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

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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!

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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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DECEMBER, 1945 11 US POOR FRESHMEN ROGER VINCENT ' 49 What happened to us poor freshmen during the past week, shouldn ' t have happened to a dog. We had some fun out of it just the same, but woe betide the poor freshman who did not comply with the rules. When the upper classmen spotted him, they would swarm down on him like a pack of wolves going after one poor little sheep. The upper class- men would then decorate them the right way but to the very extreme. (The upper classmen, especially the seniors, took it as a great big joke to see us all decorated like a bunch of clowns.) My personal opinion was that Thursday was the worst day for the boys. The upper classmen surely smeared this poor freshman with plenty of lipstick. I myself had enough lipstick on to supply the whole school. In fact I might say that I looked like the cosmetic counter at our five and ten. The girls were the worst off on Wednesday. What they looked like is indescribable. They seemed to be all tails. What they should start around here is a senior week during which the freshmen push the seniors around. Boy, would that be wonderful. I believe that they have not such a week because the seniors would never be the same again. It was a swell week just the same and everybody, that is almost everybody, was happy. The party sure was swell! THE FRESHMAN BOY VINCENT DEL VECCHIO ' 49 The freshman boy, he goes to school Without a worry, he ' s very cool. He knows that this is freshman week, And goes to school dressed like a freak. He gets up early Monday morning, And goes to school tired and yawning. He gets to school and his pants are rolled high By a couple of seniors, and he dares not sigh, With one stocking blue and the other red, He keeps on blushing, ' til he goes to bed. He gets up Tuesday, bright and spry, And goes to school watching the clouds in the sky. He goes to school with his tie on nice, But the senior boys creep up like mice. He dares not struggle when they turn around his tie, Or he ' d see stars, and not in the sky. He goes to school with his hair slicked back, When all at once he thinks he ' s being scalped with an axe. For along came the seniors, and on him went a bow, Which the little freshman boy was bashful to show. Thursday was the day that went to the seniors ' head, For the freshman boy ' s lips had to be decorated in red. And his shirt went from front to back, Making him feel as though he were slack. Along came Friday, he wore a big sign, He showed the seniors he could take their design. FRESHMAN WEEK JOY WILDE ' 49 It seemed to me, that Freshman Week — Was fun for all, both strong and meek; The Upperclassmen had their fun, And laughed and teased when the week began. Eight different pigtails caused quite a riot — Even the Office was far from quiet ! ! ! Two colored socks caused quite a bark From outsiders- who thought we had dressed in the dark! Lipstick on the boys, a tie down the back- — I declare! Such legs! There ' s nothing they lack. The girls without makeup seemed out of a book; It was awful indeed, you never saw such a look As we got from the seniors met in the hall. They ' d always say, Freshman, get on the ball! With bows in their hair, the boys were forlorn — And a sign made of cardboard tattered and torn. The seniors would stop, look, then say Yippee! Then thinking they were funny, said this to me, Stop! Let me measure it! To make sure it ' s right! If it ' s not 12 by 18 kid, I ' ll see you tonight! When the Freshman Party was well on its way — Mr. Sibley came out and made it a day! Soon everyone started to push at once — He ' s taking my picture — do you want a punch? With Freshman Week over — Wells went back to normal. Even though the seniors were casual and formal, We all say hello! when we meet in the hall — And there is no Freshman — get on the ball! We ' re classmates now — and we ' ll play together And win football games, despite the weather! FRESHMAN WEEK ALDEN BENNETT ' 49 On Monday we were asked, if that ' s what you call it, to wear highwater pants and two different colored socks. Well, I got to school all right. Then Ka- pow, a senior, jumps on me, pins me to the wall, measures the height of my pants, and congratulates me on my sportsmanship. After this all I heard was Roll ' em up, Turn around, Hi! cutie!, Eighteen inches, to your knees, and dozens more. I got along okay. Tuesday was easy, all we had to do was wear a tie down the back. It would have been all right but for those eager beaver seniors that pulled my once artistic knot into something that resembled a hang- man ' s noose and felt the same. Wednesday ran along all right. Of course with a brush cut it might have been a little difficult to wear a bow, but with my mop it was easy. The bow on my arm got slightly crushed in the halls, but all went along pretty good. Thursday, Yipe, I wore lipstick, shirt back- wards, and a bow on my left arm. On the subject of lipstick I quote from the rule sheet, Lipstick on lips only. I am only a freshman, but I can read. On Friday we wore a sign 18 in. x 12 in. with various pieces of information on it. I got this cov- ered with autographs of those that could still write after the week ' s ordeal. I discarded it at the party Friday afternoon. This party was a lot of fun. I danced with girls, which is logical, and had coke (the type you drink, not burn,) and so-called cookies. This, to be serious, was very nice of the seniors. We were slightly warm and disarranged by six o ' clock but happy, for this closed the dumbest, silliest, most moronic week of my life, I hope; but all in all we had a merry time. I might also add that the one thing I live for is the day when I can put fresh- men in the kennel. FRESHMAN WEEK NORMAN LEIGH ' 49 Freshman Week was a very exciting one. The first day, Monday, September 23, 1945, we, the boys, had to roll our pants up to our knees and also wear two different colored stockings. It wasn ' t very funny for some freshmen, for they had nice, dark black hair on their legs. I was told by one of the girls, It is very interest- ing to watch the boys ' legs as they are always watch- ing ours. Do you think they are something to look at? I asked.