Oroville Union High School - Nugget Yearbook (Oroville, CA)

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Mars Claude House, '15 11 — i At last we had succeeded! There before us, resting gracefully on Its rubber-tired wheels, lay the monoplane on which we had spent so much time and labor. Edison's discovery in 1923 of renium and petroline had solved the problem for us. Renium Is a metal, which, in comparison with alum num has practically no weight, yet it possesses all the qualities of steel save weight. By building the frame and motor of this metal, we increased the carrying capacity to three men. The new fluid, petroline. possesses all the properties of gasoline except that it is more than fifty times as powerful. Enough of this fluid could be carried to last many days. Inside of the cat was the little machine on which we had woiked so hard. By generating oxygen with this, we could make the upper air much more breathable Because of this and because our propeller increased the speed to more than two hundred and fifty miles we were confident of making many interesting explorations. After a satisfactory trial flight, we decided to start on our journey of exploration to worlds beyond Mars we had chosen as our object point, because scientific experiment had proven in 1922 that Mars is inhabited. Early next morning we rose into the air and said good- bye to earth, little dreaming how long it would be before our return. As soon as we were a few hundred feet in the air, I opened the motor to one hundred miles and at this rate we soon reached the lighter air currents. Then we started the Oxyfacit, thus making the air easily breathable. As we left the earth farther below, our speed reached the remarkable limit of seventy-five miles per hour. For seven days we kept up this remarkable speed, taking turns at the wheel and eating only food tabloids and water, sans meat, sans bread, sans everything else. Through the telescope Mars became plainer and plainer and on the evening of the seventh day we were so close to it that we were able to open the car window and breathe real air once more. The motor was stopped, we volplaned down to a clear place and landeu for the night. The air was cool and damp. We had landed in a grassy meadow bordered on one side by a heavy jungle-like vegetation from which were heard the songs of numerous birds. The strange planet about which scientists had w'ondered for age9 seemed to be almost identical with that part of the earth near i' e equator. Next morning, as the sunlight became brighter, we saw 20

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out. In the morning, she creeps down stairs and lays her finished stockings and such other things as she has made, on the porch. Then she goes in and after eating a scanty meal lies down to rest. A neighbor passing, sees the bundle on the porch and knowing full well what it is he takes it to the town, where he receives in exchange such food as Felice needs. Then at night he returns laden with the food for Felice. And so it is that Felice spends her life, watching and yearning, and the little dress and veil lie hidden away in the old cedar chest; thtre, to remain for years to come, when they may adorn their maker. • • • Charles Perry sat alone, long after the other men had departed, and thought over the sad tale. Here, in his mind, he resolved to do something to help Felice. He knew that it would not be long before she would be passing on ar.d someone else must then take her place. Night gathered around him as he thus sat. far into the wee hours. Then he arose, fully resolved to help Felice. When he returned to his home town the story of Felice was still in his mind. One day not long after his arrival he went to the Government officials and told them the story of Felice and David, asking them for their aid. Before he left they had promised to do all in their power to aid Charles Perry. So it is that when one now goes to the little village of New Haven, he finds on the spot where Felice's home once stood, a beautiful light house, sending its broad beams over the vast w’aters. In the homes, as the people gather around their fireplaces in the wintry evenings, one may still hear the story of Felice's Light. For Charles Perry, urged on by the thought of Felice, had the Light House erected to serve as a “Warning Light to others. JULIUS CAESAR In olden times there lived a geezer Who went by the name of Julius Caesar Surpassing all who had gone before This Caesar won great glory in war. He conquered Gaul, he conquered Britain, And. going to Rome, gave Pompey the mitten. But he was a Latin shark you know. And his pen w'as alwTays on the go. Poor man, if he'd have known its end His “Gallic Wars he’d never penned. But since it’s done the Sophomores, I fear. Must read and translate it every year. But let this be a warning to writers today— Don’t show off your Latin in writing. I pnv, Or It’ll be published and taken to school To bring Joy to the teachers and puzzle t e fool. GUY LAMPHTKAR. ’16 -19-

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a glistening white expanse toward the east. We soon volplaned over a city whose white buildings and well-kept streets shone in the sunlight. We soon alighted in an open giassy plot. People fled In all directions, as if pursued by the Evil One; but as we remained still, curiosity overcame fear and they cautiously advanced They carried no weapons so we stepped from the car to meet them. These were the Martians! Their appearance rather disappointed us, as they were men. averaging about five feet in height and having dark and black hair. All were dressed in long flowing robes, light sandals and broad brimmed hats. We had expected savages but found instead rather handsome white men. All fears vanished when they saw us. and they crowded forward talking excitedly in a clear, musical tongue which we could not understand. One. a person of some rank, motioned for us to follow him. and commanded two of his men to guard the monoplane. A five-minutes' walk brought us to a large, stone building which we rightly guessed was a palace. We gingerly followed our guide into a large, cool reception hall. He clapped his hands—a servant entered who took our hats while another offered us a sort of fruit sherbert which we found excellent after our seven days of tabloid food. Another conducted us to a large pool in the court, screened with shrubbery and we were provided with complete Martian outfits. “Are we dreaming, or are we on Mars?” “I’ll be better able to tell you after a swim. Here goes!” And in we both went. We donned the Martian costume, sandals and all. but had scarcely started when Clarence hopped around on one foot, growling, “Darn these sandals; they don't protect a fellow’s feet at all. At this moment a servant appeared and motioned us to follow. We were conducted to our host who was sitting in a plain white room, lined around the walls with comfortable divans Our host spoke but again we did not understand. He pointed to himself and said. “Rondo. We decided that this was his name and when we repeated it after him he was delighted and repeated a few other words and by motions indicated their meanings. A servant entered and announced something to Rondo. “I hope it's the eats, said Clarence and I hopefully agreed with him. Following our host we tried to appear at ease in our new garments, but we felt about as comfortable as fish on the desert of Sahara. In the dining-room stood an inviting looking meal. The curtains on the other side of the room were parted and Rondo’s wife. son. and two daughters entered. They saluted us in wonder, then conversed among themselves, only now' and then directing a remark to us. We replied always in complimentary terms—in English of course. The girls smiled when we spoke and Clarence, touching me on the arm. said with satisfaction; Say. Bob. we’re surely in right here. Um. urn! That tallest girl is certainly some class. Yes. she’s some class all right, but the little one—well she’s more class. We are in luck. After dinner we went out to see the town. As It was some sort of a religious holiday, the streets were crowded with robed men and women. The Martians seemed to he