Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

Page 19 text:

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

Page 18 text:

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

Page 20 text:

THE STONEHAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHENTIC Nearly all the large states of our country are protected by some form of constabulary. Our state has just formed one of these small armies to protect us from the bootleggers which have started a great liquor traffic be- tween Ncav York and Massachusetts. Pete Melley, one of the best troopers on the force, patrolled the territory which links us with New York. He was on duty from ten p. m. to five a. m. This district was overloaded with boot- leggers, but to catch them was beyond the power of the state’s experts. This was the reason that Pete was assigned to patrol this territory during the late hours, which were best for the boot- leggers to transport their liquor. Pete had served twenty-two months in France with the U. S. Army during the World War. He had been dis- charged from the service of his coun- try with a record that would have been a credit to any man. He had received three war medals for bravery in bat- tles in which he participated. This new assignment more than pleased him because excitement was his hobby. To kill a man was an every day occur- rence, so Pete was right at home with a “forty-five” waiting for some unfor- tunate bootlegger. Pete had been on the job about six weeks, but liquor was coming in as fast as ever. When he was called before his superior officer to report on what he ran across during the hours he was on duty, he said he had held up many cars, which traveled over his route dur- ing the night, but never found any- thing. The superior officer was very angry to think that some smooth boot- legger was putting it over him and his men. Pete also was disquieted to think that he couldn’t catch them. So he asked for a leave of ten days, promis- ing to bring back one bootlegger dead or alive. The next morning he started out on his journey and struck into the hills which overlooked the camp border. He was dressed as a common woodsman so as not to betray himself. The first night he put up with a lone woodsman, but couldn’t get any information from him. For six days and nights he tramped through the woods. He hadn’t met a soul for four days, and his food was all gone. He was tired and hun- gry, so he dropped down upon some foliage, and thought of what a fool he had been to make such a promise. He soon fell asleep on the side of a hill which overlooked the Connecticut Riv- er. The next morning he awoke about five-thirty, and to his surprise saw a lumber camp located on the bank of the river. His first thought was to get something to eat, and as he had re- covered some strength from his sleep, he scrambled down the hill to the camp. He was greeted at the entrance by a half-breed who was lying in the bush- es on guard. The guard poked a shot gun up under his nose and asked him what he wanted. Pete laid a hand upon the guard’s shoulder and said “I will do anything for a bite to eat.” When he told the guard that he was a hunter who had lost his way and that he hadn’t eaten for four days. The guard led him to the kitchen where Pete put down a wonderful feed of meat, pota- toes and pie. After he had finished eating, he was brought before the boss of the camp, who put him through a third degree. Pete was given a job in the mill operating a large drill, which bored holes into the large logs. Pete wondered what these holes were for, and to satisfy his curiosity started a crusade. That night about twelve he was awakened by some noise in the cel- lar, the moving of barrels, the sound of running water and a great deal of conversation. He got up and found that all his brothers had left their bunks. This led him to do some search- ing, so he went out to the kitchen, and opening a trap door to the cellar, was greeted by an unmistakable odor. He had not removed any clothing ex- cept his shoes, so he was all ready to make his investigation. Going outside, he saw four or five men walk toward the mill, with the goods. He followed them, watching them closely. On en- tering the mill he saw two men at work under a lantern, busily packing the liquor which was in gallon cans of cylindrical shape, into the holes which he had bored. They first put the can in, packed around it with sawdust, then they lined the remainder of the hole with glue. Next a post was forced in by a pile driver, to block up the hole and conceal the can. When the logs were ready they were roll ed into the river to be carried down into the state 14