Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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12 SPECTATOR above the clouds is a thrill that comes once in a lifetime and one that will never be forgotten. The day on which we went up was cloudy, but the clouds lifted in spots and exposed the bluest sky l ever saw. The Pikeis Peak auto road was opened three or four weeks sooner than it usually is. This was done in order that the Rotarians, not only from the Atlantic Coast, but also those from Europe, might visit the Peak. The road was still full of snow and ice and some places it was banked higher than our car. One car that did not have chains got too close to the edge while coming down from the top and slid over the edge of the road before it could be stopped. We stopped at the Glen Cove lnn on the way down and removed the chains, as the snow line was passed. For dinner that evening we were the guests of the Colo- rado Springs Rotary Club at a trout-fry in Stratton Park. We left the park early and drove up into the Cheyenne Canon to see the Seven Falls. Climbing the three hundred steps to the top of the falls gave a fine view of the succession of cata- racts. This finished our sightseeing. We went back to the station a few minutes before the train pulled out for Los Angeles, carrying a definite impression of the wonderful places which we had visited. - ane's Chance Edith Resley, 22M ,lane l-lam,mond settled herself for study in an easy chair beside the library table in the living room. Her mother and father had gone to the theater to see a home talent presentation of the opera Carrnen. Jane was left behind at her own request for her class at school was to give a number of plays and scenes from plays and all students had an equal chance to gain the leading part. She was a Sophomore in High School and was just now beginning to read Shakespeares plays. She settled herself comfortably and gave one long look around the room preparatory to plunging into her studies. As she did this her eye caught sight of the latest movie maga- zine which was opened at the newest screen Ufindf' She was

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SPECTATOR 11 top of Pike's Peak. l shall remember that ride as long as l live. ' We started in the morning at eight o'clock, mountain time, in a Cadillac touring car. We first went through the Garden of the Gods. Here We saw the huge gate-way rocks, the kissing camels, the lion's head, the baggage room, the balanced rock, and numerous other strange images made by the action of the wind and of the water. The baggage room is a huge mass of square rocks piled up like so many trunks. Having seen the Garden of the Gods, we went on to the Cave of the Winds. This wonderful place, which is l475 feet above sea-level, was discovered and explored by two young boys nearly fifty years ago. The cave is no longer windy, as the old entrance, through which the wind rushed at a rate of thirty to forty miles per hour, has been closed and a new one cut in at a place where the wall was thin. Some of its chambers are two or three stories in height. There are stalag- mites and salactites throughout the cavern. On account of the great number of stalagmites and stalactites and because of their remarkable beauty, tourists have been tempted to break them off and take them home as souvenirs. The Cave belongs to the United States Government, which imposes a very heavy fine and a long-prison term upon anyone caught breaking any of the stalagmites or stalactites. The tour of the Cave of the Winds completed, we set out for Pikeis Peak. The road by which we traveled to the top is eighteen miles long, and has a three to four percent grade. Every mile of the road is marked by a sign post with the number of the mile painted upon it. The elevation at that point is also marked. This system of marking every mile makes the journey very tiring as the travel is slow and it seems to be a very long time before the next mile post is reached. General Pike, who discovered the Peak on November l5, 1806, tried, for two weeks to climb it and failed. lt took us but half a day to go up and down. We had luncheon at Glen Cove lnn, II,425 feet above sea-level, and seven and one-half miles from the top. At the elevation of l2,000 feet all vegetation stops and the mountain looks like one huge pile of rocks thrown up in confusion. The altitude of Pike's Peak is l4, l 09 feet or two and one half miles above sea-level. The whole top is snow covered and is hidden by clouds most of the time. To be

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SPECTATOR 13 tempted to read it, but determinedly turning her back on it she began to read The Merchant of Venice, for surely if she knew a certain part in this play due to diligent study, she would be rewarded with a part in the class play. She grew more interested in it as she read and was particularly fasci- nated by the character of Portia. She fancied herself acting the part and planned how she would do it. Then suddenly she seemed to find herself in a dressing room back of the school stage. The class were to give scenes from The Merchant of Venice and she was Portia. The youthful actors were donning the grease paint when excitedly someone passed around the word that a famous movie critic and director were in front. All was excitement! The curtain rose and fell as scene after scene was enacted. At last came Jane's chance to shine. The curtain rose on the court scene. Portia entered with Nerissa as clerk. Her acting was wonderful. She could hear the shouts of Bravo as she stood breathless in the wings. Back in the dressing room she was greeted by Mr. Hammzers, 'who had directed the play, and by two strange gentlemen, whom he introduced as the critic and movie direc- tor respectively. The acting was very good, said one, in a voice which sounded strangely familiar. Yes, indeed, said another familiar voice. Something unusual for such young actors. V Jane blushingly stamrnered her thanks but was rudely interrupted in the very middle of them by the same voice in her ear. Ujanel Jane! l thought l told you to go to bed early and here you are asleep over your studies. Like Cinderella of old Jane's witching hour fled, and with it Jane's chance. She looked around to find herself in the familiar library and her mother and father laughing at her expression of surprise. Oh, l just dreamed I had received a movie contract, she said, as she marched obediently to bed, followed by her mothers laughing voice: A movie contract as the result of Shakespeare. It isn't being done these days, my dear. Your chance may come through books, but not through your portrayal of Shakes- pearef'