Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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THE GOLDEN ROD. third story and notifies Mrs. W. that someone is at the door. Mrs. W. goes to a speaking tube, which is also connected by electricity with the outer door of the house, and asks who is there. If she recog- nizes the voice she presses a but- ton and thus unlocks the door. Through the speaking tube she in- vites her visitor in and up to her rooms. —Alice Pope. A VIEW FROM “THE STONE HOUSEF A TLANTIC. The first time I mounted three flights of stairs in the “Old Stone House,” I was surprised at the ex- tensive view I had of the surround- ing country. Far to the north and northeast I could see the faint out- line of Boston. The dome of the capitol and the many church spires I could easily discern, but the sur- rounding buildings were obscured by a kind of haze due to the damp- ness of the atmosphere. In the foreground lay Neponset, with its houses huddled along the bank of the river like a flock of chickens on a cold day, and the big school- house overshadowing them not un- like a mother hen. Behind Neponset I saw the out- lines of Dorchester and Boston Highlands, with their hills and valleys clothed with the pale green of early spring. The river flowed calmly in the foreground despite the ncavy wind, and the small boats tossed gently up and down on the incoming tide. The lumber wharves were loaded with a recent supply of lumber which was wet by the rain of a few hours before. Altogether it was an attractive scene. But I was not impressed as deeply with its beauty as by the eastern view. Looking in this direction, I could see nearly all of Atlantic. I could not describe the settlement if I tried. The houses are set in every position possible. They look, in fact, as if they had been shaken from the clouds, and allowed to remain just where they had dropped. Fruit and shade trees are mingled with all. The former were then loaded with blossoms, which were snatched off by every gust of wind; and the latter were clothing their naked branches with fresh green' leaves. To the left lay New Squantum, which looked as low as the surface of the water, and as though any common sized wave might sweep over it. To the right, I saw the Quincy School, with its pennant fluttering in the wind and rain in a manner to grieve the heart of the principal. Behind all I saw the “mighty At- lantic” (or a part of it) breaking into white caps, which quickly melted away into the lead blue of the surrounding water. Looking towards the north I saw in the distance the gilded dome of the stone church, and some of the higher buildings of Quincy, and I caught a glimpse, through the boughs of the neighboring trees, of Wollaston and Norfolk Downs. The steam from an engine near the blackened remains of the old foundry was blown hither and thither by the increasing wind. Twilight was slowly coming on, and rain began to fall. This thick- ened the haze so much, that when I looked to the west Milton was but a green waste dotted with trees and church spires. Although it was a rainy day and the beauty of the scenery was nothing compared with that of a pleasant day, I thought how thankful we who live in the country should be that we have such a chance to enjoy the coming summer, when there are so many who never picked a wild flower, and never saw a plot of green grass except in the common or public garden. • £■. ’94- The Hermit of Amesbury, the Wood-thrush of Essex, the Martial Quaker, the Poet of Freedom, the Poet of the Moral Sentiment— such are some of the titles bestowed upon Whittier by his admirers. ON AN ECLIPSE OF THE MOON. Fair virgin of the evening skies, That erstwhile wore the veil of white. Across thy face a shadow lies; Thou tak'st the veil of black tonight. —Frederic Allison Tupper.

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THE GOLDEN ROD. With his money he was charita- ble. He provided a hospital for his native village, which had become a small city. He was foremost in all educational projects. No society was complete without having him to hold some important office. Many young business men owe part of their success to him, as he was ever ready to help them. At his death he was mourned by all, regardless of class or creed, for he was kind and charitable to all, es- pecially to the working class. In his younger days he was in- dustrious. He observed every- thing and was quick to understand. In business matters he was keen, prompt and shrewd, yet trustwor- thy and honest, and we may say almost without doubt, that these qualities, aided by a tender, loving heart, helped him to secure the po- sition that he held for so long a time. —Mary E. Monahan, ’94. USES OF ELECTRICITY IN QUINCY. What would our great-great- grandfathers or President John Adams have said, had we told them that by stepping to the wall and speaking into what appeared to be a box, they could talk with friends in New York? They could not only do this, but could tell by the voice to whom they were talk- ing. This is done every hour of the day in Quincy, and we think it not at all strange. If it is very stormy we may not like to go out, but we may wish to talk to a friend, and if he has a telephone we can accomplish this without any difficulty. It is very useful in a store if one wants something from Boston and cannot leave the store to go to the city. All one has to do is to step to the tele- phone and order what is wanted. The arc light illuminates our city with a light whose brilliance is a little less than one-third that of the sun. The characteristic color of the light is a bluish white, but the effect is rather ghastly owing to the quantity of blue rays. There is no other light which has such a penetrating power. This light renders the ground around it as plainly visible as it is on a cloudy day. What may seem still more strange is that the lights all over the city can be lighted at the same time and almost instantaneously. This is very convenient and useful in a very heavy snow-storm, when perhaps the streets may be drifted so as to render it impossible to light the gas or oil lamps. It is also very useful in this city when the moon shines at the beginning of the evening, but suddenly disap- pears, leaving all the city envel- oped in darkness. Then all that is necessary to dispel this darkness is the starting of one machine at the electric light station. We have a very clear, bright light for lighting houses and the cars. These lights generate some heat. We may light all the house and even the piazza by pressing a button in the hall. What a saving of time this is compared with our great-grandmothers’ way, when they made the tallow and the wick, then put them in a candle mould, where they remained for a week or two to harden before they were ready for use! It seems very strange to see a car moving along the streets with- out any visible motive power. Cars are one of the greatest mod- ern conveniences of which electri- city forms a part. What would our great-mothers have said, if they could have enjoyed a ride in an electric car! The lights of the car, when needed, are also fur- nished by electricity. Even when electricity is not used for light, it is used to ignite other kinds of lights, notably gas. The gas is lighted in the house and on the piazza by pressing a button. One house in this city employs electricity in ' locking and unlock- ing its doors. A person goes to the door of this house and wishes to see Mrs. W., who lives in the third story. The person presses a button, which rings a bell in the

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THE GOLDEN ROD. AN OLD-TIME LETTER. To Miss Mehitable Bowen, London, England. Plymouth, Mass., April 4, 1621. My Dear Cousin:— I left you on your way back to London in the Speed- well, which our fathers concluded was too weak to make the voyage to the New World. Our voyage in the Mayflower was long and several storms occurred. In one of these storms our ship was in great danger of being dashed to pieces. The waves lashed the ship and one of the strongest timbers threatened to break, but a large iron screw was found and by God’s will the ship was saved. I was seasick for the first two weeks of the voyage, and I wished many a time that we had never left England. We came in sight of the New World after being tossed on the sea for sixty-five days, and in two days more, on November 11, we anchored in a pleasant har- bor. You remember that on our de- parture from Holland our good pastor, Mr. Robinson, gave us a letter of instruction and advice. This we opened and read on that evening, gathered in the small cabin of the Mayflower. Our fathers drew up a compact in which they agreed to have just and equal law's which all should obey. John Carver was chosen governor, and Miles Standish captain. The next morning a small part of our little band left our ship in a shallop to find a suitable place to land. We who were left behind were of course very anxious for their safety. Many were the ear- nest prayers that we sent up to God. bather was among the party. It was with thankfulness to our heavenly Father that we, toward evening, saw the fire which our explorers had promised to light to show that all were safe. On December 19th they returned to the ship, and we heard with grateful hearts that they had found a very good place to land, and that there was a very good harbor for our ship in that place. Our exploring party while absent had found a considerable amount of corn which the Indians had buried in the ground. Of this corn they brought all they could carry to the ship. This we saved for seed for spring. On the next day we went ashore and began to build our log huts in a snow storm. I was the first to leap upon a great rock close by the waves. The men of our party were obliged to cut all the logs of which our houses were to be built. At two o’clock all gathered for the dinner of partridges which our brothers had shot, and which we ate with biscuits and cold water. We girls were obliged to get the dinner and care for our little bro- thers and sisters, as our mothers were needed to help the men in their work. In three weeks our houses were all finished, but the weather was very cold and sickness began to make itself felt among us. Before February half of our little band had diecf, and many of the living were sick. Mother was among the latter. In March we had warm weather, and many of the sick began to get back their health. It was with great joy and thankfulness to God that I saw mother day by day gaining health and strength. We all felt the loss of our governor, John Carver, very much. He was among the first who died. Our fathers then ap- pointed Mr. Bradford governor. The Indians, through the influence of Samoset and his chief Massa- soit, made a treaty with us and so we have not been troubled by them. It is now April, and the weather is warm and pleasant. We have planted our corn and hope to re- ceive a good harvest in the fall. Several of my friends and I have been gathering mayflcwers today, and I will send you a box of pressed ones by the Mayflower. Our ship returns to England to-