Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

Page 10 text:

l 4 THE SPECTATOR -? 77.7 fr .YY 41--,f As he bent over the corpse to draw the ring from her finger, he saw her slowly rise. Terror-stricken he fled, and she slowly made her way to her home and knocked loudly at the door. The mourning knight was aroused from his sleep by the appearance of his frightened servants, who said his wiie wished admittance. He gazed at them in wonder and said that he would rather believe that his horses were graz- ing out of the attic windows than believe their idle tale. No sooner had he uttered these words than he heard a heavy tramping of hoofs along the stairs overhead, and, thus convinced, rushed to the door and at once bid his wife enter. To commemorate this event he had stone heads carved and placed them at the windows, through which his steeds looked when his newly risen wife was waiting at the door for readmittance to his house and heart. They remain there to-day. The main feature of our drive was, as you might sup- pose, the cathedral, the second highest in the world and the most beautiful and imposing piece of gothic architec- ture ever built. We were inside only afew minutes and saw little of the interior. Over the three front entrances we Gnd representations of various saints and bishops, and above these rise the two great spires. The foundation stone of the church was laid in 1248 and the work contin- ued till 1437. From that time the progress of the construc- tion stopped until 1827, when the restoration began. On Sept. 4, 1842, the foundation stone for its continuation was laid, and twenty-one years later the interior was finished. In 1880 the building was entirely completed, and the inaug- uration took place on the 15th and 16th of October, when the last stone was placed in its position amid impressive ceremonies, in the presence of old Emperor William and nearly all the princes of Germany. Its towers reach an altitude of 511 feet. The nave is 145 feet from Hoof to roof. lt is impossible to gaze on certain parts of either the interior or exterior of this stupendous structure without feeling well-nigh crushed by the overpowering realization of the sublime. After seeing the cathedral we went to the ho- tel and secured a good ship, turning out early the next morning, as we wished to take a trip up the Rhine with a steamer which was to leave at 8:15. G. S., 'o5'.

Page 9 text:

THE SPECTATOR 3 ests we Hnd many beautiful shady and moss-covered walks. Throughout these forests, the dead twigs and branches are gathered by the peasants, and thus a walk through them is a real pleasure, for we hnd no underbrush in which to entangle ourselves. Pine cones, which vary in length from four to six inches, are used to make Hre, and thus every part of the tree is used. The object of our visit to this village was chiefly to see friends and rest ourselves for what was to come. This place, however, is of interest to some of us, as it is the birthplace of many of the early citizens of Johns- town. After remaining here a week we started for Cologne. On our trip to that city we passed through fourteen tunnels and also saw how the German forests were planted. On one hill we saw young trees, or rather bushes, about two feet high 5 on the next hill, the trees were about five or six feet in height. As I passed the various hills I noted the growth until I came to the tree in its natural state. Finally, after a ride of about six hours, we arrived at Cologne and, after leaving our luggage at a hotel, went out to see part of the town. Of all the cities on the Rhine, Cologne is the wealthiest and most renowned. lt has played quite a role even in Ro- man history. Here Trajan received the summons to assume the imperial purple. Here Vitellus and Silvanus were proclaimed emperors, and here the latter was murdered by one of his cohorts. Here also, in the camp of Germanicus, was born Agripplna, the mother of Nero, and she, retaining an affection for her birthplace, sent here in after years a colony of Roman veterans, and gave it her name, Colonia Agrippina, whence comes the modern name, Cologne. Having but a short time to see the place, we at once engaged a cab and viewed the principal buildings and thor- oughfares. The city contains many old and unique build- ings, two of which I noticed dated from 1557 and 1601. Another house, however, was of greater interest to me, for two stone horse heads appeared at the upper windows. Long ago, as the legend goes, the wife of a young nobleman became ill and fell into a trance which resembled death. She was buried, and on the night of her interment a monk went to her tomb to secure a precious ring which she wore,

Page 11 text:

THE SPECTATOR Man an? Nature O'er the things of earth in nature Man has somewhat of controlg Year by year his mighty armies New undreamed-of powers enroll. Wind and water, nature's weapons, To his hand have been inclinedg E'en the swift and mystic lightning By his skill has been connned. And the evanescent sunbeam, Goal of every infant's dream, Thru the force of man's persistence, Makes to tlow a living stream That transforms the barren desert: Stately trees in splendor rise, Underneath whose shadows nestle Oases of Paradise. But 'tis not without contention That man thus extends his way: Shattered armies, battered outworks, Mark the progress of the fray. For old nature's powers titanic, On this curious mundane sphere, Wage with man unceasing warfare For the sole dominion here. And the vantage first with nature, Passing slowly unto man, Turning quickly back to nature, ln the end is lost to man. Likewise in domains celestial Are man's sturdiest efforts vaing Tho he smile or tho he grumble, Down will come the fresh'ning rain Or perhaps the feath'ry snowflakes Thru the cold and frosty air Uninvited drop upon him, Clothe him in a mantle fair. Not he alone by heaven is shrouded ln a robe of ,qlist'ning whiteg Deep down under earth's warm cov'ring All the flowers lie hid from sight. Here they pass the dreary winter, Snugly 'neath the frozen sodg Hear their low sweet voices murm'ring, Man, abide the will of God. M.