Arlington High School - Indian Yearbook (Arlington, MA)

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4 ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CLARION. find a number of small hills with that smooth, rolling app arance which char- acterizes glacial formation. These hills are named Karnes and they extend about as far back as Alount Ephraim. Near the reservoir we find three little ponds which are separated from 6ach other on all sides by high, steep banks of glacial material. These are known as Kettle Holes and they were formed by the melting down of huge blocks of ice which were full of debris. Tw-o of these ponds are circular, because the blocks of ice which formed them had perfectly cubical bases, and it has been estimated that the distance from the top of these ridges to the bottom of one of the ponds is about one hundred feet. Through these facts we may gain an idea of the enormous thickness of the ice. As one stands on the summit of Arlington Heights and looks about him on the hills and valleys, the uplands and lowlands, he is apt to ask himself the question how there ever came to be a hill at Arlington Heights. It is be- lieved that this section of the country was worn down by the action of the ele- ments before the time of the Glacial Period. Where the material was soft the erosion was great, but where the sur- face was composed of hard ledges the erosion was comparatively small. There- fore this ledge was left towering above the lowlands and valleys which the ele- ments had formed. These are but a few of the natural phenomena about us, but a little local observation will add much to our knowl- edge of that great ice drama which was once going on where we are now play- ing our humble parts. H. T. Patterson, ’98. THE ST. LAWRENCE AND THE SAGUENAY. There is no more enjoyable way in which to spend a summer ' s vacation than to join a Raymond Whitcomb party and visit a few of the most inter - esting points among our Eastern re- sorts. In such an excursion, a portion of which is comprehended in the title of this little sketch, I had the good fortune to partRipate aJew inonths ago. The morning of July 20, 1896, found our party seated in the station waiting- room at Niagara Ealls, in excellent spirits and occupying ourselves in vari- ous ways while waiting for the early train, which was to steam away at 8.45 bound for Clayton. We had seen Niagara and all its won- ders: we had gazed in silent awe at the stupendous cataract, majestic and sub- lime in its resistless power; we had visit- ed the “Whirlpool Rapids,” dashing their foaming crests high into the air, and lashing the rocks in the river-bed with relentless fury; we had driven across the new suspension bridge, one of the greatest engineering wonders of the age, to the Canada side, whence one gains the finest view of the beautiful Horse-shoe Fall anywhere obtainable,; we had made that novel excursion on the deck of that gallant little steamer, “The Maid of the Mist,” almost to the very CA TERING For all sorts of occasions. Balls, JJLddlngs, Receptions, Dinners, At Homes, Private Parties, Ladies ' Nights, Etc., Etc. Ice Cream, Frozen Pudding and Fancy Ices for private families a specialty. N J. HARDY. JMass. Avenue, Arlington. - - - - Tei.ephoxe Connection.

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ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CLARION. 3 LITERARY DEPARTMENT LOCAL GEOLOGY. Tlie surface of New England has been compared to a stage upon which a great many dramas have been enacted. Among the grandest of these might be placed the “Reign of Ice.” In and about our own pleasant little town we have some interesting phenomena indicating the history of this remote period. Perhaps the most familiar phenome- non is the Boulder Moraine, which winds its devious course along the east- ern side of x rlington Heights. We may walk over its winding track and trace it near the Waverly Oaks, where we find a most interesting formation in the shape of long, low ridges composed of rock, gravel, and sand, which wind along through the Park. These are called Eskers and might be termed fossil rivers, for they were formed by the water which flowed beneath the glacier and are now hardened into these sym- metrical, winding ridges. That the country was covered with ice which slip])ed along from the region north of us, there can be no doubt. On the eastern slope of Arlington Heights, in Robbins’ Woods, are found a number of ledges having a rounded appearance. The surface of these ledges is covered with scratches, all of which run in the direction of northeast and southwest. These ledges are called roches mouton- nees, because of tlie rounded appear- ance of their tops. There may also be seen one or two isolated boulders which have the general appearance of having been carried to their present location by the ice. Among the many interesting features of Boston Harbor are those compact, elongated, oval-backed islands which are known as the Drumlins. These islands are composed of glacial drift and their larger axis, which is supposed to denote their former movement, extends north- west and southeast. This is an entirely different direction from those scratches in Robbins’ Woods, and it would seem that these two phenomena occurred at different times. Eor the scratches in the Woods may have been formed when the ice sheet at its greatest thickness, obey- ing the slope of the continent, slipped along in a general north and south direc- tion; while the Drumlins may have re- sulted from the movement of thinner sheets of ice, broken apart from the rest, and following the local slopes. If we have not seen these little islands, we have nearer at hand other good ex- amples of the Drumlins. Nunnerv Hill, in Somerville, is one whose top has been removed, leaving the bare ledge which shows the glacial scratches. Other ex- amples are Corey Hill, whose oval out- line is clearly discerned when one passes over Harvard Bridge; Beacon Hill, in Boston, and Bunker Hill, in Charles- town. W’est of the Arlington Reservoir, just within the boundaries of Lexington, we win. s sn. Q ROGERS. 47 Massachusetts Avenue. o AGENTS FOi; .... King Arthur Flour, Best in the World, O Best Creamery Butter In five pound boxes and ten and twenty pound tubs. o Goods promptly delivered in Arlington, Belmont and West Medford.

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ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CLARION. 5 base of the Canadian fall, whence, blind- ed and almost overwhelmed by the spray, we were glad to glide once again into more peaceful waters; we had liberally patronized the sliding railway, which takes one down a steep incline to a po- sition, whence, gazing far upward, he sees the American cataract in ail iis glory, pouring its tons upon tons of swirling, seething waters with a roar louder than thunder, into the howling abyss, one hundred and sixty-eight feet below; in short, as tourists are so fond of saying, we had done Niagara. And now, with whistle and clang of bell, the train steams into the station, and a few minutes later is whirling us swiftly away toward our destination. The journey to Clayton, thougii a vcry enjoyable one, affords no striking fea- tures of interest. The route for most of the way lies through a picturesque por- tion of western New York. Reaching Clayton at 4.50, we go on board the steamboat awaiting our arrival and sail out upon the lake of the Thousand Isl- ands. x blue haze lies dreamily o’er the placid waters, giving each island, as we approach it, a dim and indistinct .rppear- ance. Round Island is passed, and later on Thousand Island Park. The latter i.s quite a populous little settlement. In- terspersed amongst the abundance of verdure we find a village in miniature, with a large and enterprising hotel in its midst. Soon after leaving this beautiful spot, the tall tower of the Thousand Isl and House” looms up in the distance, and we realize that we are approaching Alexandria Bay. A few minutes and we have reached the pier and prepare lo go on shore. As we step across the gang-plank we find ranged on the wdiarf, aw ' aiting our arrival, a double line of hotel employees; those on this side, attired in v lute caps and jackets, those on that, dressed, in complete uniforms of dark blue. Rival cries greet our ears. This side to the Thousand Island House,” ' 1 his side to the Crossmon,” “The Crossmen House, this side, “The Thousand Island House, this side.” From the earnestness of their speech, and the energy of their gestures. one would suppose they were political opponents discussing campaign issues. It is McKinley against Bryan; gold ver- sus silver; Republican against Demo- crat. Victory finally declares in favor of the white caps and jackets, and our party makes the best of its w ay to the “Cross- mon,” under the triumphant escort of the wdnning party. The hotel is perched on a command- ing eminence overlooking the lake. The view from the broad veranda is one of surpassing beauty. The blue waters sparkling in the sun, the islands of every shape and size, dotted here and there over the broad expanse, the dainty cot- tages decked out in brilliant colors and surrounded by a luxuriant mass of greenery, the artistic arches spanning lit- tle strands of silver which separate twin islets, the steamers plying to and fro, the sailboats, wdth their white canvas hap- ping in the morning breeze, all unite to T. M. Canniff, Hair Dresser. Billiards and Pool, 417 Massachusetts Avemie. II In M. Peppard, B LA CKS MI TH and - - HORSESLIOER, 413 Mrssachasetts A ’e., Arlington. FOR.... Fine Shoes AMD.... Gen I s ' Famishing Goods CALL ON.... L. C. TTLER, Bank Building.