Wells High School - Crimson and Gray Yearbook (Southbridge, MA)

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NOVEMBER 1939 11 REVIEWS The first issue of the Crimson and Gray in the new school year brings a new department — Reviews. This department is open to anybody who wants to say any- thing about books, magazine or newspaper articles, or drama. If you want to put in a plug for your fa- vorite writer or actor, sharpen your wits and your pencil and plug away to your heart ' s content — we ' re ready, willing and able to listen to what you have to say. Just as the first issue of the Crimson and Gray brings a department new to the present student body, so the first month of the school year brought a situa- tion new to the school body — European War. Naturally, this war will arouse interest in books about war. It is fitting that the new department take part in this interest, so war books it is. The book that warned the world that war was com- ing, Adolf Hitler ' s own book, Mein Kampf, might na- turally be the first one to turn to. This book, a com- bination of autobiography and political philosophy, biased in its autobiography and occasionally dry in its politics, is, nevertheless, a book well worth your while. In it, Hitler develops his early life and background showing us the events and incidents which led to the formulating of his political philosophy. He shows us how he first entered into politics and how this led to the development of the National Socialist movement. He carries us through the early days of National So- cialism as an organized party and then on upward in its rise to power. Finally, he shows us the foreign policy by which he hoped to make Germany the world power, leaving no doubt in the minds of his readers as to the fate of Austria, Czecho-Slovakia, Danzig, Memel and the Polish Corridor. In the light of the recent Russo-German alliance, much of the politics of the book can be thrown into complete discard, but Mein Kampf can still give us a clear picture of Hitler as he sees himself. REACHING FOR THE STARS by Nora Wain Reviewed by Shirley Matys ' 40 Because war has actually broken out in Europe and because war and its accompanying unrest is bound to influence our lives, our interest in conditions in Ger- many is acute. Reaching for the Stars seems to be a painless and pleasant source of uncensored opinion of living con- ditions in Germany before the war. Nora Wain, born and raised a Quaker in Pennsyl- vania, has lived and traveled in China, Czechoslova- kia, Austria, and Germany. Her book, Reaching for the Stars, delves deep into the real state of affairs in Germany. She tells of many incidents that are common all over Germany. Miss Wain compares the Germans to a field of rabbits who, when a weasel creeps upon one of them, move away in terror but do nothing to save the unfortunate victim. They are a sleep wandering people who need to be awakened. It seems impos- sible that a people possessing such a wealth of intel- lect, as do the Germans, will tolerate any dictator for too long. She noted, while traveling through Austria and Czechoslovakia, the great poverty and the slow decay of governments. Both these facts indicate the inevit- ability of these countries ' eventual succumbing to German power. Just because Reaching for the Stars is labeled non- fiction, don ' t let that frighten you. It ' s most enter- taining and even the print is big. The last two books looked at the present situation from the point of view of Germany. This next one looks at it from the point of view of Czechoslovakia. WE SHALL LIVE AGAIN by Maurice Hindus Reviewed by Howard Buckley ' 40 Mr. Hindus, who was visiting Czechoslovakia and preparing a biography of the people during the sum- mer and early fall of 1938, presents us with a history book in ultra-modern fashion. There could not have been a more timely publication for the enlightenment of a world still in doubt about the truth concerning the end of this little republic. Having just completed his biography in September, Mr. Hindus saw that something was going to happen. He stayed on another three weeks writing a chapter each day to give us a blow by blow description of the attack on the country and the morale of the people. The account includes details after the invaders had actually entered the city of Prague. It is a stirring book, more like some strange novel than a chapter from our modern history. If you gave a start when you read the headlines last September, read this book and learn how the Czechs felt. From thought books about war, we ' ll turn to action books about war, books about actual happenings in wartime. Here ' s one by the co-author of a famous group of books — James Norman Hall, co-author of the Mutiny trilogy and Hurricane. Mr. Hall tells us of his ex- periences in the Lafayette Escadrille, the famous American flying unit of the French Foreign Legion. He tells us of his training period, starting with the foolish Penguins — planes that couldn ' t get off the ground — and then on up through the more advanced stages. He tells of the excitement of the first patrol and the excitement of a balloon attack. He tells how his buddy was brought down by a German plane on the Allied side of the lines. He tells a hilarious in- cident of some camouflaged cows in a supposedly empty field. And he tells of how he was finally shot down behind the German lines and made a prisoner in Germany for the duration of the war. This book, entitled High Adventure, an exciting true story told by a master story-teller, is one that should appeal to nearly everyone. The American Black Chamber, the autobiography of Herbert O. Yardley as head of department Ml -8, the code division of the War Department, deals with a little known, mysterious, and glamourous branch of war time activities — secret service and codes. Mr. Yardley was a clerk in the code room of the State De- partment. He became interested in codes and found that any school boy with a little patience could solve the American diplomatic codes. Dipping deeper into the subject, he became an authority on codes and

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12 THE CRIMSON AND GRAY ciphers. When war broke out he was transferred to the War Department and set about establishing an efficient code department. When he was finished, MI-8 had five sub-divisions: Code and Cipher Compi- lation, Communications, Shorthand, Secret Ink Laboratory, and Code and Cipher Solution. Mr. Yard- ley tells of his research and his later efforts to estab- lish the new department. He tells the story of several actual cases and gives the reader a chance to do some actual decoding of original war messages in code. In 1929, Mr. Yardley ' s department was abolished by an incoming Secretary of State, but in the sixteen years that Mr. Yardley had served as head of the de- partment, he piled up a great number of interesting and exciting experiences which he passes on to the reader in a well-written book. There is still another type of war book — fiction. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells is one of the most fantastic books that you might ever read. It is so fantastic that it approaches the bounds of horrible reality. This was graphically and disastrously illustrated last year when Orson Welles changed the setting to New Jersey, dramatized it in the form of news flashes and gave the United States an acute case of fright. A number of projectiles were sent out from Mars and landed in Southern England. They disgorged very intelligent octopus-like creatures bent on con- quering the Earth for the population of a fast decay- ing Mars. Armed with heat rays, poisonous gasses and tripod monster machines, the men from Mars laid waste to all of Southern England, killing thousands and forcing the rest to flee for their lives. The puny weapons of the Englishmen had no effect on the in- vaders. However, an unexpected aid killed the in- vaders in a very short time — they had conquered disease on Mars and were not physically able to resist it on the Earth, the common cold laid them low. The story is told in the first person and describes the reactions of the narrator . . . Living in Southern Eng- land, he was in the thick of it — he couldn ' t make his escape but he did succeed in eluding death at the hands of the Martians. H. G. Wells is a master of imagination in story-tell- ing and all of his powers are used in the telling of The War of the Worlds. From fantasy to fiction that is more true to life is the next step. CAPTAIN HORATIO HORNBLOWER by C. S. Forester Reviewed by Robert Morse ' 40 Captain Horatio Hornblower is a thrilling novel of the sea at the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Horn- blower is a master of the British frigate, Lydia. Strangely enough, Hornblower has a soul. Often weakened inwardly at the sight of brutal whippings which he is obliged to enforce and not daring to pro- test for fear of being called a coward, Hornblower lives in mental chaos. With no thought for the laws of the admiralty, Hornblower enjoys the freedom of his own quarterdeck, issues his own orders, and is well liked by all of his crew. The novel is written in three books. The first book tells of Captain Hornblower ' s adventures in the Pacific in England ' s service at war with Spain. Hornblower ' s superior mind worked out brilliant strategy in captur- ing a ship by surprise without firing a shot. Ironically, there is a similarity between Captain Horatio Horn- blower and Captain Horatio Nelson in that they have the same first name. Captain Horatio Nelson is of noble birth, however, while Captain Horatio Horn- blower is of ignoble birth. In the second book, Hornblower escorts Indiamen past the French blockade and encounters some fierce fighting in the Mediterranean. The realistic descrip- tions of dying men, sinking gunboats, shattering spars and masts, makes the second book the most exciting. In the third book, Captain Hornblower is captured by Boney , commonly known as Napoleon Bonaparte, the brilliant little Corsican soldier. Hornblower faces being court-martialled, escapes, and finally returns to England where he is eventually promoted to the admiralty. Captain Horatio Hornblower is exciting in its des- cription, thrilling in its fast moving action, realistic in its simplicity, and interesting in its historical and nautical value. That ' s all for this quarter — more in the next issue of the Crimson and Gray. And remember, if you have anything to say about writers, actors, books, maga- zine articles, movies, or plays, just let yourself go — we ' ll listen. LOCALS (Continued from Page 10) GIRLS CLUB — Miss Pinard, faculty adviser President Yolanda Barbierri Vice-President Juliette Brault Secretary Eleanor French Treasurer Pauline Bourdeau Program Committee Helen Damian, Chairman Victoria Apostol Julia Lichoriewicz Antoinette Barnaby Germaine Berthiaume Joan Tully DRAMATIC CLUB — Miss Plante, faculty adviser President Priscilla Eccleston Vice-President Richard Gatineau Secretary Mary Dirlam Treasurer Ruth Abrams PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB — Mr. Lataille, faculty adviser President Robert Carpenter Vice-President Leonard Gillon Secretary Chester Savory Treasurer Gerard Bastien ASSEMBLIES September 19: Mr. Paul Favor was guest speaker at this assembly before leaving for New Bedford to take up new duties. A musical program was also presented under Miss Hebert ' s direction. The soloists included Barbara Morse, Barbara Nich- ols, June Desrosier, and Wilfred Pleau. September 27: Inspector Knowlton of the Worcester Registry of Motor Vehicles gave advice on driv- ing and went through the procedure of getting a license. September 29: Coyne, the Magician, featured his trained birds and gave a puppet show. October 4: A football rally was held in preparation for the first game of the season. Speakers in- cluded Coach McMahon and Assistant Coach Kyrios, also Mr. Robertson and Mr. Greene. Cheers were led by Jimmy Bastien and Elizabeth Costa, and football songs by Miss Hebert. October 1 1 : Miss Ella Miersch of the Jacob Edwards Library gave a talk on books in the library and how to use them.