Warren High School - Hilltop Yearbook (Warren, MA)

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THE HILLTOP 9 i illiirrarg l l A ,, 7, THE NAMELESS SHIP There once sailed the North Seas a ship, long and strong like the form of a sea- serpent, rising at the prow in the grace- ful curve of a neck and head, with a Wide open, fiery red mouth. The sides were painted in blue and gold, and at the stern a mighty tail uncoiled itself in silver- scaled rings. It had black wings, tipped with scarlet, and when they were un- furled, the ship could sail faster than an eagle and could out-distance a storm that otherwise would have crushed a Viking ship. Other than its beauty there was another reason why this fioating castle was so prominent, it was a ship without a name. The strong, bold Viking that sailed the ship was searching for a Wife and had declared that the ship would bear her name. Day after day this sea-serpent sailed the seas, the tall Viking, his golden hair shining in the sun, standing at the prow, his blue eyes reiiecting the blue of the sea-not only the blue was reflected but also the coldness and the blackness. Fear- less and daring, he was the unconquered. Those who had seen him fight believed the tale that his was a magic sword, those who had seen it flashing brilliantly as it moved faster than lightning believed his strength equal to that of the God of War, Thor. The Viking had heard tales of the beau- tiful Siv and wanted to see her, so he had set his ship for the land of King Helge, her father. As he walked toward King Helge's Castle, his cruel, cold heart almost thawed when he saw the beauty of the court and gardens of the Castle. The people of the court turned to look at this handsome man as he strode up to the steps to enter the castle. The Viking approached one of the guards and asked to see the King. He followed the silent figure into a large room where, on a throne, sat King Helge. At one glance the Viking saw that King Helge was a very weak man physically, and after speaking with him a while, found that he could be easily influenced. He told the King of his beautiful ship and also that it was a nameless one. After explaining what an honor it would be for the girl whose name would be set in gold on the side of the ship, and what an honor it would be for the parents of the girl, he asked if he might see the Princess Siv. When she appeared in the doorway, he knew that the most beautiful ship of the seas would carry the name of Siv, for be- fore him stood a striking girl. Her hair fell in a shower of golden ringlets over her straight white frock and even far below the golden girdle. Her eyes were as blue and deep as the sky and her skin as pure as the petals of a white flower. The Viking's visit was explained to her, and her father told her of the honor it would be to have the ship named after her. Siv said nothing. She just looked first at her father and then at the Viking, then she turned and slowly walked out of the room. The Viking stood in astonish- ment and awe. She will go with you, said the King. Again the beautiful ship was cutting the waves. On the sides of the sturdy ship were the gold letters S-IV. Stand-

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8 THE HILLTOP sion and pays due homage to the speaker or the performers by applauding in an orderly and mannerly way at the proper times. Members of a good audience do not walk around or leave the hall in the midst of a program, nor do they create such a din that the speakers on the stage cannot be heard. While the high school pupils are not the prime offenders at plays and graduation exercises-for sad to say, adults are largely responsible for the disturbance at public exercises in the Town Hall-it might be well to ask yourself this question: Am I doing my part toward making this a good audience? IX Our Social Obligations Woveii through the duties of our school life are several social obliga- tions. It is our duty to patronize the social functions of other classes in the way in which we would like our activities to be supported. Each of us should strive to make every affair a success, not only financially but also so- cially. VV'e should see that everyone, including teachers and chaperones, has a good time. ea! Gllami Q9ffin:Pr5 Senior President - Frank Keith Vice-President - Eleanor Mongeon Secretary - Merle Bousquet Treasurer - Wanda Obartuck Sophomore President - Priscilla Mitchell Vice-President - Rita Skiffington Secretary - Wanda Czynodel Treasurer - Margaret Dumas Freshman President - Prosper Culliton Vice-President - Marjorie Carey Secretary - Felix Lubas Treasurer - John Cahill

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10 I HE HILLTOP ing side by side were Siv and the Viking, two golden heads in the sunlight, two pairs of blue eyes looking down into the water, one pair slightly softened and one pair beautiful and kind. No one could have been more proud of anyone than the Viking was of the beau- tiful Siv, but she had not spoken one word in his presence since he had first seen her. He kept asking her to speak, but still she remained silent. Finally tiring of his con- stant pleas, she opened her lips to speak, and the sound of her voice was so horrible that for a moment the Viking was speech- less. She went on talking in that cracked, screeching voice. The more she spoke, the more angry the Viking became, until he became so angry that he called upon the God of Ice and Snow and told him to freeze her so that she could never speak again. The beautiful ship still sails the seas, the gold letters S I V are still on the sides, but up on the prow, standing rigid and still, is the frozen Siv, her golden hair still shining in the sunlight. Merle Bousquet '37 THE FLOWERING OF NEW ENGLAND By Van Wyck Brooks The Flowering of New England is the first in a series of books which Mr. Brooks is to publish on the literary history of the United States. The first book is devoted to the literary contributions of New Eng- land from 1815 to 1865. The author's purpose is to interpret the New England mind as it has found expression in the lives and works of the writers. Boston in 1815 was enjoying a period of prosperity following the War of 1812 with England. The wealth of the town, for it was then only a town, was mostly in the hands of the merchant-patricians who had made their fortunes in the China Trade. The Gilbert Stuart portraits lin- ing their walls showed thefr family pride. Boston people cherished Stuart not as a great painter, but as one who added to their pride in themselves. Stuart readily caught this pride in the faces of his sitters. The patricians reveled in high living, one of them having a wall of Chinese porce- lain surrounding his estate. In keeping with this Eastern accent many homes had Chinese servants in native dress. Their reading tastes were reflected in the stand- ard authors in their libraries. Bookcases were filled with thefworks of such men as Gibbon, Shakespeare, Milton, Addison, Pope, and Fanny Burney. These Hamil- tonian Federalists were an oligarchy con- trolling Boston. Their liberal views did much to break the Puritan tradition. Con- sequently, many questioned whether a Puritan commonwealth would ever be realized. Steadily towns sprang into existence with the introduction of machinery. Tex- tile, paper, shoe, and iron mills added greatly to the wealth of the Bay State. Lowell, Lawrence, Fall River, New Bed- ford, and Fitchburg all owe their existence to this rise in industrial development. Up to that time no one had arisen to sing of the legendary folklore of our country. This folklore abounded in tales of the wars, of Indian fights, of painted Indian faces at the farmhouse window, of great snow falls, of haunted bridges, buc- caneers and redcoats, Yankee maidens and Tory lovers, of shipwreck and battles, and of witches' hollows. Two hundred years had passed in preparation for a new cul- ture. As a result of this new culture, merchandise from the East was as com- mon as linsey-woolsey. Parrots, pet monk- eys, cocoanuts, and coral were omnipres- ent. When the tales of the merchant marine Boston tingled them dreamed became popular, younger with ambition. Some of of going to sea, others of being scholars. Boys who were too poor to go to the Latin grammar. In School bought their own spite of this new era European standards of culture were the criteria, but the fer- ment of a new indigenous culture was ris- ing. Religion still filled the horizon of the village people to the degree of mania. This atmosphere of gloom was not auspicious for the man of letters. Gradually, how- ever, Calvinism yielded to Unitarianism. From then on the countryside was deluged with an assortment of isms - Methodism, Congregationalism, etc. It was at this time of rising culture that the North American Review made its first appearance. Now the people of