Pennell Institute - Whirlpool Yearbook (Gray, ME)

Page 17 text:

THE PENNELL WHIRLPOOL 15 a while a thatched roof. I recognized two varieties of pine, one or two of oalk, cedar, juniper and maple trees, and several varieties of palms; then there were every- where blue hydrangeas and many blue flowers, related perhaps to the lily, with 2 large cluster of trumpet-shaped flowers on the top of a long stem, called agapanthias., An Englishman. sitting beside us said they were called Changeables, because they turn white when old. I thot I recognized sugar-cane. We saw many cacti and banana trees loaded with fruit. The grape-vines were very heavy with their green burdens. A little way above the end of the railroad we came to the Restaurant Esplanade, with beautiful gardens in front of it, and a fine monument to Gongalves Zarco, who discovered Maderia in 1419. We had had nothing but coffee, so had excellent appetites for the table d’hote breakfast—fish, roast beef with tomatoes, and jam, bread (rye, I guess) and butter and coffee. The restaurant was so pretty that anyone must have an appetite. At one end was a lovely little sitting-room with wicker chairs and tables, and many maidenhair and other ferns and palms. The wall were all festooned with greenery. The electric lights had flower-shaped shades and decorations of palm leaves, with a truly floral effect. ‘ couple of snapshots taken on the walk in front of the restaurant, and then we hurried to the rear where the toboggan men were waiting. There were wicker baskets on skids, seating two or three persons, and each managed by two runners, on a road paved with small cobbles. When we came to the sharp curves we were thankful that our men were quite experienced in controlling the queer vehicles; we did skid well numerous times, where a steep grade combined with a curve, and the runners let us get considerable momentum for a long, fairly level stretch below. That ride was over half an hour, I think, most of the way at a smart trot; they certainly do develop runners there. We stopped once at the “half-way house” for the men to get a drink (probably not water). Everywhere beggars and beggars; old men and young men, and the little children by the side of the road would stretch out their hands and ask for a penny. That feature made it seem quite undesirable to be left behind in Madeira, and as it was about time jor the Balmoral to weigh anchor per schedule, 10.30. we urged our runners on. At the end of the toboggan ride, from which point half-grown boys carry the toboggan back on their heads to the mountaintop, we jumped into a mule-sledge and clattered away to the waiting launch; one runner at the mules’ heads, pulling them along, and the second running beside us, otherwise encouraging them. Everywhere we were pelted with flowers, for which a handsome consideration was expected. We were on board in plenty of season, and the engines started at 11.05. We could see the mountains after two hours, and our rate, I judge, was about 15 knots an hour. Maderia is 1,314 miles from Southampton and 4.673 miles from Cape Town. We pass Cape Blanco and Verde near cnough to sight land, but one of them at least will be by night. Funchal, you know, is where Ex-emperor Carl of Austria died. It is a town of about 25,000, August 13. We're due to cross the equator at about 10.30 tonight. and it has been just as cool and comfortable all day. I'M warrant you're having it hotter at home. We're still studying Chindau hard and Mr. Orner is a very encouraging teacher.

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— 14 THE PENNELL WHIRLPOOL Class of '21, Bertha C. Libby is living with her parents at Portland; Marguerite Merrill, student at Farmington Normal School; Alice W. Sweetser, student at N. It. Conservatory of Music. Class of ’22, Florence Brown, teacher at Bodge School, Windham, Maine; Francis J. Cole is studying music, and living at home at Ray- mond, Maine: Ilizabeth Douglass, working in the P. O. at Gray; Jennie Ie. Foster, nurse-maid at New York City; Marion E. Roberts, teacher at North Gray; Harriet L. Russell, teacher at East Gray; Kathryn Sweetser, teacher at New Gloucester primary school; Ernest L. Coffin, farming for Walter Leighton at Cumberland; Byron Hanson, student at Gray's Business College; ISdward Kent, farmer; Guy A. Prince, farmer at Gray: Clarence M. Quint, apprentice at Willis Rumery Co.. Portland: Perey S. Quint. at Gray’s Business College; William L. Russell, farmer, Gray, Maine. Ex.—'21, Joseph Leonard, student at Tufts College. MiGs S22 EXTRACTS OF LETTERS FROM GERTRUDE H. MERRILL, MT. SILINDA MELSETTER, SOUTH RHODESIA, AFRICA August 8. Just off again. Madeira just fading out of sight in the purple haze. Miss Larkins and 1 went on shore with the party, and it was surely a beautiful trip. The engines stopped as 1 was having my morning swim, and we dropped anchor out in the Bay of Funchal about 6.30 A.M. Land was sighted by 3 A. M., however (but not by me.) Before the anchors splashed. dozens of small craft were out from shore, some piled high with wicker chairs and basketry, others with fruits, and many little green boats with divers. The traders were on board before we were dressed, and had their beautiful embroideries spread out everywhere; there was hardly room to step, and we had to stop our ears and hang on to our pocket-books hard. According to prices of such wares in America their prices didn’t seem un- reasonable; but ‘by waiting until near sailing time one could get the goods at hati the original prices. Vhe Maderians are born a mphibians and mendicants. It really was great sport to watch the boys, some of them grown and others quite small. dive from the boat-deck down into the clear blue depths for a shilling or a farthing, it didn’t matter much which. Sometimes they would swim quite a distance under water; you could see their brown bodies flashing along under one boat and another, before coming to the surface. About eight o'clock we went down the ladder to a little motor launch dancing up and down on a slightly choppy sea. Only a few minutes before we had feet planted solidly on terra firma, but in a few minutes more we were being whisked along American style in a real auto, that somehow seemed rather out-of-place in that old- world environment of stuecocd houses and palm-trees and ox-sledges and pack-mules. We boarded the little mountain train which started very promptly on its puffy climb nearly to the top of the mountain, about 3500 feet above sea-level. Such a beautiful view as we had numerous times on that climb! It didn’t take long to get above the clouds, which hung so low that we couldn’t tell where sky and sea met. ‘The clouds were soft and fleecy, and few tho. The mountain panorama was beautiful, with its terraced gardens and vineyards and varied forestry, and many kinds of wild flowers, and the houses, both clustered and scattered, built of the soft volcanic rock, or of stucco, painted different soft colors, with tiled roofs of green or red, and once in oe a —— —— — — ae

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LL —— 16 THE PENNELL WHIRLPOOL ogee Bs Editorials SCHOOL ATHLETICS. Athletics at Pennell have proven to be a failure this year. Basket- ball, the popular winter sport, had to be dropped because of lack of co-operation with the owner of the hall. The boys’ team was un- successful in obtaining someone whoa would be responsible for them during the time which they occupied the hall. In this the girls were successful, but it was thought advisable by all to drop the matter entirely. The question of erecting a gymnasium has been brought up, but as yet nothing has been done. Pennell will probably not be represented by a baseball team this year, as there are not enough available players to make the nine. This will be the first time the school has failed to have a baseball nine for a number of years. On the whole, athletics have played a very small part in the school life of this year. It is to be hoped that better care of hired premises, or more enthusiasm toward building a school gymnasium, will bring us athletic success in the future.