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

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DECEMBER, 1947 The Gulliverettes and the World Series ANN MARIE FLYNN ' 49 Now you may ask what the freshmen or Gulliver- ettes, as we shall call them, have to do with the World Series? That is exactly what I asked myself when given this assignment and here is my answer: — Nothing, absolutely nothing, unless you take into consideration the fact that here in school, Seniors, luniors, Sophomores, or Freshmen, we all have some- thing in common, we are all Americans. And what is baseball? It is sportsmanship, the will to win, loyalty and spirit. It stands for all the things we hold dear and for what we have fought many wars and given up many lives to defend. In a sense, baseball is America. We are all baseball fans, from the proudest senior down to the lowest freshman, whether we realize it or not. We root for our team, the American way of life, everyday in some way. Then there is the World Series. We know that it is a series of games played between the best two teams in the majors, who have proved their worth in one hundred and fifty-four games, to decide which one will be crowned the World ' s Champions. So too, in America each man is given his chance and plenty of opportunity to prove his supremacy in some walk of life. This is evident, even in high school, where a boy or girl can strive to be the best, regardless of his or her place in the school — his ability alone decides the question. The freshmen, just entering high school, are truly the lucky ones, for they are only starting to play the first game of the Championship series, while the sen- iors will soon be playing the much more difficult last game of the series — the series whose victor will have achieved success. A Freshmen Adventure NORMAN CLOUTIER ' 51 Gulliver and Gulliverette were twins who went through grammar school together. After grammar school, they decided to go to high school. When they first entered the school, all went well. Three weeks after they entered, they were called to the auditorium. This was a great big hall that seemed like a strange land. As usual the principal made a short speech. When he finished his speech, he introduced a boy whom he called the president of the school. After being introduced, this boy took a list from his back pocket and started to read the things that the fresh- men had to do during freshmen week. Then things started to happen. First Gulliver and Gulliverette heard loud laughter and screams like those of witches. Then someone started to sneer at them and fiery red eyes stared at them. Ivory teeth and venomous fangs snapped at their heads as they growled. The terrible creatures who did all these things were great big giants and their victims were the tiniest of tiny people. This all happened while the giant on the stage read on. The more he read, the more the other giants snapped, laughed, growled, sneered, and stared at poor Gulliver and Gulliverette and the rest of the tiny people. Although this last- ed for only a few minutes by the clock; to Gulliver and Gulliverette, it seemed hours. When their vision cleared, the tiny people realized that they were freshmen in the school and the giants and witches were all upper classmen. If you were ever thrown into a cage with a lion (a senior), a panther (a junior), and a tiger (a sophomore), so that you thought you were doomed, and then all of a sudden a door opened and you escaped, you would then, and then only, realize how glad the freshmen were to get out of that auditorium. The Gulliverettes Come To M. E. W. H. S. STUART BARR ' 49 ' Twas the middle of October in ' 47 And we were in English ' bout half past eleven, When a shout from the back of the room broke out And Del Vecchio and Varnum started runnin ' about — My eyes, my eyes, what does this mean; Surely, it must be only a dream. Two little midgets suddenly popped into sight; Wow, they surely gave us a fright. I see them now, Steve Pappas cried. DON ' T YOU DARE TOUCH A HAIR ON OUR HIDES. They spoke, gosh, t his was too much for me. WE ARRIVED ON A FLYING DISC, YOU SEE WE WERE PASSING THROUGH TOWN AND DECIDED TO STOP AT THIS DARK AND QUIET, SECLUDED SPOT. AFTER CRAWLING UNDER THE GREAT FRONT DOOR AND SOMEHOW LANDING IN 104, WE CURLED UP IN THE INKWELLS OF THESE TWO BOYS AND THEN, NOT HEARING ANOTHER NOISE, WE DROPPED OFF INTO A HEAVY SLEEP THEN WERE AWAKENED BY THE PATTER OF FEET. THE PERIODS DRACGED ON VERY BORING AND CRAY ALL THROUGH OTHER NOISIER CLASSES WE LAY. THEN FINDING THIS THE QUIETEST CLASS— WE DECIDED TO MAKE OUR APPEARANCE, AT LAST. WE ' RE THE GULLIVERETTES FROM A LAND NO ONE KNOWS WELL, THERE IS OUR STORY AND NOW WE MUST CO. They mounted their disc and then flew away. That ' s why we ' re writing for the Crimson and Cray. If you don ' t believe this, just go and ask — Anyone from the 4th period class.

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THE CRIMSON AND GRAY The T5ulliverettes1n The Office -HCLEN PIENTA ' 48 Nonchalantly the senior girl sailed in and deposit- ed the yellow slips on the teacher ' s desk. The dread- ed moment had come. Once again we began to shrink to Gulliver size. Among ourselves we are wise, cocky, and sophisticated but the minute we come into con- tact with upper-classmen and their doings — we ' re Gullivers again. The teacher read our names and handed out the slips. The yellow slips seemed to be larger than we were. We were frightened. What had we done? Why were we summoned to the office — the place where seldom freshmen were called — the place which brought fear and dread to our minds. To increase the fear and hysteria, the yellow slips said at the end of the period. We solwly counted the minutes till the first bell rang, hoping it would never come. Blindly we made our way to the office. The way wasn ' t too familiar in this large maze of rooms. Be- fore us loomed the door and on it the words Prin- cipal ' s Office. Please come in. Smaller we shrank and were tempted to run away to hide. A pleasant voice called out, Come in. We opened the door and entered. In the office were other freshmen and upper- classmen. We were certain nobody would ever see us because we felt so small, but the secretary took our slips, and asked one question. Which bus do you take to school? That is all, one question, and after we squeaked out our answers, we were told that we could leave. Quickly we walked out. What a relief! What joy! Why it wasn ' t bad at all. Rapidly our confidence re- turned and we grew. We were no longer Gullivers — that is, until we met the upperclassmen again. The Gulliverettes At The Coke Bar PAULINE ST. ONCE ' 49 Sometimes I ' m inclined to feel sorry for the Gulli- verette twins. They really are so young and don ' t dare risk annoying the giants. Why, just the other day between 3rd period and 4th period at the coke bar in school, Gulliver wanted to get drinks for himself and his sister. As it often happens, many giants were clustered around the coke machine exchanging the latest gossip. Gulliver patient- ly waited in the background for the giants to clear away, but when they seemed determined to say, he slowly attempted to elbow his way through. Twice the giants pushed into place in front of him and stepped on his toes, but Gulliver, undaunted, worked his way through slowly and almost hopelessly and . at last, success! He had reached his goal, the coke machine now stood within an arm ' s reach. Clutching his nickels he reached for the slot and dropped them in. The hard earned cokes were now in his possession, but Ring! Ring! went the bell, and he was called to class, mi- nus his coke. The Gulliverettes At Assembly MARCIA SMALL ' 49 The Gulliverette twins are ready to give up and go home to Gulliver land where they feel that all men are created free and equal. Why do they have this feel- ing? It ' s like this. It seems that it is the custom at Wells High School to have an assembly every week. This is fine and dandy for everyone concerned except the Gulli- verettes. Half the time they can ' t go on account of the shortage of seats. There they sit in their home- room, books in hand, all set for a peaceful hour of study, while all the giants, with satisfied smirks on their conceited faces, troop by the doors on their way to a wonderful entertainment. If, by a miracle, the twins do have a chance to go, they invariably end up in the corner seat of the bal- cony where they view the movie (it ' s always a movie on those days) from an angle which is absolutely im- possible. Now the twins aren ' t poor sports or anything of that sort. They realize that next year they will see all the assemblies and that their country cousins will be the ones who will miss out. It ' s just that with meatless Tuesdays and eggless and poultryless Thurs- days, they can ' t bear that seat shortage! Ipso and Facto ROBERT CRAIG ' 49 DAVID VARNUM ' 49 There once were two sprites Two quite tiny mites Not over six inches in size Who were caught in a whirlwind And quickly were hurled in Wells High, which was quite a surprise! Said Ipso to Facto Alas and alacto!! 1 fear we are lost in a school! We might have to work When I ' d much rather shirk All my work for I ' d rather fool! Now, Ipso was furious But Facto was curious So they wandered around and around They went through each room On their jet-propelled broom Though none of us heard any sound! Sometimes they ' d stay There all through the day, Or they might quickly zoom out the door But one day they both fell Into an inkwell So I fear we shall see them no more! Gulliver, Firefighter BOB CENEREUX ' 49 John P. Gulliver, an industrious little man, wistfully volunteered to fight a small fire in a little bit of brush near Leadmine Pond. He energetically jumped on the fire truck and was whisked away to Leadmine. Be- fore he had a chance to recover his weak breath, a thirty pound pump can was put on his back and he was pointed in the right direction and told to fight. It was a new adventure for him, but after a while it got to be tiresome. He was drenched to the skin from a leak in his water can, covered with mud from the swamp, and dirty with soot from the fire. After going through the night in total darkness, he was glad to see the sky lighting up. Then he discov- ered it was not morning, but a new fire burning vigorously in the timber! Receiving an order to move, he set off to quell the blaze. Falling off a ledge, denting in the can, and getting many bruises, he finally reached the fire. Just as he started to pump he noticed that air was coming out instead of water. My, what a time to run out of water! Slowly he started back for a refill and reached the pump. Sit- ting down, waiting his turn, he is presently pounded on the back and told that since he had been loafing all day he might as well sign out.

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THE CRIMSON AND GRAY Editorial The Unsung Hero RONALD SHERIFFS, JR. ' 48 I feel I make no mistake in calling this man a hero. To many people he is a traffic policeman; in my eyes he ' s a hero. Oh! I don ' t mean that he ' s done a spectacular feat. He just does h ' s daily job efficiently, and has done it for twelve years. I suppose that everyone is wondering whom I ' m talking about. I know the older students must have guessed by now. I mean, the one and only Mr. L ' Homme. To 1735 small children who go his way to attend Marcy Street and Notre Dame he ' s their hero. Sure, I admit he bawls them out a lot, and yet, they still like him. They know that he is doing it for their own good and take good care of them. In addition to the grade school children are the 543 high school pupils. Those who have been at Wells for a year or two know him for what he does. So this article is written for the new students, and to remind the old ones. After the new ones go on up the school ladder to graduation, they will grow to like him. He is always on the job, rain, sleet, or snow. Mr. L ' Homme has piled up a good record. There has ne,ver been an accident at his post. That is really good, considering his post is at the intersection of Main, South, and Marcy Streets where both foot and road traffice is especially heavy at noon. A cheery greeting to Mr. L ' Homme is the least a person can do in recognition of the fine service tihs man is giving the town. An Appreciation Of The Art Class DON CRENIER ' 48 The bunny, the North Star and the wise men, papier mache figures of graduates of 1946 — every- one looks forward to seeing these in the window of the Art Class at Mary E. Wells High School. Every year about ten days before Christmas, and again be- fore Easter, our class, directed by Miss Claire Birtz, sets up their items of seriousness and fantasy. As our school days fly by, people our ages and older ask the familiar question, When will the picture win- dow be ready? True, the figures aren ' t being created by experts but by kids who think and act like us. They first gather a great quantity of brown paper of a certain degree of thickness which is soaked in tubs of water. Then a skeleton form of wood is made to form the basis of the figure. The pupils apply the wet paper to the skeleton, layer after layer, each covered with paste. This gradually hardens. While it is still malleable, the artists smooth and work the paper into shape. After many painstaking, precau- tionary measures, they smooth and work the paper into shape. Noses, eyebrows, hands, lips — all have to be coaxed into being. .The final O.K. is given by Miss Birtz. Next the students paint the figure. This process, to obtain artistic perfection, takes two or three weeks. Indeed a lot of skill, as well as work, is required to complete this task. For everyone who is looking forward to a joyful Christmas and the old familiar decorated window, let me wish Miss Birtz and her art classes a happy Christmas. Ah! To Be Teacher ANNE MALONEY ' 50 Students, have you ever thought what you would do if you were teachers for one day and had all the teachers for pupils? I think I would take over this job with sadistic glee — not that I don ' t think teachers are the greatest people in the world, don ' t misunder- stand me! To reverse our situations would be my idea of heaven. Teachers seem to take a great deal of interest in giving you a large amount of homework every night — not that I mind homework. Oh no! Homework doesn ' t bother me a bit. It does seem that every time one teacher gives me a lot of homework they all do. Then when the teachers have given us practically the whole book to learn and I stay up half the night studying, do you think the teachers call on me? Ah no! My hand is up in the air the whole period, but she calls on everyone around me. The next night I feel it hardly worth while studying so I go to bed nice and early and get up chipper and gay. When I get to school, horror of horrors, who does the teacher call on first but me! A few minutes later I begin my long solitary walk to the office and come back with an hour ' s detention ahead of me. The time I have an engagement on a school night it always seems that I have more homework than ever before in my life. For these obvious reasons I would like to be teacher for just one day. Words HELEN BOUCHER ' 48 The dictionary definition of word is a single articu- late sound, or a combination of articulate sounds or syllables, uttered by the human voice, and by custom expressing an idea or ideas. The dictionary, as usual, is accurate; but it does