Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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able surroundings, school ana class spirit have received a new impetus, and loyalty to higher standards is manifest. These privileges which, four years ago, filled us with surprise and delight, may now have become commonplace to us; but let us not forget in years to come, the great benefits which were bestowed upon us when the citizens of Wakefield erected the new high school. E. D. ITEMS OF INTEREST ABOUT OUR STAGE Many of the pupils of the High School do not realize what has been done in connection with the use of the auditorium stage for dramatics. Our stage is very unusual because of the semi-circular arrangement of panels, which are sixteen feet high and four feet wide. There are no wings and no backdrop, and there is a space of about fifteen feet wide in front of the curtain, that is practically of no use, as no scenery can be put on it. In working out our problem of stage setting, the first things to be considered were exits and entrances, as there were no doors — nothing but mere panels. A regulation door, of ordin- ary height, that could open and shut, was made by the Manual Aits Department, to be set in between the permanent panels. Another panel to go over the door was made, and these were both painted to match the regular panels. The painting was done so cleverly by the Fine Arts Department, that the difference from the other panels is not distinguishable. A French door was also made ; this is easily adjustable and can be used for windows and the like. Of course a background was needed, so two screens that stand up from the floor were fashioned. One was painted to represent the interior of another room and to correspond with the general stage decorations. The other was of a pale blue color to represent an out- door scene. In addition to our lack of s cenery, the lighting was very poor, as there were only two lights at the rear of the stage, and these belonged to the gymnasium. The footlights, sunk as they were below the floor, and far from the actual acting space, were of no value whatever unless the actor came within six feet of them. The light from them struck the ceiling and reflected upon the audience, thus, instead of aiding any production, only adding to the discomfort of the audience ; so two large box floodlights were constructed to light the down-stage action. These lights are placed usually one on either side, and directly behind the front curtain. They are movable and can be used in any position needed. Some blue burlap was bought and made into curtains for the top, and a gold curtain was placed between the two blue ones. Both the curtains and the gold backdrop have been used at least three times. It is material that is permanent and can be used whenever needed. The first play of last year, The Importance of being Ernest , presented the problem of a garden setting to the Fine Arts and Wood- working Departments. It was handled very cleverly. The second play, The Eising of the Moon, required a night scene on the shore of a body of water, which offered still an- other problem in stage design to the Fine Arts Department. Another curtain of netting was bought, in two different shades of blue, and laid over the gold drop; upon this were pinned irregular strips of dark and light paper, producing the effect of water. The two floodlights were used for the lighting by put- ting blue screens in front of them. A blue spotlight w as also used. In Daddy Long-Legs , there was a problem of stairs and a fireplace. These were made in the woodworking shop. The stairs are peculiar in that they are adjustable to any place on the stage, and can be used without any landing, with two landings, or with but one. A new piece of scenery is now being made; it consists of three screens. These screens are eighteen feet long by twelve feet high, and will be painted to represent various scenes tliat may be used. These are to be set inside the doors and offer a new interior scene; this will make it possible to have greater latitude in choosing plays. Before, we were very much limited in our choice. Every time a play is produced, it offers op- portunities for the co-operation of the various departments. There is advertising to be done; there are news articles to be written for the school and local paper; posters to be printed by the school press (which is operated by the pupils) and drawn by the boys and girls in the Art Department; scenery and special pieces of property to bo constructed by pupils in the woodworking shop and painted by the stu- dents in the Art Department; costumes and drapes to be made, in the Sewing Department, and music to be furnished by the school orchestra. E. W.

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erous in allowing us space for reports of social events, assemblies, club meetings, and sports. Without the assistance of the Item , we should have great difllculty in publishing the Booster and the Debater , since both of these undertakings are too extensive for our school printing shop. Ever since the begin- ning of the publication of both, the Item has done all of our work promptly, courteously, and at reasonable rates. The publisher of the Item has also been very generous in providing prizes for the pupils in connection with their English work. Last year, fifty dollars in gold was presented to the four pupils, one from each class, who made the greatest improvement in English during the school year; and this year, as well as the prizes for improvement, an additional fifty dollars is to be divided among those four who do the best work in EnglLsh. In each group, the award for the winning senior and junior is fifteen dollars; and for the winning sophomore and freshman ten dollars. The editor of the Item , last j ear, presented a fountain pen to the penman who showed the most improvement. These prizes furnish an incentive to better penmanship and to greater accuracy and skill in the use of our mother tongue. They also show us that our friends at the Item office are truly interested in our progress. We take this opportunity to thank the Item for all these evidences of good will. M. A. H. THIS MODERN GENERATION If Youth ' s Aflame, Who ' s to Blame? This was the flashing title of an editorial in one of the current magazines. Much has been written about this modern generation and many writers have expressed disparaging opin- ions of the young people of the present. For many reasons, however, the youth of today is far beyond the youth of yesterday. There are two methods of deterlnining one ' s course of conduct: scientific and authoritative. If you stop to reason out a problem, weighing advantages against disadvantages, and then proceed to carry out what you believe is right, you are acting scientifically. On the other hand, if someone tells you that the thing is right, and you do it, relying wholly on his judgment, you are showing deference to authority. This generation is following more and more the former way, while our grand- parents were exponents of the latter. The aim of the schools today is to teach the pupils to think for themselves. Why, then, complain when they do? Immorality, reading of books that are not of the highest class, frequenting moving-pic- ture theatres of questionable character, im- proper dancing — all these things are charged against youth. But is youth to blame? Let us consider each of these indictments. A certain man told the story of finding it neces- sary to have the electric lights removed from his cellar, so that his son would not see him drinking. But when his son went out on a drinking party, this business man shook his head and wondered what would become of the young people. Who writes the books and who produces the movies which are not fit to read or see? Surely it isn ' t the youth; it is the older people. If educators want the younger generation to be better, why don ' t they make the people of their own age stop writing objectionable stories? It is only a small percentage of the young people who patronize the cheap dance halls; but, as in the reports on prohibition, the papers do not tell of the millions who do regard the law; they merely spread the news of the hundreds that do not. If given their elders ' confidence, the youth of today will carry the race forward and up- ward; for they are frank, efficient, courageous, and able to look life squarely in the face. E. P. The members of tlie Debater staff wish to extend their hearty thanks to Miss Eyan ' s typewriting classes for their invaluable assist- ance in preparing the material for the press. Nearly every article passed through their hands and was typed with great speed, ac- curacy, and neatness. Through their efforts, the work of the editors and printers was greatly facilitated and wc highly appreciate their co-operation. E. D. As the class of 1927 approaches the end of its high school activity, let us call to mind the fact that this is the first class to graduate, having spent the entire period of four years in our beautiful new building. We are very grateful for all its advantages, and we know they have helped to make us more useful and worth while, as a class and as individuals. Our assembly hall, gymnasium, athletic fields, im- proved class rooms and laboratories all rank with the best in the country. In these favor-

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Leo Beo-ne ar THE FOUR SEASONS Spring When buds peep through their brown jackets, And turn into small yellow things, And then grow into bright green leaves; When birds sing blithely, And fly about collecting straw to build their nests. And the robin sings his cheery song, And everything is pleased to be alive; When young meii ' s fancies lightly turn To thoughts of love, And all the world is aglow with dazzling sunlight ; Then it is spring. Winter Summer When all the earth is clad in green. And apples are forming on the trees. And corn-stalks are starting to bend Under heavy loads ; When boys at evening Start for the ball-field to test their skill And to sweat ; When the days are long and sultry. And the nights are hot and still ; When men toil under the scorching sun. And boys splash in hajjpy glee As they duck a comrade In the Or Swimmiu ' Hole ; Then it is summer. Autumn When, from the trees, briglit leaves, Red, yellow, brown, and green, Fall to eartli and make A gentle swish as we walk througli them; When men hear and feel the call of the woods, And take their guns to Ijring back fatted fowl; When ripe pumpkins are neatly stacked Against the garden wall ; When the corn is tied in trim bundles Waitir.g to be stripped of its remaining seeds. And red, rosy apples give out their spicy fragrance ; When there is the odor of fresh apple-cider; Wlien the air is crisp and clear, And everyone feels brisk and gay. Then it is autumn. When the trees are cold and bare, And tlie earth is covered with a pure white blanket ; When the rabbit leaves his tracks upon the snow, And the lairds have flown to their southern homes ; When the brooks and ponds are hidden ' neath a coat Of flinty ice and fluffy snow, And all the earth is bleak and desolate; When the days are short and the nights are long; When the wind howls and blows in icy blasts, And cuts through the clothes of mau, And chills him to the marrow; Tlien it is winter. PAUL E. BLACK, ' 27. THE GOLDEN AGE OF POETRY Four years ago, there undoubtedly existed, in the sterile brains of the coddled freshman, a spark of poetrj ' , but it has remained buried deep until this year, when the pink and ten- der child has grown into a manly, tough, and terrible senior. Nevertheless, the spark was there; and it needed but the breath of an English teacher to fan it into a roaring con- flagration. That breath has been breathed. The deed is done; and, in his effort to appre- ciate good poetry, the uutrained senior has gone to surprising lengths. To illustrate my point, I relate the follow- ing incidents:— I hied myself to the home of one of my North Ward friends to prepare a debate, and, upon entering his sanctum, liad this bit hurled at me with eloquent and fiery gesture :