Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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As you leave the last road of the residential section of the suburb, there is a wide country lane, turning abruptly to the left. This is Green Lane, which leads to the old Toll Gate. Along the centre of this lane runs an irregxilar grassy path. On a spring day this narrow strip of bright green is dotted with little pink- tipped daisies and varied cuckoo-pints, while the larger dandelions lift up thoir yellow crowns as if monarchs of the kindgom of spring flowers! For a short distance, you pass play-grounds of various schools, Dulwich College cricket field, Alleyn ' s Girls ' Tennis Court, and others, hemmed in by broken fences, through the cracks of which you can catch ghmpses of the players. A few yards farther on the lane gradually narrows, and the spreading branches of the huge oaks and sycamores almost meet over- head, behind the dense, unkempt hedges, the children ' s idolized bread-and-cheese. Be- yond the.se rough looking hedges stretch beauti- ful fields, decked in their new spring garments. At first we are conscious of nothing, save a sense of color, just waves of color! Fields of purple, sweet-smelling violets, a field of golden daffodils, dancing merrily to the tune of a swiftly running brook, over which a few moss- covered sticks serve as a crossing. Immediately in front is one mass of blue and yellow, — grace- ful bluebells gravely shaking their dainty heads at the vigorous movements of the blithesome cowslips; and beyond a swamp of irises, a meadow trim with daisies pied, in which a flock of dirty looking sheep are nibbling the buttercups. After leaving these fields, the Lane runs along the edge of the Woods. In the distance a mass of dark green stands out against the clear, blue sky, with its one or two feathery clouds. The sun shines brightly upon a hedge of white, pink, and red may bushes, and the fire-tipped blossoms of a few wild cherry trees. A wall of white, mauve, and puqjle lilacs is over-shadowed by tall, slender laburnum trees, whose yellow blossoms seem to fade into the brilliancy of the sun ' s rays. Cuckoo, Cuckoo, comes the shy cry across the swamp, while sweet, half-conscious little calls echo from the depths of the Woods, as though the newcomers were singing to the per- fumed blossoms, — the first glad song of Spring! Half hidden by the lilac bushes, stands an uninhabited old mansion, green and decayed by time, the last rehc of one of England ' s highest families. The walls are covered with honeysuckles and clinging creepers, among which several birds are busy, building their little summer-houses. Solitary, the old house stands, haunting, commanding, — a memoir of Edward Alleyn ' s day! The scene at this point is one of great beauty. All is peaceful. The College spires, silhouetted against the sky, are the only suggestions of the outside world. We are conscious of nothing, save beauty, fragrance, and Peace. The husky clank of the rusty old Toll Gate, and the hearty Good-day of the old gate- keeper with his notchy stick, jerk us back from our dreams into the world of today, and we turn our faces homeward, resolved to reflect in our daily lives, some of the fragrance and beauty with which Nature has surrounded us. THELMA YEWELL, ' 2L RHETORICALS red. Friday we hear rhetoricals. So hasten to room one. If you don ' t hurry I ' m afraid The first will have begun. Just see the poor unfortunates, All sitting in a row. Who had no thoughts of misery, A little while ago. Some pale, some blushing rosy Some feeling much weaker, As Mr. Peterson steps up Announcing the first speaker. In silence each one holds his breath, But some one does in vain. For as he hears the fatal word. He recognizes hLs name. He steps up bravely to the front, He feels somewhat absurd, He tries to do just one thing, Remember the first word. He surely never was so glad As when at last he ' s done, And listening to the others- That, at least, was some fun. MARTHA SNYDER, ' 21. THE FIRST DAFFODIL A sky of blue, A field of snow, A little yellow head, nodding cheerfully In the gentle breeze of Spring, At busy people passing by. ADELAIDE BOYNTON, ' 22.

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thenian Society have been well attended. At these meetings short plays have been given, which have been much enjoyed by the members, and the club is planning to give a long play at the Princess Theatre some time in the Spring. Miss Hester Sharkey, director of the Society, has written three one-act plays entitled, Across Three Hundred Years, which were given under the direction of the English Depart- ment, on the evening of April 5, to commemorate the tercentenary of the landing of the Pil- grims. RHETORICALS Every Wednesday morning the fifth period the Seniors gather in Room 1 for rhetoricals. At least once during the year every senior is expected to make some kind of a speech. To the uninitiated this may seem a simple matter, but every senior will tell you this is the most difficult task he has to perform. His audience, though small, is most critical, and there is always the possibility that at the last moment, he will forget his speech. Drill in public speaking is most valuable and is much needed in our schools. One of the best ways to get this drill is in debating clubs. In past years the Wakefield High School has had large and enthusiastic debating clubs, but because of the difficulty in finding a time and place for meeting, these clubs have been discontinued. This is a loss to the school, and we hope that soon a way will be found so that once more we can have real live debates. A SCHOOL LIBRARY Every Hi gh School should have a library. Some of the large schools of the state have libraries with paid librarians, whose business it is to care for the books and to acquaint the students with such reference books as they need in their studies. A large library in the Wakefield High School building is an impos- sibility. There is no room which could be used as a library and little wall space where shelves could be placed. Nevertheless, the need for books is so great that something must be done. The school has already a few good hooks. The one hundred books from the library of the late Mr. Ashton H. Thayer is a valuable addition. A few books have come to the school from the library of Miss M. Annie Warren, who was for almost fifty years a teacher in the public schools. Other books and sets of books have been given to the school from time to time. The English Department is trying to work out a plan whereby all the books can be cared for in Room 1. It has been suggested by some of the students that the cabinets at the back of Room 1 be moved to Room 10, and that shelves be built into the wall space. Whether this is done or not, what books we have, must be catalogued and properly cared for. Let us hope that the day is not far dis- tant when the Wakefield High School will have a well-equipped library and a paid li- brarian. CHARLOTTE WALKER, ' 2L Spring in England written by Miss Thelma Yewell for the Debater gives vivid pictures of English country scenes. It is of special interest to us because Miss Yewell has so recently come from England to make her home in America. The Debater in behalf of the school thanks Miss Thayer for her gift of one hundred books in memory of her brother, the late Mr. Ashton H. Thayer, who was for many years a mem- ber of the school committee. Mr. Thayer was always much interested in public matters and he exerted a strong influence for good in the community. i It is rumored that the state board of education is planning to reorganize the study of Latin in the secondary schools. Perhaps in a few years we shall be speaking and writing Latin as they did in the days of Shakespeare. A GLIMPSE OF SPRING IN ENGLAND Over three thousand miles from Boston, on the outskirts of London, there ' s a dear little, old-fashioned village, knowna since the fif- teenth century, as Dulwich Village. It is a quaint little place, with its ancient Gothic Churches and remains of schoolhouses, now completely overgrown with creepers; with its historic Toll Gate, and ivy-covered pumps; with its tjny cottages, whose walls are invisible through the thick growth of clemati and creepers. Some of these cottages are still inhabited, by old-time folks, plain, hardworking, hospitable, and sincere people, whose chief pastime is tending the gardens which surround their cottages, — old-fashioned gardens, where only the old-fashioned flowers are cultivated in the old-fashioned way. The village itself seems buried among the woody groves and lanes that surround it. Among many beautiful, picturesque old walks, there is one that to ine, is lovelier than all the othere.

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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