Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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League of Nations the same thing exists. The large nations desire to have more votes than their smaller neighbors, consequently other nations, such as the United States, for instance, object and refuse to join. Very soon, if America does join this League, we shall find they will bring about an agreement. President Wilson, the originator of this idea, has been rebuked by the majority of the people of the United States; but who can tell, perhaps, he, like Robert Fulton, Edmund Burke, Richelieu, or Cavour, may become famous throughout the annals of history? SALVATORE LOCASH, ' 2L BACK TO THE FARMS One of the great reasons for the unrest, agi- tation, lack of work, and high prices in this country today is the farm question. Men are leaving the farms and going to the cities to live in increasing numbers. The thirst for jazz and excitement, and the lure of higher wages are magnets which lure men off the farms. Every farmer who goes to the city becomes a non-producer, and we cannot afford to add to our dependence on foreign nations for our food supply. In these days of modern improvements, and scores of farm appliances, life on the farm is not so tedious and hard as formerly. Even with these inducements to Uve on them, farms are being rapidly abandoned. The induce- ments held out to go to the city apparently overbalance those to stay on the farms, but, if we consider the question from all sides, we find that they do not. One point which we must not fail to consider is the health com- parison. Statistics show us that the death rate is very much less in the country than in the city. If people would go back to the farms, the housing and labor problems in cities would be solved, or at least be greatly relieved. It is easy to see by riding through the country, that farms are rapidly being abandoned, es- pecially in New York, New Hampshire, and Maine, farmhouse after farmhouse is either boarded up, or falling to wrack and ruin from neglect and abandonment. Farms that once were prospering with many acres under culti- vation, with herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep, and many horses, are idle. Fields that once yielded tons and tons of potatoes are over- grown with sumac and juniper. There is a farm in Edgecomb, Maine, that I remember particularly. It is nearly a mile from the road, and I came upon it by accident, as there is not the slightest vestige of a road to it. The ruins of the old house are still there; the decayed timbers are in the cellar; and the remains of the roof are upon the ground. The lilacs and old-fashioned tiger lilies seem strangely out of place among the dense ground juniper. There is an ancient farm in Wells, Maine, which I remember on account of the loneliness of the place. This one also is nearly a mile from the road and is even older than the one I have mentioned. It was originally the home- stead of several families. Now trees are grow- ing in the cellar-hole and the sills have almost vanished. The fruit trees were dead long ago, but the perpetual lilac and the dainty moss- rose still bloom by the doorstep. Over in a corner of the yard, the grave-stones of the old- folks, although half buried, can still be seen. Who will deny that there is something pathetic about the old abandoned farm? Far-sighted men can see that the increasing tendency to rove to the cities is nearing its climax, and that there must be a time when the tide will turn, and the movement will be, Back to the Farms! CLARENCE ELWIN PURRINGTON, ' 21. A COMPLAINT I must be made to concentrate, To put my mind in study! I guess they think I ' m not much good, And haven ' t even a worry. They say I pass my time away In seeking worldly pleasures; They tell me how to find the road That leads to higher treasures. I wonder if they ever think, Of lives we have but one: That after all our youth is short; So why not have some fun? MARGARET KELLY, ' 21. THE CALL Come, lead the nation, patriot true, Stand up in loyal might, Inspire with courage to pursue The rugged path of right. Lead, lead us on, thou patriot true. Hold high the shining light, That led by thee, we may renew Our courage for the fight. HILDA HAYDEN, ' 22.

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WHY WE SHOULD JOIN THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS Not very long ago, when our brave soldier boys crossed the Atlantic to serve their coun- try ' s cause, the democracy of the world seemed to be in the balance. General Haig, the great British Commander, confessed to the belligerent nations, that his men stood with their backs to the wall. The American troops, untrained as they were, were summoned to the battle-fronts to help check the great advance of autocracy. It was the first time in the annals of history, that Americans ever fought on European soil. The climax of the great struggle came at the second battle of the Marne. The tide turned in favor of the legions of democracy; revolts of the German people, tired of war, weakened the morale of the German army. The former great idol and god of the German people, fled into the territory of Holland; the armistice was signed, and there was peace once more. Nearly all of the large nations of the world are now democracies; there are a few monarchies, but the common people practically control their respective governments. Instead of wag- ing wars to settle our disputes, why can ' t we settle them peaceably? If we do not believe in the might is right policy, I see no reasons why we should act on it. In the days of feudalism, an influential man could enslave another, and even compel him to fight for him. If he had a misunderstanding with another man of the same rank, he could carry on the might is right policy, and com- pel his vassals to fight for his selfish purposes, instead of settling the dispute himself. We do not want a repetition of the past, we are living in the age of reason, and not in the age of serfdom, we should settle our disputes with reason, and not with the sword as our weapon. Many great men believe we can prevent future wars only by organizing a League of Nations. President Woodrow ' ilson is the originator of this idea, but I am sorry to say that he has met with practically uniform opposition; for many great politicians have thrown dust into eyes of the people, and led them into the belief that the League will endanger our liberty. The League of Nations covenant is not only national politics, but also world politics. The fate of our descendants, seems to rest on its result. Without it, the great World War will have been fought in vain. Think of the brave young lads, who fought on the battle fields of France, a few years ago. Think of their life in the trenches, of battles fought in Picardy, in the air, under the ground, on the surface and under the waves of the seas, of those who constantly exposed themselves to the deadly gas and terrible liquid fire, and of battles between moving forts, the tanks. They bore that temporary life in hell. Why? Be- cause the cause was just, and because they believed it would be the last war. It is our duty to see that it is the last war. We must join the present feeble League of Nations and strive to make good our soldier boys ' thoughts. Failure to do so will encourage another great nation to play the part Ger- many attempted. Japan ' s watchful eyes are even now focused on our Pacific shores. This ambitious nation awaits the downfall of the League of Nations. Then she will attempt to carry out her ambitious schemes. Are we going to stand idle, and invite her to strike? We do not desire to make war when there is a way to avoid it. In unity there is strength. No one nation will ever dare to fight the world, even though another great nation does sympathize with her cause. The League of Nations will put an end to the might is right policy. There is another point we must keep in mind. Remember, science is developing rapid- ly. The science of warfare will be improved. Cannons will be made much larger than thej ' are at the present time; the giant Prussian seventy-five mile gun will seem a pygmy in comparison with the future cannon. Scientific men are now constructing a gun that will hurl a huge projectile to the surface of the moon. If their attempt is successful, think of the effectoneof those cannon will have in future wars if there is no League of Nations. One shell will demolish a whole city! War will be carried on, not only between the military forces of the fighting nations, but also upon the people. As a result of the explosion of one shell, thou- sands of men, women, and children will perish! Shall we make the way clear for those future calamities? Yet, if we neglect the oppor- tunity to prevent war, our descendants will witness greater miseries than we have seen. Naturally, we all oppose the League of Nations as it now stands, but let us have faith, the idea is very young. It seems to me, that the difliculties in the organization of the League of Nations are identical with those in the past organization of oin- states, preliminary to their foi ' ming the union. The larg( r states desired to have more votes, and more representation in Congress; consequently, the smaller states disagreed. However, after a long struggle, these states came to terms, and formed what is now, the powerful Ihiited States of America. In the 6

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THE Y. M. C. A , AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY I have often wondered if the people of Wake- field realize what the Y. M. C. A. moans to their community. In 1902, several of the leading men of the town felt the need of some place where their sons could spend their spare time to a good advantage. To further this idea, they began to make plans for the building of a Y. M. C. A. Their hopes were realized when, in 1909, the Y. M. C. A., one of the most attractive buildings in Wakefield, was opened. As the building is small, the members are especially blessed that they are able to have all the privileges of a larger association, with the exception of the swimming pool. Through this association and with the aid of a staff of very, competent supervisors, the Wakefield young man is able to develop him- .self, physically, mentally, and morally. These young men are grouped in different classes, and attend the gymnasium at different periods during the week. At the gymnasium, their training is under the physical director who conducts the calisthenic drills and super- vises the work on the different pieces of appai ' atus such as the horse, the buck, th( parallel and horizontal bars, the spring board and rings. The clumsiness of some make the classes amus- ing, while the ability of others makes the exer- cises spectacular. After the class drill is over, the fellows are put into several teams and a basket-ball game is started, or if the majority wish some other game, heminway ball, indoor baseball, or volley-ball is played. The main desire of the physical department is to pro- mote good health, steady nerves, clean morals, and a genial disposition. To help build up the mental and moral charac- ter of the youth, there are clubs, and instructive talks, besides the personal contact with the secretary, a- man of high ideals, and fine charac- ter. At these clubs, the boys themselves have full sway, and conduct themselves in a business- like manner, with the general secretary as their advisor. The clubs are divided into three groups, one for the high school boys, one for the employed boys, and OTie for the grammar school boys. Each club has a special object for which it was formed. The object of the High School Clubs is to promote the general welfare and all-around development of the High School boy, while the Beaver Club is to improve the younger business man, and the Pioneer Club to develop the grammar school boy. Between the first two clubs, there is great rivalry, and competition is carried on in pool tourneys, bowling matches, and basketball games. Besides helping the fellows mentally and morally, the Y. M. C. A. aids them socially. Their meetings are preceded by a supper, which proves to be a gay affair, and very often there are socials to which the ladies are invited and that club has the use of all the amusements of the building. There are Sunday afternoon talks on worth while subjects for the older boys, and at the clubs there is a leader, a man interested in the boys, who leads them in their discussions on important problems of the day. All these activities keep the young men off the streets and in good company. Some of the reasons why a fellow should be a member of the Y. M. C. A. are these; it is an association of young men and the build- ing is a common meeting place. It affords him good, clean. Christian and moral com- panions; it has the equipment to make him physically fit; it will show that he cares or wants to be in the right kind of company and en- vironment; it instructs how to live, to avoid evil and to protect manhood; it gives him a place where he can profitably spend his spare time in good reading in a cozy reading room and in playing wholesome games; and last but not least, it puts him under secretaries who are in the woik primarily for the service they can render to young men, and who are capable of giving sound advice. The Y. M. C. A. is often criticized by non-members because they cannot use the privileges it holds out to the boys, but like any club it is solely for the members, and any self-respecting fellow over ten years of age can be a member. Taking all these points into consideration, is not the Y. M. C. A. a wonderful asset to the community? FRANK E. LORING, ' 21. A RIVER Endlessly onward it is running, Never a stop will it make, Sweetly a tune it is humming, Quickly a turn it will take. Gay is the song it is singing, . Cheerful and happy its band, Sweeter than bells it is ringing. The work of our makers ' hand. ANNA S. HAYDEN, ' 23.