Cogswell Polytechnical College - Cogswell Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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'ri-its cooswELL 63 Evavrbeh ltlallrg Xthile in a mood to be with Nature one early spring afternoon, I made up my mind to take a long walk by myself into a valley which I. knew was seldom visited. I could not remember much uf the valley but that a beau- tiful, quiet brook found its way through a sylvan tangle of willow trees and shrubhery. 'Ilhe trail over which I went was almost hidden by the long Grass which still bore the dew of the morning. I still remember that the D valley of which I speak had a rich, green, long- gi-gigey nqwfliiw fur gi floor, while the surrounding hills were thickly wooded with trees. .X cool breeze struck me I walked with my coat on my arm, gazing at the groups of oak trees with their branches and trunks twisted into unimaginable shapes. I realized then why Nature was Su often spoken uf as being beyond the power of man to depict. 'Ilhe fresh ocean wind from the ridge brought with it the delightful fragrance of the trees. Although I walked slowly. the time in which I walked tlirougli the valley seemed rather short. :Xt length I found myself at the bank of a brook which I so well remembered as having been the fishing hole for trout several years before. Due to the heavy rainfalls, the size of the stream had swollen so that I was unable to leap across as I had formerly done. I could plainly see the bottom which made a background for a picture of the trout that merrily and hurriedly swam about. I knew of no bridge by which I could cross the stream, so I was forced to walk along the bank through the weeds until I could find a suitable place to cross. After having walked uphill a long way beside this stream, which was approaching its source, I came to a place which was apparently safe as a crossing. I decided after some consideration to take a chance. I stepped first with one foot, then with the other, then again: but as I took the third step I sank a little. I kept on, however, and before I could realize what was happening the mud found its way into my shoes. I could not stop when only three more steps were necessary to put me safely on dry soil, so I made two leaps and succeeded in landing on terra lirma. I felt sorry for myself for having been deceived by the beautiful covering which I was sure could support me while crossing. I trudged on with burdened feet. I was amazed by the sight of the wide spreading Pacific far away. The distance from where I was seemed short, but I knew from previous experience that in doubling the apparent distance in such a case a person would have a fair approximate of the real distance. I had started on my walk with the idea of merely visiting the valley, but, after doing so, I was filled with the desire of seeing again a famous

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62 THE COGSWELL On the sixth day out the news spread that New York would be reached next morning. Mariechen packed her baggage quickly and when the quar- antine officers came on board she stood in line with the rest of the immi- grants, a roll of bills amounting to 3,200 pressed tightly in her hand fthe American gentleman had lent them to her for the purposej and gazing tremblingly at the officers in khaki uniforms who were inspecting the various passengers. Finally, Mariechen's turn came. VVould she be made to stay back like some of the poor creatures in front of her? Indeed, please God, no! Lifting her eyelids, the officer reported, Good eyes. How much money?'l Mariechen displayed her money. Friends? Mariechen nodded, giving full information. Passed,', said the officer, and Mariechen walked on. The ship steamed into the dock at Hoboken, the gangplanks were low- ered and friends, relations and travelers met once more. The third cabin passengers were not let off until last, and it was some three hours before Mariechen joined her American friends at the dock. How nice they looked, the young fraiilein especially, and Mariechen realized that her stiff little German hat looked rather comical. She soon forgot this, however, in looking at the terribly tall buildings in the distance and the great masses of people about her. Marie was delighted with her first view of America. Marie had been in America six months. The nice Americans who had brought her over treated her Very kindly. She had been given some of the younger Frauleinls cast-off clothing, which she had remodeled, and she was much pleased with the fact that she looked somewhat Americanized. Albert wrote monthly, telling how much money he had made on the last crop, the number of hogs sold, etc. This did not interest Mariechen in the least, for, sad to say, Mariechen's heart was bound in the person of a tall blond German youth whom she had met at night school and who had helped her with her lessons. They had decided that when they had saved enough money they would marry and go to California, where they would buy a nice little farm and raise chickens. Here llffariechen was breaking her set rules, but then California isn't Germany, and, besides, Herman wasn't Albert. ELs1E RIPPE, '14.

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64 THE COGSWELL lig'hthouse which lay on the very end of a rocky cliff, which was at least one hundred feet above the surface of the ocean. Not far from where I was I could barely distinguish the branch trail which led to the lighthouse. Before very long' I was hurriedly climbing the trail which I sought, in the meantime looking back over the green meadow with the willows, which partly hid the brook from my view. X After having walked in the direction of the lighthouse I could plainly distinguish the storehouses and home of the keepers. My anxiety to see the inside of the lighthouse led me to walk faster and reach the place very soon. Upon introducing myself to the keeper I was shown the interior of the electric generating and power plant for the great revolving beacon light which can be seen for many miles by the mariners on the ocean. Time had not waited for me and before I was aware the sun was not far from the horizon. I turned iinmediately and started homeward over the path by which I came. My shadow extended far ahead of me and after one last look at a sunset, too beautiful to be described, I walked quickly homeward in the softly falling twilight. MARTIN IUKICI-I, 'l4. a ff X ' I ' X fyjig , W, fri? 2 new W y I 2 3 rd fwifiiiiilp-1l, -im . .,,.- if i,,,,r v ii I l fi- Ziis j fp fl. R447 '- ' --5' elf? f T-,iii :-' S 'R-552 Q 2 gtgl Q