High School of Commerce - Caravel Yearbook (New York, NY)

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COMMERCE YEAR BOOK, 1911 then harnessed, and deep furrows were ploughed through the ground just above the dam. NVhen the water, confronted by the dam, backed up, it sought refuge in the furrows, thus creating an excellent irrigation scheme. When this was finished, Di Vico bathed his hot face and blistered hands in the cool water, and then walked down to his dam. The brook on the other side was nearly dry, and myriads of wriggling worms were crawling about as after a rainstorm. Denvor sat up a bit when it saw Di Vico's irrigation scheme. N XVell, thet young fellcr has something in his head, anyway. Zeke would never o' thought oy that in a hundred years. But where thet young feller's real brightness lay, was yet to be seen. In the meanwhile Di Vico was making all preparations for a hurried departure. lVell, to make a long story short, Di Vico the next day took the train for a small town in New Hampshire. Arriving there, he did the same as he had done at Denvor, and when he had completed the dam, he packed up and did the same in another town in New Hampshire. In five small towns he went through the same procedure, and then, as two weeks had elapsed, he went back to his far1n at Denvor and awaited developments. The following day when Di Vico came down to breakfast, he took up the morn- ing paper which he had sent down from Brattleboro. There, in letters half a foot high, was a headline which brought an amused smile to the face of Di Vico l1Veele. STUPENDO US NA TURAL PHENOMENA. BRA TTLEBORO FALLS HAVE STOPPED Bam-rtnnoao, CoNN., June 23, 1915.-Our world-famous cataract has ceased Howing. The falls supplied the power for this city and the neighboring cities, and all electric power is at a standstill. These cities are in darkness. The cars are not running, elevators are stopped, and the business world is in a panic. The learned scientists have held a conference. Professor Baker, of Brattle- boro University, thinks that the conjunction of Mars with the moon has produced an anti-hydro-affiliation which has caused the holding back of the water. Rev. Dr. Walter Sklars has called a meeting of all the clergymen in the town to have a prayer meeting, to see if prayer cannot help the water to resume falling. If this does not help, God only knows what the result will be. Five days after the falls had stopped, Di Vico sat up and wrote a letter to the President of the Brattleboro Power Company in this wise: DEAR SIR: I have it in my power to make the falls resume falling. I am not crazy, but this is solid business. You must see me personally. D1 Vico VVEELE, Denvor, Vermont. The next day Di Vico received a telegram: 'fWill come at once at :F if Pres. Br. P. Co. I thought that would bring him, chuckled Di Vico. The following morning a tired, hot, worried, haggard, dusty man jumped off the train at Denvor. He inquired l1is way to Di Vico's farm, jumped in a carriage, and in live minutes was there. Di Vico was expecting him and he invited his visi- tor inside, where he prepared a cooling drink. After the President of the Brattleboro Power Company had cooled down, Di Vico took him out to see his irrigation scheme. Now, my dear Mr. Barzilar, I must ask you to refrain from talking business until I have shown you my masterpiece. This little irrigation scheme originated 68

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COMMERCE YEAR BGOK, 1911 just a 'little am H. VAN BAALEN, ,II , wx 1 VICO VVEELE lay back in his easy chair in his den in the Aranaco 1 ,Q , apartments and lolled. Now, as Di Vico was of the wealthy class he l could afford to loll. In his hand he had a picture of Niagara Falls. 5 ex,,,.',f' nj Suddenly he jumped to his feet with an exclamation, By George! -4' W'ell, now what dlye think of that? I believe it could be done too. Then he rushed off to his trash-littered desk, and in utter disregard of the possible value of papers, pamphlets, etc., pulled out drawer after drawer and scat- tered the contents right and left. Finally he found the object of his search, and with a chortle of triumph, pounced upon it. 'He carried it back to his den and opened to view a map of New England in great, detail. Every river, streamlet, or village had its place on this map. Hastily he seized a pencil and started to trace out the course of his idea. When his pencil finally stopped, he drew back and looked at the point where he had paused. 'iNot so far, he muttered. I'll have a try at it, anyhow. It's something new. I-Iurriedly he packed a quantity of clothing into his grip, and then with an amused smile at his own childishness went off in a taxi to the Grand Central Station. For a few days the sleepy little village of Denvor, Vermont, sat up and looked interested in its latest addition. However, as he was a very ordinary young man, and did not try to sell the villagers any Standard Coal stocks, they soon lapsed into their lethargy. The only peculiar thing about this chap was his habit of taking long solitary walks along the bank of a streamlet that flowed through Denvor, and ended in a scraggly little brook in Zeke Stever's old farm, a few miles up. The young fellow, whom you have doubtless guessed was Di Vico, soon cultivated a friendship with Zeke, and usually ended his rambles with a glass of milk at Zeke's house. ' One night Zeke came down to the general store, and, after purchasing a pair of woolen socks, turned to the assembled company, and said with 811 important air, W'ell, boys, I don't suppose yew've heard that I be goin' away. f'Naw? Is that so? VVall, I suppose yew be goin' to let Jake manage the farm while you're away, eh ? No, fact is, boys, 1've sold the farm. XVaal, waal, who've yew sold the farm to, Zeke?i' To that young feller-W'eele-he sez his name is. He's taken a fancy to the place, and as I never could raise nothin' on it, I was glad to sell it. It was true. Di Vico had bought the old farm, and the following day he moved in. He had purchased the furniture and stock, so he had no settling to do. A hobo who came along was captured, and after many inducements was finally hired for ten dollars a week, and was given a pair of overalls to work in. The following morning Di Vico and his man went down to the general store, and purchased two wagon-loads of bricks and mortar, ten heavy concrete blocks. and two trowels and mortar-boards. These they dumped beside the little stream, and doffing most of their clothes, they waded into the stream, which at this point was three inches deep and four feet wide. Soon they had built a strong Wall, about three feet high, and extending two feet on either side. This was backed up by a wall of concrete blocks which created an effectual dam. The old plough horse was 67

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'WT' COMMERCE YEAR BOOK, 1911 in my own head, and that is why I have got you out here to-day: To buy that little dam and this excellent farm for the small and ridiculous price of one million dollars. Why, you crazy l0on, replied the President, losing his temper. What this side of Hades do I want with a rotten old farm and a dinky little dam? I' came out here thinking you could tell me something about the stoppage of the falls, and here you come and spring this crazy proposition on me. Oh, it's no use, I'm ruined -utterly ruined. The President of the Brattleboro Power Company wiped his heated face. W'ell, chuckled Di Vico, I suppose I've got to tell you. I did bring you out here in reference to the falls, and I can tell you in just seventeen words. This dam and similar dams are the sources of the Brattleboro Falls, and I own them all. For a moment the President looked puzzled. Then he nodded his head slowly, and a peculiar look stole over his face. Then he slowly said, lVell, I'll be damned. Say, young man, he continued, you're pretty good. You've got us cornered up here, and we can only accede to your demands, but say, if you'll send your man clown to the store, I'l1 sign the papers and touch off a charge of gun-cotton to that dam in two shakes oi a lamb's tail. FINIS X rt, Lu-if 59