Vandergrift High School - Spectator Yearbook (Vandergrift, PA)

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14 THE SPECTATOR HOW JIM LOVE SAVED THE DAY N the ambulance division of the American Forces in France, was a tall slender lad by the name of James Love. James was hardly known to his companions by his right name, but always by the nickname “Slim Jim”. To Slim’s companions he would make a better washwoman than a soldier, for he was always telling of what he would like to do but never got a chance. Slim was very skilful in t e handling of a large truck and was also a very good mechanic. For this reason Jim was appointed driver of the largest ambulance in his division. In exhibition work Jim could do more with his large truck than the others could with the smaller ones. This made Love a companion and friend of all. Day by day passed and Jim Love still had the happy high spirit that he had had in the beginning, though each day became blacker and more dreadful about the Red Cross Station. One evening about dusk when the fire of the enemies’ guns had slackened and the fellows were all grouped together and talking about some news that had been received, Slim Jim started telling stories to help put a smile on the faces which were now showing distress and sadness. In the midst of a very interesting story that Love was telling he stopped, and was noticed to be looking in the opposite direction. His companions looked but could see nothing save the setting of the sun which was very beautiful that evening. They asked what was the matter. His answer to them was the continuance of the story. It was noticed that he seemed to waver a bit in his talk but did not stop. All at once Slim jumped to his feet, looked, turned on his heel and made straight for his truck, leaving his companions in wonderment. He started the engine and the truck gave a leap as it started on its mad dash in the direction in which Slim had looked. Slim was soon so far away that he appeared as a mere speck against the setting sun. By this time Jim’s companions started to laugh at what they thought one of Slim’s silly notions. Presently he appeared and seemed to be coming back, but a little slower than he was accustomed to come. His friends looked for a moment and soon discovered that something had happened. They started to meet him, and to their surprise found Jim towing a truck of the same size as his. They soon reached camp and the members of the squad all rushed up to Slim and very eagerly demanded how he knew the other truck, which was loaded to its capacity with ammunition, was there. Jim merely grinned and said, “I have heard trucks before and know when they are in need.” I heard this one while I was telling the story and at the moment I jumped I heard it grind its last. But let’s stop the argument as this ammunition has to

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THE SPECTATOR 13 of teachers, students and parents, a pulling together for the same end and a keeping on pulling from now ti’l next June. To lessen High School Failures the following method was successfully tried: Study blanks were sent to the parents, and rules of study were enclosed, some of which were as follows: Have one definite place for home study. Make up your mind that you CAN and WILL master this work, and then work intensively every minute. CONCENTRATE, DETERMINE to like each and every subject. Seek real motives for your work. Study ALONE, as a rule, and do NOT depend on others for help. First, make a rapid survey of the lesson assigned. Next, study intensively the IMPORTANT or DIFFICULT points. Connect each day’s work with the preceding one. —Selected. LEST WE FORGET NOTHER great war has passed, and has wrought its havoc among the noblest hearts of many nations. Yet we seem to have forgotten those brave soldiers who gave up their lives for their country’s cause. And they died for us, that we might not know the awful horrors of war, and that our nation might stand triumphantly in the right. We, in our comfortable homes and with all the modem conveniences of today, cannot realize what those fighters in the trenches and on the fields of France endured without complaint. However, they did not stop at these small things, but some paid the supreme price and died on those bloody battlefields. Surely they deserve to be remembered and honored by those who are enjoying the benefits derived from that victory which they helped to bring about. And not only those who died, but also those who bear the scars of battle, they too, deserve the name of real patriots. So lest we forget, let us keep in mind the service these men rendered and give them the honor which is their due. —Agnes Allen, ’26. COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE OURAGE and Perseverance are the only routes to success. Without courage one cannot grasp opportunities to attempt a task which, at the time, might seem impossible and difficult, while without perserverance one cannot go through the difficulties and obstacles arising in these tasks when once grasped. Through history and life we have many incidents which prove this fact to be true. For instance, without courage, how would Columbus have dared to attempt to cross that “Sea of Darkness” and once embarked how, without perseverance, could he have ordered his sailors to “Sail On , “Sail On” when they were at the verge of mutiny? Then what would our country be if it had not been for Washington, who strived with the greatest courage and perseverance at Valley Forge and other places to gain for us our Independence so that we might struggle in life with higher hopes of prosperity, happiness and freedom? Moreover, not only in history, but in life —in the life of today do, we find in business, studies, arts, courage and perseverance. Business men will take great risks, attempt new methods, ideas, and schemes, so that they may obtain greater business, and better opportunities and success. Then why not apply these two important factors even to the student. He has many difficulties, many hardships, and then many opportunities to attain his one ambition, to make himself something. He cannot do these without courage, nor can he complete these without perseverance, but with these two factors, he may be successful in all he undertakes. If all will take as their motto “Courage and Perseverance” no one ever needs to use the word “can’t” for this motto shall lead all to become fearless and able to undertake the tasks of life with success. —Teresa Costanzo, ’26.

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THE SPECTATOR 15 be at the front by midnight or we will never see home again. Everyone looked' in wonderment at one another until Jim broke the silence by saying that he would load it on his track and take it through immediately. Woi-k began to load the track. No argument was aroused as to who should drive the track through for Slim Jim was the only one capable of handling a loaded truck of this size through the almost impossible roads that led to the front. No time was wasted and Jim was soon in position in his truck for the perilous journey. Everyone was anxious to know who Jim would choose for his companion on this journey. He started the engine and gave a last look over the camp; then called out with a sturdy voice “Shorty.” In an instant a little short fellow, that made the company view the two as Mutt and Jeff, was sitting by his side. The truck moved off and a cheer of good luck went up as they left the camp. Onward they sped. For hours neither spoke a word to each other. Finally Jim said, “Shorty, this truck must reach the front and one of us or both of us must see it through.” Silence was again between the two. The only sound was the roar of the powerful engine of the track and the continual almost deafening roar of the guns, and the shells exploding near by. Jim all at once jammed on the brakes and checked the speed of the car just as a large shell passed and burst near by. “Whoo-oo” gasped Shorty, “that was a close one.” “Yes”, laughed Slim, “that’s close enough to this load of German Talcum Powder.” All went well till something happened to the truck. It stopped and in a place very uncomfortable to both boys for they were by this time nearing the front and the shells were bursting close at hand. Slim Jim leaped from the seat and immediately started to look over the engine while Shorty crawled under the track to see if he could locate the trouble and fix it. Soon both boys leaped into the seat and the truck started on its way. Not a minute too soon for a large shell burst in the spot in which the car had stopped. Shorty looked at Slim, patted him on the back and said, “Stick to it, Slim, we’re almost there.” After these words Shorty dropped from his seat dead. He had been hit with a piece of flying shrapnel. Slim also got a piece in the right arm putting it out of use. He still pressed on harder than ever though very weary both from the loss of a friend and partner and from the lack of blood that was gushing from his wound. Almost exhausted and very weak he came in sight of the dug-out that was to receive the powder. With new spirit and hopes he pressed the track to its utmost. Soon he reached the trenches and brought the truck to a halt, just as a piece of shrapnel struck the front end of the huge truck. Slim Jim fell helpless to the ground. He was immediately picked up by some soldiers that were coming to meet him. Jim came to some hours later and found himself in one of the cots of the Red Cross quarters from which he had started. His first words to his companions who had gathered around him were, “Did I get there in time?” The answer to this was the pinning of a medal on him by the captain who said that Jim had saved the day. —Kenneth Smith, ’24. TONY AND AMERICA OU know Tony; he’s one purty nice boy. He go fight for America; he ketch nice suit and gun, he go kick German man and knock the stuffing out. Tony he write home, he says he dig zee trench. He says he talk zee French. He says he fight little bit, eat little bit, and take zee prisoner. Tony he say German shoot and hit Tony in the leg. Tony he go to hospital; Tony says there nice nurse and he hate to get well; but he say U. S. best country on earth and he be glad to fight some more Germans for Uncle Sam. Then he says he marry nice French girl and start fruit stand. Tony says he bring back piece of Kaiser’s mustache and frame it. Tony he one nice boy. I’m his papa. —James Ruth, ’28.