Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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THE W. H. S. DEBATER tion, the intruder gazed threateningly upon the poor clock, which shrank back in terror. After a second or two, however, a ball of twine which was lying beside the clock and which had until now es- caped notice, must have suggested more mischief, for the fiend seized it with avidity. What happened in the next few minutes, the clock was too overcome to know, but when it re- gained consciousness, it saw a complicated system of twine wires strung from the table-legs to all parts of the room, a close net-work around the chair-legs, and a generous number of apples hung in a row from a line stretched from the top of the door to the mantle. Crouched on the floor in front of the fire-place was the fiend, holding a match in his hand — ready to light the fire. All was dark again — all was quiet. The match was struck, but it sputtered with indignation and refused to light properly. Then a second match was struck, but it, also, was un- friendly. With a revengeful air, the fiend arose and rushed across the room to the windows. What might have happened never did, however, for at that moment there was commotion up stairs. One instant and one only, did the unbidden guest hesi- tate, then disappeared through the doorway as mysteriously as it had come. Please explain ! Certainly ! Peter, The Incor- rigible, walked in his sleep. Advice to Freshmen BY L. MOSES JIRST, do not wear green ! It is wholly un- necessary. There are many other ways in which to display your verdancy. Do not try to enter the school house by the front door. Only a few days ago I saw a group of Freshmen girls stealthily accomplish this perilous feat. It was perfectly evident to all around that they were Freshmen, so they failed If they aimed to deceive. I suppose, however, the adventurous nature of the undertaking appealed to them. It must indeed be wildly exciting to successfully avoid two or three ferocious teachers and pass unscathed through the midst of a crowd of savage upper class people. Do not carry your school bags to the recitation rooms. I have not noticed any of the Freshmen this year doing this, but I have a vivid remembrance of my own Freshman days when several members of our class used to carry around their school bags to the general joy of all beholders. Do, by all means, get lost. It will serve to kill time for you, and it will furnish amusement for others. When selecting your text books, always try to get as old ones as possible, in the hope that some pre- vious owner, being altruistically inclined, has left valuable comments in them for the benefit of future owners. Such comments are usually hard to decipher but, of course, it will save time to puzzle them out, instead of looking up the matter for yourself. If you are in the habit of communicating fre- quently, do so once in a while when the teacher is looking at you. She will see that you are at least honest. Never display any emotion when caught. Calmly and majestically pack up your books and walk to the seat indicated, or to the office, as the case may be. If you are politely requested to report the num- ber of times you whisper each day, remember that there are various other ways of communicating. You will probably find it a great waste of paper to be obliged to report, but, when your supply of paper is exhausted, you will be given more. My last and most important bit of advice is — ac- quire a reputation for brilliancy. Such a reputation may easily be acquired by a little additional work during your first year, and it will be invaluable to you. For a reputation sticketh closer than a brother. It is possible that a reputation for brillancy acquired during the first year may sustain you through the three remaining years of inno- cuous desquietude. In case it does not, you will feel compelled to make some effort to sustain it, for after you have once tried starring in your classes, you will find the sensation so enjoyable that you will wish to keep it up indefinitely. In either case your reputation is a valuble asset.

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PUBLISHED BY THE STUDENTS OF THE WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL : : Vol. 1 WAKEFIELD, MASS., DECEMBER, 1912 No. 1 When The Clock Struck Twelve BY EMILY PRESTON 3T was midnight, that still, mysterious hour when one day, weary with its toil, makes way for another. Intense silence, utter darkness, had fallen upon the little farm-house on the hill. Even the clock, as if aware of some impending evil, had hushed its incessant ticking and fairly quivered with anxiety and suspense. Outside, the wind moaned and sighed, then, finding no response to its wail, howled furiously around the house in an ugly temper. Still all was quiet within, save for an occasional piece of soot, which the malicious wind hurled down the chimney, and which fell upon the hearth with a little cry of remonstrance. Suddenly there was a creak from the direction of the hall ! At once the clock in the living-room stiffened, but all efforts to be calm and cool were in vain, for into the room glided a tall, white figure too startling, too ghost-like, to be viewed without terror. Its face was very pale, but its eyes glitter ed with a wild light. It was clothed from head to foot in a loose, white garment perfectly in keeping with its silent, mysterious motions. It swayed to and fro, waving its long, thin arms, as if to cast a spell over the room with its unhappy inmates. Faster and faster, wilder and yet more unearthly, grew the movements of this strange being, until the clock was fairly dizzy from watching it whirl round and round the room. Oh ! What was that ? A hollow laugh exceed- ingly suggestive of the gloating triumph of one about to torture its victim ! Cold shivers ran down the clock ' s spine, but soon discomforts were for- gotten in the fascination of the scene that followed. With evil satisfaction the strange visitor created a confusion unparalled in the history of the house- hold. The rugs on the floor were rolled up and placed on end in the corners of the room, while the dainty musiin curtains at the windows were roughly seized and spread upon the floor. All the leaves and blossoms from the plants in the room were stripped off and thrown into the old-fashioned iron kettle which hung in the fire-place. A fire of marvelous construction was carefully laid underneath the kettle. At the very bottom was placed the beauti- ful lace shawl which had by chance been left over the back of grandmother ' s chair. Next was thrown on promiscuously photographs, newspapers and letters. An open umbrella was thrust, point down- ward, into the pile, and in this convenient recept- acle was built a tower of books, but for some rea- son, as mysterious as the whole proceeding, the destruction of this valuable collection was delayed. Chairs were over-turned and formed into little pens where was placed all the bric-a-brac collected from the mantel and table. The centre table itself was set with its top against the floor, and the cushions were piled between the legs. The doors of the cabi- net were flung wide open, and tea-cups removed only to be hung helplessly on the upturned legs of the table. During this activity there was intense silence, but the air was charged with excitement to such a degree that the clock felt its head almost ready to burst with repressed emotion. Why did this fiend deliberately continue his wickedness when the white moon came from her hiding-place behind the clouds, with disapproval plainly written on her face ? Why such a frenzy for destruction ? What need — Suddenly the thoughts of the clock were checked, a chilling numbness crept over it, for as if divining opposi- 26587

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THE W. H. S. DEBATER Our High School BY RUTH W. BOARDMAN E, who have the privilege of a high school training, do not stop to think that the boys and girls of this town have not always had the advantages of such an education. Sometime between the years 1694 and 1707 the first school house was built within the present boundaries of the town of Wakefield, but this school did not offer any high school courses. In 1829, a private academy was opened, so that it was possible for some to acquire a higher education. This building stood on Academy Hill, where the Lincoln School now stands. This academy during its continuance had a valuable influence upon the people of the town. It created in the minds of the youth a desire for a higher education that they might be fitted for larger fields of usefulness. It also led the inhabitants of the town to appreciate the advantage of an education for their children and hastened the day when the high school would be established. The first high school was estab lished in 1845, many years before some of the neighboring towns could boast of such an institution. Its first sessions were held in rooms in the old town hall, which stood on the park not far from where the bandstand now is. The establishing of the high school was a bold undertaking and was tried, at first, only as an experiment, but was such a success that the private academy could not stand the com- petition, which was necessarily caused by the two institutions of learning. The town bought the land and buildings occupied by the academy, and here instruction was given until the present building was completed in 1872. At first the number of pupils was small and all recited together. In 1860, when the number be- came sufficiently large, the pupils were divided into classes. The first class, numbering twelve, was graduated in 1863. The building was originally used not only as a high school, but also for two grades of the gram- mar school. When the number of high school pupils had increased sufficiently, the grammar grades were discontinued. In 1900, owing to the crowded condition of the school, six pleasant com- modious rooms were added. The number of pupils has increased rapidly as can be seen by the fact that when Mr. Howe came to the school in 1895, the number was one hundred and twenty-eight. The enrollment for the present year is four hundred and two. The present build- ing which has long been of good use to the com- munity, as a high school, will soon be used for other school purposes as the town now has under consideration the erection of a larger and more convenient building for a high school. The Legend of Castle Rock BY EUGENE LENNERS M ANY years ago before the white man came Indians living on the shores of our lake, now known as Quannapowitt. Chief Quonopohit ruled over the tribe dwelling on the east side of the lake, hence its name. On the west shore lived Chief Rabbit and his tribe of Indians. When the Boston Ice Company built icehouses on the west shore of the lake, they also built canals in which to float the ice. The canals enclosed a large island which was named Rabbit Island. Many peo- ple have supposed that the island derived its name from the rabbits which had their homes on the shores of the lake. This is not true. The island was named for Chief Rabbit, who was once the proud ruler of the land. The land of Chief Quonopohit extended as far south as the rock now known as Castle Rock, and there joined the lands of another chief named Was- awam, who was friendly with Quonopohit. Chief Quonopowit had a son who, when very young, was betrothed to the daughter of Wasawam. Chief Rabbit also had a son and he it was who won the love of the daughter, but not the consent of the