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

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THE CRIMSON AND GRAY Literature What Do I Look Forward To In High School? JOAN LAKIN ' 51 Here in high school I ' d like to accomplish things I didn ' t accomplish in grammar school. (Sort of start anew.) While I ' m busy doing this. I look forward to games where I can shout my lungs out and get rid of some of that extra energy which otherwise I ' m bound to use during some class when it doesn ' t quite fit in. Dances and socials don ' t rate second to this — no siree, not with me. High school is what I dreamed of in grammar school and I am going to make the best of it. True Love DAVID BOUDREAU ' 48 She is beautiful, about the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Her hair is blonde, soft, and lustrous. Her eyes are big and blue. Her hands are soft and pink. When I hold them, they are always warm. I love her voice; it makes me stop whatever I am doing to listen. Whenever she speaks to me, it is with all the sincerity within her. When she speaks to me, it is to me alone. On Sunday afternoons when we go walking, she always wears the black shoes and blue coat that I gave her for Christmas. I feel proud when I walk along with her, because everyone who passes by notices her and smiles. Every night when I come home from school and open the front door, she is there to greet me. Her soft arms about my neck proves she really loves me. She is the most wonderful kid sister a fellow could have. If I had one! The Strife BARBARA ST. MARTIN ' 49 There was a warrior brave and true,. A sword of steel at his coat of blue. He had seen many a bloody fight, But none as fierce as the one this night. Returning from a battle on the shores of Kree, He met a foe as brave as he. Their swords were drawn without hesitation, All others had been killed, and they held the fate of a nation. The strife went on from night till dawn, Nor did they stop at the next morn. They fought in the sun and their throats were dry, Ready to dispair they looked toward the sky. A re you curious as to who won? I ' m sorry but now my poem ' s done. Forced Decision NITA LaROCHELLE ' 49 The morning was cool — the sun had not, as yet, absorbed the dew drops that were still dancing upon the leaves. The quiet streets of Allenville seemed bright and merry. Nevertheless, Edward Broadwell could not breath in all this surrounding glow. Five years ago at about this time, the neighbors had still been complaining that the two Broadwell boys ' merry laughter at 6:30 in the morning always woke them. up. In the space of 780 days, a life time had occurred. He and his brother. Bill, had gone to enlist in the Air Corps, but on the way to the examination center at Elmbrow, they had met with an accident which left Eddie hospitalized for eight months. When he returned home quite well, but not well enough for the Air Corps, he started working at the Brooks Aircraft Factory at the opposite side of town. Since he too, like his brother, was a licensed pilot, he had a great many ideas about designing and bettering airplanes. In practically no time he was an em- ployee. Being with airplanes increased his interest to a large degree and apparently decreased his disap- pointment of not being able to be in the service. Although he never confided his thoughts to anyone, he still had hopes that some day he and his brother would again reunite as pilots serving for the United States of America. Never a day passed without Eddie spending at least two hours doing every exercise imaginable. By exercising daily, his physician had said he might be able to bring his bones into their correct position, thus making him a well man again. Night after night he could be seen in the basement, which he had turned into a gymnasium while his parents looked on admirably because he had such faith; yet they bore very hopeless expressions. Even their physician had been very doubtful of his recovery, but had encouraged Eddie so as not to put him in too low a state of mind. Finally, after six months of continuous exercising, his cramped posture had returned to its familiar posi- tion and Eddie was completely well. The first thought that entered his mind with his returned health was to enlist in the Air Corps imme- diately and hoping that some day he ' d fly with Bill. For that request he knew he could do nothing but pray for and praying had gotten his health back so Eddie couldn ' t possibly imagine why it couldn ' t bring him to his long-missed brother. Nevertheless, even though his body and mind were filled with anxiety for the Air Corps, he permitted himself to be urged into staying at the factory for another week because he had designed a new part for a P-32 and as he said, After all if I ' m going to fly a P-32 some day, 1 want to make sure that that rud- der is exactly the way I want it to be. Meanwhile, Bill had gone ahead and joined the Air Corps. It was during that long week that First Lieutenant Bill Broadwell had met with fate during his second bombing mission to Berlin. On that twen- ty-third day of |une, Eddie had remarked, Golly, mom, there ' s only three more days before I ' ll be in and then I ' ll be getting nothing but closer to Bill. It ' s

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DECEMBER, 1947 not mention the great power words have, or the effect different words have on people. To a beggar, a kind word is like bread in his mouth and an insult is like a knife in his heart. Both words, as defined by the dictionary, are a combina- tion of articulate sounds, but each has a dfferent ■effect. Can you imagine what effect a statement like, I ' m sorry your son is dead, would have on an anxious mother and father? It certainly wouldn ' t be a joyous one, would it? A man is recognized as either a scholar or just a workman through his choice of words. As soon as ■a man speaks, his character is revealed, and the effect his choice of words has on people determine their opinions, which control his success. The memory of men like Caesar, Lincoln, and An- thony lives on through their great speeches. They soon would have been forgotten had their choice of words not been effective. The power of words has not often been empha- sized. Have you ever realized that words have the power to declare war or establish peace. Without words, we probably would have to use the sign language. Can you imagine the difficulty we would have expressing our exact ideas? We would not be able to enjoy entertainment such as radios, books, and plays, if there were no words. I have learned that words have a great deal of power and effect, have you? Boys ' State HAROLD PETERSON ' 48 Town meetings, Senate, House of Representatives, District, Superior, and Supreme courts — what do they mean to you? Do you know the procedure and duties of these branches of the government along with other offices and officials? To teach high school boys a bet- ter understanding of the Constitution and what is ex- pected of those who make the laws and also what those who obey the laws should do is the object of the American Legion ' s annual Boys ' State. For the third consecutive year this event was held on the beautiful and extensive campus of the Univer- sity of Massachusetts at Amherst. On )une 22 over 450 boys from the farthest tip of Cape Cod to the northernmost town of the state congregated at the Athletic Field House of the University to register for a full nine day program of education and enjoyment. The registration separated the boys into two par- ties, Nationalist and Federalist, and also put the boys from towns and those from cities into separate sec- tions. Each floor of the dormitories and the barracks was seperated into different towns and cities named after famous places of both World Wars, such as Marne, Normandy, and Okinawa. These three and nine others made up the four cities and eight towns that were organized. After a period of getting acquainted with boys and lodgings, the first meal was served in the Uni- versity mess hall, followed by the regular nightly as- sembly in the Auditorium. Taps ended the first day at ten o ' clock with still just a vauge idea of what the next few days were to bring. For the next nine days, with the exception of Sunday, reveille sounded at 6:15, followed by break- fast from seven until eight, then an assembly where the orders for the day were given. On the first day caucuses and conventions were held and candidates for the various offices of Boys ' State were nominated. The offices were the same as in any state: governor, lieutenant-governor, down to the least important of- fice of a town. The following days, after the officials had been elected, this period, beginning at ten o ' clock, was used for classes, discussions, and demonstrations of procedure from an obscure town meeting, right up through the Senate, House, and Supreme Court. At 2:30, after the afternoon classes, came the most important part of the day for most of us. This was the athletic period held on the spacious athletic field in the very adequately equipped Field House. Many less important events and places made the stay pleasant and humorous, such as the college can- teen, the summer school co-eds, and the rolling of a shot-put ball at night on our fourth floor at Thatch- er Hall. Most of the boys wlil agree, however, that the best part of it all is just being able to get together with all the other fellows from the state and to have a swell time for nine short days. Girls ' State SHIRLEY CIRARD ' 48 Every year the American Legion Auxiliary sends a girl to attend Massachusetts Girls ' State. Girls ' State was started three years ago to teach the young peo- ple of America all about Gover nment, its functions, and its powers. Everyone arrived at Girls ' State June 21, at State Teacher ' s College in Bridgewater. Approximately 250 girls took over the college. After we were registered, we were taken to our rooms in the dormitory. Here, we got acquainted with our roommates, and then we went down to the mess hall for dinner. We were introduced to our counselors and the director gave us our instructions for the day. Our registration cards informed us which party we belonged to, either the Federals or the Nationals. The group was separated into towns and cities which operated as such. The citizens of each town elected their own of- ficials, and nominated people for the higher offices such as Governor, and Lieutenant Governor. We took part in political campaigns, caucuses, and then final elections, three days later. That night we had the inaugural ball and we were allowed to stay up later than the usual ten o ' clock. The governor conducted all the meetings from here- on. We held a court scene with a jury, lawyers, and witnesses who were Girl-Staters. Everything we learned was essential and it taught us, as no other method could, just how government affects our life, liberty, and happiness. % Cht s

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DECEMBER, 1947 been so long since he got his last furlough, isn ' t it? Now, mom, you promised you wouldn ' t look like that every time I mentioned the service. Gee, don ' t worry, look how Bill ' s been taking care of himself and just to please you, the first time I see him, I ' ll make him promise to duck every time a bullet comes his way, how ' s that? Then a telegram arrived with its unbelievable news. At first it didn ' t seem possible but after a bit of sane calculating, the parents of Bill Broadwell came to be- lieved the unwanted truth. In Eddie ' s case, he simply wouldn ' t believe it and wouldn ' t even think about it. When the priest came to talk to him, he finally broke down and went all to pieces. The thought of having lost his only and practically inseparable brother, gave him a great urge to fight and kill. During that week of Eddie ' s unconscious wander- ings, Mr. and Mrs. Broadwell had strongly decided that they couldn ' t bear to lose their last son and were determined to do everything in their power to prevent his joining the service. Eddie, pulling him- self together, decided to join up immediately, and taking the place of his brother and carrying on where he had left off, although it was entirely against his parents ' wishes. His mother cried constantly and begged him to stay at the factory where he could be deferred because of the importance of his knowl- edge of airplanes. Still, although it worried him, Eddie was determined to do as he planned. Yes, here it was a cool bright morning but Eddie, as I said before, didn ' t see all this. His mind was too engaged with the thought that this morning was his last day at the factory and in the afternoon he would enlist. Thus, he would leave for his training base the very next day. With that in mind, Eddie should have been contented but somehow or other his thoughts were interrupted by his mother constantly begging him not to leave as Bill did. That afternoon, Eddie passed his examination and was classified as a soldier in the Air Corps. On his way home, Eddie actually found himself whistling, There ' s a man that came to my house, the song that he and Bill continuously whistled while togeth- er. He immediately stopped when he saw the hag- gard look on his mother ' s face as he entered the house. Oh, if there was only something I could say to make them understand, he thought. He ate only part of his supper and soon went to bed. Just as he was about to doze off into a troubled slumber, a low voice spoke to him, Eddie, Eddie, it called, don ' t go to sleep now, I want to talk to you. Eddie sat up in bed very abruptly. Why that sounds like Bill ' s voice only more matured and not merry like it used to be, he thought. Bill, is that you? Where are you? Let me see you? I ' m right here beside you, Eddie, and you must listen to me. Don ' t appear for induction tomorrow. You must continue your good work at the plant, understand? Bill said forcefully. But I ... ,1 have to, don ' t you see, I ' m already in. I joined up this afternoon. You ' re not in until you appear before your of- ficers tomorrow, and you must not appear. Believe me, Eddie, I know what ' s best for you. The work you ' re doing now is far more important. Don ' t you realize that you ' re saving thousands of lives with your in- ventions. Do you realize that if you had designed and completed that new rudder before today, I would be alive today? Why, what do you mean, why do you say that? I merely mean that if I had had that new rudder that could not stick on my plane, I would be alive tod ay. You see, the rudder got stuck and I couldn ' t stay out of the enemies ' target. I . . . you, Bill. No, no, Eddie, take that thought out of that blonde head of yours. You are not responsible for my death. It was fate, that ' s all. But what is important is that you must continue inventing new parts so that you may save other fives and at the same time look out for mom and dad. Your life is not your own, Eddie, it belongs to the life that is in all the other boys in the Air Corps. I must go now, but before- L go, promise me you ' ll do as I know is right. Tell me you ' ll not do as I did. Don ' t stutter, promise, promise! I . . . , I . . . , I promise. Thanks, pal. I always knew you were the better of the two of us. What Is A Tree? SHIRLEY A. DiFEDERICO ' 48 What is a tree That stands so tall and green With branches reaching out Like one Begging for love. What is a tree With soft winds Blowing its silver leaves Murmuring and whispering Sweet phrases. What is a tree Standing above you As if it has power Over you, As we have power over Some. But yet it stands With everlasting beauty Throwing light On the helpless, Giving some Strength. What is a tree? Far, Far Away PAUL WOODBURY ' 51 It will be heaven when we get there — those won- derful days when I become one of the masters, a senior. Then some freedom may be allowed to us and best of all we can think of horrible things for the poor fresh- men to do on Freshmen Week. Ah, but such days are far, far off! I have four long years ahead of me — four hard-working (maybe) years. As You Like It HARRY DESROSIERS ' 49 Of As You Like It (which I don ' t) I ' d make a comment (but I won ' t). You read this story, then you ' ll see just why it did discourage me. The book is dull and rather dreary, There are no murders to make it eerie. The only character that is good I think, Is good old Touchstone, the rest do stink, As for dear Rosalind, as the plot doth thicken, Her mushy romance makes me sicken. Even as I sit here sad and pale, This is one quarter that I will fail. Now I ' ll leave you one and all, As you are walking down the hall, For now to English class, I ' m heading — And that ' s a place I sure am dreading. That darn old book is still there waiting. Anyone here wish to go skating?