Girls Polytechnic High School - Maid Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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P THE POLYTECHNIC MAID 31 During the meal the passengers were favored with music, both vocal and instrumental. After dinner, father took us to explore the ship. There were rooms for all purposes. Among them were ladies' rest rooms, men's smokers, a library, a writing room with individual writing desks, having stationery. ink, pens, pencils and such things as are necessary in writing. There were many other rooms, but the one that really interested us most was the nursery. lt was a large room furnished in white with toys of all descriptions that would make any child happy. It was in charge of a trained nurse, and it was here we spent most of our time playing with other children. Every evening whenever the weather permitted there would be music and dancing on deck. They also had what you might call a regular hospital, with a doctor and several trained nurses to look after the sick. There were three deaths on the boat going over. One of the saddest and most pathetic one I have ever witnessed was that of an aged man, who was accompanied by his daughter, and who knew he did not have very long to live, therefore wanted to spend his last days in his native land. But the trip proved too much for him and he died six days from land. It would have been too long to keep the body so it was buried at sea. It was a very simple ceremony, held early in the morning before many people were on deck. A few words were spoken by the minister and a hymn sung. The casket Qwhich was a wooden boxj was placed on a plank that extended out from the railing. The end of the plank was slowly raised and the casket slid into the ocean and disappeared from sight. After sixteen long days on the water, we finally reached Christiana in Norway. My father decided that being so close to Denmark. we might as well see some of that country. So the next day we continued on to Copenhagen. XVe stayed there only a few hours as we were anxious to reach our destination. XYe arrived in Gotenburg, Sweden, late in the afternoon and the same evening took a train to jonkaping, which was a two days' trip. VVe were met at the station by an uncle and he took us to his home. It was several days before we felt really rested. Continued on Page 33 l - H -- S h- C C. D. KENNEDY -meI'10'2lI1 EIWHIIGU YCHIHS IP OIUPSHY 201 Ry.Exen.B1dg. PORTLAND,OREGt

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30 THE POLYTECHNIC MAID A TRIP TO A FOREIGN LAND Colfax, Wiashington, is a small country town located in one of the richest wheat belts of the Inland Empire of the Northwest. It is located on the Snake River, sixty miles south of Spokane, VVashington, and has a population of between three and four thousand. Colfax was built in a long, narrow valley, completely surrounded by hills and had very little chance to increase in size. The main business sections are located in the valley, 'while the residences are built on the sides of the hills. In reality it has only two streets running lengthwise. There are numerous cross streets, but they are short and end abruptly at the foot of the hills at either end. It was in this quiet little town that my parents lived, and that Ireceived most of my early training. I had two sisters. Elsie was six years old and of a quiet disposition. Vera, my youngest sister, was three years old. I was nine years old and being the oldest had more or less responsibility. My father was engaged in a successful business, and all together we were a happy and contented family. ' But in the Spring of 1915 my mother was taken suddenly ill and died. The loss was greatly felt and could never be replaced. Left with three motherless children, my father faced a great responsibility. My mother's last words to him were, No matter what happens, be sure and take good care of the children. A housekeeper was immediately secured, but as was natural, she took no interest in us. She did not care whether we were clean or had the proper things to eat. Several other housekeepers were tried, but of no avail. They were all the same. Finally my father decided to take a trip abroad and visit his old home in Sweden, which he had left as a small boy. He thought in this way that he would be able to overcome his great sorrow, and also that he might find some means of giving his children a better training in the old country. Therefore, in the fall of the same year, preparations were made for the long trip. Finally everything was arranged and it was with heavy hearts that we bade our friends and old home good-bye, not knowing whether we should ever see them again. But as the days wore one, there were so many strange and wonderful sights to occupy our attention, that we soon forgot our troubles. We arrived in New York the day before the sailing of the boat. Being so excited and filled with anticipation of the following day, we were with great difficulty persuaded to eat or sleep. The next morning we were up early. To get to the boat we had first to take a ferry to the pier where it was anchored, so it was nearly noon before we went aboard. About three o'clock in the afternoon the anchors were taken up, and the boat was ready to leave. The bands played and there was much cheering and waving of handkerchiefs as we sailed out of the harbor. Soon the Statue of Liberty was passed and we sailed out into the rough waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It was the first time that either of my sisters or I had been on a boat, so one can imagine our sensation when we could see nothing but the sky overhead and the rolling ocean below us. At this time a gong sounded and we went below to the dining room. It was a large room with many tables scattered about. These tables would seat from six to eight people. On each table was a white table cloth with a bowl of flowers fof course this was only at the beginning of the tripl. The waiter seated us at a table near a porthole, so we could very readily see the waves splash against the windows. Wfe occupied the same table through the trip, so the waiter knew us quite well before we landed.

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