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

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NOVEMBER 1940 17 REVIEWS Greetings, students! The Reviews Department is officially open for the contributions which, I hope, will float this way like cumulus clouds on a sunny day. SUMMER THEATRE The glamour of Hollywood found its way into New England when Michael Whalen, Hollywood leading man, appeared personally in Westboro, Massachusetts this summer. The play that he appeared in, Up Pops the Devil , was nondescript but offered experience, at least, for Whalen. Many feminine hearts fluttered when the tall good- looking actor made his appearance on the stage. Fashion note: Mr. Whalen drew attention to his deep blue eyes, by wearing bluish tinted suits and cravats. With the exception of Guy Standing, Jr., son of Sir Guy Standing, the late beloved character actor, the cast of the play was not well known. It may be of interest to performers of . What a Life to note that actors in the Westboro play did not once acknowledge the presence of the audience until the final curtain call. Realism and naturalness were main factors in their work. Probably it was be- cause of this that the actors appeared so at ease. R. D. ' 41 Reviews by Mary Dirlam ' 42 HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY By Richard Llewellyn Nestled between rolling hills and grasslands, in a fertile valley of Wales, is a little town. The history of this town is the history of the many people who have lived there for so long. Countless stories and legends slumber within the stone cottages. This might have been the hut of Silas Marner; this, the wood- chopper ' s house of some Grimm fantasy. The tales of these homes stage a human panorama, for they have known both contentment and unhappiness. All those sleeping myths have been brought to life by Richard Llewellyn in How Green was My Valley. So beautifully has he phrased this book, so perfectly has he constructed his every syllable, that each un- connected page is sheer delight. One need not be familiar with the plot to appreciate the book. Turn to every page, look them over, and read one. That single page will give you an inkling of what is behind the blue cover. In our generation, writes one noted critic, there has never been poured so much minted gold between the covers of a book. Certainly that is true. Let me quote from a page on hens. There is beautiful are hens, writes Llewellyn, so quiet and dignified, and never bothering anybody . . . . Was ever a finer tribute paid to the fowl? Then too, notice the word- ing. You will perceive a faint Welsh twang, which can be noticed throughout the novel, fresh as a salt breeze. Added to his beautiful style of writing, the author has the asset of a strong subject. For Richard Llewellyn is telling the story of his people, the people of the valley, the lusty, vigorous, rollicking Welsh. And truly they are a passionate race — passionate in love, passionate in hate, passionate with the very passion of living. They stride over the pages of the • • book like the true hearty men they are. And when the novel has been read, they cease to be a creation of the author; they become a living, vital part of the reader. And they belong to him. Now that I have finished the story, it seems that Huw ' s valley is my valley, that his people are mine, and that all I have read has not been read but ex- perienced. And yet, after consideration, I know that that is not so, and that the valley will belong, for- ever, to Huw ' s people alone. I am forced to realize that I am an outsider, that the little Welsh mining town is sacred territory hallowed by the vital, human, folk who lived there. In the midst of my enthusiasm, however, I must pause to give my only adverse criticism; the book is almost too perfect. The reader very likely will not be interested in the story at all so full of beauty is the writing. You will find yourself analyzing phrases, re- reading sentences, revelling in mere words. The book would almost seem to lack a plot. Today How Green Was My Valley is the best seller in the United States. A review of the Boston Book Fair has proclaimed the author as the find of the year. Those very facts are acknowledgments of the spirituel quality of Llewellyn ' s style and his understanding humanity. The reader feels that these characters are real and strong, and the book ' s un- precedented sales are a tribute to the author ' s magic pen. If you want to experience the adventure of read- ing a real book, a book which will make you both laugh and cry, and most important, a book which you will remember, by all means read How Green Was My Valley. THE LITTLE FOXES So you like murderers and hypochondriacs! You say you ' d love to see a man die on his stairs? And you revel in cruel women, and homicidal neurotics? Good. Ladies and Gentlemen — I give you The Little Foxes. The play takes place some time after the Civil War, in a misty old Southern plantation, surrounded by magnolia trees heavy with the sweet fragrance of bayou land. This is the real South, breathing of ro- mance and chivalry. Softly we step inside the white- columned mansion, to hear the mistress say, in ac- cents as sweet and low as a calliope, We ' re buried in this dump, I tell you. Maybe you ' re satisfied to get old and rusty here, but not I. I want money — a trip to New York. And I ' ve got a plan that will work it for me. The speaker is Regina and her audience consists of her two beloved brothers, who would just as soon lynch her as kiss her. The plan was an economic theory in the minds of many at the time — the idea that cotton need not be shipped North, but that fac- tories should be brought South. And the first need towards the accomplishment of that end was mon ey. Such ambitions were in the minds of Regina and her two brothers. Money was their aim, and money was their life. Lack of money was the only obstacle between them and more money; and it was the only medium in the world that they respected. Neither the law, nor traditions, nor self-respect could stand in their way. Love, morals, and honor would not check them, for Regina ' s was a determined family. (Continued on Page 21 )

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16 THE CRIMSON AND GRAY Norfhbridge Wells Oliver le Remian Ovian It Hebert Lemoine ig Drew Arakelian c DiGregorio Rondeau rg Chamberlain Brown rt Weaver Ledoux re Girouard La Fosse qb McCarthy Dajirmangian Ihb Swiacki Malcus rhb Renaud Gudanowski fb Theodoss Substitutions for Wells: Silvestri, Richards, Pratt, McLaughlin, Carpenter and Gaudreau. Northbridge: McNeil, Moordian, Gauthier, Four- nier, Norlan, and Bosma. SIX-MAN FOOTBALL The announcement by Coach McMahon that Wells would support a six-man football team has been re- ceived with great approval by the students, while the substitutes of the regular eleven are especially pleas- ed because they will be the eligible men for the game that has had a surprisingly fast growth in popularity throughout the country. Six-man football will give the boys an opportunity to play competitive football under real game condi- tions and the experience gained will be a valuable asset to the regular football team in the future. Two games have been arranged with East Doug- las. The first will be played on Alumni Field, Mon- day, October 14 and the second a week later in East Douglas. The six-man football field has a smaller playing surface than the regular football field. In this new game the rules have been made to create a wide open brand of football. In order to make this a passing game the back receiving the ball from the center can- not run with it but has to pass it to one of his team- mates to put the ball in play. A forward pass may be thrown from anywhere behind the scrimmage line and any one of the six men is eligible to receive passes. The offensive team has three men in the back and three in the line while the defensive team may lineup in any way desired. GIRLS ' FIELD HOCKEY 1940 The following candidates for field hockey have re- ported to Coach Kozyra at Alumni Field: Captain Julia Liro, Pauline Lavallee, Lena Dinovelli, Sally Cheney, Margaret Keenan, Jean Robertson, Susie Tobia, Mary Dirlam, Stasia Janusz, Anne Hoffman, Lauretta Cardinal, Norma Gardner, Lorraine Liver- nois, Theresa Quevillon, Emilie Jolin, Louise Gen- ereux, and Betty Caves. CROSS COUNTRY Cross-country started its second year of compe- tition at Mary E. Wells under the supervision of Raoul Lataille, newly appointed coach of Cross- country and Track. Captain Rene Cournoyer and Norman Hebert are the only two lettermen returning from last year ' s squad, but Tom Walkinshaw and Donald Morey have had previous experience while Norman Morong was a distance runner in track. Sam Themistocles serves as manager for the squad. Others reporting are: Nor- man Mathieu, Mario Ruzzoli, James Maynagh, Rob- ert Ferron, Roland Peck. October Cross Country Schedi ile 4 Hopedale here 14 Spencer here 18 Holden there 21 Spencer there 25 Hopedale there 29 Holden here GIRLS ' FIELD HOCKEY BARTLETT— 4 WELLS— 1 The Wells girls were defeated in the first game of the season. Captain Julia Liro made the only goal for Wells while the Bartlett lassies chalked up four goals. Team : Captain Julia Liro CF Pauline Lavallee CH Lena Dinovelli LH Sally Cheney RH Margaret Keenan LW Jean Robertson Rl Susie Tobia RW Stacia Janusz RB Anne Hoffman LI Lorraine Livernois LB Theresa Quevillon G October 10 October 23 October 31 Schedule Bartlett There Bartlett Here East Douglas There

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18 THE CRIMSON AND GRAY ALUMNI Schools are training our Grads: In and near Boston are: Arliss Olson at Boston University; Whit Goddu at Tufts; Olga Di Federico at Burdett ' s; Stephen Piazzo at Bentley ' s; Priscilla Eccleston at Massachusetts General Hospital. Robert Coderre at Paquette Stationery; Robert Hofstra at William S. Hofstra; Irene LaPlante at J. J. Delehanty Co.; Theresa Staves at Dufault Typewriter Co.; Jimmy Bastien at Bastien and Dufault; Ray Dumas and Robert Durfee at the Southbridge Finishing Co.; John Caves and Leonard Gillon at the Stur- bridge Finishing Company. Elsewhere in Massachusetts are: Josephine Chiocca in training at Springfield Mercy Hospital; Howard Buckley at Mt. Hermon; Howard Morey at Stockbridge School of Agriculture; Charles Genereux at Cushing Academy. At school in Worcester are: Armand Sansoucy, Mary Campbell, Ray Varin, and Sara Coffin at Beckers; Barbara Jane Morse at Worcester Memorial Hospital. Going to out-of-state schools are: Charles Roy and Alfred Peloquin at Norwich University; Rita Guilmette at Bryant-Stratton in Providence; Kennie Phillips at Pennsylvania State College of Optometry; Eddie LeClair at Wesleyan University, Middleron, Conn. Our Advertisers are employing our Grads: At the A. O. we find: Barbara D ' Arcey Louise Bouvier Doris Girard Adele Liro Lillian Albani Nancy Blakely Agnes Butler Ruth Cate Kassy Costa Elba Dintini Lizzy Costa Norman Donais Hazen Locke Clara Maciekowicz Dora Maramo Eddie McNamara William Petrelli Leroy Quatrocelli Kay Traynor Beatrice Vickers Ruth Tweed Roger LaRochelle Ben Guertin Robert Bertrand Lucille Dubreuil Jill Galipeau Richard Gatineau Darcy Girard Mildred Gravelle Kenneth Hutchinson Clem Janeczek Wanda Jura Eugenja Kaszinski Mary Kelly Mary Laliberte Lorraine Lariviere Gertrude Casavant Gloria Mannie Shirley Matys Robert Morse Robert Proulx Christopher Themistocles Johnnie Gifford Lester Newlands Bob Beauregard The Ames Worsted Company employs Ben Benoit, Doug Brown, Ray Freeland, and Gert Farland. Working at the Harrington Cutlery Company is Louise Freeland. Henry DiGregorio is employed at the Universal Blank; Miit Freeman at Harvey-Wells; Here and there we find: Yvette Langlais giving piano lessons; Rita Loiselle working at the Buckley Law Office; Sergio Bartoli selling life insurance for the New York Life Insurance Company; Lorraine Bonnette employed by the Western Auto Company; Lillian Brunell at Sears, Roebuck Co.; Working for Uncle Sam is Barbara Lillian Morse, postmistress in Sturbridge; George Lamontagne is at the First National; Leonette Hebert is working in the office at Mc- Lellan ' s; Rita Adamick is employed at Paquette Stationery Co.; Maxine Benoit and Odile Girouard are working at the Telephone Company. Scholastic honors have come High. to Mary E. Wells June scholarship announcements: Whit Goddu from Southbridge Woman ' s Club Arliss Olson from Boston University Edward LeClair from Wesleyan Renewal of scholarships as a result of college work: Catherine Chace New Jersey College for Women Price Burgess Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Marian Walkinshaw Boston University Kenneth Hunt Worcester Tech Other honors: Mary Wiessner Franklin Daniels Evelyn Fay Graduation with honor from Becker ' s in Worcester. Scholarship as reward for scholastic standing, junior year at Rensselaer. Junior Phi Beta Kappa at Wheaton College.