Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

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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

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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 I had been captured by a member of the Merrie Woodsmen outlaw band, and that as soon as a council sat my release would be granted me, but I must re- main in the camp through the night. A bed was made me of husks, ■;’;e which of I found was a privilege the other women wanted to lack. I scarce closed mine eyes during the territde night, although I w ' as promised no harm. At dawn, sorely tried by my unac- custunied bed, the likeness of her that had looked to my wants the night be- fore, roused me and informed me that I was wanted to be seen by the coun- sellor. Timidly I went before him and he drew from me a treaty of silence as to my adventure, saying if I revest- ed the haunts or the workings of his I band I should be in danger of my IH’- ing. Then blowing upon a conch shell the forerunners of the band rallied to conduct me to the clearing, from whence I could easily guide myself home to Berkley Castle. Just before leaving, the Counsellor handed me a sealed oil packet bound j with a linen thread. I was to open ) this when I reached the clearing. I accepted it more from fear than from willingness, forsoothe I fain would have cast it into the stream which ran but a few paces from our very feet. With no more ceremony I was .lis- missed from the Counsellor’s presence and began my way home. The men made much sport among themselves with their bottles and paid little heed to me in their midst, for the which 1 was very thankful. Finally we reached the clearing and ever as soon as we arrived thei’e, wilh nary a word the outlaws wheeled about on their steeds and were gone within a twiiiKling. There I opened the packet and with- in on a wax tablet, dug out with a sty- lus, was a note from the Counsello -, himself, stating that as long as I woL e the signet, seal ring, which was within the packet, wherever I chanced to be, I need never fear, for inside the ring was an instrument, vhen blown to its full size, (which was thrice its compa-t form) and when rubbed with the seal on the ring, would sound the call of the band. This signal was quite un- known to anyone not a member of the klan. After giving the call it w ould be but an instant before aid would come in answer to the summons. Quickly I slipped the ring on my forefinger and betook myself to my father’s castle, which by this time I knew would be in arms searching me I out. 1 But, dear Jane, thou must know the ; rest of the tale and behold! mine hours ' are now few here, and thou hast not told to me yet the ways of thy life, lit- I tie girl. I prithee tell me if or not thou be happy. “Oh-oh, Aunt Katherine, I am ex- ceedingly happy. This has indeed been ! a wonderful thing. To think I should I be the one to meet you tonight, it is I truly more than I can believe!” i “Ah, precious, did I not see in thine : hand the signet seal, the which of I spoke to thee?” “Truly, Aunt, you did.” “Well, dear, only those who possess I that ring can I talk with. I neve r used I the magic call, and for aught I know ! it is still in the ring. But let me look at the treasure, for I darest not have the touch of it on mine hand, for veri- I ly, evil would be my fortune if ever ! again I felt it. Eemember, my dear little girl, the magic charm is locked within and perchance thou dost meet ill fortune, the mysterious potent will bear thee aid.” I ' hen there followed the story of Jane’s few years, with the revelation of the marvellous inventions produced by the world’s tide of progress, when, hark ! The little French clock on the man- tlepieee is fairly galloping away in its haste to be the first to warn of the da 3 ' - light hour. The steadj’’ tick, tock, tick, tock of the grandfather timepiece tells majestically ' that the charmed hour is coming to an end. “Boom,” from the grandfather clock, “Boom.” Goodbve, dear new fashioned little girl.” “Goodbye, dear Aunt Katherine, I shall always remember you and what ’0U have told me. Some day, perhaps my portrait will hang beside ymurs. “Boom!” “And I do hope we shall meet again-” “Boom !” With a soft rustle of her silken gown, the old-fashioned lady mounted the portable library steps and entered the golden frame. “Boom ! !” The fifth hour sounded and all was silent. Jane blew a kiss toward the beautiful, smiling face in the enchanted frame, then turned slowly and left the 14