Garfield Junior High School - Gleaner Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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RETURNING FROM A VACATION When we return from a vacation, we always love to tell our friends what a glorious time we have had. We never fail to tell them about the beautiful night and how invigor- ating the air was, minus the mosquitoes. We mention the warm days, but not the cold nights when we didn ' t have enough blankets. We say that the swimming was marvelous and that the water was just the right tem- perature, but we don ' t mention the fact that the bottom of the lake was slimy and that water snakes were abundant. We always talk about the fun we had on hikes, failing to mention snakes, steep rocks and hills, burned fingers and food, thorns, the poison oak, and pine needles in our beds. We always say that the food was delicious, but they don ' t know about the ants which spoiled most of the meals. We display our glorious bronzed skin, but somehow we forget to mention the fact that we peeled for many agonizing weeks before we acquired that bronze. Our friends are always very excited and want to go to the same place we did for their vacation. If they do, I hope the poor things won ' t suffer as much as we did. Aleida Vornholt, High Eighth. SUMMER PLEASURE Oh, don ' t you remember last summer, my dear, Our camp by the old millstream? That freedom has spoiled me for school work this year, It seems like a terrible dream. And after awhile I will wake from my sleep, And see the old tent in the shade; The clothes and dishes all piled in a heap, The table that wobbled and swayed. Oh don ' t you remember the chiggers, my love, And the burrs that grew up on the cliff; The many mosquitos that hovered above, The black snake that frightened me stiff? So well I remember the hot dusty road, That we tramped in bathing-suits wet; The leaky old boat that we patiently towed, The fish that we never did get. Jane Flower, Low Ninth. A SNOW BALL A snow storm reminds me of millions of tiny fairies, who come in silver dresses to attend Mother Nature ' s annual winter ball. Trees, houses, telephone poles are all the partners at the ball. The wind is the piper, and when he plays, the dance floor (which is the ground) becomes a riot of silver and white against the blue tapestry of the sky. Fall ' s gorgeous reds and yellows, or spring ' s panorama of colors to me cannot compare with the dazzling beauty of a snow storm. Jane ScovrE, Loiv Seventh.

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THE BERKELEY HILLS The Berkeley Hills were brown, so brown Until the rain, came tumbling down. Then Mother Nature whispered low And sleeping seeds began to grow. First a point of green broke out, Then slender leaves did wave about; Soon the blades of grass were seen, Now the hills are painted green. Kathryn Clarke, Low Seventh. The stars are out and so ' s the moon, And what you see is as light as noon. Of course, it is dark in the shady nook, But it ' s light as can be by the babbling brook. The fish can ' t see very well, I think; For where they live it ' s the color of ink. It ' s dark down there when the stars are lit, But they don ' t mind ' cause they ' re used to it. Betty Hammond, Low Seventh. A DEEP SEA SCENE As far as I could see in all directions was revealed only dark, murky caverns. The sand, upon which I was resting, was covered with small bits of coral and strange creatures. There were small crabs crawling in all directions. Standing like fairy palaces were the homes of white-shelled coral worms. A small devil-fish was in the act of capturing a brilliant sun fish. Large sea weeds of all varieties moved and swayed around me. On the cavern walls, giant octopi hung like spiders. Hairy sea spiders swam about in search of food, and the numberless, small fish quickly swam away at their approach. Was there ever a more unholy place? Kistler Wagy, High Ninth. A WINTER NIGHT IN WYOMING One night during the winter of 1929 was especially beautiful. The snow lay on the ground like a white sheet. The moon goddess, Diana, was gleaming brighter than on any other night. As it was almost as light as day, the trees made fantastic pictures on the snow where the moonbeams peeped through the branches. In the sky, the stars were like millions of tiny, lighted candles trying to outshine the moon. Paths of golden light could be seen here and there on the blanket of snow. Never can there be another night as romantic and alluring. Elinore Hewitt, High Ninth. SUMMER IN THE DESERT The sun beat down upon an endless expanse of burning sand and sagebrush except a few tall, majestic cacti that seemed to be trying to reach the blue sky itself. The rays of the merciless sun were hot enough to burn the toughest of skins. There was not a tree or green sprig of grass in sight, nothing but sand and sagebrush. Elizabeth Robinson, High Ninth.

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SPRING Green hills, Green trees, Golden sunshine, Bumble bees, Other signs, And all of these Show it ' s Spring. Flowers bloom, An April rain, Singing birds, A shady lane Show that we ' ve Not hoped in vain, Spring is here. Lilian Hennessey, Lore Seventh. DISRAELI Disraeli was born a Jew and though he became a Christian in name, his heart was always with his people, and the glory of his race was his secret pride. He delighted in the irony of associating with the people who worship a Jew as their Savior, yet despised the Jews. One of his favorite comments was, All sensible men are of one religion. When asked, And what is that? he replied, Sensible men never tell. When twelve years of age he showed an intense desire for mastery which was, through life, his outstanding trait. Disraeli attended school for one year during which time he felt himself superior to everyone in the school, master included — and he was. He split the school into two factions, those who followed him, and those who opposed him. After leav- ing school he laid out, with his father ' s help, a course of work that kept him studying for ten hours a day. At eighteen years of age he was at home in any company, gave his opinion unasked, flashed his wit, and criticised his elders. Neither he nor his father believed in dumb luck. They fixed their faith in cause and effect. His egotism was so great that it was admirable. When he was jeered down in the House of Commons, he smiled and said, Very well, I will wait. He knew his power. Defeat meant mer ely a passing episode; his goal was victory. His oratory was quiet, deliberate, and subdued in manner. He learned through his ex- periences that loud speaking was unnecessary. Disraeli chose men of power for antagonists. If small men sought to draw him into debate he would just answer them with silence or his tantalizing smile. Disraeli believed that honesty was the best policy, and his record contained no taint of dishonesty. It is said he had no vice but ambition. Disraeli did not carry out all the plans and reforms he attempted but his personal ambi- tion was reached when he, a Jew at heart, had made himself master of the fleets, armies, and treasury of the proudest Christian nation the world has ever known. Robert Wood, High Ninth.