North Quincy High School - Manet Yearbook (North Quincy, MA)

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'24 MANET a giant. She zoomed, zoomed to tl1e crest of giant waves and tl1e11 plunged down, dow11, down as if sl1e would never stop into tl1e trough of tl1e waves. Tl1e crew pu111ped frantically wl1ile tl1e enraged ele111e11ts battered tl1e strug- gling ship! Tl1e wi11d shrieked Tl11'OU.Q'll tl1e rigging, tl1e powerful waves smashed against tl1e sides of tl1e poor ship. The decks were flooded, it was all a man could do to keep from being washed overboard, Hlld tl1e water rushed out 'Ei11'Ollgl1 tl1e scuppers witl1 an o111inous l1issi11g sound, Towards evening of tl1e 11ext day tl1e de- feated ele111e11ts retreated leaving tl1e stor111- tossed ship victorious! Tl1ougl1 battered sl1e had weathered tl1e stor111 like the noble thing sl1e was! As Percy was dragged fro111 under l1is bllllk by l1is angry ship-mates he kept mut- tering Lord save me! Lord save me IH As it began to dawn on his frigl1te11ed n1ind that the storm had abated he whimpered. Hls it all over? It was pretty near over, but tl1e seas were still l1igl1 which necessitated deep-sea Elllfl body-and-soul lashings O11 tl1e oilski11s wl1icl1 tl1e men were still wearing. On the thirty-fifth day out from New York a gullie perched o11 a yardarm a11d O11 tl1e thirty-sixth day land was sighted. The Nancy Lee passed Gravesend at noon of tl1e same day. She was forced to drop the mud-hook until flood tide when sl1e was towed to tl1e London Docks by a tug. There she was made fast and tl1e port watch were allowed to go ashore. Percy was invited to see London with so111e of tl1e watch. All Percy saw of London on that trip was a cheap waterfront pub. XVhen his comrades ordered their glasses of grog Percy ordered ginger pop. One of tl1e sailors gave tl1e bartender a wink with a world of meaning behind it. After a few doctored drinks of the ginger-pop, Percy. who had never tasted a drop of liquor before i11 his life, passed out. His comrades after their spree carried Percy back to the ship and placed llilll in his bunk where he remained for the rest of tl1e week. At tl1e end of tl1e week an English lad, Johnny Squires, also serving as apprentice o11 the HNancy Lee. invited Percy to his l1on1e in tl1e country. He l1ad received furlough for tl1e rest of the ti111e in port. This was tl1e same lad that l1ad defeated Percy. He fought Percy to try and take l1in1 off his high liorse. VVonder of wonders. Percy l1ad accepted. They left London tl1e next day on tl1e stage coach. They reached tl1e Blue Boys Inn, Min- ehin Hampton, that evening. .Tohnny's home was in a little white cottage with his I1l0tl19I' and father, sister Plllfl brother. Percy was re- ceived open-heartedly. He spent tl1e rest of his shore leave there and was happy every moment, Two months after docking the Nancy Lee sailed for Vhina with a varied cargo. Once there she would pick up a cargo of tea forthe States. Johnny Squires was 11ot witl1 l1er this sailing. Except for a 1l3FI'OXV escape from a typhoon in tl1e China Sea, wl1icl1 tl1e captain 11l311HgQCl to steer clear of, Hlld tl1e crossing of the Line, tl1e passage was uneventful. When a ship crosses the Line tmeaning tl1e equatorb tl1e members of tl1e crew who have never crossed before are initiated by King Neptune. A cry comes from somewhere forward: Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy ! H NVho hails us? bellows the captain. Father Neptune, answers one of the men. Tllell comes Neptune, l1is wife Amphitrite and l1is l1e11cl1111e11 carrying a tub wl1icl1 will be filled witl1 water. Before tl1e crew gathered i11 tl1e waist Neptune halts a11d says: You have gree11l1ands aboard this ship wl1o have IIQVGI' bee11 shaved or baptized by Neptune, so let tl1e111 stand forth. Tl1e candidates are seated 011 wooden tubs and tl1e ancient ceremony is gone tl1rougl1 Each 0119 is asked his 1131119 and as he answers a. dirty swab covered witl1 soap-suds and grease is stuck i11 his mouth and freely applied to his face. Then comes tl1e sl1avi11g witl1 a queer razor. After this tl1e greenhand is turned over backwards into a tub of sea-water from XVl1iCl1 he emerges no lo11ger a gree11l1and. He l1as crossed the Line and may 11ow call himself a deep-water sailor. There were only two green- hands aboard tl1e Nancy Lee, Percy and an- other apprentice. Poor Percy received tl1e worst of it. Tl1e 111911 l1ad expected him to whimper and complain, but a queer change had come over l1im by this time. Tl1e ship was tied up at Hong Kong for a 11101llfl1. Finally she sailed with her cargo of tea. Just having passed Australia Percy fell into luck. Tl1e t'Nancy Lee l1ad stopped at tl1e Coco lslands for water because l1er main water ta11k l1ad sprung a leak. Tl1e second mate and so111e of tl1e best n1en l1ad become angry at tl1e captain. Consequently they l1ad deserted just before the ship l1ad sailed, Percy, therefore, was the only man in the remainder of the crew who could navigate besides tl1e captain and the first mate. He l1ad come i11 through tl1e cabin window, whereas tl1e other me11 l1ad come in through the hawse l1ole. Therefore Percy was appointed second mate, having improved a great deal all around. Shortly after leavi11g tl1e islands they l1it tl1e Roaring Forties and ran l1er easting down to tl1e Horn. All we11t well until they started to round Cape Stiff. Then they l1it tl1e Cape Stiff greybeards. Also wl1ile rounding tl1e Hor11 they were caught in a thunderstorm. Tl1e St. Elmos Gres played brightly about tl1e 111asts. One of tl1e old salts 1'0!l1IIl'li6d, Them thar St. Elmo's tires 'ud make a fine beacon for tl1e Flying Dutchman ! Tl1e rest of tl1e passage was uneventful. On arriving home Percy was greatly cheered to

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MAN ET 23 Yandedonk's desire that Percy should enter the firm. But it was not to be. After reading many books on the subject, Percy had decided to go to sea, His highly refined mother was horror-stricken. She would not have her son work among' those vulgar sailors! Humpfh! Percy was a Vandedonk! But Mr. Vandedonk thought differently, although it must be ad- mitted he was sorely disappointed. He knew his son was not as strong and healthy as a boy of his age should be. He thought the experi- ence would be worthwhile. So it was not with- out qualms that Mrs. Yandedonk finally con- sented after much persuasion from Mr. Yan- dedonk, to Percy's going' to sea. Mr. Vandedonk was able to get Percy a job on a ship of a friend of his. Percy shipped be- fore the mast as apprentice. On the sailing date Percy was rigged out in his best togs. This was his mother's wish. She had said, '4You will show those common sailors that you are a Yandedonk ! Percy was escorted to the ship in their finest carriage. As the carriage drew up at the wharf Percy feasted his eyes on the ship. She was the HNancy Lee. one of the first clippers. If Percy could have seen what lay ahead of him, he probably would have rushed home as fast as he could. His two trunks and tive bags were carried aboard by some of the crew who were loitering nearby. As Percy stood talking' on the deck by his bag- gage the mate came up to him and said, Your ticket, sir? I'm shipping as apprentice, my good man, answered Percy, I say, could you show me my quarters ? ' ' Wl1at? bellowed the mate, 'fWell listen here, youngster! You get those trunks and bags off this ship right away. There's no room for them things in the fo'c'stle ! After a long talk and, perhaps, who knows, a little monetary persuasion, room was found in the hold for the trunks, and the bags were taken into the forecastle. Percy spread his bags out on two bunks and went out on deck with a lump in his throat to bid his parents farewell. His mother's last admonislnnent was to be sure and don 't get your feet wet. At eight bells of the second dog-watch the anchor was weighed. The capstain was turned to the tune of: VVhere are you going to, my pretty maid? OH, AXVAY TO RIO VVhere are you going to, my pretty maid? OH, AWAY TO RIO OH, AXVAY TO RIO Oh, fare you well, my bonny young girl We are bound to the Rio Grande. Percy had been assigned to the port watch under Chief Officer McGuiness. The starboard watch had the first watch at sea. Wlieii Percy went below he found another fellow taking his bags off one of the two bunks Percy had ap- propriated. He rushed up to him and said, See here, my good fellow, you can 't do that. '!Can't l? retorted the other. !'VVell I am. This is my bunk. And then the fight started. It was short and decisive. Percy was soon on the iioor with a black eye, a bloody nose, and loss of conscious- ness. A bucket of sea water was dashed in his face and he was laid in his bunk to brood. By the time the port watch went on duty Percy was completely sea sick. He lay in his bunk, except when he dashed to the rail or a porthole in complete misery. On the third day the boatswain came to Percy and said, Stop your soldiering and show a leg there. 1 can 't, feebly answered Percy with a moan. Cut it out, kid, and get up, replied the boatswain, of all the lubbers I've ever seen you beat them all. f'Oh, you can 't make me do this. 'cried Percy, t'lt'll kill me. You'll have the blood of an innocent lad on your hands. Shut up and get up, you blasted sea-lawyer, you! roared the boatswain. Get Slush to give you a hot cup of coffee and you 'll be jake. So Percy got up and resumed his duties. Nothing of any import happened until a month had passed. Then came the consigning of the dead horse to the deep. VVhen the sail- ors signed on they received a month 's wages in advance. As these were spent before the ship sailed, the first month at sea was without wages. This was called 'fworking off the dead horse, At the end of the month discipline was relaxed for a few hours. An effigy of a horse made of canvas and straw, after being dragged about the deck, was set on fire and hoisted to the main yardarm during the singing of this chanty: They my horse is dead and gone, AND THEY SAY SO, AND THEY HOPE SO. They say my horse is dead and gone, OH. POOR OLD MAN! I'll hoist him to the main yardarm, AND THEY SAY SO, AND THEY HOPE SO. I'll hoist him to the main yardarm, OH, POOR OLD MAN! At the last word of the chanty the effigy was dropped into the sea. At this point the mate ordered all hands aft to splice the mainbracew with a glass of grog. Two days later the barometer began to fall. The captain paced the quarter deck with a worried look on his face. That night Percy was rudely awakened by the shout, 'fAll hands on deck! He rushed on deck to find the ship pitching and reeling and tossing in the clutch of mountainous waves. VVith a gasp of horror he dashed below decks. All that night and the next day the angry elements whipped and tossed the helpless ship! The ship was but a mere speck in the hand of

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MANET 25 find his parents anxiously awaiting his arrival. His mother rushed up to him crying, 'iPercival. my Percival I His father simply wrung his hand, which Percy returned with a grip of iron, and beamed. VVhen Percy reached home he found a new brother awaiting him. Needless to say Percy went to sea again soon. and in tim became one of the finest captains of one of the famous clippers. His brother. Reginald, -lr., was left to carry on the name of Vandedonk in the architectural world which he did and did well. FROM UIVANHOEH By Kathryn Fontaine, 9-1 Although the meter is a bit forced, this poem de- serves honorable mention because it is a natural and sincere expression of feeling on the part of the author. LADY ROWENA: Her lovely hands were exquisitely fair, Brown and fiaxen was her hair, Eyes as clear as a sky of blue, Tall her form and graceful, too. Vivid features, splendid health, Rich in beauty, and in wealth. Haughty and proud as a princess was sheg Was loved by Ivanhoe her husband-to-be. PRINCE JOHN: A cunning coward, describes Prince John. Cedric and the Saxons he did scorn. Constantly plotting to get the throne, And reign over a kingdom of his own. He tried to get money from Isaac, the Jew, And win the support of the common folk, too. But when the return of Richard was known, His false friends and army had flown. WAMBA: Silly and funny he may be, But a lot keener than some folks can see. Dressed in a comical suit and hat, Beside Cedric, his master, he always sat. Never a coward but sometimes afraid, He saved his master during the Torquilstone raid. To Gurth, he was a faithful friend, And helped the serf till the very end. REBECCA : Her nose well formed, her teeth like pearls, Her tresses were arranged in twisted curlsg Her complexion was dark, her eyes were brown. She dressed in sort of an Eastern gown. She was loved by Bois Guilbert. a hard-hearted knight. Noted as victor of many a fight. At Templestowe, she awaited her fate, But was saved by Ivanhoe, Rowena's mate. GITRTH: He wore suit and sandals of tanned skin, The fur in patches. it was worn so thin. Ile wore no covering on his head, And his hair was scorched a rusty red. 'l'o Cedric, his master, he was loyal. To tend hogs and pigs was his daily toil. At the end by Cedric was made a free man, And his master gave him home and free land. PEIJIRIC: Cedric the Saxon, a noted man of his race. l'owerfully built as accustomed to chase. Ilis hair was yellow, his eyes were blue, He had a good humor. but a temper, too. The Lady Rowena was his ward, XVho was to marry Athelstane, a Saxon lord. t edric had plans and dreams of his own. Tint to other people they were never known. IVANHOE: A courageous hero. a gallant knight. XVorldly known because of fame and might. He accompanied King Richard on a famous crusade, And was saved by the king in the Torquilstone raid. He challenged Bois Guilbert in Cedric's home, Disguised a palmer, so he would not be known. He was. at the end. to be Cedric's heir. And married Rowena. who was charming and fair. A SCENE FROM A BAZAAR tFron1 my trip to Greecei By Ylasios P. Georgian, 9-1 This-contribution deserves honorable mention be- cause it gives to the reader pleasure in a simple ordinary scene of daily life of north central Greece. Among the rugged hills of north central Greece in the region about Yolo there is a cer- tain bazaar on the outskirts of a little town of peasants. The meager population is composed of rustics busy at their hard daily tasks, invari- ably agricultural. But with all their grief and weariness and days of hardships there is always a time and a chance to enjoy the customary celebrations throughout the year according to precedents set at earlier dates. So it was thus that this day the little bazaar was to undertake another in the list of cele- brations upheld by the sectional spirit with in- comparable interest. The gleeful air had swept around the homes and through other adjacent villages combining many families in both to make merry, dance, joke, and feast in the evening of the holiday, or to ramble about the adjoining groves and to attend the little country church on the hillside. There seemed to be a general bustle through- out the town and careful preparations were taking place as well as the actual fixing of the bazaar to accommodate the festivities. The little church was also making ready for the crowd to throng, and regarding personal prep- arations it is needless to write of the important work which the feminine sex almost always manages with success. The hours of the day were ticked away, and the heat of the midsummer grew less as the evening shades closed in. Laborers abandoned their plows and were making their way home- ward in a slow and tired manner. A light, re- freshing supper had occupied their attentions. and after the necessary changes in clothing were made each family and group went forth toward the bazaar, stepping along at a slow and lazy gait. The stone paved bazaar was approximately sixty feet in width and twice that in length. shaded by the leafy trees, producing a languid atmosphere. The coffee shops about furnished sidewalk cafes, with the remaining space given over to the merchants, who had arranged splendid arrays of their wares. Shyster ped- lars could be heard inviting the attention of