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

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DECEMBER, 1945 F 1 9 4 9 WELCOME CLASS OF 1949 It is with a feeling of great satisfaction and with a deep sense of pride that I take this opportunity to welcome the members of the Class of 1949. You have become a very integral part of Mary E. Wells High school in two short months. The spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by you during your Freshman Week activities has insured your place in the annals of Wells. But the initiation you experienced was a small part of that week ' s gain. You became a class. You became conscious of your fellow members and dis- covered that as a class unit you can accomplish much. This sense of close unity must be cherished by each of you as you move through your under- graduate years. I trust that each of you realizes the seriousness of a high school educa- tion and that from the beginning to the end of your high school days you will move toward your graduation date, striving every day to better the re- sults of the days before. Today ' s learning, culture, and knowledge make tomorrow ' s success. JAMES M. ROBERTSON, Principal ajgrt srsssr s RULES FOR FRESHMAN WEEK The Seniors of Mary E. Wells High School would like to have the Freshmen of Mary E. Wells High School observe freshmen week by distinguishing them- selves in the following manner: Girls Monday — Two different colored sscks. Hair in pigtails. Tuesday — Sweater inside out. Green ribbon around throat in bow. Wednesday — Eight different pigtails. Green colored ribbons around left arm. Thursday — No makeup. Hair in pigtails. Green bow on pigtails. Two different colored socks. Friday — Big sign 12 xl8 — I AM A FRESHMAN. Put name (and nickname if you have one) . Boys Monday — Two different colored socks. High water pants. Tuesday — Tie down the back Wednesday — Green bow around hair. Green bow on left arm. Thursday — Shirts backwards. Green bow on left arm. Lipstick on lips only. Friday— Big sign 12 xl8 — I AM A FRESHMAN. Put name (and nickname if you have one) . There will be a party provided by the upper class- men for the freshmen Friday, September 28, from 3 to 6. THE UPPER CLASSMEN MUST NOT ENFORCE THE ABOVE OBSERVANCE THEMSELVES. THEY SHALL REPORT ANY FRESHMAN NOT OBSERVING THE ABOVE TO THE SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS. FRESHMEN WEEK WLL BE OBSERVED WITHIN THE SCHOOL DURINC SCHOOL HOURS ONLY.

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THE CRIMSON AND GRAY v u r REVIEWS RTRuOLAV BLACK BOY By Richard Wright Reviewed by ROBERT LANCEVIN ' 47 BLACK BOY is the story of the turbulent youth of Richard Wright, a southern boy. Hard times, the separation of his mother and father, the death of near relatives and the resultant shifting from town to town, from city to city, all caused him much dis- tress in his early years. The theme of the biography is the author ' s con- viction that he should exist as a distinct individual, not merelv as one of the many southern blacks . He is constantly forced by his own relatives to con- ceal his personality and his intelligence. They told him it was not good for black boy to try to get ahead ... he should be meek and mild, and even servile. Richard Wright was not content to be a nobody. He wanted to be a man and not a mere flunky. He was fired from numerous jobs because he wanted to get ahead and was often told to be content with what he had or get out, Around whites he was supposed to be some sort of automaton, a robot, a mechanical man. He was not to think or even feel. As he puts it, the safety of my life in the South depended on how well I concealed from all whites what I felt. Throughout the book Richard Wright keeps your nerves taut. He takes you in and out of the many predicaments which dotted his life. He makes you feel what he felt. His anger at being kept down, his inability to understand this attitude, his supreme wish to be a man by men ' s standards are all there. He concludes his book with these words: With ever watchful eyes and bearing scars, visible and in- visible, I headed North, full of a hazy notion that life could be lived with dignity, that the personalities of others should not be violated, that men should be able to confront other men without fear or shame, and that if men were luck in their living on earth, they might win so me redeeming meaning for their having struggled and suffered here beneath the stars. TWO NEW BOOKS Reviewed by ROGER HEBERT ' 46 The success stories of great negro personalities, whom we are glad to call Americans, are presented in two well written books: GREAT AMERICAN NE- GROES by Ben Richardson and WE HAVE TOMOR- ROW by Arna Bontempts. The former book includes people of such diversi- fied talents as George Washington Carver, scientist; Paul Robeson, actor; Joe Louis, fighter; and Marian Anderson, singer. In WE HAVE TOMORROW are twelve lesser known American negroes who greatly dared and greatly achieved. Included are Col. Benjamin Davis, Jr., who for a year was given the silent treatment of West Point; Horace Clayton, who discovered col- ored boys don ' t attend the school dances in Seattle; Mildred Blount, who as a child worked so hard she fell asleep in church; the phenomenal Hazel Scott, who overcame many obstacles to obtain her remark- able success at the piano in the blending of modern jazz with the classics — and others. Many people in the United States today have little realization of the ability and courage of the American negro. If Americans read these books, they would appreciate the colored race to a greater extent. Ap- preciation would mean less prejudice and wider tol- erance. DAYS AND NIGHTS By Konstantine Simonov Reviewed by KATHLEEN BROUSSEAU ' 47 Konstantine Simonov brings to us the tremendous struggle of the Russians to hold burning Stalingrad from the clutches of the powerful Nazi war machine during the turning tide of the war. Simonov, war correspondent, poet, playwright, as well as most suc- cessful Russian novelist, has written a truly magnifi- cent military novel with his own extensive experience as the background of the battle of Stalingrad. The battle — one of the most murderous yet courageous battles — of the Russians to hold their line and halt the Germans ' onward rush before they could reach the Volga. Here are seventy days and nights with Saburov, war-toughened Red Army officer, fighting his way from Odessa and Moscow to Stalingrad, as he and his battalion struggle through the shell- blocked streets of smoking ashes and ruins to win back three apartment buildings; we cross the frozen Volga, black and treacherous with bombholes, while Nazi 88 ' s roared overhead; mortars are dragged through open spaces alive with flying shrapnel and the deadly German cross-fine. Three times Saburov crawls through the German night patrol on to the Volga. The battle surges from street to street, from build- ing to building. Brave men live and die; and yet amid the holocaust that was Stalingrad, a Red Army nurse finds her way to Saburov. DAYS AND NIGHTS, writ ten in military language, is devoid of politics and propaganda. Konstantine Simonov has written a great Russian novel. THE RED PONY By John Steinbeck Reviewed by BEVERLY FOX ' 47 At last the master of such stirring novels as THE MOON IS DOWN has turned to a lighter mood and written something of interest to the younger set. THE RED PONY is the book — the author is John Steinbeck. jody wondered what he had done when his father called him that morning, and he never dreamed of the unexpected delight of the new red pony. The de- votion of the two increased every day, as Jody trained Gabilan into a fine pony. And when the two were separated by the pony ' s death, life didn ' t seem worth while. The stranger, Gitano, who came to the ranch where Jody lived because he had been born there, and wanted to die there, too, helped to relieve the unbearable ache of the days which followed. The news of the colt which was to be born soon brought a new joy to Jody, who was named sole owner of the yet unborn animal. After the days of tense waiting, which seemed eternity, the little black colt finally became a reality instead of living in Jody ' s dream. THE RED PONY is written in such an easy, charm- ing style that it appeals to everyone, regardless of age.

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10 THE CRIMSON AND GRAY FRESHMEN ' S REVENGE JOHN R. FERGUSON ' 47 I was tired. The lines on the blank paper in front of me were blurred. I was trying to write a theme for English. I could not keep my eyes open. A clock ticked monotonously away. My head dropped slowly toward the paper. Then I was asleep. When I awoke, I saw something close to my eyes. I had trouble focusing them on it. When I did, I shut them again. I opened them a second time but it was stiil there. It was a little man, about four inches tall. He laughed as he pointed his finger at me. Then others came out from behind my stack of books. They were laughing, too. I thought I had seen them before, but that was fantastic. I then realized that they were all freshmen — or rather, miniatures of freshmen. I tried to raise my head but couldn ' t. I squirmed around in my seat and found that yards and yards of green ribbons were tied around me! I could smell something. It smelled like lipstick . . . Oh no! I saw my reflection in the window. My whole face was smeared with the stuff I had so recently applied to the lips of freshmen. In my hair was a huge green bow. My shirt was on backwards and my pants were rolled up well above my knees. I knew without look- ing that my socks were different colors. And around my neck hung a sign, written in letters of fire, I am a Junior! By now there were dozens of the little freshmen running around on the floor and desk and climbing all over me. They were all laughing and shouting. Suddenly the clock struck. The little people van- ished. The ribbon, lipstick, and other things disap- peared. I then realized I must have been dream- ing. But — I could distinctly smell lipstick! FRESHMEN FOLLIES PHYLLIS ACARD ' 49 Although it was bad enough, it could have been worse. Of course it ' s about the Greenhorns ' take it or leave it legal third degree at Wells High School. Yes, this year, for the first time our fine friend, Mr. Robertson, O.K. ' ed initiations. As usual the shy (?) seniors conducted the party (for them). My back still aches from sitting up straight so as not to crush my sign, but what hurts even more are my feelings. I have carried around all week a feel- ing of abuse, as I suppose every advertiser (sign car- rier) in room 108 has. Our teachers helped us tremendously although I can ' t imagine why they didn ' t laugh at the boys ' painted lips and the girls ' eight pigtails. But doesn ' t a story always end with revenge of the unjust? Well so did this one. Because after they had their laugh, the solaced seniors were told that out of their pockets would came a party for the freshmen. Anyhow the seniors didn ' t mind too much, because most of them had a lot of fun. To those I repeat, Some people never grow up. What are we going to do about it? We are going to wait three years and pile our revenge on the in- nocent greenhorns of 1948. Who wouldn ' t? FRESHMEN WEEK KENT BLAIR ' 49 May you all have pity on us boys so meek, Who had to endure Freshmen W ek. With our high water pants and our unmatching socks, Plus a bright green bow on our short clipped locks. With our shirts on backward and a bow on our arm, Our lips smeared with lipstick that added no charm. With a tie down our back and a great big sign, We said we ' re FRESHMEN; we hope for the last time. DILEMMAS OF A FRESHMAN ANN MARIE FLYNN ' 49 As I walked down Main Street last Thursday, the people turned around completely to stare. This did not bother me too much, being a spectacle for the public ' s eyes to gaze upon was nothing. I would not say that I looked too bad. The pig- tails had an odd way of drooping forlornly as if the trials of Freshmen Week were too much for my hair to bear. Sweaters inside out was not bad, but I don ' t know how many people came up to me and said, Your sweater is inside out. Yes, I would smile politely through bared teeth while my mind was flooded with dreams of being an upperclassman. If people did not read Page 1, Col- ume 2 and continued on Page 3 of the Southbridge News it was no fault of mine. On Friday morning I came to school carrying my sign, the big one that said I am a Freshman in hideous green letters. The very thought of those words which have caused me so much anguish and torment sent shudders up my spine. Oh well, in 9% months we will be freshmen no more — happy thought — in the meantime we are all having a wonderful time. THE WANDERINGS OF A SENIOR DURING FRESHMAN WEEK MARCIA SMALL, ' 49 One more roll there, big boy. Up go the trousers two more inches. Oh, for a candid camera! Here ' s a girl with her pigtails up on her head. That ' s not fair! And down come the pigtails. Do you have eight pigtails? Count them again, maybe you made a mistake. | Only six diferent-colored rbbons, too. Hand over some of the green crepe paper. Where is the green bow on your arm? Just for that you ' ll get a great big one. Seniors really know how to tie bows. Hold still. There! Now don ' t take it off. The lipstick looks just darling, boys! Now wait just one minute, Freshman! How about that sign? Is it eighteen by twelve? Okay. We poor freshmen, can even measure a card to suit the seniors, just think, some of the cards were one-thirty-second of an inch off! ! Oh well, we can stand almost anything for one week. But I pity the freshmen next year. What we won ' t do to them! FRESHMAN WEEK ROBERT CRAIG ' 49 From September 24 to September 28 To perform the following was our fate. Pants rolled up Different colored socks A green bow on our arm And another on our locks. We had to wear dark lipstick And a great big sign. We thought that we looked silly, We weren ' t far wrong that time. Shirt on backwards, Tie backwards, too, Boy! ! ! I thought, I ' ll be glad When Freshmen Week is through! Friday, there was a party. We had a lot of fun, But all the freshmen were doubly glad Cause Freshmen Week was done!