Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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18 THE DEBATER ATHLETIC N Pleasure and action make the hours seem short. — Shak. Othello INDOOR TRACK ILTHOUGH the track team has not won many meets this winter, it has in nearly every case given a good account of itself. The fa- cilities at our high school are not such as would warrant good performances. It is true that we have had the use of the local armory. But what is needed most is a track similar to those on which we com- pete when away from home. These are generally tracks with raised corners meas- uring about thirty laps to the mile. In in- door running speed and endurance are not the only factors to consider. Familiarity with the track and the ability to turn cor- ners are two most important factors. Chiefly for these reasons, we find that those who make the best showing indoors are sel- dom stars at outdoor running and vice versa. That the team lacked the ability to take comers smoothly this virinter is clearly shown by their poor success on small tracks and their great success on large ones. In the dual meets with Medford, Brookline and the High School of Commerce, which were all held on small tracks, we were beaten in each case. While in the Hunt- ington Interscholastic, which was held on a large track, Wakefield easily won more points than any of the schools. At this meet, we finished third among the twenty- five schools that competed. On their home track the team ran away from Maiden with a score of 55 to 13. At the B. A. A. schoolboy meet, which was also held on a large track, Wakefield scored more points than any other high school and finished sixth among more than forty high schools and academies. All this points emphatically towards the fact that outdoors this spring Wakefield should have as good a team as can be found among the high schoolc of Greater Boston. When the team is competing outdoors most of the difficulties it had to contend with this winter will be removed. There is no such difference between the various out- door tracks as there is between indoor tracks. No great advantage is derived from being familiar with a track outdoors. Then again, the team will be able to train under conditions similar to those that will confront us in competition. If the team can do so well under such adverse condi- tions, surely it should rank among the best this spring when conditions will be more favorable. The summary of the meets held this winter is as follows: Jan. 7 — Wakefield at Medford. Medford 42, Wakefield 12. Jan. 14 — Inter-class. Freshmen 36, Juniors 28;

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THE DEBATER 17 Our party refreshed by their lunch, walk briskly and soon we come to one of the many side streets of this busy thoroughfare. We turn down the street, and find relief in breathing air not so close and dusty as that in Piccadilly. So we pass on, some remem- bering, more forgetting Piccadilly and its characteristics. BERTHA WARD BROWN ' 18. SHADE TREES AKEFIELD— The Best Town ! One reason for this is because of the beautiful shade trees. On the vei-y warmest summer days, if a person were obliged to remain much in the sunshine, he would find it very refreshing to seek the shade for a few minutes. If the town had but few trees it would be hot and sweltering on the streets, and we would not feel that gentle breeze which comes to us, usually, on hot days, since the moving of the air pushes against the leaves of the trees, and the leaves pass it along to us. Every year a few large trees are cut down, either because they are dead or in poor condition. As soon as they are cut down, there is a noticeable difference. Therefore, it should be the custom to re- place them with new trees, as it takes so many years for them to acquire any great size. If people do not take the pains to set out new trees, in a short time, those now standing will be gone and nothing will be left but telephone posts. For a wide street or avenue, the tall and stately elm seems to take the lead. On our common the elms form a perfect arch, planted as they are on each side of the walk. The beauty in the form and foliage of the maples, their fine color in autumn, and their rapid growth, make them the favorite shade tree for narrower streets. The white birch is equally pretty, and is used extensively to adorn public parks as it is very graceful in appearance. There are many people who pass along our streets each day, but who never give our trees one thought, perfectly unmindful of what nature has done for our town. CYRUS M. DOLBEARE ' 18. WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AKEFIELD is one of the prettiest and best-equipped towns in this vicinity. The especial attention of a stranger walking through the main streets of our towTi is di- rected toward the public buildings which he highly praises ; but when our high school is pointed out, a look of astonishment comes over his face, a sarcastic remark accompanying it. Do you wonder at this? A building forty-two years old, hardly an improvement or addition made since, ventilation poor, the scarcity of room, and many other deficiencies. Do you not agree with his remarks? A new high school is the most essential and will be the most beneficial improve- ment to the town and its people. Wake- field ' s reputation for The Best Town will be lost unless some step is taken in this interest. The present high school lacks practically every modern improvement. It needs a gj-mnasium which would be of great help to the various athletic associations, and an assembly hall which would be beneficial, not only in school time, but on social occa- sions, thereby eliminating the expense of hiring a hall. The one and only thing we can say in favor of the school is its convenient and attractive location. There has been much discussion over the question, but it is about time the discussion was dropped and action take its place. VYLEDA MAXWELL ' 16. TWO PICTURES An old farmhouse with meadows wide And sweet with clover on each side; A bright-eyed boy who looks from out The door with woodbine wreathed about, .And wishes this one thought all day: Oh, if I could but fly away From this dull spot the world to see, IIow very happy I should be. . mid the city ' s constant din, A man who round the world has been, Who ' mid the tumult and the throng Is thinking, thinking all day long: Oh, could I only tread once more The field path to the farmhouse door. The old green meadow could I see. How very happy I should be. HARRIET HUESTIS ' 19.

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THE DEBATER 19 NOTES Seniors 17, Sophomores 10. Feb. 4 — Wakefield at Brookline. Brookline 34, Wakefield 25. Feb. 9 — Maiden at Wakefield. Feb. 12 — Wakefield at High School of Commerce, Boston. H. S. of Commerce 36%, Wakefield 22%. Feb. 26 — B. A. A. Interscholastic. Wakefield sixth. The team was composed of Goodwin (Capt.), Moncrief (Manager), Duggan, Reid, Taggart, Dignan, Brown, C. Burke, W. Burke, Ford, Huestis, Batten, W. Mon- crief and Drugan. GEORGE R GOODWIN ' 16. HOCKEY JHE hockey team played only three games, this season, on account of the weather. No games were won, due principally to the strength of the other teams, and the lack of practice of our team. The first game was played at Melrose, the score being Melrose 2, Wakefield 0. The second game was played at home and we were defeated by the Huntington School of Boston, 2 to 1, although our team played a better game than at Melrose. The next game was at Andover Academy. The home team played a hard, clean game, but were defeated by the heavier boys, 4 to 3. After the game, the boys had a dip in the swimming-pool. Those who made the team were Malcolm Eaton (r) (Captain), Frank Reid (1 w), Roger Clemons (p), Frank Avery (c p), Charles Kirk (c), Joseph Kirk (f), Warren Branch (r w), John Kalaher (substitute). WALTER WINSHIP ' 16, Manager. TENNIS W ' AKEFIELD High School seems to be shining in everything it under- takes. Watch the tennis team! Although we may not produce any champions this year as the track team has done, we expect to make a good showing because the team will be made up of veterans. Mr. Miller has very kindly given us the privilege of using his court. There will probably be a tournament held in the early spring in order to pick the team. Paul K. Guillow, Roger Clemons, Howard B. White, Malcolm C. Eaton, and Willis R. White, are the most promising of the can- didates for the 1916 tennis team. WILLIS R. WHITE ' 17.