Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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ECONOMIC CONDITIONS The economic conditions of this country will be bettered this year. During the recent pe- riod of depression, business conditions went to about one hundred and fifty points below normal and now they are about fifteen points above and climbing. Whenever business con- ditions go either above or below normal, there is a reaction ; the more acute the prosperity or the depression, the greater the reaction. About all lines of business have shown im- provement, the only thing holding back pros- perity being the coal strike. There is a large consumption of goods and a corresponding increase in production. The borrowing of money has increased, and this, by the way, is one of the reasons for artificia l prosperity Business men, especially in new businesses, borrow money and list it as cash on hand or an asset when it really should be a liabil- ity. This period of prosperity will probably last for several years, but is sure to lie followed by a reaction or a period of depression. This must be guarded against. WESLEY W. PHINNEY, ' 23. HOW IS THE MATERIAL CHOSEN FOR THE DEBATER ? Many persons wonder how the material which is found in the Debater is acquired. It is compulsory in the Senior Class that eve.ry member write sojnething for their school paper. Why not? It is only fair that each individual do his part toward making his paper a success, since the Debater is edited by the Senior Class. The Seniors, however, are greatly aided by the other three classes. A certain day called Debater Day, is set aside by the English Department as the day on which material may be passed in for the Debater . Each divi- sion appoints a division editor, and to him go the papers of his division. He chooses what he believes to be the best, and these are grouped with the best from the other divi- sions. Then all the papers are passed to the editor-in-chief, who selects the best for the Debater . MILDRED FOLEY, ' 23. ness, is melting the snow and making it drip from the houses and trees. Now and then is heard the sound of cracking as the huge ici- cles that have been hanging from the roofs, begin to melt and fall to the ground. Huge piles of snow that have collected on roofs be- gin to slide off and fall with a loud noise. People, walking along through the melting ice and snow, make a lot of noise and soon the clean, white snow forms into a substance that looks almost like sand. Many comments are heard about the beau- tiful weather and many predictions are made about the coming of spring. It is the next day. But, such a difference! During the night the wind began to blow- with fury; the sky was covered with cold gray clouds, and before morning a real blizzard had come up. The melting snow and ice of yes- terday is today frozen hard. Great icicles have again formed on the houses, and the snow :s blowing and drifting everywhere. The few persons who venture out are going along with great difficulty against the wind and snow. At the railroad station is a group of people who are standing around, blowing on their fingers and stamping their feet. Yesterday this same group had commented on the love- ly weather, and had decided that spring would soon arrive. Today, not a person speaks about the coming of spring, as each waits around in the cold for a train which is al- ready many minutes late. What a contrast between two February days, one following the other! MARGARET MURPHY, ' 23. TWO WINTER DAYS It is a bright clear day in the latter part of February. Overhead the sky is a bright blue and the sun, shilling with a dazzling bright- AT SIGHT OF THE FLAG Crowds had gathered on the streets and in the park, waiting for the parade. Finally the band was heard far down the street, and those who had waited until the last minute hur- riedly sought places on the sidelines. Among these were half a dozen boys who, in their excitement, passed by one of their best friends —a Grand Army man whom they knew as Captain. Hello, boys! The cheery old voice rose above the noise and babble. Smiles quickly lighted up their faces for they always wel- comed their friend ' s appearance. They quick- ly took their places beside the Captain and were soon craning their necks to see every part of the parade. As the Hag passed by. Heating proudly in the warm sunlight, the boys stood at attention and saluted. The elderly man noted this witli 12

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THE INTERIOR OF AN ICEBERG 1 stood by the ship ' s rail and watched the much-talked of iceberg floating majestically on the sea. Gradually, a strange longing came r.ver me that I could not understand. T stretched out my arms to the berg and closed my eyes. Suddenly, I felt myself being lifted up; going through space. There was a mo- ment of intense cold and then I opened by eves, looked around in a dazed sort of way, and found myself in a glistening palace of ice. Somehow, my longing left me. 1 knew, in- distinctly, that I was inside an iceberg. Why and how 1 had come was more than I cared to think. 1 was (here, and that was sufficient. Slowly my senses returned and I began to lake more notice of my surroundings. I was in a comer of a large room made entirely of ice. The room was vacant except for one thing, and this one thing led me to believe T was in the throne room of some monarch. At the opposite end from where 1 lay, was a dais on which stood a large chair, and over this was a canopy. These also were made of ice. On the chair was a white skin or fur, but the thing that surprised me most, was that in spite of all this ice, the room was very com- fortable. About halfway between me and what I termed the throne, was a door. This opened into a passageway, but more I could not see. I was about to go and investigate, when the sound of a voice came to my ears. It was di- rectly outside the door and I wondered who could be speaking, but I lay still and lis- tened. This is what 1 heard: The queen is exceedingly angry today be- cause one of the Seven Mirrors in her draw- ing room was mysteriously cracked this morn- ing. You know the old legend, of course ' No, what is it ? asked a second voice. Why I thought everyone knew that, re- turned the first voice. I don ' t know how long it has been since the Seven Mirrors were put in the Imperial Drawing Room, but prob- ably hundreds of years. Anyway, at that time, so the story goes, a queer personage made its appearance before the queen and ann ounced that when one of the Seven was broken, or even cracked, a mortal from beyond the ice would come into our citadel. Think of it, a mortal! And Her Majesty is much worried for fear of the mortal ' s appearance. But silence! Here comes the royal procession, and the voices ceased. I began to be a bit worried myself, for if my coming had been hailed in this way, what would be the outcome of it all? I was not given much time to ponder on the matter, however, for just then a procession of fairy- like creatures, all clothed in white, entered the room and went toward the throne. Be- hind them came the most exquisite creature I had ever seen. She, like the others, was robed in white. Her long golden hair fell nearly to her waist and was caught back at her temples by a little band of diamonds. Her beautiful face wore a worried expression and her large dark eyes had a hunted look in them. Behind her were more of her attend- ants. She mounted tHe throne and the at- tendants grouped themselves about her. Oh, what shall I do, she wailed. If this mortal be big and strong he will take us from our icy home, lias anyone ever been in the world . ' Speak! What is it like? But no one answered her. They had not been in the outside world. I had lain unnoticed in my corner, but now 1 rose and walked toward the queen and her attendants. She uttered a shriek and nearly swooned. I reassured her, however. Madame, I beg of you, do not be fright- ened. I would not harm you for all the world. Are — you — a — mortal? she faltered. I have that honor, I answered. And you don ' t want to make war on us? Not in the least. All I desire is to see your palace. Gladly, she said, will I myself show you about. Then she and her attendants took me through a perfect labyrinth of passages and rooms all of that same dazzling crystal. Do you never tire of this? I asked. Certainly not, she answered. Of what is there to tin ' . ' Then I explained to her about the outside world and how this brilliant ice made my eyes ache. Then to my surprise she took one of the diamonds from her hair and gave it to me. To remember our palace, she said. Suddenly that strange feeling I had expe- rienced before came over me again and in- voluntarily I closed my eyes. There was that same moment of intense cold, and I opened my eyes to find myself once more on the ship ' s deck. But I had not been dreaming for in my hand I held that priceless jewel, the diamond from the glorious ice-queen ' s hair. EMILY SMITH, ' 25. 11

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approval, for it was lie who, l y his frequent talks to these same boys about the flag, had aroused in them the great respect and love which they showed to the Stars and Stripes. When the long line of marchers had passed and the excitement had subsided, the boys dropped down on the settee beside the Captain with shining faces. lie began as though this pari of the program had been carefully planned beforehand. Well, boys, our flag did look fine waving so proudly, didn ' t it? When you see that bight you feel as though you never could tie the flag in a knot, or festoon it over a door. For that sort of thing bunting can be used just as well. The flag should not be spread over a speaker ' s table at rallies and such, and a pitcher of water or a book laid on it. It is most disrespectful. And there ' s another thing, don ' t ever use a flag that is failed or worn out. That should be burned with all respect. The sky was taking on the golden color and the red sun sank lower toward the purple hills. Now, I want you to watch them take in that flag over there. When they put it up this morning they hoisted it very quickly and they unfurled it first. But see how slowly they are taking it in. It is put up and taken in like that every day. You know that they are only allowed to keep the flag up day and night on three buildings in the country— the east and west fronts of the National Capitol and the House of Representatives and Senate Office Buildings. He had slowly risen to his feet and now he left the boys, knowing still more of their flap than he had hitherto told them. GRACE WEDTFELDT, ' 24. THE GHOST It was the hottest day, of the hottest month of the hottest summer on record. The bay, as smooth as a mirror, reflected the sun in cruel, blinding flashes. The sun-baked rocks were hot as stove lids, the parched lawns fair- ly sizzled under the fierce rays of the sun, and the thermometer climbed ambitiously. On the hotel veranda two young men were wiling away the long, sultry afternoon with the aid of iced drinks, palm leaf fans, and thrilling local ghost stories. There may be such things as spirits and there may not be, declared the first with some heat, but you can ' t tell me that Hob- son ' s woods are haunted. That ' s what I said, answered the second calmly. If it wasn ' t so hot, returned the first lazily, I would make you see the error of your ways, but what ' s the use of arguing in this weather. Are you going to the dance to- night? And the subject of unquiet spirits was dropped. After such a day of heat a thunder storm almost inevitable. As the young man, who had so vehemently declared himself against ghosts, returned homeward late at night, the first approaches of the storm were evident. Thick, black clouds scudding before a fitful breeze, partially veiled the moon, (lashes of heat lightning shed an uncanny radiance on the landscape, and muffled rum blings of thunder could be heard in the (lis tance. Across his path lay Hobson ' s woods. Just a tiny strip of trees; only a few yards of dwarfed willows and alderberry bushes, bor- dering on a swamp. But after the conversa- tion of the afternoon it was just large enough and just shadowy enough to make him feel creepy. He had gone only a few steps into the woods when there seemed to float before his startled eyes a tall (igure clothed from head to foot in a flowing white robe, the con- vent ional ghostly style. Our hero considered himself a brave man, but when the apparition raised a long flowing arm and pointed an accusing finger at him, his hair of its own accord stood at attention on his head, his stomach lay down and died, and his knees rattled merrily together. With a shriek and a bound which would have done credit to an agitated kangaroo, he fled, nor did he stop until he reached the room which he shared with his chum, locked the door and fortified it with an arm chair, and three pairs of shoes. Still trembling, he sank upon the bed, and when his excitement had subsided somewhat, he noticed that something had happened to that prosaic piece of furniture. Whereas, when he had left the room a few hours before, it had stood in white perfection, it now pos- sessed not a single sheet. As he stared in bewilderment a great light dawned upon him, a bright revealing light. Reaching under the bed, he produced a stout pair of boxing gloves. Slipping them on, he crossed the room and crouched in a waiting position near the door. A gleeful expression played across his face. Now, he muttered, ominously, we ' ll lay that ghost! EVALINA IV ANY, ' 24. 13