Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

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THE STONEHAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHENTIC equally open to Tvomen. It is not only true that the entire business field is open to them, but that they can go into any honorable business without at- tracting undue attention to themselves. It should therefore be axiomatic, that every human being, man or wo- man, should work at something. And to most it is evident that only the workers are happy, for they alone are serving. Marion E. Saxby, ’24. In a recent magazine article, a writ- er imagines what would happen if all advertising matter should suddenly disappear. The result is disastrous, all modern inventions become extinct, and the race goes backward. This imaginary experience leads to the conclusion that in our modern world, advertising has a definite and quite indispensable place. By means of this comparatively new science, com- modities are placed before the minds of the people in such an alluring form that it is almost impossible to resist the impulse to buy immediately. The economic value of attractive ad- vertising is constantly being demon- strated. Large sums of money are de- voted by shrewd managers of success- ful business concerns to secure novel methods of gaining public attention through the beauty, originality, or au- dacity of their appeal. This is done because it has been proved that the method pays. Magazines contain more advertising than literary material, and oftentim es the subtly worded announcements are completed by pictures and sketches. Because of the generous remuneration offered, artists of recognized ability in better known fields of art have turned their skill to this phase of advanced work. Among these are Coles Phillips, Arthur Kackham, Maxfield Parrish, and Jessie Wilcox Smith. Some of the magazines refuse to ac- cept contracts from questionable com- panies, and a few maintain testing plants to safeguard their readers by proving the worth of the article repre- sented. In this way, the purchasers are assured that, when buying an ar- ticle thus advertised, they are getting the best possible. The circulars and booklets are the most direct means of reaching the pub- lic. All people like to receive mail and although it is true that these circulars are evidently thrown away, many, es- pecially those removed from the great centers, purchase through postoffices. No expense is spared in making these ' booklets as attractive as possible — tlie quality of the paper, the cuts and the I illustrations combine in making them a pleasure to read. Besides these book- lets advertising merchandise, there are those issued by the several railroad companies which contain information and adventurous appeal as well as the merits and equipment of the re- spective systems. Daily newspapers have an important place in department store advertising. Other mediums are calendars and post- ers in the street cars w ' hich in later years have developed from mere print- ed appeals into highly colored placards, many with catch phrases, showing that, as a people, we constantly demand new devices to engage our attention. In great cities the night is made brilliant by the flaunting lights of many hued electric signs announcing, in letters of flame and with intermit- ; tent flashes, the location of theatres, hotels and the headquarters of auto- I mobile concerns. By these means, cu- riosity and expectancy are aroused. The art of advertising may be said to have reached its greatest height, when an airplane writes upon the sky, in great letters of smoke or flame, the name of some well known commodity. Legitimate advertising is important and helpful, but w ' hen conspicuous bill- boards intrude on natural scenery, pub- lic sentiment demands their removal. Out of respect for this idea, and in- fluenced by the Women’s Clubs, certain large firms, among which are the ! Standard Oil Company, Colgate Co., ! Kirkman Sons, and the Pillsbury I Flour Co., have placed themselves on record as doing away with billboards except in cities and near their places of business. Since the advent of the radio, indi- rect advertising, termed advertising by concealment, has been used. Certain : firms furnish entertainment for the “listeners in” and thrust the informa- tion upon their unsuspecting ears dur- ing the program. In time this will be ch anged by standardizing a method of 12

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THE STONEHAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHENTIC hundred northwest. I wondered while I was pacing what kind of a mine there might be in this dry desert country, and when I reached the end there was, as I did not exactly expect, nothing but a very sandy place, similar to many I had already passed through. Not believing this was the right spot, I retraced my steps and a gain, very carefully this time, paced the distance. On the last hundred paces I became in- tensely excited and when I saw ahead of me a pile of rocks I fairly ran to them. Quickly I examined them, and there on the flat surface of the largest in great letters was carved the single word DIG. Feverishly I threw the heavy rocks to right and left. It was hard work, but I soon found that one more rock would disclose the bottom. I slowly lifted this, and there, on a large flat rock imbedded in the ground there was carved in large letters — APEIL FOOL. Gone was my dream of riches, but even as I reviled my ancestor’s idea of a joke, there was a jerk, and I awoke to hear the conductor’s voice shouting, “Next station is Eound Hole.” B. C. C., ’27. (3ln£rasmn of pjorih The greatest invasion of the business world by women came in 1917. Before that, however, many had made their livelihood by activities along commer- cial lines, but never was so great an in- flux of women in business as was caused by the World War. The economic condition was, in part, responsible for women shouldering the burden of support, not only of them- selves, but of those dependent upon them. When the young men responded to the country’s call to arms, women were eager to aid in carrying on the indus- tries of the nation. Their desire to serve was so great, that although they could not all go into the field as nurses, they wanted in some way “to do their bit.” The typewriter can, perhaps, be con- sidered the key that opened the first door to them in the field of business. They have become experts in stenog- raphy, and, to a large extent, they have replaced men in this gainful occupa- tion. Because of the commercializing in- fluence all up-to-date towns and cities are putting more and more emphasis on the commercial training in the High Schools and are giving the best possi- ble foundation for future work. Some of the criticisms hurled against the woman with a job are that she becomes hardened — that she spoils the labor market for men — and also that “a women has no head for busi- ness.” If becoming hardened means learn- ing to understand human nature and so becoming less sensitive to personal hardships — if it means that in facing serious problems the business women is less yielding and not so easily swayed by emotions as her sheltered sister, yes, then a woman with a job is hard. But with a wider knowledge of human na- ture come a greater tolerance of it, and as one is knocked about the world she becomes more sympathetic with others. That women spoil the labor market for men can be answered the way the argument about machines is answered. Industrial machines, when they first came into existence put men out of business, but after a certain period of adjustment, plenty of work was found for all. There are many men behind the counters that might well be re- claiming deserts or building railroads. One cannot help feeling that a man is wasted selling pink baby ribbon. That women have no head for busi- ness, indeed! A fact that would have amazed our grandmothers is that there is a National Association of Bank W o men, about four thousand in number, composed, not of bank clerks, but lim- ited to women holding executive posi- tions. There are women manufacturers, about eight thousand of them, heads of successful industries, in some cases in- dustries that they themselves have or- ganized from the bottom up. Evident- ly women have a head for business! The great war gave women every- where such wide opportunities for their talents that they proved to have capac- ities hitherto unsuspected by men. Wo- men have established themselves in the. positions in which circumstances have placed them and filled them so efii- ciently that their ability has never since been questioned. Try to think of some reputable busi- ness in which men engaj e that is not 11

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THE STONEHAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHENTIC broadcasting and receiving. The pecularities of public sentiment are often difficult to explain. Even in this day of innovations, many conces- sions to established conventions are still made. In the medical profession, advertising is considered contrary to the code of ethics. The propriety and ■wisdom of advertising church services and other religious activities are still subjects of dicussion. If these ap- peals are made in sincerity and with unsensational dignity there seems to be no good reason for adverse criticism. In choosing a vocation, a young per- son may well consider the opportuni- ties for progress and proficiency of- fered by this science in its several phases: soliciting, illustrating, and writing. One may now look upon it as a suitable field of endeavor and an op- portunity for praiseworthy achieve- ment. Euth Massey, ’24. JVunt In the library of a spacious mansion in a fashionable London section, a young girl late in her teens, sat alone. She had just returned from a theatre party, and after reaching her boudoir, discovered she had dropped a treasure between the lower hall and the upper apartments. Upon reaching the libra- ry, she discovered her trinket and sat down for a moment to examine it closely. It was almost midnight, a bit early for a young person to be in, especially during the holidays. Quickly the little French clock on the rnantlepiece ticked away the min- utes, while the old grandfather clock tocked every second with presuming regularity. Its hands were almost at twelve ; then, the deep boom, boom of the ancient timepiece measured out the mystic hour. Jane was about to leave Avhen she thought she detected a faint rustle in the room. Turning about she fancied the noise came from under Aunt Kath- erine’s portrait; but no, the lady in the frame, herself, was moving, shaking the folds of her silken gown and turn- ing her head. Was this a dream? Slowly she looked about, and placed her dainty slippered feet on the porta- ble library steps. It was then that she noticed Jane and smiled lovingly upon her. The young girl drew nearer the older woman. Softly Jane spoke, gathering courage. “Are you Aunt Katherine?” “Indeed I am, my dear. I see I have not been forgotten these three hundred years.” “Oh, Aunt Katherine, Mother has so often told us stories of you, and I my- self have read again and again in our genealogy of you. Tell me, dear Aunt, how it happens that you have come to tne’s portrait life tonight. I had just been thinking of 3’ ' OU as I set here, wishing I might ask you just one question.” “Dear niece, perchance I may rest A ith thee here ’till sun up. On the an- niversary of my birth each hundred years, I am privileged to visit this ethereal world. However, let us not be the losers of precious minutes by thus discoursing. What is thy ques- tion?” “I was wishing. Aunt Katherine, that you, yourself might tell me the story of this ring I just discovered her? in the library. I know it was yours.” “Ah, my child, it pleases me so much to hear thee talk thus, willingly will I grant thee thy request. I will lu-gin my story immediately.” Midsummer, in the year of our Lord, one thousand six hundred and forty, while still Avas I lacking four years to make me tAventy, I was riding in the Buckminster forest, searching out, hero and there, the tiny Aoaati ' s which peep from the cool ferns. Suddenly I re- ceived in mine ear an harsh A’oice, that of an uncultured man, ordermg me to utter no sound and to obey his commands. I AA ' as terrified! No one had ever spoke me thus save old James, our age Avorn gardener, Avhose mercy I once happ’d into, after stealing berries from his favorite patch. From sheer fear I folloAved this outlaAv, for such I felt he must be. He led me to the in- most depths of the forest, to a spot AA’here sat many others of his likeness being tended by Avomen, some old. oth- ers young in years. These persons had the goodness to rise as AA’e entered their midst and I Avas like to feel more gentle toward them for their good manners. I Avas given OA er to an elderly Avoman AAdiom I took a fancy to right aAvay. It was herself told me that by some mistake