Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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THE W. H. S. DEBATER The Girls ' Debating Society BY L. MOSES, Secretary THE Girls ' Debating Society is, at present, in a very flourishing condition. There are thirty- three members, thirteen of whom have just been admitted. It is gratifying to note the in- creased membership of Seniors. There were but five Senior members at the beginning of the term but the number is now increased to twelve. There have been four debates held so far this year. The first was held Thursday, October 3. The subject was. Resolved : that suffrage in the United States shall be restricted by educational qualifications. Four Juniors disputed the question. The judges decided in favor of the negative side. The second debate was on the subject, Resolved : that secret societies shall be prohibited in high schools. Four Seniors argued the question which proved to be of exceptional interest. The winning side, the negative, had only one point more than their opponents, which testified to the closeness of the debate. The third debate was held November 7, the subject being, Resolved : that the people of the United States should rule in name only. The affirmative side won. This question was of much interest coming as it did directly after the election. The result of the debate, was, however, quite at va- riance with the election results. The last debate was on the subject. Resolved : that the prize system promotes the best interests of students. This is a very live question and much interest was manifested by the members of the Society. The decision was in favor of the nega- tive side which seems to tally with the belief of the school authorities. During the present year the constitution of the Society has been revised by the executive committee and it is now in the hands of the printer. On Saturday evening, November 23, the entire Society was very graciously entertained at the home of Elsie Doleman. The evening was passed pleas- antly with games and music; and at the close dainty refreshments were served. Altogether the Society has had a very successful year so far, and there is every reason to believe that this happy state of affairs will continue. 3n iliemonam THE BOYS ' DEBATING SOCIETY 1912 Where is the silk flag which the Boys ' Debating Society voted last year to present to the High School ? Was it used as a winding shroud for the organization ?

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THE W. H. S. DEBATER The mingling of a thousand melodies. Combining in the grand crescendoes peal : Here factories reverberate with sound. The elevated grinds its ceaseless roar — Th ' accompaniment of grim bare-handed Toil, That from the under-world lifts up its voice : Hark to the song of furnace and forge Worthy the salt of hire. Ringing the rythm of writhing steel White from the embered fire, — Ho, mighty the sons of Vulcan are we. Guarding the mouth of hell — Bellows and anvil and white-curved steel Yield to the muscle ' s swell. Ho, for the blast of the burning forge. Glowing with sparkling steel ; Bronze muscles dripping with iron sweat Grind fate beneath the heel, — Let who will work with harrow and plough And turn the red-brown sod — But forge and furnace and pulsing strength - These are the gifts of God ! So from the forge and furnace. Toil lifts up The joyous voice of duty well performed. While deep from the horizn ' s pale-streaked rim In answering refrain grim labor sounds : Ho, for the life of the bridge-builders High on the girder ' s length. Sky above and the river below And only one man ' s strength. But strength of the strong and the fearless. Courage that cannot fail At each swing of the derrick ' s lifting. Each stroke of hammered nail. Muscle and sinew and brawney strength Poised ' twixt heaven and earth ; They were worthy Mothers of Men, tha Women who gave us birth — Yet swinging high on the swaying beam. We risk with careless grace That life of the iron strength and toil — Ho, what is death to face ! Thus ruthlessly the Sons of Toil give life And limb for structured steel, content to sing Their strain in the World ' s chorus until Death Shall break them on the wheel ; content to teach By their exampled lives the nation ' s strength Upon the strength of man depending, ' till That day when Capital and Labor shall Combine, and Science stooping from her height Shall join her hand with theirs, in unison To lift from groveling man the horny hand, Of Toil, to smooth the wrinkles of his care. And show to after-worlds that shall unfold The unit strength of man protecting man. Lo, ' tis the song of the World-Chorus, The measured beat of care. Filled with the sorrow of life and love Bitter the heart to bear — Triumphing over the strife of toil. Deathless with hope and peace. Word of the God of Eternity Song of the soul ' s release.

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THE W. H. S. DEBATER Since The Debater has come to light. It is our happy task to write In simple language, just like mine Either a story or a rhyme. I ' ll take a chance, perhaps a rhyme,— Please don ' t expect a poem fine,— About a game that we all cheer And greet with pleasure every year. The football season is in swing. That game is an exciting thing : They kick the ball, then off they go. With heels above, and heads below. Our High School team is rather weak A little feeble, so to speak ; But in another year or two I ' m sure we will be scoring too. Just a few more games this fall, A few more broken bones, that ' s all : And then Jack Frost with manners nice Will spoil the fun with snow and ice. Margaret O ' Connor, ' 14. BASE BALL As has been the custom for several years, for the Wakefield High School to put a base ball team into the field in September to uphold its prestige in athletics. The class of 1912 took every member of last year ' s team except two, so that the captain of this year ' s team, Henry Reid, faced the difficult task of making a winning team out of one veteran player and eight rookies. Although the team has not been successful in winning games, Captain Reid has got his men into form for good work next spring. As a whole the team has fielded well, but have been weak at the bat. The pitchers, also, has not been strong. Those who succeeded in getting suits were : — Henry Reid, Fred McKie, Raymond Griffin, Fred Reid, Pete Eaton, Leon Home, William Doucette, Leo Sullivan, Lorimer MacKenzie, Man- son Dillaway, Carl Witham, and Robert Holmes. HOCKEY Last year ' s hockey team neglected to elect a captain and it is impossible to predict what will be done about hockey in the school this winter. The sport has always been popular, and the team repre- senting the Wakefield High School has done re- markably good work. We feel that it will be a serious mistake if a team is not organized to carry on the sport in a successful manner this winter as it has been carried on in the past. FOOTBALL Although this game has not been played by a sanctioned, Wakefield High School team for several years, it is very popular in the school. There have been numerous exciting class games this fall be- tween the Seniors and Juniors, the Juniors winning every game. There has also been organized, with Al Collinson as captain, an Independent team which, thus far, has won all its games. Because of the success of this team on the gridion there is some talk among the boys of petitioning for the re-instating of football in the Wakefield High School. Robert Holmes, ' 13.