Ashtabula High School - Dart Yearbook (Ashtabula, OH)

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f THE TRAIL OF THE ALPS MILDRED PICKARD '14 HAT a charming place is Interlaken! It is the center for many fine excursions, particularly up into the high Alps. There is one trip, especially, that every lover of the granduer and the majesty of mountain scenery should be sure to take and that is to ascend the Jung- frau mountain. It was five o’clock on July 31 when we arrived at Interlaken. As it was just time for the sunset, we went out to see the color of the gown which the Jungfrau had donned for us. We surely were fortunate to see her in all her glory, for it was the first time in two months she had not been veiled in a misty gown. But on this July evening, as she towered high between the black moun- tains, she seemed to be aglow with iridescent lights. We then de- cided that if the next day brought forth a bright and clear morn- ing, we surly would take the trip to the Jungfrauhoch, which the guide said was one of the most thrilling excursions in the trail of the Alps. As the snow glittered on the snow covered mountains on the next morning, we hurried to the station, leaving Interlaken at 8:05 A. M. Up and up climbed the sturdy little train. Beside the tracks the wild fox-glove daisies,- real American daisies, nodded cheery greetings. Soon we reached Grindelwald, the starting place for many a climbing expedition. Up above, a mere dot in the distance, is the Kleine Scheidigg. To that place is a long slow climb, but at last the busy engine gives a long puff of relief, and we find that we have arrived at Kleine Scheidigg. Straight across are the pale green glaciers of the Jungfra . All about are great snow-banks. In every direction there is a mag- nificent panorama of mountain scenery. On and on we climbed, the air growing thinner, the higher we mounted. On one side there are the everlasting snow fields, while on the other side are the eternal hills. The guide told us to go higher yet and scale the heights of the regal Jungfrau. The Kleine Scheidigg is the start ing place for the Jungfrauhoch, the regions of eternal snow. As 6

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THE DART AH CONTENTS AH LITERARY PAGE The Trail of the Alps...................6 Mildred Pickard, ’14 Speaking of Peacocks....................8 Marjorie Mitchell, ’15 Periwinkle Joe.........................11 Jane Dickinson, ’16 Our New Teachers.......................14 A Metrical Romance - ■ ................15 Martha H. Stone, ’16 DEPARTMENTAL Editorials.............................16 High School Notes......................18 Alumni Notes...........................20 Athletics..............................21 Financial Report.......................24 Jokes ..............................- 25 Exchanges ............................ 28

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THE DART we decided to go as high as possible, we were soon on our way once again. It is hard for us to realize that just a little higher on the mountain, the tourists have the unusual pleasure of snow-balling just as vigorously as we do here in January. The train winds around and around, until at last we have entered a cold dark tun- nel which is very long. The engine puffed along slowly, and every few feet we passed a guard who gave the signals showing that the tracks are safe. The train stopped and I supposed we had come to the Jungfrau- bahn. But no! we were at a place called Eismeer. Leaving the train we took a very romantic walk in a cross-tunnel of rock ice. It was illuminated by inverted green and yellow lights which cast forth a very strange glow. This place is just a small platform where you have a good view of the mountains. It boasts of one of the highest post offices in the world, at an elevation of over 10,000 feet. After enjoying a wonderful view of the beautiful snow cov- ered mountains, we hurried back to the train and rode ten min- utes longer in the tunnel before we got off for dinner. We rode for fifty-five minutes in the tunnel, before we reach ed the Jungfrauhoch, nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. The breathing there is difficult as the air is very rare. The little res taurant where we ate dinner was built on the mountain side, and is everywhere surrounded by snow and ice. After luncheon we started for a mountain climb and a frolic in the snow. We all had our Alpine climbing sticks for assistance in treading over the snow and ice. Soon we entered a cave of ice. It was very cold there and the path was very icy. Without my spiked cane I should never have been able to continue on the ex- cursion. I believe that the snow was the purest and cleanest that I have ever seen. You know that the Jungfrau mountain is so called because the Swiss say, the mountain is as white and pure as the young wife. Coming out of the cave, we had a fine game of snow-balling. It was my first experience of snow-balling in August, but I found the sport so enjoyable that I hope I may repeat it sometime in the future.. We then took a farewell glance at the wonderful scene, on one side upon the dusky forests and the green meadows, and on the other side upon the far stretching ice fields, while we said Aufwieder sehen.” 7