Macomb High School - Spiderweb Yearbook (Macomb, IL)

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3o The 1S)30 £i id r Web oc 30 OC DO C A Journey When my mother was a girl a ra'lway trip to a ne.ghhoring town was an event. So, also, was an unchaperoned journey for young people an almost unheard of thing When my mother was twelve years old some family friends moved from Monmouth to Galesburg and upon becoming settled sent repeated invitations to my grandmother to send the two girls, Magdaline and Catheryne, on a visit. So one Sunday morning armed with an umbrella and a “grip”, the two set out. They arrived at the depot two hours before train time as their motto was “two hours too soon was better than two minutes too late. The woman in the depot lunch room knew them and after quizzing them concerning their trip learned that they could not he restrained at home long enough to eat breakfast so she took pity on them and gave them some cookies and an apple to eat. I will skip over the excitement due to the arrival of the train and the uneventful railway journey of sixteen mile;, which was made safely, that evidently being an off morning for wrecks, and take up my story again after the girls had successfully found their way through the Galesburg depot to the street car tracks outside. Here they sat upon the curb to once more read the letter of instructions sent to them in case they made an unexpected v’sit and no one met them. And the most noticeable part of this visit was the unexpectedness of it to every one they met. “Take the car from the dejiot for Lombard College read the instructions--they got no further for an auto had drawn up to the curb and an auto in those days was as much a wonder as the German Zep was a few months ago to one and all of us. The two girls stared at the car while the occupants got out and after glancing at the two figures on the curbing, laughingly entered the depot. The man at the wheel finally straightened his face long enough to ask Where are you going, kids? Hop in and I’ll take you.” Catheryne was instantly ready but the older and world wise s’ster answered nonchalantly “Not me. I’m not going to get kidnaped. The gentleman laughed and informed them that the approaching car was the one for Lombard College. So picking up the grip and umbrella the girls, to whom street cars were unfamiliar objects, pro ceeded down the street to meet 't. and having met it in the midd'e of the block were thunder-struck when it whizzed by and went merrily on its way. Catheryne, being unincumbered with baggage, ran after the car down the middle of the street crying and shaking her little fist at it while Magdaline brought up the rear with the ever nresent grip and umbrella. The car came to a stop in front of the depot and as there were no other passengers the g-rls just managed to climb on and dispose of their baggage in the a«sle when the car started with a jerk and Magdaline went headlong in the aisle. The conductor, having received his full quota of amusement, was in a good humor so he not only dropped the two travelers at the right co er but also after reading their letter of instructions pointed out their destination. Much to their dismay upon arriving at the home of their friend, they found the

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o o»c- ■11 kiq 0 T e 2S30 Spider Web o( me 1.1 )ooc=3o They drove to the lecture in Joe’s electric car. His mother would not allow him to have a rough hoy’s car. No indeed, Joey should have one made for a gentleman. Joan was thinking the lecture quite boring when a speaker announced that they had a special speaker who had something to say about air. “Oh dear,” thought Joan, “Another dumb—why!—Oh, isn't he marvelous7 For the speaker now was a light curly headed youth, with great sparkling blue eyes Joan did not listen very attentively to his speech, but she thought that curl tlu' kept slipping down into his eye was perfectly adorable. Joey, I would just love to learn more about air, please introduce me. Please, Joey.” AH right, but I could tell you all you want to know.” But, Joey, he is such a distinguished person and speaker. Please.” Joan had her way. Bill, Bill, oh Bill. Listen, I met the best looking speaker last night and he’s an aviator. He was telling about air pockets and 1 made Joey introduce us, and Joey asked him, for me, of course, to come to lunch here this afternoon. Gee, I'm so thrilled. I’ll have to go now and see that everything is all right. Goo’by, and I won’t be able to play this afternoon. ’By.” Goodby, Joan.” Well that 'et’s me out, thought Bill. When Bill was eating his lunch he heard the drone of a plane very close. He rustled out and saw the saint red p'anc that had come so close yesterday, landing in the vacant lot next to the Cummings’ estate. He saw Joan rush out to meet the tall blond boy climbing out of the cockpit. They all went in the house and Bill noticed how tall and awkward the boy seemed. About two hours later Bill heard the plane soar away and then Joan's voice. Bill, Bill. Come on let’s play tennis,” she cried. All right, say what made your boy friend leave so soon? “Oh, he sure is bashful. lJad said something about us playing tenn's and h. immediately said that he had to go back and look over his plane, that he was taking a little trip tomorrow. And did he blush. Come on, I bet I can beat you.” The next morning Joan was all excited and ran over and showed the headline; of the paper to Bill. This s the way it read, Lindbergh Starts Trans-Atlantic Flight. Farther down it said that he was doing this in order to make friendship b-tween the countries. Well.” said Bill after reading it, “I don't see anything for you to get so excited over. But, Bill, that was the name of the aviator that was here, and here is his picture. Why. just think, I entertained a hero.” Good gosh,” exclaimed Bill. —Margaret Raikf.y. ' win —Ml ----W1 20 n —MWM------» •«— —Ml'r Ml c

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o ----- 0o ---- 0ot »o T3a® 1S3© «5pijJl®ar 'Web m— —mm mm n dinars locked and no one there and a neighbor of whom they inquired was not sure whether or not their friends were out of town. So catching the same car back they returned to the depot expecting to take the first train back. Now in the center of the east wall of the main waiting rixim in the old Gales-burg depot stood a fire-place and above this hung a huge mirror. So after taking in their surroundings the sisters spying the mirror decided to tidy up a bit before making their return railway journey, so stationing themselves in front of the mirror, they opened up their grip, found their combs, unbraided their hair and were in the midst of their toilet, much to the amusement of the waiting room people, when their friend bore down upon them and spoiled the show. She had returned from church to be told of their arrival, by the neighbor, and taking the next car back to the depot captured the two before the police had an opportunity to lock them up with a view to questioning their sanity. Both my mother and aunt have traveled extensively since then but if you ask mother for the destination of her most interesting trip, she answers unhesitatingly “Galesburg.” But please don't ask in front of Aunt Kath for there are things she insists that it is as well to pass lightly over. —Caroline Rioroan. Winter The leaves turned golden, red, and brown; nutting parties robbed the walnut and hickory nut trees of their harvests, and the grains were gathered and stored away in bams and granaries. Even the squirrels realized that winter was coming and gathered in nuts for their winter store. The geese wedged their way south, and the blackbirds gathered in the trees in great noisy flocks at dusk. Many of the birds had already gone, and the last ones were preparing for flight. Every morning the hoary frost covered the ground and roofs, and the days grew shorter. Everyone was making ready for winter, and anticipating the fun of winter sports soon to come. One cold afternoon the sky took on a slaty gray color which thickened until the sun was completely hidden. It became dark much earlier than usual. Just as the darkness settled down, on the wings of a strong wind, the snow kept swirling down. All that night the snow kept up its race to earth with increasing velocity. Next morning all was calm and clear, but lo. it was as though a magic wand had been waved across the landscape by an unseen hand. It seemed we could hardly be on the same old planet, for all was white. Sleigh bells rang, and snow balls flew, and even though they often struck their mark, no ill-will was borne. There were coasting parties, sleigh rides, snow fights, and everybody was happy and revelled in the snow. Then came the holidavs clothed in mistle-toe and holly. Strange to say, 'mid all the fun and snow frolics we stxin grew restless and wished for a change. The days grew warmer slowly, and the ice and snow' disappeared, but we did not regret to see it go. Soon spring came again and we w're glad. —Laura Frances Ray.