Waltham High School - Mirror Yearbook (Waltham, MA)

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THE MIRROR, 1938 dropped by the wayside. But that is the way of life, and we shall ever have the survival of the fittest fsigh-sighj. Again casting our non-par- tisan votes, we elected Edmund Harris, President, Forrest Daniels, Vice-President, William Stevens, Secretary-Treasurer, and William Ruffin, Auditor. The football team was very successful through- out the season, but even as Napoleon had his Waterloo, and Anthony, his Cleopatra, so did Waltham have Brockton. However, hats off to a hard-working, deserving team. This year, too, we greeted our new principal, Mr. Charles W. Goodrich, and bade farewell and good luck to that grand personage, Mr. Burke. Mr. George L. Ward was selected as our new sub- master and became a familiar figure to those who frequented the office. Another source of joy this year was our new and modern gymnasium, recognized as one of the finest in the State. Served as a side dish and re- ceived with high glee, were the new locker rooms and showers. It would have been difficult to jolt either Mr. Brinn or Mr. Leary from their satis- faction at this time. The Christmas holidays came and fell into ob- livion and the year 1937 was nursed into being. . . This year was marked by unusual success in both hockey and basketball. Headed by Art Shaughnessy, the hockey team swept through a one-defeat season to enter the semi-finals for the championship of the Bay State Hockey League. Three thrilling games were played before Wal- tham could claim supremacy over Framingham, but the team came through like the champions they proved to be, and in the finals defeated Wellesley. Resumption of basketball as a school sport after a lapse of twelve years proved very success- ful as the team went on to tie for leadership in the Suburban League. Again spring came on us, as it has an unfailing habit of doing, and the old urge to dash willy- nilly 'mongst the birds, bees, trees, and stuff brought to grief a few spring members of our class, who found, to their dismay, that the school authorities have definite ideas on school attend- ance. I am proud to say, however, that there were but a few of us who were thus affected by the wanderlust. And now it became time to think of that classic event, the junior Prom. Accordingly, we selected as our chairman that little man with the big in- fluence, Joseph Cardillo. The dance was held in the school gymnasium, which was attractively decorated by the dance committee. Placed in a prominent position was a large banner done in the class colors and bearing the class motto, Semper Sfrpeizzre. Dancing to the strains of a popular orchestra, the carefree throng enjoyed themselves no end. And to the credit of the faculty chaperons it can be said that they en- tered heartily into the festive mood and showed the students a few new tricks to be executed on the dance fioor. Plans ran so smoothly, with never a flaw, that the close of the evening brought many expressions of regret. Several members of the track team must certainly have had twinges of conscience, though, as the team was scheduled to appear at the State Meet to be held the next day. XX'e caution Coach Brinn to keep a care- ful watch on dates in the future. 'Twas at this time that our upperclassmen, the seniors, were preparing to leave us. It was now our turn to lord it over the unfortunate class fol- lowing us. Notwithstanding, we felt genuine re- gret at the parting with the Senior Class. Soon again summer was on us, and we wearily set down our pencils, pens, and books to indulge in our two-months' vacation. As our Senior year rolled 'round, fall football practice began before the regular school sessions. This accounted for the presence of the husky boys seen about the school for the two weeks preceding the regular opening. Believe it or not, it is true that most students were not loath to begin school this year. Well versed now in the ways of high-school life, we fell into the routine with little or no ado. While the boys labored at football, the athletically-inclined girls of the

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THE MIRRGR, 1938 History of Class of 1938 ln this Class History I wish it were in my power to do somewhat as the composer Haydn did when he composed his surprise symphony. Knowing that some people are apt to fall asleep in the course of a concert, he put together his surprise symphony, in the middle of which there occurred a loud crash, destined to startle the most drowsy to attention. Recognizing the somnolent effects of a class history, I would that I could in- scrt something of the same type in my discourse. Because of the construction of new wings on our temple of learning, our entrance to high school was delayed until October. In spite of our eagerness to launch upon a new career, I am afraid that the delay did not cause any heartache among the members of our class. Fascinating in- deed is the entrance into a new life, and such was our entrance into high school. New faces, new teachers, and new methods were all regarded with an ill-concealed wonder. Afternoon sessions were none too enjoyable, but with December came the return to the one-session plan and again the necessity of early rising. On our return. to school, we found that a large, new modern lunch- room had been installed. For a nominal sum each day, the drudgery of carrying a lunch to school could be avoided. But the advent of a lunchroom brought about new dangers. Woe betide the unlucky person who happened to be going in the wrong direction when the lunch bell rang. The horde of hungry students poured from the various classrooms, and it was every man for himself as the ravenous crowd milled foward their favorite tables. Continuous practice, l'owcver, skilled one in the nnesse of ducking and dodging till a favorable position in the line was obtained. 'Twas at this stage of the game that we en-- countered the need for leaders if we were to be an up-and-coming class, and as a result we elect- cd Robert Nims, President, Ray Adams, Vice- Presidentg Donald Harvey, Secretary-Treasurer, and, in view of future pecuniary resources, se- lected William Rudin as our Auditor. Fortified now by guidance, we set about making plans for our Sophomore Hop. Under the direction of a very capable committee, plans were made, and a prom- incnt local orchestra engaged. Arrangements were smoothly carried through, and the dance was a complete success right down to the last piece of cake and the last plate of ice cream. Everyone en joyed himself to the full, and, believe it or not, we were able to record the affair in black ink. While it is true that our entrance into high school did not send Coach Jack Leary into any sort of ecstasies, it is equally true that some of our boys did show promise as future athletes. We were well represented among the candidates for the various athletic teams. Being an unusually bright and intelligent group fThank you, thank youj, we entered wholeheart- edly into the literary and scholarly side of school life and contributed a few gems to the school mag, pardon me, school magazine. Full of school spirlt, however, we declined offers from Hearst and other publications and threw ourselves into the job of making Waltham High a bigger, bet- ter, and finer school. The truth will out, and it must be admitted that the advent of spring' brought a strange sluggishness into the blood of some of our dreamier members, while also bring- ing slight censure from our teachers who, it is said, know what is best for us. Time passed liowcvcr, and june brought a well-earned and ap- prccated vacation, when we bade adieu for the time being to all things suggestive of school life. Time: Early fall, and destiny's tot, the Class of 58 , embarked on its junior Year. Well- rested after a summer of pleasure and loafing fthe two words are synonymous in my vocabu- laryj, we threw ourselves with eagerness into the task at hand. My, my, how we had grown, and this was evidenced by our contributions to the gladiators of the gridiron, Waltham's invincible talmostj football team. Taking stock, we found that one or two of our members had

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- THE MIRROR, 1938 school were to be found whiling away their time at Held hockey. This proved to be a very dis- tracting influence on the boys because no one can deny that our high school misses, dressed as they were, cut very attractive pictures tripping after an clusive ball. The coach of the football team would be will- ing to voice himself at some length, in fact, as to the distracting influence of the weaker sex. Feeling the ever-present need for leaders, we chose Edmund Harris, President, Leonard Erick- son, Vice-President, Marie Carlson, Secretary- Treasurer, and Arthur Clarke, Class Auditor. In December the Dramatic Club presented its annual play, entitled Growing Painr. A hard- working cast and very capable coaching combined to make it truly successful. That not-soon-to-be-forgotten epoch, the Sen- ior Dance, was now in the offingg accordingly the class set about making its plans. A capable committee worked tirelessly, and on january 8th, 1938, a carefree Senior Class made its way to the gym. A local dan ce orchestra really swung out as the Big Apple , Shag , and other current dance favorites were performed on the floor. It was a successful evening, culminated by many of those attending in meetings at various night clubs in Boston. Under Editor-in-chief Arthur Power, the Mir- ror had one of the most satisfactory years on record. A new department was created under the direction of Forrest Pro Daniels, who took the title of Photography Editor. Pro , a well- known figure about the school, is a very efficient amateur candid-camera photographer, and some of the snaps on record prove his capability and that of his staff. Another praiseworthy improve- ment was the remodelling of the humor depart- ment, which became a really humorous section. We have with us this year a few holdovers from last year's class. They were immediately absorbed in our activities and proved themselves capable and efficient in furthering class projects. Dramaticftalent was brought to light as the Senior Play was presented. Working faithfully under the direction of the Coach, Miss Rand, the play The Whole T01l!l2,J' Talking, was presented in a masterful manner. The antics of that heart- breaking Lothario, Chester Binney, will not be forgotten soon. Robert Montgomery, look to your laurels! Truly a versatile class, we presented under the direction of Mr. Crawford, a comic operetta, The Royal Vagabond, comprising a cast of about one hundred. Three performances were given on suc- cessive nights, capacity crowds voicing their ap- proval of a fine piece of showmanship. The hockey and basketball teams terminated their seasons, and the first team members received their sweaters. Both sports were left with a val- uable nucleus for next year. We must not forget our ine Waltham High School Band which has provided us with such stirring music at various times throughout the year, notably during the football season. As usual it has kept up its fine grade of work. With graduation drawing near, the Seniors now found it fitting and proper that they should have their pictures. Accordingly, we elected Leonard Erickson Chairman of a committee to interview and obtain samples from various pho- tographers. The general topic of conversation for the following three weeks was concerned with whether or not pictures had been taken, proofs seen, or prints received. Teachers were on the verge of despair as classrooms took on the ap- pearance of art galleries. New worries were brought to light as the third quarter terminated, and many who had up until this point loafed cheerfully along, now began to dash hither and thither with wild murmurings on their lips of points and units. For the most part, we braved the crucial period very well and became absorbed in the light tasks of voting for Who's Who, and other sundry pleasant duties.- The year draws to a close. We, the Class of 1938, have made our High School History, and now turn to bigger things. Some of us go on to schools of higher learning, some of us set out to make names for ourselves in the world, but in whatever direction we travel, let us continue to make history. RAY ADAMS.