University High School - Cub Yearbook (Oakland, CA)

Page 39 text:

which rendered l1im completely negative. The magnetic force was pulling him violently, and he was being subjected to a transmigration to another realm. Darkness fell, and suddenly the sky became lit with myriads of Bunsen burners, disclosing a forest of tall graduated cylinders and an underbrush of beakers and test tubes. Far away could be seen a pool of shining mercury. mllhis is the world of pure science, came the voice, and somehow Billy seemed to rec- ognize the voice of his professor, Mir. Methyl. First you are to take a swim in hiercurious Lake, after which you will meet the atom-at- large. 'c'l'here's something phoney about this, thought Billy. Can it be punishment for my murderous throught about the fish? lily body canit stand the terrifi-c pressure of mercuryf' And he shuddered to think of what an atom-at-largei' might do to him. However, he felt himself drawn forward by Professor lVIethyl, who was rushing along the winding paths through the test tubes toward lhl.CI'C1ll'l' ous Lake. A sudden chemical thought struck ter- ror to Billyis heart. 'cThe professor is posi- tive, I'm negative, and the mercury will con- duct us, but where ?', thought Billy. No sooner said than done, like the thun- derbolts of Jupiter they were hurled to the onoosite shore of this tremendous lake and brought face to face with the atom-at- largef'. But, strange to say, the 'catoni-at large was not at all what Billy expected, be- ing nothing else but a big four ring merry- go-round, in the center of which a pon- derous steam Calliope was playing jubilantly. Get aboardf, said the professor, and Billy' jumped on Epicurus, the nearest elec- tron, thinking it was just like the horse at Neptune Beach. He could see ahead of him the professor on an electron labeled Democri- i, -i-P-Q in 1 fx .7 A .. S,,,ss+ ' iii? f X i f qg ffg ,,,. f V- .f Q 29 , al l iqiy 717 l il . fapggfsigas p Elly, . .id-i'i 5 1 liii'i ' 'g f AN XX 6 ,A i wk 'Q X l ' -X T3 iw gg 9 Y 1. YAG 11 V Xxx lvl?nr i idx' iiiliitiii il NA y 2,0 il Sli iz fi? ri iff pil 2' ui' Ei. -- ml lv ! 1 mi

Page 38 text:

, 1.5551 -nn . Ala.- -2f.2f-ge a iwi Q 50 P N' wld- X 9 X Y N! KI , J X , A s-c..ff-- Q.,- - 4...-, ,. f, K1 ID w 'fm I ff Af Wil, I ,fy vi ff l 1629 . 'D I LAI30 IQATD DY DAY Pretty, isnlt it?,, remarked Billy Bunk- er, as the fumes of chlorine gas rose thickly from the glass beaker resting on the laborat- ory table. VVhat did he care if chlorine was in the halogen family? He had always belonged to the Bunker family and nobody ever remarked about that. The slow permeating gas intrigued him and lured him to a wide green meadow beneath a dazzling summer sky, the beauty of which was confused by the miserable thought of millions of buzzing electrons darting at an average speed under an ordinary temperature and pressure. No longer could he enjoy the warm intoxicating sunlight, for it was entirly subordinate to the miserable sensation that he was a victim of ultra-violet rays and radiant energy. Fifteen pounds air pressure pushed on all sides, he was overwhelmingly concious of his specific gravity, and he was fairly bursting with his linear coefficient of expan- sion. He was even aware of his bodily composi- tion of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, so easily dissolved in the presence of sulphuric acid, carbon tetrachloride, or molybdate solut- ionf, he thought. Ordinarily on as beautiful a day as this Billy would hunt for a secluded brook and sit on the bank and fish awhile. Never again! Now he found himself instinctively plotting murder by deoxidizing the water and netting a large haul of astonished river trout. Plc could think of a number of instances whereby his scientific knowledge could be applied des- tructively, when a voice from far behind sud- denly released the tension of his thoughts. YVl1eeling about quickly, he found himself in the presence of a positive dynamic force

Page 40 text:

tus, snatching rings for a free ride and calling back to him in apology. They're the rings of Saturnf' he explained. Grab one. Hold on tightf, screamed the professor, VVe,re about to enter the cathode rayf, Darkness again enveloped them. A green light in the distance was rapidly growing bigger and bigger, and a loud humming ac- companied it. As the noise became unbearable Billyis disaster seemed eminent. 'Tm done forf, he thought, as he buried his face in the hair of the electron. He experienced a violent whirling sen- sation. HI know what it is, thought Billy. c'The atom has split i11to its component parts and 1'm lost in the Universef' He summoned enough courage to peek through the hair of the electron and was consoled to discover Professor hlethyl ahead ol' hinr still exerting his positive influence. The professor, no longer wearing his pedantic expression, was thoroughly enjoying his ride and making whoopee on his ele-ctron. lXIr. lNIethyl was embarrassed to be caught off his guard, and he turned about announcing severely to Billy: Next we'll enter the ionic equation! But Billy objected. The professor conceded. 4'VVell, the bell is ringing and perhaps we had better take that up later. By this time both his own electron and the professor's were slowing down and taking on a sort of rocking motion. Ahead of him Billy could see the door of the laboratory standing open. VVith an easy gliding motion the professor headed in, and Billy followed. Bly boy, spoke 'Professor ltlethyl, and his tone was soothing. He,s coming tof' and He's all rightf, were strayed voices reaching Billy's ear, and Billy responded. 'cSure, I'm all rightf, he said. It was darned good! --FUL'roN Tooiimic. 1,-Q. A 1 '47 . A f l m E E5