachers take our hearts by storm, others creep into them before we realize it. This was the way with Miss Kellogg. We never knew how much we loved her till she left us. Again we were sorry when Miss Ruggli left us at the beginning of the new year. It was suggested that instead of having our ban- quet and reception, we all go to Washington. We thought it a good plan and voted to go. We held one food sale, and the proceeds from the play, “ Messmates,” was also to be used toward the trip. Although we were successful in both undertakings we had far from money enough for all the class to go, so the trip was abandoned. We held our banquet at the Parker House, May 21, at which many delightful toasts were given. Miss Fuller said that she thought we were very fortunate in having a man like Mr. Emerson for our principal. A gentleman who visits many of the surrounding schools said to me, that he never knew of a school

Page 7 text:

THE S. H. S. AUTHENTIC 1. The stock exchange was just closing and the members were passing out upon their various ways, some in automobiles, some in carriages and some walking. The last to leave was a small, active gentleman who took his departure in a large auto, and, unlike most of the members, drove it himself. The picture slowly changed to a quiet, city street, one side lined with spacious residences and facing a large park on the other side. Truly a locality of wealth and refinement. An auto came up the street and, stopping in front of one of the houses, permitted a gentleman to alight. He ascended the steps of the house and just before entering, pauses and turns about to gaze over the park. At this point two small children rush out of the house to embrace their father, followed by a somewhat elderly lady who affectionately greets her husband. As they stand there I recognize in him the man who left the stock exchange a short while before. There seemed to be something familiar about this small but important looking individual. Certainly this could be no other than Nelson Dempsey, and I now recall reading in the paper but a short time before of the fabulous wealth of ex-Mayor Dempsey of San Francisco, but had never dreamed that “Demp”’ was playing the business game as success- fully as he used to play around second base in the old High School days. But who could be the com- panion of this successful man? I should never have guessed if she had not turned and embraced him in the same old way, without doubt it is— or was— Marion Bean. 2. The flame died down, only to rise again, this time showing a vast assembly. On the platform a very stout woman was apparently engaged in a fiery harangue. From her threatening attitude and gestures and the uneasy manner in which the few men present viewed her success in convincing the women in the audience, I surmised this must be a suffragette. Who could this militant suffragette be? Surely none of the demure maidens of 1912. A large banner was unfurled bearing the inscrip- tion:— VOTE FOR WOMEN DOWN WITH CITY GOVERNMENT. DOWN WITH GRAFT. VOTE FOR OUR LEADER HELEN ROSSON BOYCE FOR MAYOR. Could this stout suffragette leader be the slight, quiet, unassuming Helen Boyce of my school days ? 3. The flame again almost died out but immedi- ately flashed up again showing this same gathering in marching order. Rank upon rank of suffragettes led by Miss Boyce. A slight inoffensive looking man tagged along behind at the head of the band beating upon a large base drum upon which was painted in large letters, COGAN’S MILITANT SUFFRAGETTE BAND. and I realized that Helen had won over at least one member of our class to the suffragette cause. 4. The next picture showed a crowded city theatre. The size and expectant attitude of the audience indicated some unusual attraction. As I watched the bulletin change, what was my over- whelming surprise to read Signora Estherino Patcho and her troupe of trained pigs would next appear. It was hard to recognize the dashing person who appeared on the stage as my prim classmate and the change was made more apparent by the rapidity and vim with which she put her troupe through their performance. 5. All at once the fire seemed to burn unusu- ally bright and I was at a loss to account for it because the picture showed a cemetery. This shortly explained itself when my attention was at- tracted by a sign which read, MAE BUTLER successor to JOSEPH BUTLER, COAL AND WOOD)., All coal guaranteed undpp, the Purp Food and Drug Act of 1912. So Mae was carrying on her father’s coal business but not without help for, strange to say, one of the most prominent objects in the yard was a lawn mower (Longmore) which showed evidence of long and faithful wear. 6. The neif.t picture showed another familiar scene. I easily recognized the large, old mansion on Main street, which I passed every day on my way to school. This looked just as natural as ever even to Arad working about the lawns. I wondered what connection Arad could have with our class. Upon leaning forward in my chair to get a closer view I discovered a number of elderly ladies on the piazza. One of these in particular seemed to be the person in authority. After several minutes of study I was still at a loss to explain this picture when my tiny friend of the wand came to the rescue by announc- ing that this was the Stoneham Old Ladies’ Home, a model institution which had been successfully managed for many years by Miss Viola Smardon.