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

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MAN ET 7 99' Qlhatrau il Alf lt is late afternoon and a luminous rose and gold sunset Haines in the sky and dances 011 the dark waters, forming a fiery crown in whicl1 is set the black old Chateau d'lf on its lonely anchorage. This Chateau is famous for having once held prisoner the well known Count of Monte t'1'isto. NVe gain entrance through a huge old door of rough planks, now rotten with age and bound by wide iron bands, curi- ously cut and covered with rust. After pass- ing through the door, which screeches hideously on its broken hinges, we find ourselves before an old wooden table. On the table are tall iron candlesticks. ln each of these is a lighted candle which casts a lurid light along the prison walls, and from it lurk long ghostly shadows. The prison walls are of huge black stones covered with moss and slime. We make our way along these walls and beyond the old table and through a small thin archway leading downward to the prison cells far below. The stairs are broken, uneven, and very narrow, winding ever downward into the blackness, re- lieved only by huge torches burning at each turn in the endless stairs. XRTPE at length stop before a long dark passageway. The dampness has already chilled us, and the trickling sound of slow running water from some broken chink in the worn walls makes us turn our steps with caution to a cell where the famous Dantes was said to have spent twenty wretched, years. VVC look into a miserable black hole, damp and musty and not a habitable place for man or beast. XVe enter with no slight misgivings and are shown the huge stone, which, when dragged back reveals a narrow tunnel through which Dantes made his heroic escape. We turn at length and cautiously retrace our steps up the winding stairs, from which crumbled bits of stone fall and are heard to echo far below in the blackness, and seem to cry out despairingly to those who would so interrupt the long slum- ber of these dismal spirits in their deep prison grave. Vp and up we climb until we reach the outer room. Here our guide or warden silently turns the key of the prison door as if to lock in the poor disturbed spirits and allow them to resume their pacing and moaning as they had done centuries before. Turning, we cross the damp stone floor and are again out- side the huge prison and breathing the fresh salt air. Step by step we descend the outer stairs, now almost worn away by the huge breakers and enter our little boat, to be rowed to the main- land. The boat slowly glides over the water, leaving the gloomy old Chateau slowly fading into the fast, growing darkness until it is finally swallowed by the horizon and lost to our sight. Vile remain silent for some time, each of ns being filled with his own thoughts and with the awe of the spectacle he has just seen. lt is not until later in the evening when we gather round the fireplace in the warm, cozy hotel room that we allow ourselves to relax and exchange our feelings over hot cocoa and the prospeet of a warm bed. Not one of us will ever forget the memorable visit to the Chateau: nor will one of us renieinber it without a feel- ing of horror at its cruelty. ilirerklvit' -Hlemann PRISCILLA JAMES, 7-3 F1-eckles walked sadly along the street, his head drooping and his eyes, usually bright and dancing, looking very sad. He certainly was unhappy. His family had gone somewhere the had no idea wherej, and poor Freckles didn 't know what to do. He just knew they 'd gone a terribly long way off and never would come' back. fTllP' fact is they had all gone down the street- to a neighbor's house to look at a new rug.j Freckles had gone home for supper and had then discovered the terrible disaster. All sorts of things went through his doggy mind. After thinking of several things to do he finally 1-Q- solved to run away. At. first he was very: ani- lntious and started to run. After a while though, he got rather tired of running and he slowed down to a. rapid walk. It ben-an to 0-at dark and cold, so Freckles decided tio curl iitp in the park he was passing through. HC found a rather sheltered place behind ,, curled up and went to sleep. ' Next morning he awoke earlv. It was rain- ing and the wind was blowingi the rain in all directions. It was cold, too, and Freckleg was all wet. He had fallen asleep, so tired, the ' bush and

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6 MANET 4'Come on, let's try it, Cliff, said Jackie and Stan almost simultaneously. HO. IQ, shouted Cliff, we're gamef' 4'Come on, you fell-ows, take the sheets! called Cliff. Jackie, you take the main and jigger. Stan, you takfe the ,iib sheets, and I'll take the wheel. O. K. boys, let's go! Tl1e boys took their posts and settled down to do their best. Cliff tried all the tricks of yacht racing, and he knew a great deal about racing, having participated in and won a great many races, but he succeeded in passing the Chantey only once. This g'ap was soon bridged and the Chantey once more took the lead, although it was close sailing all the way. After 'they had sailed on this tack about twelve and a quarter miles, Clift said, Well, they beat us, but the good old 'Tecumseh' gave the tChantey' a run for her money. VVe've got to come about here. Flatten your jigger, Jackie! VVhen the crew of the Chantey saw the 'tTecumseh coming about, they waved farewell and proceeded on their course. After they had eaten at noon, they played harmonicas and banjos. For about an hour they had a good time, especially when Jackie tried to sing. 'Nough said. Suddenly the Tecumseh lost headway and the sails began to flap madly. 'tSayl cried Stan, The wind has shifted around to northeast. It 's on our quarter now. HStart your sheets, you fellows, said Clitt. This d-one, the t'Tecumseh once again gained headway. Meanwhile massx s of cnmulo- nimbus tthunder showerl clouds had been banking up in the Northeast quadrant. Also a bit of a sea was kicking up. Noticing this, Cliff suddenly shouted, Lower the sails, you lubbers! Step on itl' As he spoke Cliff lufifed the t'Tecumseh, the boys jumped to the halliards, and the order was carried out in short order, but none too soon. Hardly were the sails down than the squall hit with all its fury. The wind came roar- ing and swishing through the rigging with force enough to snap the masts as though they were matchsticks, perhaps eyen to capsize the yacht. Stan seized the wheel and attempted to hold her nose into the wind while Cliff went below to start the engine, a Gray 4-35 with reduction gear. Jackie took the oilskins from the locker, and, donning his own, went out on the bridge deck with Stan's. The squall shut out nearly all the light, and roundabout was practically darkness. In this time of need the engine re- fused to turn over and the poor old 'tTecum- sch took many a smashing sea on her beam. Stan sent Jackie to make sure the fastenings of the dinghy were tight while the boat bucked, and plunged, and rolled in the grip of the en- raged elements. Suddenly there loomed up right in the path of the Tecumseh's drift, a large ship, barely four boat lengths away. The hearts of Jackie and Stan were in their mouths as they watched the huge ship bear down on them in their helpless state. But the motor, apparently ashamed of its stubborn obstinacy, started up with a roar and the Tecumseh plunging ahead barely missed be- ing cut down by the liner. She was the S. S. Ontario of the Merchant and Miners Trans- portation Company with Captain Kauserud, Q n 1 - . X 1 , y J- M. t-f 0 f at f 5- E ,w wf ff 1,4 iw air' me A I 5 6: , I ' F J t' '7' will KI K l , cl - ' Wg X, since badly burned, and bcached on the flats of Governor's Island. The squall had spent its rage and it departed as quickly as it had come. A sailboat nearby was not as lucky as the Te- cumseh, for she was dismasted and one of her crew was carried overboard with the rig- ging. However, after her crew picked up the man overboard and cut away the rigging, she proceeded under auxiliary power. The boys hoisted the sails and proceeded under their power alone as usual. Shortly they sighted a spar buoy, number eight. It proved to be on Howland Ledge off Duxbury. Their objective was the mouth of Plymouth Harbor. I guess I made a mistake in my dead reck- oning. said Cliff. 'tXVe'll follow the shore- line of Duxbury. As they proceeded they sighted a group of racing Duxbury fifteen footers. It was a beau- tiful sight, the sun shining on the white sails, the boats, with their fine lines, cutting through the water, each striving for the lead. Soon they came to the mouth of Plymouth Harbor and proceeding up the harbor came to anchor off Plymouth R-ock. Stan, slipping up behind Jackie, threw him overboard. Cliff and Stan CContimced on Page 205

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8 MANET night before that he had slept soundly,till then. He stretched and walked forlornly away. His fur was plastered to his body and his long, curly ears were tangled and soaked. He held his tail low and it wasn't wagging as it usually was. After he had walked along for a while, an old man came along, carrying a large black umbrella and wearing an overcoat all buttoned up around his neck. He saw poor, wretched- looking Freckles and stopped to pat l1is head. As he did so he noticed the name on his collar. lt said: Free-kles, 95 Dover St.. NVeyn1outh, Katherine A. Burns. The old man looked up. NVeymouth was a good twelve miles from there. He took itlitrh 9' Freckles by the collar and led him to l1is home. The old man, Mr. Baker, was very kind and gave Freckles a bed by the stove and a good meal. That night the Lost and Found Column said: Lost-A Spaniel dog. Whit.e with chocolate patches. Answers to 11211119 of Freckles. Finder please call Vifey. 0432. Mr. Baker immediately called Mr. Burns and told him he had the dog. He put the phone down to Freckles' ear, who wagged his tail and barked. A litt.le while later a step on the stairs was heard and Freckles leaped at the door. ln came Katherine and her father. You can guess the rest. You may be sure Freckles never ran away again. itliking In the last few years hitch-hiking has at- tained the heights of the national institution. Advantageous spots on the highway are crowd- ed by prospective riders. It is possible to stand on the side of the road and by some beseeching indication obtain a ride-gratis. VVhen a beginner attempts to acquire trans- portation in this manner, it is indeed a spec- tacle to evoke the mirth and ridicule of one who is versed in the art of the hitch-hike. The awkward movement of the thumb for instance. Can it be that he really believes that he will be offered a ride in this blundering manner 'Z Does he not realize there is just the right angle to cocking the thumb, from which no competent hitch-hiker deviates? Does he not know a particular bodily position must be assumed? In view of this woeful lack of preparation, I feel that it is my duty to convey the technique necessary to develop one into an accomplished member of the fraternity. To begin with, every person is a potential hitch-hiker. It is not a difficult art. to acquireg even the person who cocks his thumb wrong is not necessarily a failure if he is willing and mentally able. Let us say at present he lacks that touch of finesse that denotes the accom- plished master. VVhen you are ready to present your petition for free transportation, the first step is to select an advantageous position on the side of the road. An air of calm insouciance should en- velop you as a cloak. You should' then assume a position that will contain just the right amount of psychological persuasion. Wlieii the car approaches, wiggle the thumb slightly and suggestively in the universally approved man- ner. .Never, never put the thumb behind the ear and Wave gaily. It just isn't done. Most hikers prefer to adopt the fatalistic attitude- either the car stops or it doesnt. But no, it 's all in the thumb. The first car is liable to pass you by Csome cars have a nasty habit of doing this, but you'll get used to itj, even the second may, and the third, and the fourth and so 011 ad infinitum. IVhen forty or fifty cars have passed you by. itfs time to stop tomfoolery. This means busi- ness. Now you've got to put your whole soul into the task. XVhen the next car comes into view, and you know it is going the Way of all the rest Cyou know it by your manly intuitionj, it 's the time to express yourself. Gaze at the operator, right in his eyes, sum- mon all your feeling to the fore, send a glance that will blast him to the very roots of his soul, inexpressible pathos mirrored in reproach- ful eyes, a. glance that will haunt. him into eternity, with a voice ever preying on his sub- conscious mind, oh why didn 't I pick him up, oh why, oh Why? This usually gets them. They don't like to be haunted you see, but you've got to be good. But if this method fails tit is not exactly infalliblej, you must have something in reserve to bolster your moral courage, so I suggest that you apply this method to regain elusive confi- dence. Ask yourself this question: Am I or am I not going to get a ride? And then answer emphatically: You bet you are! But this atti- tude must be adopted in a strong Way. Don't let a hidden voice butt in With: Sure you are, but When? Put your hidden voice away, tile it under the category, Not Wanted. For an- other example try this: Am I going to walk? Then reply, No! No! a thousand times no! I'd rather die than move a step. Don't for- get, plenty of gusto in the answer. lg Wheii forty or fifty more cars have gone by