Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

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THE STONEHAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHENTIC read their writings? When reading Caesar we enjoyed descriptions of those wonderful wars and learned that trench warfare was used in antiquity. Therefore, I ask you, what is there which has not been handed down to us from the Latins, when even Chris- tian Science was practised in Roman times. What more wonderful piece of ora- tory has the world ever listened to than when Cicero delivered that fa- mous oration against Cataline in the senate as he said, “Quo usque tandem abutere, patientia nostra? Quam diu etiam furor iste tuus nos eludet? Quern ad finem sese effrenata iaetabit auda- cia? Quid proxima, quid superioris egeris, ubi fueris, quos conoocaveris, quid consil ceperis, quern nostrum ig- norare arbitraris? O tempora, O mores! Senatus haec intelligit, consul videt; hie tamen vivit.” To read Vir- gil is to enjoy a beautiful epic, one of the finest of its types. Can we ever forget Virgil’s descent to Hades when he discloses before our eyes our future habitation, Facilis descensus Averni. Virgil was one of the chosen few to visit those realms and return, alas, how many of us will be able to do like- wise? Can we forget the first time in geom- etry we saw Q. E. D. which was merely the Latin phrase, “Quod erat demon- strandum,” meaning, what must be proved? To our Latin student subway via Park street merely means by way of — Juvenal’s mens sana in corpore sano, is still true today, “what availeth a sound mind in a weak body.” It is also said that “Latin is no long- er a spoken language.” Neither is the language of Chaucer or Shakespeare spoken at present, but that does not retard our interest in these authors. The argument is also introduced that “Latin is too hard.” I will admit that it is difficult but not too hard. A boy must undergo strenuous training to be- come an athlete, therefore I argue, that his mind should undergo stren- uous training for development. The argument is also brought for- ward “that many students dislike Latin.” Possibly this is the fault of study in early years or poor instruc- tions — but generally the students who dislike Latin are not enthusiastic about other branches of learning. Possibly application to a hard, disagreeable task will fit him for the duties of la- ter life. Again it is said that four years is too long a time to give to a subject. A strong structure requires a strong foun- dation and to lay such a foundation takes time. If boys who are too anx- ious to get out into the world, would devote more of their time to serious study they would become better men in the future. Often one hears that other subjects in the curriculum are of greater value than Latin. It may be true, but the training in other subjects does not give him the concentration and memory for future use that Latin would have giv- en him. For it is conceded by the au- thorities in education that Latin is a greater brain trainer than mathemat- ics. To support this argument I bring forward the fact that in. the schools of New York, New Jersey and in other states, Latin is a required subject for two years and in a commercial depart- ment the Latin is studied as Vocation- al Latin. This is merely English taught via Latin as the derivation of words are taken up and the student learns the basic meaning and the correct spelling of various words. The ordinary stenographer of today because of her lack of knowledge of English is more of a liability than an asset. These mis- takes ean all be obviated by the study of Latin. Now, therefore, because of the rea- sons I have stated I hope you will agree with me that Latin is not out of touch with the present; is not too hard; it is not a dead language; and above all it is not dying out in our schools but increasing in strength and should be required here in our school in all courses. Now I hope I may use that famous Latin phrase of Caesar’s “Veni, Vidi, Vici,” and that henceforth you will all be upholders and devotees of the Latin language. “Pax vobiscum sempitern- um. — Vale, amici mei.” “You seem able-bodied and healthy; you ought to be strong enough to work,” she remarked, scrutinizingly. “Yes ma’am, I know. And you seem beautiful enough to be on the stage, but evidently you prefer the simple life” He got a square meal without any further reference to work. 12

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THE STONEHAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHENTIC beautiful sights in the Arboretum. From China, Mr. Wilson, one of the Arboretum’s chief explorers, brought back the lacquer tree. This tree, a kind of sumae, is very poisonous; but the Chinese extract the black sap and use it as a varnish in their famous lacquer work. Another tree from China, from which we obtain the wood-oil is growing here. Wood-oil is similar to linseed oil but is much finer and is an important pro- duct of China. In bringing trees of this kind to the United States, the Arboretum has made the fortune of many a gardener and has even made merchants look toward its gates. So many other trees and shrubs have their stories to tell! A certain small ash tree which, in August, has its branches covered with a snow-white, waxy substance; a specimen of the only hardy rubber tree in the wide world; beautiful wild peonies from China; and expuisite white creeping roses from Germany; Chinese clematis; in fact the Arboretum is filled with unexpected and rare beauties, placed there for the benefit of not only landscape garden- ers and botanical experts, but for the pleasure of all nature lovers. And so, I hope that many of you will go there; and that you, too, may late in the afternoon make your way over Bussey Hill past the bank of lilacs al- ready a hundred years old; past the Lebanon Cedars down amid the bright blossoms of the azaleas; then, look, — there at your feet that gorge-like val- ley stretching between you and Hem- lock Hill; the slanting rays of the sun just touch the rose-red and the white blossoms of the Laurel and the Rhodo- dendrons. In their midst the clear waters of Bussey Brook bubble over the pebbles; above, Hemlock Hill rises in stern majesty, flecked with gold from the setting sun; the silence makes one say again with Joyce Kilmer: I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast ; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in summer wear A nest of robbins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain ; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me. But only God can make a tree. “Practical Jalac of JC. dierrtslj Latin is generally conceded by the popular mass to have no practical value and is commonly supposed to be a ne- cessary evil to be undergone if one wishes to enter college. I shall en- deavor to point out certain specific values the study of Latin holds for one who pursues it. The study of Latin quickens the hab- its of observation of the student and above all teaches him to concentrate. It increases his English vocabulary and enables him to tell the meanings of words in his own language that he never would be able to understand otherwise. What I consider the strong- est argument for the study of Latin in the schools is the fact that 89% of our English words are derived from Latin and by the study of this language we are able to understand English as in no other way. Especially are we able to grasp the meaning of new words and this fact alone should encourage us to study Latin. A Latin student never makes mistakes in spelling which a non-Latin student makes. Moreover, today the best Latin teachers do not claim to teach Latin but English via Latin. Hence we should obtain the best Latin instructors as an aid to our English department. Latin also gives a student an understanding of the grammar of his own language through the study of the structure of the sen- tence. It is said that Latin is antiquated and out of touch with the present. Some people think that Latin is just made up of declensions of nouns and and conjugations of verbs, which is not so; because some of the finest literature the world has ever produced or ever will produce has been handed down to us from the Latin writers. Homer, Dante, Cicero and Virgil will always hold their place among the immortals. Hence I ask you, why should we not 11

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THE STONEHAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHENTIC “®nt Cans” ' Jlefcria iHnxfoell We pride ourselves in the great strides which this country has taken in the advancement of scientific agricul- ture during the past half century. We read in the papers that Delaware pro- duced an immense crop of peaches last year. We hear that Iowa has exceeded all previous outputs of corn; that the tomato crop was enormous in a certa in section of the country and that all oth- er crops were correspondingly large. All this is due of course to the effi- cient farm machinery which science has evolved, the modern irrigation sys- tems, and the care with which the soils are chosen. Science has given the far- mer many labor saving devices which increase speed of production. It has also taught the farmer to use care in choosing the crops he will raise in a given section of the country, and that these crops will grow with better re- sults on a certain type of soil in that locality. Now this gigantic output of fruits and vegetables, which science has made possible, far exceeds the demand at the time of production. A small proportion of the fresh pTO- dufce is shipped in refrigerator cars and consumed directly but the re- mainder of these perishable crops must be conserved for later use. The oldest method of preservation now in use is that of drying. This method is tedious, unsanitary and re- stricted to a few fruits. Another method of preservation is cold storage which is limited to meats, eggs and a few fruits such as apples and pears. The third method of preservation is canning. This process of preservation may be employed with practically all forms of perishable food. Canning in the home is generally on too small a scale to be economically important. The tin can is superior to the glass jar in commercial canning as it is cheaper, lighter, unbreakable, and easy to seal. In the canning of food on a large scale it is possible to select the best of products and at their prime. Not only is commercial canning superior in this way but also these fine products are canned by skilled workers with scientists to superintend their actions. For these three reasons the tinned goods one buys are superior to those put up at home. The tin can brings to us delicacies from foreign lands which it would be impossible for us to obtain fresh at any time at home. It brings to us in the winter season such things as blueberries, corn, peas and string-beans which take from our winter diet that monotony with which it would otherwise be characterized. Apart from the luxurious side of the tin can’s use in furnishing us with the means of pleasing the palate out of season; and neglecting its financial and economic benefit to the farmer and the nation we must consider the part it plays in the life of those who are se- parated from the world’s marts. Campers, explorers, mariners, and soldiers all owe much comfort to the tin can. A lover of nature may now go into the wilds taking with him all the var- iety of food he would have at home. Extensive exploring is now made more feasible through the use of the tin can. Necessities such as meat, milk and vegetables are carried in this very compact and permanent form. The tin can during the World Con- flict, played a part far more important than rifles or ammunition. The United States Army and Navy used millions of cans of food during the time the Unit- ed States was engaged in war. If the world had been deprived of this means of preserving supplies it is doubtful whether the war Avould have ended in favor of the Allies. Under the condi- tions in France fresh food in any large quantity would have soon spoiled. So it is evident that along with the reaper, the silo and the tractor stands the tin can as an important national food factor. An Emporia school nurse was telling a health story to a first-grade class. “Now what,” she asked in review of the story, “was the name of the good fairy who was dressed all in white?” For a moment the class was silent, then a little colored boy answered hopefully, “Ku Klux?” 13