Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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When forced was mighty Zeus, the king of heaven, To take content vhate ' er lot was given. But now all ' s changed : no more do mortals wait In humble reverence here to learn their fate; And 1 am longing sore to see the face Again of some one of the mortal race. Clotho. Ay, Sister dear, fain would 1 too again See this hall thronged with supplicating men. So long ha -e we alone in silence dwelt, - Time with our fortunes hast not kindl} ' dealt. So sad do seem our lives, our path so dark, So aimless our existence, so — but hark ! Was ' t not a trumpet-note, outringing clear, That seemed this moment to come to mine ear Lachesis. Yea, sureh ' , some one seeks admission here; And to our wish an answer doth appear. (Enter Herald. Herald. Fair sisters, I am he whose trumpet-note Did on the midnight air its cadence float. I come to seek admission here of thee For queen and prince who come from o ' er the sea. Clotho. Speak bodly, herald brave, whence thou art come, And wherefore, to our still and solemn home. Herald. Lachesis. Atropos. Oiieen. Far from the western land, the land of fame,- — The land of sunshine, fruit, and flowers, — I came. For California, fairest child of earth, To me and those I follow, hast giv ' n birth. A herald I, and ser ' e as sweet a queen And bra -e a prince as ever thou hast seen. They come to ask their subjects ' fates of thee, — If good, if bad, whate ' er the ' may be. And now, wilt thou admit them, sisters fair ? They wait thy pleasure, o ' er the threshold there. Go, herald brave, and straitway bring them in ; The boon they ask, yea, surely they shall win. (Exit Herald, and returns with Queen and Prince.) Welcome, O Queen, and welcome yet again. To this our home where we as so ' ereigns reign ; And welcome too, O Prince, so bold and brave. For we will grant the boon which thou dost cra ' e. I thank thee. Sister, thank thee from my heart For this thy fa -or which thou dost impart 30

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Clotho Lachesis atropos CHARACTERS. The Three Moerae. The Queen of Berkeley High, Her Son, the Prince of ' 99. A Herald. Place: Home of the (Moerce on Mt. Olympus. Time: June 2, i8gg. Clotho. Dark night to bless the world has come again, And o ' er the peaceful earth begun her reign. All ' s quiet without, the things of nature sleep, And we alone our endless vigil keep. The silvery moon shines on us from above. Maidens and youths are whispering now of love. Of what is present — not to come — they speak Nor to foresee the future do they seek. Lachesis. Here in our home we spin the fatal thread Of mortal life, — are looked upon with dread. Thou hold ' st the spindle, symbol it of birth; I draw the thread, which marks man ' s life on earth; And thou, O sister, hold ' st the shears of death Which cut the thread, and stealest mortal breath. Thus here we sit, dread Sisters Three of Fate, On whom all things of earth must fain await. zAtropos. 1 think me now of how, in ages past. E ' en kings themselves low at our feet did cast; 29

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Prince. To those who, not unworthy, seek thee here To have the future spread before them clear. Far in the sunny west my kingdom Hes, A lovely land, o ' erhung by cloudless skies. The fairest land that lies beneath the sun, Throughout whose fields the sparkling rivers run; Where countless cattle graze on fertile ground; Where flowers and fruit of ev ' ry kind abound. And, near a beautiful and lovely bay Wherein the blue of heaven is seen alway, There lies a city, famous for its schools Of learning ; and ' tis here my mother rules. The Queen of Berkeley High, you see her stand, Most highly honored throughout all the land. I am her son, the Prince of Ninety-Nine, — This is the title which 1 claim as mine. Queen. Yea, this my eldest son, my joy, my pride. Can now no longer home with me abide. Into a battle fierce his friends he leads ; The battle fierce of life his presence needs. Prince. And so we come to thee to learn what fate On each one of my subjects doth await. My herald from his scroll will read the name Of each one whom as subject I do claim. Clotho. ARTHUR C. LOWELL. Tho ' often bitter foes his fame assail. Yet o ' er their plots at length he shall prevail ; And he shall win his country ' s love and pride. And his unsullied name stand side by side With those of far-famed Lincoln, Garfield, Grant ; And, wise but modest, honored and gallant, You ' ll hail him as his country ' s President. This is the fate for Arthur Lowell meant. WINIFRED BIGLEY. Lachesis. Thro ' all her life she ' ll show her gentle grace Reflected in her quiet yet happy face. And, as she walks life ' s weary path adown. With blessings those around her she will crown. In hospitals, where dread disease doth reign, She ' ll soothe the fevered sufferer in his pain ; And those to whom her patient care is given Will bless her as an angel sent from heaven. 31