Herkimer High School - Ye Green Quill Yearbook (Herkimer, NY)

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30 TI-IE GREEN QUILL use of men. Because of lack of starch, scurvv broke out in the crew. This disease is the most dreaded of all plagues. All through the ship men were suffering horribly with no one to care for them. Two officers, Anson and Tom, were the only ones that did not have the disease. Each day they could see sorcf of the doomed men carrying the dead bodies of their mates out wrapped in canvas, to be thrown into the sea to the waiting shark' who could be seen swimming around the ship waiting for some more food from the hapless ship. Big Anson was in mortal terror and was on his knees begging the other meu to save him. They were in as bad a plight as he, but his great terror could not see that. Little Tom sat quietly on a barrel and smiled scornfully at him. Then they found three barrels of potatoes in fairly good condition that had been overlooked by the sailors. They had the means of saving the men in their hands, but who would go to that death hole at the other end of the ship? Tom Mann stepped forward and said, with his peculiar smile: l'll go! At this point Anson broke out, My God' Don't go! They will die anyway. What will happen to us? Keep the potatoes and save our lives Stop! Stop! .... He's gone. Save me! At this point he broke into hysterical moans and pleas for help. Little Tom, whom the cowardly Anson had scorned, saved the rest of the men from a horrible death and the ship was brought safely into harbor. In it was a completely abject man, who seemed to have no spirit. It was the blustering Anson who would never more bluster. He had felt the hand of fear and ever after was a worthless, cowardly derelict who could find no place to anchor his life. Tom Mann had the happiness of knowing that he was the means of saving so many lives and this thought made up for all of his past hardships. --THOMAS DONAHUE. Our '26 Seniors Are leaving us soon To enter a world Which will give them room To make use of the knowledge Which they have in store From several years back Which is four years or more. When you leave us, dear Seniors Don't make that day The end of your learning But be able to say: That you hope to become A Freshman in college And learn once more The teachings of knowledge. And now that you've read this You're privileged to say, f' 'Tis a lecture in Verse Of a Sophomore's lay. -IRENE MORSE '28. ADVICE FOR THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS Camping Etiquette There is a place in the road for manners just as there is in a. city. The rules of etiquette may be as many in the roads but they are just as strict. How many times have you chosen a camp site only to find it littered with tin cans and other rubbish? You have a deep feeling of disgust for this person who has been so care- less and selfish. If you think that you have to use that new axe, practice on a dead tree not on a live one. Those trees are the property of the man on whose land you are camping. You would not think of cutting down your neighbor's shade trees. Neither is a tree a place for your autograph. Be sure that your fire is out. Many lives and many thousands of dollars worth of timber have been lost, just because some one has failed to put out the last spark. Then you wonder why you are forbidden to camp on some people's property. If you remember these things and encourage others you will always be welcome and get more out of camping. -Edward Lloyd '28. BETWEEN THE COVERS BEAUTY AND THE BEAST By Kathleen Norris Butteric'h Publishing Co., N. Y. An escape by aeroplane, a visit to a gypsy camp, a midnight struggle through the Waters of Palermo Bay while searchlights scan every nook and corner are some of the events which characterize Kathleen Norris' greatest novel, Beauty and the Beast. The plot centers around a young American millionairess who, tiring of the humdrum trend of social life, has gone Title Hunting in Sicily. But she soon linds that Titles mean nothing when she is captured by the king of Sicilian bandits and taken to his lhome in the moun- tains. Upon being discovered there she re- turns to Palermo where she successfully hides

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THE GREEN QUILL 29 Never to be alble to walk again, never to run or jump with the rest of the fellows, never ti play Base'ball! Oh! How he wished he could help him. Somehow his hand mechani- cally went to his pocket where was safely hidden his precious savings for his ibaseball suit. Gould he? Could he give it- Suddenly without a minute's hesitation he wheeled about, ran as fast as his legs could carry him. back to the boy who was still playing softly some familiar air, deposited his treasure in the cup and arrived at school just in time as the last bell was ringing. That night when he reached home his mother anxiously asked him how he and his team had made out about their suits. In his reply, that he didn't know about the other fellows, but that he had decided not to get a suit, she 'noticed that the usual enthusiasm was lacking and did not understand. At f second inquiry Danny told her that he had given it to a little boy on the street who played a violin. As Mrs. Vernon, too, had seen th'- fboy that afternoon, she understood and turned her back to her son so that he might not see her tears of motherly love and pride for she knew full well the cost of Danny's sacrifice and what it meant to him. -FLORENCE MVETZGER '27. THE TRUE TEST John Anson was the way it read in the ship's log. Other ships would remember the man by other names but never to his credit. He was a huge, burly man with the strength of two ordinary men and no one had even doubted his courage. If you reviewed his feats and studied them closely, however, you could see that there was no task wihich his immense strength could not accomplish. I-le had never been derfeated and was an out and out bully. He was popular because his law could not be defied and the men! were forced to accept him as one of them. On the other hand, the character of Tom Mann was altogether different. God had placed a superb -brain and an indomitable cour- age into a small, frail body. This fact made his life rather miserable, but his courage defied the injuries and left him a cheerful man who always wore a smile. Both of these men had signed up to sail to the tropics on the Flying Roger, a ship that took on only experienced men and men who could stand the strain of a trip to the tropics, where a relentless sun continually beat down upon the ship and its occupants, covering the ship with a heavy, sordid :heart that could not be avoided. When the hardships of the voyage had been explained to Anson, he laughed a loud over- bearing laugh at the idea of anything stopping him after he had once decided to take the job. It was different when ilttle Tom was told albout it. He just smiled a smile which gave his mouth a peculiar expression and signed his name in modest letters. From the first, a hatred developed between the two. The crew consisting mostly of hard men, who would smile grimly at cruel acts and would think nothing of murder, were assembled to become better acquainted with their fellow sailors and to find out where they stood in the estimation of the rest of the crew. Anson suddenly called Tom to him. Tom smil- ing strode over. 'F'etch me a glass of water, he said. All right, said Tom, and I can get one myself while I'm there. Tom went to the other end of the ship and brought the water. Now sit down, laughed Anson loudly. You gutterpup, you're better fitted to be a slave than going with decent men. Though the little man was not gifted with a strong body he did not lack in courage and when this cutting remark was made, he strode over to Anson and gave him a blow across the mouth with his open hand. At this, Anson let out an animal-like roar and, seizing the little man, he threw him on the floor of the cabin. Picking him up, he began beating him with all the strength of his mighty arms. Tom offered what resistance he was capable of, but the big sailor seemed transformed to an animal and deep growls came from his throat as he beat his smaller opponent. In a short time, Mann lay limp on the fioor, a beaten and bruised mass, in complete unconsciousness. After this incident, things Went along smoothly enough, with the captain doing his best to keep the two men apart. Anson did all in his power to make things unpleasant for the little man and tantalized him for his lack of courage to face him. As the ship neared the equator the water could lbe seen to change from a green to a deep blue and the intense heat was making the ship a living hell for the men. The seairs of the ship, where pitch was placed to flll the cracks, was a mass of bubbling, black liquid. In the evening the men went to their bunks to lie, restless and hot, the whole night through. All the food! was gone but the mes' which the heat caused to give out a nauseatlng stench and to become almost unfit tithe

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THE GREEN QUILL 31 her lover in seclusion of a drapery. You will enjoy reading how they make their escape and how a great question is decided. You will find a great surprise and much pleasure in store for you wfhen you read this book. -Lillian Ellis Class of 1926. DEAR ENEMY Jean Webster The Century Company This interesting book is a continuation of Daddy Long Legs. It has a 1lavor to it that makes one want to read it many times over. The book is written in letter form mak- ing it more interesting. The Enemy is an old Scotch doctor, who conceals his proper feelings under a rough ex- terior. Sally, the leading character is very whimsical and alluring. She, also, has a very extensive sense of humor which serves her in good stead as the head of an orphan asylum. The John Grier Home becomes a joy to Sally, much to her surprise and she is established as its permanent matron. When the Scotch doc- tor becomes hurt in the fire at the destruction of the John Grier -Home, Sally finds she is ln love with him. This book is old and yet new. Read it and tlnd what an amazing story it is. -Ruth Bachelder '26. ROSE O'THE SEA Countess Barcynska Do you like to read of the whirling city of London-or of the girls who live by the Cor- nish Sea? If so, read Rose o't'he Sea. As the title suggests, Rose Eaton lives by the sea with her foster father. His sudden death leaves Rose alone, ignorant of the ways of the world, and without a guardian. Strong perse- verance brings her to London where sfhe seeks her fortune by selling ilowers. But fate did not destine that Rose work for a living. A large fortune nuts Rose in an entirely different position, and it is necessary for her to choose between money and men. Rose makes her choice too late. It is very interesting to learn 'how Rose thrusts aside her pride and gains supreme hap- piness. -Ruth Ellis '27. I THE FLAME OF COURAGE George Gibbs The Flame of Courage is a most intensely colorful romance portraying the glittering splendor of the days of Louis XV. Wouldn't you like to pass the fleeting hours surrounded by the lavish magnificence of Madame De Pompadour? Wouldn't you like to be behind the scenes of the secret court intrigues, the romances, the glories and the s'hames of that golden period? The Flame of Courage makes you a living witness of it all! It all begins when King Louis is attracted by the pretty face of Heloise Gueret. Then when De Pompadour's jealousy results in that pretty actress' exile, the scene shifts to New France. There in that vast Canadian empire we see t'he fascinating drama unfold in which one woman's frenzied passion causes a king to lose a kingdom, while another woman's loyal love and patriotism wins a reward greater than any kingdom. Those days were always surrounded by a golden glittering splendor behind which the scenes of war, the ravaging people, and deceit- ful traitors were constantly trying to hide. We know about its existence but this enticing novel portrays it for us in such a way tfhat it causes a thorough understanding of the conditions as they appeared and as they really were at the time. Even if George Gibbs is not universally known, this excellent piece of work will credit his reputation to such an extent that the public will be acquainted wit'h him in a. short time. -Catherine Risely. ORIGIN OIF BOOKS fContinued from Page 203 other machines which turn out thousands of volumes in a comparatively short time. The people of the present day may certainly congratulate themselves that they are so wealthy in the possession of books and types. -Helen Harris.