Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

Page 17 text:

THE SPECTATOR DISCUSSES THE MOVIES As I was yesterday riding in the electric car I became aware of two young ladies who sat across the aisle from mc, talking about the movies. Indeed, their tones were so loud and shrill that you could hear them talking all over the car. They were gaudily dressed, and from what I heard of their conversation I judged they spent every night in the week at the movies. The conversation that I heard went some- thing like this: Isn ' t she too sweet for words? Wasn ' t that dress she wore swell? Isn ' t he a darling in that picture? I wouldn ' t have missed that for woxlds. My ride consumed an hour and I listened to their opinions of actors and actresses. Judg- ing from this conversation I am inclined to think that the movies are carried too far. I was talking with Sir Roger about the matter and he gave me the following account; His nephew, having seen a picture in which a small boy performed some remarkable feats with matches, decided to try them himself, but in doing so he set fire to the carpet in his mother ' s parlor. I have heard of several other instances con- cerning the wrong ideas children get from the movies, and while I think that moving pic- tures could be a great aid educationally, if used in the right way, I am afraid that if they continue as they are now, they will become a curse instead of a blessing to humanity. D. YOUNG, ' 23. THE SPECTATOR DISCUSSES ARMAMENT One of the worst faults of the twentieth century is the waste of money and men on the armies and navies of the world. Many nations have bought large battleships, cannon, stacks of guns and ammunition, paid large sums of money for them and they have all been destroyed in fighting. By going to war many countries think they will be able to capture the commerce of the world. Practically in every war that is fought, the main purpose is to get commercial trade from every corner of the globe. For instance, take Germany in the World War. Before she began she was a great com- mercial center, she was fast becoming greater through her industrial power, and imdoubtedly would have become one of the greatest, if not the greatest trading centre of the world; but because she had a war lord and a few military generals, she thought she would get trade by fighting, but look what she hiis come to. She has practically, for the time being, lost all her trade with her conquerors. In a word, countries have spent billions and billions of dollars on equipment for the army and navy and all that they have to show for it is death and destruction. I think that if countries would go ahead and be content to either rise or fall in power by the law of economics, it would be much more honorable than taking to war. PAUL F. CLARKE, ' 23. WITH APOLOGIES TO JAPANESE SAND MAN Here ' s the Wakefield Debater. Sneaking in with the Spring. Just the same old Debater, But quite a lot more within. It will give you much pleasure While you ' re reading it through. And you ' ll get inspiration Just to start life anew. You will not be much older When the end you come to. But you ' ll be a lot wiser And the te -chers will too. Here ' s the Wakefield Debater, Trading stories for cash. Just the same old Debater But with not so much trash. Respectfully submitted by The B. H. ' s . WHO ' S WHO IN THE CLASSES Senior President Francis Bowman Vice-President Olive Cartland Secretary Ruth Brooks Treasurer Arthur MoncriefT Junior President George Hall Vice-President Selena Kalaher Secretary Margaret Bucknam Treasurer Robert Batten Sophomore President John Donovan Vice-President Gayle Sanders Secretary Hazel White Treasurer Josephine Butlcj. 13

Page 16 text:

TOO LATE! This incident, which I am about to relate, occurred at the outbreak of the Spanish-Ameri- can War, while the Thirty-Second Michigan and Sixty-Ninth New York Infantries were awaiting transportation to Cuba. They were encamped near Tampa, Florida. My father was with the Michigan Regiment. It was one of those unbearably hot days» which my father and all the northern men dread- ed. Mists rose from the rain-sodden ground as a blazing Florida sun beat down on the miserable camps. The soldiers, who had just finished a noon meal of doubtful, not to say antique, beef, lay in hammocks slung between trees, the grounds being covered with water and altogether too wet for army cots. Some one suggested swimming. It was well known that sharks were numerous just off shore, and that several men had had narrow escapes, but the soldiers were willing to try anything as a relief from the exceptional heat, and soon twenty or thirty men, my father among them, were ready. Everything went well for a time; the men delighted in the change from the oppressive heat on land to the cool water of the bay. Suddenly a cry was heard from watchers on the beach. The swimmers scattered quickly to the beach, most of them having been half expectant of the warning. Two men, good swimmers, were quite a dis- tance out. They turned and swam with great speed, seeming to leap from swell to swell as they drew nearer, but too late. As they raced on, always drawing closer to the anxious watchers there was a loud cry, a splash, and a red swirl on the surface of the water. Both men were gone! It is needless to say that no soldier swam at that beach again. LAWRENCE MARTIN, ' 24. A TOAST A greeting from us — the cla.ss of today To those below and above us. To those who care and those who don ' t, But mostly to those who love us, A wish sincere for all su(H;ess, And joys a plenty be, A greeting, tluni, from all of us. From the class of twenty-three. RUTH B. MURKLAND, ' 23. THE SPECTATOR DISCUSSES THE ATTI- TUDE OF THE MODERN YOUNG PEOPLE TOWARDS THEIR ELDERS A few months ago I received a letter from a friend of mine — by name, Jane Craig — in- viting me to spend a week at her home. Hav- ing had a very pleasant visit with her previously, I accepted the invitation. During my visit, I noticed particularly the respect which Jane showed, not only to her parents, but also to all older people with whom she came in contact. I found a marked contrast between Jane and Alice, a girl whom I met during my visit. She was a frivolous, irresponsible girl, caring not what people thought of her as long as she had a good time. She did not heed the advice of her parents, thinking them far too old fashioned and unsophisticated for the modern times. Respect and thoughtfulness towards older people should be inculcated in a child when young, for disrespect depreciates one ' s character and often tends to selfishness and ill-temper, growing, sometimes, into an almost incurable habit. While walking down town one morning with Jane, she told me of a woman who had been an invalid all her fife. It seems that my friend called upon this woman every day, which kindness, undoubtedly brought a great deal of pleasure into the invalid ' s dreary and uneventful life. A great many people, and especially young people, think only of themselves, forgetting that one of the greatest things in life is to bring happiness to someone else. Mrs. Craig spends the greater part of her time with Jane, and is interested in all she does, giving her advice, and having frequent heart to heart talks with her. Jane, likewise, has the utmost respect and love for her mother, and I have never known her to jiractice any form of deceit upon her. The attitude of a great many girls towards their mothers is very deplorable. They have not the confidence in them that they should. This attitude not only breeds deceit in the girls them.selves, but often influences their friends in .the same direct ion. However, I do not believe there would be so much of this disrespect and deceit if girls and boys could be shown how they appear to otlier people when they are disrespectful and deceitful to their elders. O wad some pow ' r the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us. It wad frae monie a blunder free us And foolish notion; MARY GOODALE, ' 23. 12

Page 18 text:

THE MUSIC BOX The music started softly, like the whisper of a breeze That had frohcked ' till the twilight, and had stopped for rest and ease; Then it strengthened slowly, shyly, half in doubt, and half afraid; ' Til forgetting all in pleasure, with a merri- ment it played. It was thrilling, and exalting, it was mystic, weird and sweet. Causing smiles at first, then laughter with its harmony complete. On it went ' til with our laughter and our tapping feet, in truth. We drowned that sweetest music, while the song it played was Youth. Again the music started, but it started with a sigh Like the pine trees in the winter as the bitter winds sweep by, Now it tells of griefs, and sorrows, times of anger, temper lost. Of discontent, and bitterness, of useless pain and cost. But it softens, and it sweetens, and the change that comes at last Now sets us gently dreaming of the joys from out the past. It grows fairy-like, and fainter, like a distant joyous fife, Old Age is being played now, on the music- box called Life. OLIVE CARTLAND, ' 21. IN IMAGINATION LAND Did you ever sit and wonder. Sit and wonder, wish, and plan? Just take yourself on a little journey. Through Imagination Land. And while there, just you imagine, You can do most anything; Even turn a vexing lesson. Into a song you love to sing. All this seems so very easy, In Imagination Land; There the hardest tasks are simple. And things come as you have planned. Have you ever stopped and wondered. How the spider ' s-web is spun From the fine and silky substance? Work of Art when it is done. Patience is his only helpmate As he spins that web so fine, Often missing what he aims for. But he tries again next time. Just imagine you ' re that spider, Let his web your lessons be. Don ' t give up until you ' ve placed them. Securely in your memory. DOLORES McTEAGUE, ' 22. SEEN FROM A HILLTOP I stood upon a lofty hill, gazing around with awe. What wonderful scenes before me lay! — On eveiy Fide I saw Strong, majestic trees of pine, standing so straight and tall, Dwaifing the poplar and cedar. The kings and monarchs of all. Round about, the moss lay thick, a carpet of Nature ' s choice. The beauty and charm of her works, we all acclaim with one voice. Dainty flowers of various hues, and lacy ferns grew there, Violets, bluets, anemones pale, and a patch of the fern, maiden-hair. I heard a song, exquisitely sung, it came from the throat of a bird. Rivaling, yes, excelling, the best musician e ' er heard. I gazed above at the heaven ' s blue, and fluffy clouds of w hite, And saw a rough-winged swallow, winging his homeward flight. A squirrel peeped slyly from his refuge above, in the gnarled old tiee cf oak, Wondering, no doubt, what brought me there, as each acorn he captured and broke. — The sun was slowly sinking, like a ball of molten gold, And a splendor and glory of color, over the heavens rolled. MILDRED KALBERG, ' 22. T — is for Tuell, she ' s modest and shy, H — is for Hillsgrove, he ' s small, but, oh my! E — is for Eaton, she ' s brim full of mirth, D — is for Dolbeare, salt of the eitrth, E — is for Elroy whose good nature ' s a mystery, B — is for Burgess, oh how she loves history, A — is for Arnold, she just adores red, T — is for Tasker, her wealth on her head, E — is for Evelyn, a very smart miss, R — is for Ruth, the foolish author of this. 14