Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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THE w. H. s. debatp:r PAGE SEVENTEEN THE LAND OF ANNE OF GREEN GA IvES O 9!TTTTe NE hot July inomino- we sailed down Boston Harbor past the Floating Hospital and numer- ous fishing boats. The sea was like glass, but as darkness gathered over us, we began to realize we were beiug rockeil iu tlie cradle of the deep, to the not very soothing sound of a shrill fog horn, which l)lew on an average of every five minutes all uight long. We entered St. John Harbor about six a. m. St. John, as usual, was wrapped in a deuse fog. After spending a few hours in that city, we proceeded on our way to Point du Cheue. There we went aboard the steamer, ' Empress. A few hours ' sail, and Prince Edward ' s Island, the Land of Anne of Green Gables, came to view. That beautiful island seemed to smile a welcome to us over the waters. Arriving at Summerside, we boarded a tiain for our destination, one hundred miles farther east. At every little station at which the train stopped, I looked out of the window, half expecting to see a quaint little figure, clothed iu brown winsy, patiently awaiting the arrival of Matthew Cuthbert. Our vacation was sjient in a little village near the sea. This village also has ' a never failing brook, a busy mill. Some of the happiest hours of my vaca- tion were spent by that brook, watching the trout leap out of the water. A twenty minutes ' walk through sjjruce groves brought us to the seashore, one of the most beautiful beaches in Cauada. One can walk foi ' miles along that beach, and not see a living being, nothing but sea-ltirds. While the sea is beautiful in fine weather, it is magniHceut before a storm. I used to sit for hours, watching the sea and listening to the moaning of the bar. A drive of five miles In-ought us to the church which we attended every Sunday. From my seat in the little church, I coulil look out of the window on my right and see the beautiful waters of Fortune Bay. Looking through the window on my left, I could read the in- scrijjtious on some of the tombstones iu the church- yard. In strolling among the graves, Grey ' s Elegy Written iu a Country Churchyard, kept running in my mind, but the words, ' neglected spot could not be applied to this churchyard. Each grave was at- tended by loviug hands. Flowers grew everywhere, roses shedding their petals over the graves. What impressed me more than the beauty of Prioce Edward ' s Island was the kimlness of the people. Everyone did all he could to make our visit a pleasant one. Time flies, especially in a summer vacation, so all too soon, one golden September morning, I sat on the deck of the little steamer, Empress, and watched the Beautiful Garden of the Gulf fade away in the dis- tance. Doha McKie, ' 15. THE 5OVS ' DEBATING CLU5 ON Friday evening, February 26th, a debate was - held iu Assembly Hall, Stoneham, between the W. H. S. Boys ' Debating Club and the Webster Club of Stoneham, on the question, Resolved: That private ownership of the telejdioue and telegraph lines is more desirable than government ownership. The afiirmative side was upheld by Eugene Sullivan, Thomas Murray, and Jerry Buckley of the W. H. S., and the negative side by C. Carter, V . Clough and L. Wortheu of Stoneham. Mr. P. Keenan of StoTieham, presided. The judges were Principal IJockwood of the Everett High School, Prin- ci])al Hulpman of the Melrose High School, and Mr. Ahirke, instructor in the Everett High School. The score was as follows: W. H. S. Points Ston£-liani Points Lay out, 2 6 Delivery, (i 2 Argumenti 10 Hebnttal, 9 (t Total, 27 S Twelve minutes were allowed each sjjcaker in the main debate; the rebuttal was given by Jerry Buckley and C. Carter. The affirmative side maintained that government ownership was wrong in theory aiid a failure in practice; the negative side discussed the question of when and how the industries should be taken over. Many students and friends were present from both towns. Music was furnished by the Stoneham High School, adding much to the pleasure of the evening. We regret the continued al)sence of Mr. Fred II. Harvey, teacher in the Ct)mmei ' cial Dei)artment, due to serious illness at his home in Lynn. We hojjc for his speedy recovery. His classes have been earrie I on l)y Miss Grace Ryan, a graduate of the dej artmetit and student at Simmons College Summer Session.

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PA(4K SIXTKKN THE W. II. S. DKIJATEIJ A CHANGe OF 0IH6CTI0N 0()I)-BYK, graiulnia. Now don ' t you worry altout me. I ' ll be all riglit with Marjorie, but you look out for yourself and have a fine time. I know you will, tliout h, Aunt Alic e 18 sueh a dear. (4ive my love to all the family and for heaven ' s sake be careful of your pocket-book. Good-bye, dear. I ' ll try not to worry about you, but I never can tell what you ' re ffoinjf to do next. Be sure to help Mrs. Lane with the house-work and do keep your clothes tnended. A month does saem a lonfj time to leave a scatter-brained girl like you to take care of liei ' self. Do be a good girl. I ' ll be a perfect angel, grandma, and Jean Stedman kissed her grandmother reassuringly. You really must go now. John is waiting and you ' ll miss the train if you don ' t hurry. Mrs. Stedman got into the old ramshackle hack, drawn by a horse still older, and driven by a man who was pointed out to newcomers as a landmark of the town. Siie settled herself among her bags and boxes, and then turned around to wave and to have one last glimpse of the i)retty dark-iiaired girl, standing in the doorway and waving her hand as if her life depended on it. .As the carriage rounded the l)enii in the road, Jean turned and ran into tiie house, uj) to her room and be- gan to pack her suit-case. Now, at last, she could fol- low the one desire of her romantic little soul. She could go to the distant city, where I Jed Cross nurses were enlisting, enlist, go to the front on the first steamer and bring back to life and love hundreds and hundreils of wounded and discouraged soldiers. Of course they would all be very grateful to her and one never could tell iv i if might hajjpen. But of course she would wait until the war was all over and she wasn ' t needed any more. Could anything be nobler than this great ambition to be of some helj) in the world ! While these thoughts flashed through her mind, her fingers worked busily and in an incredibly sliort time hei ' suit-case was ready and she was lressed in her navy blue traveling-suit and stylish little hat. Not until she was fairly settled in her luxurious parlor- car chair, the remains of her jirecious Christmas money in her bag, did Jean feel a sense of misgiving in regard to her wonderful plan. Thoughts of how grandma would feel and what Autit Ahce and everybody else would say, crowded uncomfortably the pleasant dreams of sacrifice and service. Just then the porter, swinging down the aisle, ga e the solemn warning that this was the last call for iin- ner, and Jean suddenly reali .ed that she was very hun- gry. Half afraid and very much confused, she found herself seated at a table opposite a young man in dark blue serge, whose appearance she was too embarrassed to notice. To cover her confusion she reached for the menu card at the same time that the young man, who had been abstractedly reading a paper, reached for it. Their hands touched. In her fright the adventuresome hand was withdrawn and, horror of horrors, upset her glass of water, thoroughly drenching the table and her lap. In the confusion of getting established at a table across the aisle just vacated, all formalities were dis- I)ensed with, and with laughter and merriment the meal proceeded. Before it was over Jean had artlessly told the stranger all about her great ambition. It was rather a grave young man who followed Jean back into the parlor-car and tried to exi)laiu that per- haiis Red Cross nurses needed soTue three years ' train- ing, and then some experience before they would be welcomed at the front, and that something more than high and a willing spirit was needed. Then shall I have to give it up? Jean turned her face away to hide the tears of dis- appointment that she simply couldn ' t keep back. Her wonderful i)lan shattered just because she hadn ' t had three paltry years of training I She knew that she would be able to cure all those hundreds of wounded men, even if she liadn ' t had any experience. It was willingness that counted. But before Jean had reached the end of her journey she was sure that it was far nobler to heal one man, dying on account of love, than hundreds dying on acu-ount of hate. J ll ISK Willi IK N. ' 1 (J. A ' NOTIIKR man of genius sacrificed to the god of war. In the death of Hui)ert Brooke in the Dardanelles, England has lost the only great lyricist of the younger generation of poets. When will there Ije an end to this terrible sac- rifice of i)reciou8 human life? TvUBERT BROOKE ' S FAREWELL TO EN(iL. XD If I slioiild (lie. think only tliis of ine : ' I ' liiit there ' s some corner of a foreinii liehl ' I ' luil is forever Kniilaiui. There sliall lie In tliat rich earth a richer dust ct)iieeah ' (l. A dust wlicin ICnaiand l)ore. shaped, made awari;, Gave once lier flowers to love, lier ways to roam, A l)()dy of Enslaud ' s, breatliins Eiislisli air. Waslied by tiie rivers, l)lest liy siiiis nf home. And thinl this iu irt, all evil washed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less, Gi es somewhere back the thoimlits by Knaland niven. Her sights and sounds, dreams happy as her day, And laughter, learnt of friends, and !:enlleness III hearts of peace, under an Knsjiisli lu-aveii.

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pa(;e ei(4htken TllK V. II. S. DE15ATER THE GIRLS ' Oe ATING SOCIETy THE Girls ' Debating ' Society lias added seventeen new members, niakiufr a total number of tbirty- W six members. Since tlie last Dkbatek was issued, four regular debates and four informal debates have been held. Monday, Feb. 8. Ifesolved : That the United States should i)ass laws to jtreveut the accumulation of im- mense fortunes by individuals. Affirmative side, Velma Eaton and Mary Murray. Neg-ative side, Marjorie Preston and Grace Auburn. I ' he judges decided in favor of neg ' ative side. IMonday, Feb. l. ' i. An informal debate was held. Resolved : That the 12th of February should be a legfal holiday. Monday, March 15. Resolved : That the United States should own and maintain a merchant marine. Affirmative side, Thelma Bridg-e and Mildred Barstow. Neg-ative side, Margaret Clark and Lena Muse. The judges decided in favor of the neg-ative side. Monday, March 22. An informal debate was held. Resolved : That every hifjh school should have a g irls ' athletic association. Monday, March 29. Resolved : That Hilly Sunday should not come to Boston. Atfirmalive side, Doris Vint and Josephine Stoddard. Negative side. Pearl Jackson and JMarion Cardinal. The judg-es decided in favor of the negative siile. Monday, April 12. An informal debate was taken up. Rpsolved : That high school students, who make a grade of 90% or more in their daily woi ' k should be excused from examinations. Monday, April 26. Resolved : That all countries should have unarmed peace. Affirmative side. Hazel Barstow and Helen Ilorton. Neg-ative side, Grace Au- burn and Gertrude Butler. The judg-es decided in favor of the negative side. We are pleased witli the spirit the Freshman have shown and hope many more will join the society in the near future. Hazki, E. I5Ai;srow, Sec ' y. THe GIRLS ' GL66 CLUI3 THIS year the girls organized a (ilee Club, with Ir. Jones, instructor of music, as president S] and Miss Olive Pearson, vice i)resident. There are thirty members in the chib, all of whom show great enthusiasm in the work. The club has been asked to sing at a meeting of the Parents and Teachers ' Association in the Town Hall and has decided to do so. The club will also sing at graduation. Tuki.ma I ' iimix;!.;, ' 1: ' ). OePARTiVieNT OF GRA n VlAR SCHOOLS [Ei)rroi!iAi. Xoric— Tlie purpose of Tni-; Dkka ricu is to g-ive tlie hoys and girls of Walsefield an opportunity to see tlieir writings in print. Tiiat as many as possil)Ie niigiit liave tliis opportunity tlie eiglitli grade pupils were invited to send cou- tril)uti()Ms to the present ninnber From the contributions re- ceived Superintendent Atwell lias selected tlirce which lie con- siders the best. We print them in the order of their excellence.] TH6 ORIGIN OF THG SAHARA OESeRT ONCE ui)oii a time, as all fairy tales begin, the vast area now known as the Sahara Desert 1 was covered with fields of waving grain and grassy meadows. A king, ha iiig one Utile daughter, reigned over this vast estate. But with all his riches atid lamls, this king was very selHsh. ilis grass, which he greatly prized, was tiie fairest of the earth, and gave such sweet odors that people came from near and far to scent it. But these visitors were always surrounded by guards as not one blade- not one of these millions of blades of grass could be jiulleil. Day after day this went on and the king grew more and more selfish! One day his little daughter. Rosebud, held a jiarty in honor of her ninth birthday. Many little friends and l)laymates were i)laying about the lawn, pulling the grass and fiowers. The king from the jialace window saw these actions and raged around his room, blaming everyone whether present during the action or not. Locking llie i)rincess in a tower, he commanded her not to enter iiis presence again for ten years. The next morning on rising, the royal court could be seen in the windows of the iialace, roa.ing w illi laugh- ter. Fai out, standing in a barren field, slood the king, bare heade l with only one shoe on. lie was almost frantic, raging about and acting in sutdi a manner that all agreed to remain inside. All ai-oun l for one mile nothing could be seen but sand, sand, sand. Sand cxcry- where, o ( ' r hill and alley. Far to llic left and light nothing but bari-cn land could be seen. The next morning another mile was gone and so on until the whole of his vast estate was gone. ' I ' he king had been liunished enough. He no longer wished to live, and finally died, with his daughter, now a young lady, com- forting him. His i)eoi)le now- no longer lingered in this barren laii l and moved to a far-off country. ' I ' liis land is now of little use to aii. one and so we hmc our great Sahara. Ii A M. Low , l i-aiiklin School.