Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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WAR BOOKS The incidents of the great war have been so unusual and so important that a great many books have been written about them. The young students would do well to read some of these war books which, while giving much information on the war, are really very interesting. In the first place, one should have a good idea of the general history of the war. A book giving much interesting information is America and the Great War for Freedom and Humanity, by W. F. Johnson. This book tells of some of the causes of this War, relates briefly the history of its first three years, and outlines the part America is playing and must play in it. Many war-correspondents have written on the events of this war and their books are worthy of attention. One of these is From Antwerp to Gallipoli, by Arthur Ruhl. He describes what he saw on the different war fronts that he visited and he visited most of them. He was in Belgium, France, Ger- many, Austria, and Russia during the first two years of the war, and he also witnessed the Gallipoli campaign from both the British and the Turkish sides. Italy at War, by E. Alexander Powell is another interesting story of a non-com- batant. The author saw different parts of the front where the valiant Italians are fighting at great odds on the snow-clad Alps, and he describes vividly what he saw. Richard Harding Davis also visited the war fronts, going to Belgium at the very be- ginning of the war. He tells of the sights that he saw in Belgium and France in his book, With the Allies. Because of his eag- erness to see as much as possible of the fighting, he stayed behind the German lines in Belgium. He was suspected by the Ger- mans of being a spy and hfc was all but con- demned to death. This true adventure of his renders the book more interesting read- ing than most boys ' books of adventure. He continues his account of the scenes on the western battlefront and goes on to describe the Anglo-French expedition in Salonika in With the French in France and Salonika. About the actual conditions in Germany, we are told in Ambassador Gerard ' s famous books, My Four Years in Germany and Face to Face with Kaiserism. Inside the German Empire, by H. B. Swope, also des- cribes the position of Germany at the end of 1916. This book is important, as it tells the attitude of the German people toward the war after more than two years of fight- ing. Cut however important or interesting the stories of civilians and non-combatants may be, the tales that appeal to us most are the personal narratives of the boys who have fought at the posts of danger for the sake of humanity. Over the Top, by Harry G. Empey, is now so well known, that it needs little ex- planation. It is the frank story of an Amer- ican who enlisted in the English Army in 1915 and went over the top and was wounded in action. Kitchener ' s Mob, by J. N. Hall, is also an account of an American who joined the British army and fought side by side with Tommy Atkins until he is wounded. The valiant work of the American Ambu- lance drivers is described in At the front in a flivver, by W. Y. Stevenson, who drove the famous Ambulance No. 10 in 1916. Another American, C. D. Winslow, in his book, With the French Flying Corps, des- cribes the part played by the flyers in the fighting in France. The gallant fighting on the Hills of the Gallipoli peninsula by the Dominion troops, the New Foundlanders, and the Anzacs is related in Trenching at Gallipoli, by John Gallishaw. He tells of the desperate holding on of these soldiers, and he des- cribes the wonderful care given to the woundtd men on their way to England. ' The First 100,000, by Ian Hay, is a true account of the doings of some Scotch kilties in Kitchener ' s first forces. The author, who wrote several books before the war, re- lates in his clever and humorous style, the adventures of his own battalion in training, in France, and lastly, in the attack at Loos in September, 1915. He continues the ad- ventures of these sturdy Scots in All In It, and he goes on to describe the cam- paign in the summer of 1916 ending with the battle of the Somme. These two books are very popular and justly so, for they portray the humorous and optimistic side of of the Great War. This war has brought out much hidden literary talent where it was least expected, in the plain soldier. The war books have, therefore, an added interest, as many of them are written by men who never wrote 15

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care to see a picture I have seen? The others having- answered in the affirm- ative, he showed them a snapshot. They stared, horrified, at a young xjorporal on a barn door. His feet and hands were flung- apart and through each was a bayonet. A rifle shot had torn through his breast; and they could see that when the picture was taken, the boy was not dead. Do any of you know him? asked their comrade. I am trying to locate his people. But they didn ' t. Was he an American? We Go not know, but it is possible! What if ' ae were? The Huns are committing crimes like this every day. Will yon allow those fiends to come over here to kill yovr fathers and mothers, and mutilate yoiir little brothers? Shall our boys suffer needless discomforts, while ve are idle? In the agony of your sympathetic souls you cry out, What can we do? What can do? This is the crisis of the world! Do the High School boys and girls know what cri- sis means? Wake up! Help end the war! It is merely a question of time before we win — so let us stop this slaughter now. Do this: take one or all of these oppor- tunities and prevent autocracy from ruling the world. Give your all — the soldiers give even more. Buy thrift stamps — the loss of the mov- ing pictures is nothing. Buy war savings stamps — and put another clip of bullets Hunward. Buy a bond — there never was a safer in- vestment. Work for and give to the Red Cross — you may bring a dying soldier safely home again. Dorothy Winter, ' 20 SIGNS OF SPRING The spring of nineteen eighteen has more significant signs than those of other years. Wherever you go, you may see them. As one walks to school, he may see such signs as Do you bit: buy war savings stamps, Raise war gardens, Save wheat and win the war. On arriving at school, he sees posters and signs in the different class rooms, Join United States Boys ' Working Reserve, Have eggs when eggs are scarce: i-aise hens, Save an( send to our allies. If one goes into the Postoffice, Bank, and Government Buildings, he sees bright colored posters facing him. Don ' t be a miser and help the Kaiser, Buy Liberty Bonds to escape German bonds, and Buy to win ' over there ' . Then, as we pick up our own Daily Item, we are faced v ith signs such as, Raise Pigs, and Start your garden early. These signs of spring that will help Uncle Sam next summer are seen everywhere. No slacker can help seeing them, and no true American boy or girl can help obey- ing those signs that are in his or her power to obey. Let us do our utmost and help the United States win for uemocracy and peace. Emily Boody, ' 20 BUY A BOND Oh, hear, all you lenders! Oh, hear, all you spenders! Come buy a bond! They ' ll help our soldiers fight To win the cause of right. They work with all their might. You buy a bond. Every bond does its bit To keep our soldiers fit. Come buy a bond! They ' ll give you many thanks. They ' re sold at all the banks. If you can ' t join the ranks, Then buy a bond! Olive Cartland, ' 21 Boys and girls, and grown folks, too. Uncle Sam needs all of you. Yes, there ' s something we can C!o. Tons of wheat must go across. Helping to replace their loss; Right away, there ' s no delay! ir we ' re to save, begin today. Fight steadily the demon waste; Thrift defeats, so let ' s make haste. Saving serves old Glory well, ' Tis thus we ring the Kaiser ' s knell And save our country from his power. Might joined with Right shall never cower, Please help our nation win this war, And see democracy is the law. D. H. Prescott, ' 19 14

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before, but who have succeeded admirably in which we might express our sincere in their first effort. This is one good result thanks. of the Great War. The Committee consisted of Herbert Rea, EvANGELOS SoTEiiiADES, ' 18 Chairman, Charlotte Boody, and Jennie Ger- sinovitch. F. Everett Wilkins, ' 18 A SERVICE FLAG A RUNAWAY BOY A Service Flag — I wonder how often many of us realize the meaning the one when we see it waving in the breeze. Sure- ly a person shows the greatest of love for country, liberty, and justice, when he is willing to sacrifice all, give his life, if nec- essary, that they may exist forever. Per- haps, even while we look at that star of blue, its brave owner, somewhere in France, is facing the foe and the unknown, to save his country, more precious to him than anything else. So why should not ev- ery home possessing a service flag have a feeling of great pride for the one who went away, for whom this emblem stands, and who we all hope will ooon return safe- ly home? Marion McKie, ' 20 OUR NEW FLAG The Annual Convention of the Massachu- setts Department of the Women ' s Relief Corps was held April 10, 1918, in the Shaw- mut Avenue church, Boston, Mass. One of the objects of the organization is the promo- tion of patriotism in the United States, and the purpose is promoted by the presen- tation of flags to schools. Thus it came about that Wakefield High School, one of five fortunate institutions, received upon this occasion the beautiful new silk banner which is now proudly displayed on the plat- form in Room 1, and to which we earnestly pledge our allegiance every Tuesday. Mr. Howe represented our school and re- ceived the flag, responding with very appro- priate remarks, in which he made a touch- ing reference to our service flag with its blue stars and its one gold star. That Wakefield High School should re- ceive one of these flags was made possible only through the efforts of Mrs. C. Delia Giles, of this town, and, the school, by a unanimous vote, empowered Mr. Howe to appoint a committee to write a letter to her In Italy, as soon as a boy reaches the age of eight or nine years, he is expected to do some sort of work to earn his board, at least. My father was one of those hard- working boys. He had always yearned for an education, but his father turned a deaf ear to his pleadings. One day father and several other boys plotted to run away. A man, an unprincipled fellov) who overheard their plotting, promised to take them with him, and if they worked hard enough, to give them an education. He took them to a neighboring town, which, I believe, is named Solmone. When they got there, they were foi ' ced to work hard. No education was given them; but they had three meals a day, which they hardly ever got at home. The meals consisted of com meal mush. Father remembers that he once ate it from an old wooden door. After a few days, his father found out where he was and per- suaded him to go home. But first father made grandpa promise to give him a new suit and a regular weekly allowance of spending money. So he profited in some respects by his escapade, although he never received the longed-for education. Adalgisa Orsini, ' 20 THE W. H. S. OFFICERS ' PARTY The officers ' party was held in the town hall on December 8, 1917, under the auspices of the High School Battalion. There was a short introduction to the matrons, Mrs. F. I. Wilkins, Mrs. H. M. Dolbeare, and Mrs. R. M. Dean, which com- menced at 8 o ' clock. Following this was the grand march, led by Major F. Everett Wilkins and Miss Dorothy Baker, in which a large number of young people participated. Poole ' s orchestra furnished the music, and dancing was enjoyed until midnight. Two moon-light waltzes, and an elimination dance were special features, adding greatly to the evening ' s enjoyment. Major F. Everett Wilkins was floor di- rector and had as his aids, the remaining commissioned officers. • ' 16