Wells River High School - Chatterbox Yearbook (Wells River, VT)

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24 THE CHATTERBOX Dear Alumni: As I am one of the older members of the Alumni and have had an op- portunity to observe some who have made a success in the world, and others who are failures, I am beginning to wonder why some have been successful and some have not. Isn’t it a popular notion that we arc divided into two classes, the fortunate and the unfortunate? In the one class are those to whom every good gift has been given; they have health, and joy of living, and the natural capacity for achievement. The other class includes those who, by some handicap beyond their ability to conquer, are kept from being the successes they ought to be. This is the popular notion, a notion invented by us ordinary folks as an alibi for our shortcomings. I believe we like to assume that the reasons for our mediocrity are beyond our control, that if only we had been given more health, or more money or more education or more something or other, we would have been something very different. It pleases us to indulge ourselves in envy toward those who just couldn’t help succeeding. Some of our most distinguished men had some serious handicaps to con- tend with. Take for examples: Beethoven, who began to grow deaf at twenty-six; Demosthenes, who stammered; Julius Caesar, who had fits; Byron, who had a club-foot; and Dr. Johnson, who was a constant sufferer. The difference between these distinguished men and our successful Alumni and the rest of us is chiefly a difference of spirit, of determination, and the will that refuses to recognize defeat. I am of the opinion that why some of us Alumni have been unsuccess- ful is because we have been satisfied with just a comfortable mediocrity and perhaps have not considered it worth the while to exert the effort and sac- rifice to attain success. I do not believe anybody gets a hundred per cent equipment for life. The game is to see how much we can do with the cards we have to play. fm. H. Bolkum '97, Boltonville, Vt. -----5----- 83 Chestnut St., Gardner, Mass. May 17, 1930 My dear Mr. Gibson: Doctor Bone, class of 1897, asked me to write for both of us in answer to your letter in which you asked for information concerning us for the June issue of the Chatterbox. Dr. Herman D. Bone is located in Gardner, Mass., where he does Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat work. He is chairman of the Medical Executive Board of the Heywood Hospital. On account of the size of his practise he has an assistant, Dr. Herman A. Morrill. For the past two years, he has been first Interne at the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital which is the largest hospital of its kind in America. Dr. Morrill came from Pike, N. H.

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THE CHATTERBOX 23 THE ALUMNI BANQUET Invitations arc out for the Alumni Banquet. The annual banquet and business meeting will be held Thursday evening, June 26, at the illage Hall dining room and will be followed by a social and dance in the hall. A very interesting program has been prepared and Perley Klark s or- chestra will furnish the music. A collection of class and school pictures will form one feature of the evening’s entertainment. ----$----- THE 7’s, 8’s AND 9s There have been ten classes whose numerals have ended either in 7, 8 or 9. Twelve of the fifteen members of the class of 1897 are living and we have heard from Harry Marshall, William Bolkum, Herman Bone and Bertha Davis Bone. 1897 Canaan, Vermont, May 13, 1930 Dear Alumni Editor: I received you letter regarding the Alumni feature of the June issue of the Chatterbox. It is a matter of record that I was a member of the Class of 1897, W. R. H. S. and for the past twenty-one years have been located at Canaan, Vt., and my principal occupation has been with the U. S. Customs Service as a Deputy Collector. I believe I have been a subscriber of the school magazine since it started a few years ago and have enjoyed very much reading the same, especially the issues of the present school year with the Alumni features. There are several of my classmates that I have not seen or heard from since our graduation and if any of them should come to Northeastern Ver- jnont I would be very glad to have them look me up. Sincerely yours, Harry Marshall, '97

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THE CHATTERBOX 25 l or more than ten years Dr. Bone has been Superintendent of the First Congregational Sunday School. I am President of the Missionary Society of the Church, also of North Worcester District. Charlotte Bone gave up her position as silver designer to continue the study of designing at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn. Harriett Bone is a Soph- omore at Wheaton College. The two younger children, Herman A. and C. Joyce Bone are in the Gardner schools. Enclosed is thirty-five cents for the June issue of the Chatterbox. Yours truly, Bertha M. Bone '97 -----5----- The class of 1899 had two members; 1907, eight; 1908, ten; 1917, six; 1918, nine; 1919, nine; 1927, four; 1928, seven; 1929, thirteen. Dear Friends: 1907 R. F. D. No. 4, Brunswick, Me. May 16, 1930 In reply to yours cf May 12th, I would say that about a year ago I lo- cated here in Brunswick and am now engaged in the market garden business, also a small dairying business. I was married in September, 191 5 and have four children, three boys and a girl. I should be glad to hear from any of my old friends, especially from the members of my class, 1907. I am enclosing 3 5 cents for the June issue of the Chatterbox. With best wishes to W. R. H. S., I remain, Dear Winston: Very cordially yours, Warner C. Warren '07 Wells River, Vt. May 19, 1930 I have your letter of May 12th asking for a contribution to the Chat- terbox and will answer your questions as you asked them. After a year’s vacation in the Army, during the late unpleasantness in Europe, our good and wise Government gave me a job carrying Sears, Roebuck catalogs to the farmers in Wells River. I have gathered unto myself one wife and two small daughters, all more or less satisfactory. My interest in Wells River remains as keen as ever, and 1 alwavs enjoy all issues of the Chatterbox. Very sincerely, Charles H. Lanphere '07