Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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10 4- YANCEY LITERARY SOCIETY

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A Pipe Dream Vast improvements in science will benefit the coming generation. The inadequate lighting facilities of today will not trouble our descendants. The electric light to-bc will as far surpass the modern incandescent, as the present Mazda docs the candle of our grandfathers. A puff of my pipe—and I see that immense plants will be erected to take the darkness out of night by re-enforcing the moon so that its rays will shine as the noonday sun. The by-products of these plants will be utilized by High School teachers for the illumination of dull pupils. Navigation will be developed. Large ships will sail in the air. almost completely doing away with the ocean-going vessels. The Commercial Club of Birmingham will erect air castles throughout Alabama. These will he equipped with field glasses, and will be used as observation stations that the whole state may see the greatness of Birmingham. A fresh whiff—and 1 realize that the art of surgery will become extinct; all ills will be cured by dissolving the organ instead of by cutting. This will be possible to the extreme extent of dissolving the temper of a quarrelsome woman. However, this will require a very strong anti-suffragette toxin discovered bv Mr. Henpccko. The hot'davs of July will be made like bleak December weather. Scientific methods will change hot air to freezing temperature. An allied process will he used by large corporations to freeze out small competitors in the commercial world. Coal for fuel will be unknown in the centuries to come. The great inventors will have assembled machinery to burn compressed air creating the most powerful heat. The hot air furnaces of the future will consume the “vocal discharge” of the hot air” talkers. The economic zeal of the future will admit of no waste. Another draw from tnv pipe—and 1 realize that the leading material for building will be compressed, crvstalized smoke. The large industries will have immense tanks in which all smoke from furnaces and other plants will he stored. T his, by scientific treatment, will be condensed and crystallized into a brick, harder than steel and more elastic than rubber, making an ideal brick building and a noiseless pavement. The city dude's tread will then be as light as bis head. All smoke of the city may be consumed in the above product with one exception—the manufacturers have put their ban on cigarette smoke. t Attendance in school will he compulsory. I lie legislatures will favor hydraulic pressure. M pipe still burns, and I am dreaming on. —Henry I.. F.hlhert. T6.

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A STOWAWAY All was excitement in South Hampton when it was learned that the largest steamer in the world would take on its human cargo there. People began gathering early to book the best cabins on the boat. Visitors flocked from far and near just to get a glimpse of the gigantic vessel. On the eve of the Titanic’s departure over twenty-three hundred, passengers and crew, were registered to sail the next morning. Among the lookers-on was a slender, curly-haired boy. He wore a faded blue sailor’s blouse, and his tattered trousers were held bv a tarred rope wound about his waist. He was a typical English fisher boy. who had lived by the labors of his own hands most of his life. Larry, for that was his name, leaned against a dock post with a sigh, lie was longing to go to the big. beautiful States. To see America was the dream of his life. As he stood there watching the twilight settle about the big sea monster, an idea struck him. “Why not hide under the tarpaulin in one of the big life boats?” he thought. “That’s the way brother Jean went across years ago,” he muttered to himself. I guess I can, t w . Slipping quietly along the beach he threw himself into the sea and swam out to where the big vessel was moored. A few moments of searching brought him to the anchor cable, much to his relief, for he was almost exhausted from the long swim. As light and as nimble as a monkey, Larry swung himself tip the cable and bounded softly on deck. He went up four flights of steps to the upper fleck, and hid behind a large pile of ropes until he had an opportunity to gain his place of refuge. About midnight lie crept cautiously up to one of the davits and soon was under the tarpaulin of one of the life boats. He was asleep in five minutes, and didn’t awake until the bustling noise of the crew began as the ship got under way. Larry found several kegs of water and also sea-biscuits stored in a locker in the boat, ami on this he made his meal. Time passed heavily on, with nothing to do but to dream of his future home. Three days passed, and one night he was awakened from a troubled sleep by a slight jolt, and a series of vibrations, which made cold shivers run up and down his back. While he was still wondering what the trouble was. lie heard the rushing of feet and a tumult of voices, as the people ran back and forth on the deck. Larry heard the officers shouting orders at the top of their voices and the hurried. “Aye! Aye! Sir! of the crew, as they rushed about filling the orders. Lower the life boats!” was the terrifying command that floated up to Larry’s ears. Ready with number fourteen.” was the next order. “Clear away the tackling!” Larry felt his heart sinking when he heard this order given, and abandoned all hope of being saved. 'I he boat rattled down, a number of women crowded in. In the rush Larry was overlooked, and he again had hopes of a future. the boat was about to be launched, a beautiful voting girl on deck shrieked and fainted, for she saw her mother separated from her. There were no more life boats, and there was no room for her in this last one. Larry was moved with compassion, and before he realized what he was doing, he had bounded out and with the help of a sailor pitched the girl over 25