Westbrook High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Westbrook, ME)

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Westbrook High School i fact that Twain's English was perfect, whereas Will Rogers cultivated a broken western brogue. Although Mark Twain had the knack of turning a few common words into a good joke, he didn't care to be considered a humorist all the time. When he made a sensible remark or speech, people laughed because Mark Twain was speaking and this disgusted him. I think he made a wonderful father, for he loved children and never tired of entertaining them, either by telling stories or in some other way. When any of his children were sick, he was one of the first to think of some way to cheer the child. Mark Twain certainly wasn't successful as a soldier. He and fourteen other men called the Marion Rangers were sent out to capture live of the enemy who were staying at an old farmhouse, but as Mark and his friends neared their destination, their courage gave out and the enemy were still free to do damage as far as the Marion Rangers were concerned. Later the enemy attacked the Rangers and they were forced to fight or be taken prisoners. They fought. This conflict resulted in Mark Twain's killing a man. This was the breaking point for him and his comrades, and they all deserted their captain. Mark Twain was not a religious man. He didn't approve of God, but he did believe in the God that he had created himself. As he didn't believe in the hereafter, death was very bitter to him. He never attended a funeral, not even if the death had occurred in his immediate family. Most of his books are humorous, but a few are serious, one of the most serious is Joan of Arc. The tragic part of this book is enlight- ened only by humorous remarks made by Joan, and these are few and far between. I have tried to give you an idea of what Mark Twain is. He is to be considered not only as a humorist but also as a keenly sensi- tive man, loving and gentle, yet tragically fearful of death. E. H., '36. 25 STARTING THE CAR The quickest way to start a car on a cold morning is to rise out of bed, dress slowly, eat slowly, and walk nonchalantly down to the corner of the street and take the electric car to work-on time. This is rarely done, however. Instead you rise very early, rush downstairs and fry two eggs, one for the stomach and one for the vest. You then slip on your coat, get- ting the buttons in the wrong buttonholes, and breeze out into the cool morning air. You jump into the car, fumble with the keys, curse, and then step on the accelerator. It growls like an angry dog, but does not turn over. You curse again-to sooth your feelings. The next move is to crank the car-very embarrassing, especially when a neighbor walks by and shouts, Better take the electric car l ' You smile good-naturedly, but deep down inside you want to shout, Dry up! So once again you start cranking, only to skin your knuckles on the license plate. Angrily you throw the crank into the car, while shouting for someone in the house to call the garage mechanic, and start on fthe run towards the corner with the sore hand in your mouth, the other waving in the air. You arrive just in time to catch the car and get a seat with your neighbor who grins, I told ya. After spending an ugly day at the office, you call the garage man to Hnd the trouble with your car. You nearly swallow your false teeth when he says, It was out of gas ! L. F., '37. NOISES WITHIN A THEATRE Did you ever stop to think of the different noises that are to be heard in a theatre? just before the picture begins there is always a gen- eral babble of whispering voices which indis- tinctly shape themselves into the Words: Fancy meeting you here l Do you think we can see good from here P Suddenly the air is broken by the rasping sound of the starting record and the whir of the curtain as it is opened. The show has started!

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' The Blue fr VVhite 24 dear little tomboy. Only half an hour ago she was clean and whole. The youngster was a Broadway producer of plays and dancing attractions. These were produced in a large, airy, and clean abandoned henhouse. Now this little girl is about ten or so years older. The most enjoyable-occupation or pas- time to her is a musical concert or any musical event. No more scared runaway, only beauti- ful thoughts for all true music. No longer does she wear ragamuflin clothes. She tries to be as clean and neat as possible. The sight of a cow anywhere except behind a strong fence or tied in the barn is enough to merit a wild dash for safety. She still thinks a little calf is cunning, but they grow up so quickly. A grand exhibition could be staged by chas- ing her with a grasshopper. I really think she'd faint from fright. They're so crawly. She is willing to help her clubs and friends, but would rather not be chief producer, except on the side lines. Mother and father often remark about the changes in their children, and after hearing about this little girl's different stages, I don't wonder. Can this be I? E. C., '36. l.,-.-.1 THE FAMILY RADIO According to my opinion, radios bring hap- piness to millions of people. Happiness, yes, but in a family of different tastes they also bring slight disagreements. At home, we all like to tune in on Major Bowes' Amateur Hour, Uncle Ezra, Amos and Andy, and a few other programs. But when- ever I rush home in the evening to dial in on the sensational Danno O'Mahoney bout, I find my sister ahead of me listening to silly wails of a popular crooner. First come, first served seems to be her slogan, because I usually read in next day's newspaper the result of the bout. NVell, the Irishman tossed his rival all over the ring, but I had to read about it instead of listening to it. During the latter part of Sunday afternoon, I arrive home and find Mom and Dad listening to one of Father Coughlin's stupendous ora- tions. Nearby, Sis is patiently waiting for Father Coughlin to sign off so that she can turn the dial about and see if johnny Davies is playing The Music Goes Round and Round. I wonder what she sees in those ho, ho, ho, ho's',g but the Hillbillies I'd like to hear simply pass by. If there happens to be a hockey game on the air and there's also a political speech by a gov- ernor or senator that Dad is keenly interested in, the radio goes to him. Oh, well, at first I'd sort of kick about it all, but I suppose politics are more important than hockey. Be- ing the youngest in the family is grand at times, but as far as the radio is concerned it isn't very enjoyable. I hereby resolve that should I ever fall heir to a decent amount of money, I will purchase nine radios, one for every room in the house. Dad will then tune in on Governor So and So: Mom will have her cooking recipesg Sis can have her croonersg and I'll have my Wrestling bouts, boxing, and hockey matches to my heart's content. R. A., '37, MARK TWAIN When anyone mentions the name Mark Twain, most of us think of a man with a keen sense of humor. VVe do not stop to think what is beneath this humor, but if We did, we would realize that Mark Twain was a very sensitive man. His daughter, Clara, proves this to us by an entry in her journal which relates that her father was as much a philosopher as anythingg and that, whenever he was at home, he would pick out a serious subject to discuss with only an occasional joke thrown in. If Mark Twain had lived in the present day, he would probably have become a great actor, along the same line as Will Rogers, as he loved public appearances and was a very successful lecturer. There is one great difference between Twain and Rogers, however, and this is the

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26 ....44 A The Blue Er VVhite A blaring fanfare of trumpets and a rumble of drums herald the news of the week. After this there is a general, half-hearted clapping, the cause for which I have never been able to decide, whether because the news was good or because it is finished. During the previews a murmuring of unrest passes through the crowd. Now comes a feature, If it is a four star picture or the production company's treasury happens to be momentarily large, there is usually a background of music. In the modern picture industry music plays an im- portant part. It helps to keep the audience from any unrest during some of its duller ,mo- ments and it assists in keeping the audience at the right emotional pitch for the various scenes. There are many disturbing elements through- out the show that sometimes pass unnoticed. Some day go to a picture you've seen before and watch the ushers work, then you'll notice those elements, for instance, the crackling of peanuts and the stealthy approach of an usher to inform the offender that the breaking of peanut shells is prohibited because it disturbs the rest of the audience. Several times it has been my extreme privilege to awaken gentle- men who were peacefully slumbering with sound effects. Then again there are the little boys and girls who timidly approach an usher of a Saturday evening and ask him to take his flashlight to look under the seat in the middle of the second row front. Whereupon the usher, after politely asking the people in that row to rise, struggles to the seat, shields his light, and starts the vain search for a hat or a glove that the child has already found in his pocket. The search of no avail, the poor usher shuts off his light, again asks the people to rise. and strug- gles back to the aisle. Perhaps more common to the theatre are those people who, although they haven't seen the picture, know who the murderer is, because they saw a picture like that three weeks ago at the Capitol. Besides, anyone could guess who the killer is because--. It is usually at this point that the usher comes walking up, and tells the detectives that, due to the fact that they are in a motion picture house and that silence is requested because a few people did come to see the picture and not to hear them talk, the management would greatly appreciate the cooperation of their patrons by shutting up. fAnd if they don't believe it, let them keep on talkingj But the ones who are the reasons for insane ushers, the public enemies of the theatres, are those people who have neglected to read the message on the back of the tickets which states that the management reserves the right to designate where the holder of this ticket shall be seated. These people have a definite style of their own. They usually come in bunches and are mostly women. They begin by walk- ing very fast down the aisle, sweeping the usher, who must walk backwards, before them. Consequently, when he slows down to indicate their seats, the racers suddenly draw up, almost causing a pile-up in the middle of the aisle. This doesn't daze them, though, not a bit. First they look and point at the seat. Then they go into a huddle and within that three- foot aisle hold a discussion that would put the League of Nations to shame. The debate fin- ished, the worthy customers have decided that they desire a seat farther back and in the cen- terg but the usher tells them that, since all the seats in the center are being occupied, they will have to take these seats or stand up through the performance. Evidently they choose to stand, for the whole troop about- faces and returns to the lobby with the usher now bringing up thelrear. Having dispensed with a few of the disturb- ing duties of an usher, let us continue with the actual show. There are a few other noises that we haven't touched upon as yet, for example, the inevitable shufHing of the people coming and going to and from their seats, the whole- hearted clapping as the hero comes a-dashing around the bend, and the murmuring of approval or disapproval as the love scene arrives, In direct contrast to these instances is the almost warning silence as the hero unsus-