Petaluma High School - Trojans Yearbook (Petaluma, CA)

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25 Du tie dI- LS- lie id de in, ed tie e- LV- Lg- tie al- vi- of v - to tie tie ch tie m- d- al- iis le, tie al it. “I g n- id 7e nr in 311 9 t tie re loyal Americans were never enrolled in the United States navy.” “It is not a common sailor’s place to forgive his superiors, sir,” Robert replied, “but since I was innocent and right was on my side, I was confident of the correct termination of this un¬ pleasant affair. As for promotion, I least expected that and I cannot find words to express my gratitude, sir. I promise that I will do the best I can to uphold the reputation of the sail¬ ors of the United -States navy, the reputation of expert marksmanship.” With that he was dismissed, and Robert went forth captain of his gun, and the burden of dishonesty removed from his name. And thus we take leave of our young friend in an honorable position, the shadow of dishonesty removed from him, and the Oregon, the pride of our hearts, returning home. “Home, home with the mother fleet to sleep Till the call shall rise o’er the awful deep. And -the bell shall clang for the battle there. And the voice of guns is the voice of prayer.” RUSSELL BOOTHE, ’08. Youthful Days in the Mikado’s Land The Golden Age of life is found in “The Boyhood’s Time of June.” I I often it call ihe jolly days when I was a little boy, and 1 wish I could be again at such an age. What a mer¬ ry time it was, I remember! The time after school and on holidays was spent in playing and games. My mother always said, “ A healthy will, always dwells in a healthy body,” and so she always encouraged us in physical culture. I used to study fencing, jui jitsu, archery and wrest¬ ling, as the home lessons with my companions. “Hopscotch” is by no means the only game in our country in common with boys in other parts of the world. We have besides shut¬ tle-cock and battle-dore, kite, tops, marbles, ball, cards, and stilt races and many forfeit games which I have never seen in this country. Prof. Grilfis, author of the Mikado’s em¬ pire says, “We do not know so many toyshops, nor so many fairs for the sale of things which delight children. Not only are the streets of every city abundantly supplied with shops, filled as a Christmas stocking with toys, but in small towns and villages one or more children’s bazaars may be found.” Mr. Alcock has stated it in his book with the happiest phrases, “Japan is the paradise of children,” and he might have added that it is al¬ so a very congenial abode for all who love play. The above descriptions make you imagine how Japanese children must amuse themselves. Let me now talk of some games which are played on New Year’s day, par¬ ticularly. No store is open, no business is car¬ ried on throughout the country for three days at the beginning of the year, and all men and women, boys and girls have the .iolliest holiday in playing games and amusing them-

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24 had received many holes near the water-line and after one final shot from the thirteen-inch, the Uhristobal Colon, fastest ship owned by Spain, headed for the shore, having been chased, fought, and destroyed by the mighty “bull-dog of the navy,” the United States battleship Oregon, the vessel Which had sailed from San Francisco to Cuba a distance of four thousand miles, at full speed, a feat never before accomplished by any vessel of any nation in naval history. When the Colon was finally beached, and her colors struck, the w r ork of rescue began. McManus was appointed coxswain for one of the life boats used for rescue and Robert was told off as his assistant. After hours of rescue work we again see Robert on the Oregon which is now on her return to the rendez¬ vous at the mouth of the harbor from which she was drawn in the chase of the Colon. As the ships drew near the harbor, they saw the miagnificient as w r ell as powerful Spanish squadron represented by the old hulks in a mass of flames and peppered as it w’ere, with the balls and shells of the American battleships. On the next day Robert was sum¬ moned to the surgeon’s room, where be found ' Captain Clark and the sur¬ geon awaiting him. John Ericson, of whom mention has before been made, was talking in his delirium, and tell¬ ing in the broken way of one in a deli¬ rium of the stealing of the revolvers which happened on. the Pacific coast. Of course, as he knew nothing of what he was saying it was of no use to convict him of the theft but careful note was taken, however, of all that was said, and this evidence was used at a. later time. ' But to explain the reason of Ericson being in this delirium, we must go back to the day before, when the boats were rescuing the perishing sol¬ diers. Ericson had also been as¬ signed to one of the boats and the excitement of the chase, the heat, and the joy over the victory had made him ill, and it was in the delirium, which accompanied the fever caused by the events before mentioned he talked about the stealing of the re • volver, for which Robert had receiv- ! ed all the blame. Ericson’s , belong- I ings were then searched and the missing articles found. When Ericson could speak rational¬ ly he was confronted by the the evi¬ dence of his guilt, and in the face of such overwhelming proof he acknowl- | edged his guilt, and was sentenced to ; twenty years imprisonment on the government prison at Alcatraz, the extreme penalty for stealing which can be inflicted upon a member of the United States navy. Robert was several davs later sum¬ moned to the cabin of the command¬ er, to receive his promotion for gal¬ lant conduct in rescue work and his expert marksmanship during battle, and last but not least bearing the blame of a dishonest and criminal act of which he was wholly innocent. “My boy,” said Captain Clark, “I want you to forgive me for doubting your honor for an instant. Your con¬ duct during the past few davs, had there been a suspicion, would haive enliieiy removed all doubt as to your manhood and honor. And now in obedience to mv orders I promote you to captain of gun No. 10. I trust that you will ask about McManus, but he also has been promoted, and further¬ more I wish to state that two more

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26 selves at home and out of doors. Card The game is like basket-ball which is playing is the most popular game played here in the school yard. One among Japanese at home. There are ■ who fails in the game must be mark- several kinds of cards: I-ro-ha carte ; ?d on her face or pay a forfeit. (or proverb cards); Hya-ku nin-sliu j Kite-fighting is popular among boys, (one hunderd poem cards); Rikishi | even full-growns. On the string is (historical events cards); Hana carte j fastened’, for ' the purpose of cutting (flowers in twelve months cards) ; j that of his rival, some little sickles and etc. Those poems and proverbs ! about twenty feet below the kite. A are all recited by even little children, j group of boys, who fly the kite, fight Irohata carte, each containing a pro- ' each other With sickles to cut au- verb, consists of forty-eight, and on the forty-eight others are pictures which illustrate each a proverb. After those pictures were dealt equally among the youngsters, the cards are spread out so that all can see them. One by one, the proverbs are read by an appointed reader. One who has the picture corresponding to the pro¬ verb read calls out. If anyone else finds it first among his own, he will give it to the loser. The one who gets rid of the game first is winner and has the right to order a forfeit to the last one. Sometimes tricks, dancing, singing, and many laughable things are played by the loser, and they amuse themselves through the night. Ti.e game of Oochane (shuttle-cock and battle-dore) is played as a work of art, by several girls in a circle up¬ on the street, all dressed in their best kimono, and with powdered faces, and hair arranged in mage, singing a song that it might be calm so that their shuttle-cock may fly straight. other’s kite down. The games of “Go” (or checkers) ' which number three hundred, includ¬ ing black and white, and of “Sho-gi” (or chess) which number forty in all, are favorites among youngsters and full-grown Besides the above, we commonly play mathematical games, “board of wisdom,” ‘“ring of wisdom,” to train our intellects. I have no space to write about them particularly in this paper. Let me mention a comment on the char¬ acter of our games in general, by a notable author. “The character of the Japanese youngster’s plays and their encouragement by the parents have. I think, much to do with that frankness, affection, and obedience on the part of the children, and that kindness and sympathy on the part of the parents, which are so noticeable in Japan, and which form one of the good points of Japanese life and char¬ acter.” OKAiHjN O A Ghostly Lark. “Oh. girls’.” exclaimed (Louise, run j thought, of the jolliest plan for a lark, ning in all out of breath, “I have i — something to tell you, and I have 1 “Do stop and take a good long