Stoughton High School - Stotonian / Semaphore Yearbook (Stoughton, MA)

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STOUGHTON HIGH SCHOOL On Springs Matthew Jacobs ' 32 Spring is an awful nice word. It isn ' t stingy. It means a lot of things. For in- stance, there ' s the s p rings in our watches; we know they ' re there because we break them so often. Then there ' s the springs in beds and the springs that are supposed to be in Fords — these springs are very necessary, their lack is painful. And then there ' s the springs we all make every four years. If you ' re a girl you spring forward, if you ' re a man you spring back, if you ' re wise. But the most common spring is the one that comes every year on March 21. It ' s called a season because people are apt to seize on some funny ideas about that time. Some seize on the idea that they ' re poets, and the barbers curse and swear because poets never have their hair cut, you know. Other people seize on love — it ' s queer what spring will do to sensible people. Lots of things come in with spring : April showers, spring lamb, spring fev- er, poetry, mud, new hats , proms and angina pectoris. Spring is what you call versatile. It ' s the time of the year when Nature paints the trees and flowers, property owners paint their houses, and pretty girls paint their — old straw hats, of course. In the park the tulips come out in their new red coats, the benches, in their new green coats, and the policemen in their new blue coats. We are glad winter ' s over because now we can walk safely with our feet in the mud and our heads in the clouds, instead of finding, every three steps, our feet in the clouds and our heads on the ice. It rains a lot in spring — April showers, they call it. They ' re supposed to be the advance agents for the flowers that bloom in May. However, they begin in March and between them and the March wind we get lots of exercise. But after we ' ve got muscular paralysis in our right arms from opening and shutting our umbrellas, we give it up and run be- tween the drops. Spring is awfully convenient to stu- dents. Those who don ' t know much are not expected to know anything, and those who know a lot can rest up a little and be bright by comparison. Spring has a melting effect on more than snow. It melts the hard-hearted butchers and the hard-hearted instructors, too, because cuts come in the spring — spring lamb in the markets, and classes in the schools. I Ionest, ain ' t Spring grand ! Next Ruth Cushing ' 32 Next — I can never hear that word but I shiver. To me it brings memories of a visit to the dentist. I am never in a hurry to reach the office but would try to tell myself that my tooth did not ache as much as it did a minute ago. Finally, the- building looms in sight. I usually walk up and down the street before en- tering. Then, with a little courage, I mount the stairs. Oh! If they were only longer. Then the door. By this time 1 am Patronize Semaphore Avertisers shaking as if I had palsy. The first thing I know I ' m standing in the waiting room. I am not alone in my misery. Other vic- tims are sitting there, grief written all over their faces. Some try to be calm and pick up a magazine but their fingers twitch. Most of them have their faces turned to the door leading to the office with ears tuned for any noise out of the ordinary. I generally take a seat nearest to the street doorway just in case I Page Nineteen

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THE SEMAPHORE New Shoes Despina Yacoulis ' 32 All shoes have at one time or another heen new. Just as you and I were once new so were they once in that same glor- ious situation. Ah yes, I know for a cer- tainty that that is true. How do I know? Ah, me, when one is as experienced as I . . . . just listen. Have you ever bought the nicest look- ing pair of shoes? Shoes that look so smooth and comfortable and feel won- derful when you try them on in the store? You have? Good. Well then, and have you felt the slightest pinch and tried not to notice it? Oh no, you never notice it, especially when the nice clerk tells you you ' re getting a wonderful fit, and a marvelous looking shoe. Notice, please, how it enhances your instep and what ' s more it ' s a bargain — only four dollars and fifty cents for a six dollar shoe. Oh yes, and it is the latest model from a New York show window. Sweet words ! You ' ve heard them ? Fine, we shall continue. Have you taken the shoes home and put them away to wear for the next day ? You can already hear the exclamations of your friends as they admire the leath- er and the trimmings of your new foot apparel. Ah, yes, and the next day you put the shoes on. They feel fine, but with a little tinge you know that they really look better than they feel. Well, anyhow, you start out for your destination. Possibly you meet a friend or two on the way who make you pirouette around to ad- mire your foot-gear. Are you quite sure all that has happened to you? You are? All right. Have you noticed that after the first two hours of wearing your shoes you feel a little uncomfortable and sick? You know there are at least two blisters on your heel and at least one on each of your big toes. Oh, what a sensation ! Another hour goes by and you feel as if Page Eighteen you could readily choke the next person who talks to you. Ah, if only you could remove the Xew York show window model shoe and put on the oversized slippers of a washwoman. The day pass- es somehow and at last you wend your weary way homeward. You long for a glimpse of your chimney. Half way home you vow you ' ll sit down and take off the consarned things and limp home in your stocking feet. What will the neighbors say ? The neighbors can go hang them- selves. No, but maybe it would be best to get home without removing the shoes. You ' ve experienced those pains. Have you arrived at your yard, kicked the Xew York model shoes off and with exquisite torture climbed the steps into the house ? You have ? And did you vow to get a second hand pair of sneakers from the junk man to wear on the mor- row? You ' ve done all those things? Come along with me, friend, and we ' ll look for some sneakers together. We ' ve been sharers in pain but now we ' ll be sharers in comfortableness. Come on ! Miss G. : Kell, what is one-half of one-tenth ? Kell : I don ' t know but it can ' t be much. Mr. M. : Who are the three greatest presidents ? J. Grigas : Well, you see, they haven ' t elected me yet. Jasmin : The boss offered me a sort of partnership in the business today. La France : No? Jasmin: Yes, he said if I didn ' t take an interest he ' d fire me. Fay: Minny is terribly dumb. She thinks Mussolini is a town in Austria. Elky : You don ' t say. And where is it? Patronize Semaphore Advertisers

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THE SEMAPHORE should like to leave. Yes, it is the safest seat of all. Although the office door is frosted I can see the outline of a chair in which sits a victim with the villain on duty. W hat I dread most is when he reaches for the drill. Ah ! The victim grips the chair and waits. I picture the villain grin- ning and patting his instrument. I rind that I can scarcely breathe. Now to get ready for that blood-curdling yell. It soon rends the air. I look around at the other victims and find them looking at me. Partners in misery. It is soon over. The door opens and a white-faced vic- tim hurries out. The villain stands look- ing us all over. He rubs his hands to- gether and a wicked grin covers his face. He speaks but one word — Next — but oh, how it shakes you up. Another vic- tim waddles in, and after him another, until finally it is my turn. But by this time my feelings have vanished and life ceases to be jolly but is a live night- mare instead. Henry Donovan : Coach, I can ' t get my locker shut. Coach : Take your shoes out. Miss Paine: Do we have to copy the outline of the Constitution in our note books ? Mr. M.: Will it put you to much bother ? Miss Paine : Yes. Mr. M. : Then take the bother. Miss M. : W hat is the use of an intran- sitive verb, Hallidan? Hallidan : I don ' t know. I copied it down, but I left it in my other coat. Henry Donavan : Hey, barber, gimme a glass of water. Barber : Whassa matter, hair in your mouth ? Henry Donavan : Xo, I wanna see if my neck leaks. Page Twenty Diary of a Schoolboy A. M. 7 :00 Alarm goes off. 7:15 Gets out of bed. 7:30 Eats breakfast. 7 :45 Leaves for school. 7:59 Arrives at school. 8 :00 Takes books from desk. 8:10 Goes to first class. 8:11 Opens book and looks out win- dow. 8:50 Closes book and goes to next class. 8:52 Draws pictures on book covers all period. 9:30 Decides to listen to teacher as bell rings in two minutes. 9:32 Goes to third class and writes a letter. 10:27 Arrives at Study Hall to chat. 1 1 :20 Puts books in desk and goes to recess. 1 1 :45 Tries to memorize poem for next class. 1 1 :47 Arrives at class with poem un- prepared. 12:30 Hopes bell will ring before the teacher gets around to him. 12:32 Bell rings— Saved ! 12:34 Arrives in Studv Hall to sleep till 1 :30. 1 :30 Puts books away. 1 :35 Goes to make up session. 2:20 Gets out of session and plays football. 5 :00 Eats supper. 6:00 Goes out with gang . 11:00 Goes to bed singing, Just An- other Day W asted Away . Mr. K. : What are the chief products of Italy? Harding : Wine, rum and immigrants. Mr. M. : In the early days the explor- ers had to go around the tip of South America to reach the W estern coast. Smith : W hy didn ' t they go through the Panama Canal ? Patronize Semaphore Advertisers