Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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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.

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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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IN A MAINE LUMBER CAMP THE CELEBRATION AT PROVINCETOWN There are many people in our own town who think it would be necessary to go to the north- western part of the United States, or the Cana- dian woods, in order to visit a real lumber camp. They are entirely mistaken, for a person can easily take a trip to the northern woods of Maine and vi it one of the most interesting camps in North America. There are several camps in Maine, but the largest of them is in the Dead River region. This camp employs three hundred men. There are sixteen bunk-houses where the different crews sleep, eight cook houses with a seating capacity of fifty each, and many other small buildings including the office, bosses ' head- quarters, stables, engine-rooms, blacksmith shops and tool shops. It would take a person two weeks to travel the entire domain of the camp and the working places of the various crews. Much hard work goes on in these camps. First, the lumbermen cut the trees, then trim them and with the aid of horses haul them to the nearest freshet or large brook. Next, the floaters take the logs down the brook to the river where they are sorted and chainetl into lots according to their quality for making boards. In the spring, the floaters really work hard. After the winter ' s snow the brooks are overflowing and the waters of the rivers are madly rushing about. All this commotion breaks up the chained logs, and they float wildly about until there is a jam, then the floaters have to take their picks and peaveys and again separate the logs. After all is in readiness, the logs are floated down to level water and a long float is made. A steamer is waiting to take them to the nearest sawmill where they will be turned into boards. After they have been thoroughly seasoned in the yards, they are carried by freight to the purchaser ' s factory in some large city or town and made into some unique article. From the factory the article will be sold to the re- tailer and he will in time sell to the customers, who will have for their homes, the product of our forests. R. CLEMONS, ' 21. AT THE TOP The man who wins Is the man who tries. Who uses his hands, his head, his eyes, Who labors on and never stops. He ' ll find a place waiting at the top. MABEL HILL. At ten o ' clock on the morning of August 28, 1920, a very small French merchant ship, the Ville D ' ye, steamed into the harbor at Provincetown and dropped anchor. It was France ' s contribution to the celebration. About noon, two large American warships, the Florida and the Delaware, floated in amid the blow- ing of whistles and booming of cannon. Later in the afternoon the Constance, an English destroyer, glided over the bay and came to a standstill near the other ships. The Con- stance is an extremely low and gi-aceful boat, built for speed. In the evening marvelous acetylene search- lights from the battle ships lighted Province- town and the surrounding country from dark until midnight. The next day the ships were visited by thou- sands of interested people and all wore Pil- grim costumes. That night the lights were again put into play, making it . ' eem like day. Monday, the thirtieth, was the day of the main celebration. Early in the morning the Star Spangled Banner, followed by God Save the King and the Marseillaise, played by the bands on the ships, came floating across the cold, gray harbor to the silent shore. For an instant Provincetown lay still, as if listening for an echo of the wonderful music. Then whistles blew, automobiles began their usual humming, flags were hung out, adding to the already innumerable quantity of them. The morning was spent in erecting archways, and in putting up pictures of the Mayflower on every available tree or post. A reviewing stand was built in front of the town-hall. Many store windows displayed miniature copies of the Pilgrims ' sailing vessel. A temporary first-aid station was established in one of the central churches and the local doctors took turns in attendance. At half-past one the reviewing stand was filled and the parade began. Among the guests were Bainbridge Colby, Secretary of State, Lieut. Gov. Cox, the English Ambassador, Admiral Geddeys and the principal officers of the ships in port. There were many picturesque floats and costumes in the parade. The Red Cross float was a representation of Flanders ' Field. The Beachcombers ' Club, composed of the men artists of Provincetown wore brightly colored pirate costumes. There was a float to rep- resent the signing of the Pilgrims ' Compact in the Mayflower cabin. There were also, many copies of the historic ship. After the parade the throngs of people con-