Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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WINTER EVENINGS By:- D. Judah (3G) A winter evening begins at about 4 o ' clock. It is then that everything begins to beconne darker. It is then that the wind and the rain become noticable. It is then that the fire is lit. It gradually becomes darker and, by 6 o ' clock, one cannot see anything outside except for the light and warmth radiating from other people ' s houses. Everyone is bored. What can they do? They cannot go outside to play. They cannot go down to the beach for a swim. All they can do is sit around the fire. It is now that the games come out of cupboards. A season ' s dust is brushed off of the box and then everyone settles down to play. Perhaps it is ludo, or perhaps it is a jigsaw puzzle. Either way, everyone is now happy. There are shouts of misery as someone is sent back to the start, and shouts of happiness as someone finds two pieces that fit. Soon it is supper time. Everyone leaves the warmth of the fire and gathers around the dining-room table. What is it tonight? Everyone is happy when they see roast beef and a jug of steaming gravy being put onto the table for they are cold and hungry. Again, there are eager faces when hot coffee is brought from the kit- chen. Now everyone settles back down in a comfortable armchair in the living room. The fire had died and someone must venture outside for more wood. Who will it be? Not me, says someone hopefully. I did it yester- day. After a long argument, someone rises from their chair and moves slowly towards the back door. Soon the fire is again burning brightly. Suddenly the lights flicker and go out. Oh no, not a power cut again! Someone lights some candles, but it is too miserable and gloomy to stay up for long. Gradually the large room empties as people drift towards their bedrooms. Soon the dying fire is the only thing left. The only things to be heard are the creakings of trees and the rain pattering on the windows. The end to yet another winter evening has arrived. FIRE By:- Mark Aub. ' ey{3G) As I look back upon that night, my heart quivers and I turn white. From where I stand I can still see that lonely mansion set upon that ominous hill. It was terrible lying there on the ground, the flames dancing in my eyes and the sirens screeching in my mind. Yet, I will try to pull myself together and relate to you the story which I have told reporters countless times. It was a Saturday night, no different from any other Saturday night. Everyone was home except my orother He was out at some party, who knov s where? Three days later his body was found to be amongst the vic- tims of one of those ' mass murders ' of those times. I went to sleep fairly early, my Chow lying contentedly by my bed. The rest of the family were downstairs, wat- ching television. Huh? I ejaculated as I woke with a start. It was my dog — he had pushed his cold nose against my face. In my waking glimpse, I could see the smoke billowing in- to my room. FIRE! the word was scarcely uttered before everything flared up around me. Everything had happened so quickly that I just sat there, bewildered as to what to do. It was my dog ' s whine which awakened my mind. But the smoke had closed in on me so quickly that any chance of escape seemed futile. I don ' t know what did it, perhaps it was the bite upon my leg which my dog gave me, or perhaps it was the sudden realization that I had to get out of there then or never. But it doesn ' t matter, because in half a second. I had grabbed my Chow and smashed through the nearest window. Thirty feet below I landed on my right leg. I have never felt a sensation as grotesque and horrifying as when my leg broke at the knee and several blood vessels popped. I was barely aware of that which followed, since I had elapsed into a state of shock: but I remember it as follows. I rolled (ny dog still in my arms) two hundred feet down the hill, flames flickered occasionally in the background, and I could hear faint moans echoing in the distance. When most of my faculties of reasoning had return- ed. I found myself lying on my dog. who was whining terribly. Theie we lay. illuminated by the flood of light from our burning house. The ground was cold and hard, and tiie air was heavily laden with smoke and sirens, the moon wasn ' t out that night, nor were any stars, but the ne ghbours from miles away say that it was the brightest night that they had ever seen. Nothing was salvaged from the fire, and the house was completely destroyed. No one has found out what started the fire, and no one ever will, for, only the ashes tell the truth! 21

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A FASCINATING PLACE By:- J. Evans (3G) Amusement parks are common in most countries in the Western world. The United States, in particular, has many such attractions. Probably the largest and most popular is Disneyland, the original Magic Kingdom or its h igher, Disneyworld. These fabulous establish- ments, in California and Florida respectively, are iden- tically built, each covering a massive area of land, and each is a fascinating place. Each of the parks are divided into sections, large kingdoms and lands . These range from the dusty forts of Frontier Land to the castles of Fantasy Land and the French shops of New Orleans Square. Of all the Lands probably the most popular is Tomorrow Land . The rides and buildings represent things of the future — rockets, trips deep into space and through uncharted waters in submarines and all are very fun and exciting. Space Mountain is the newest attraction and brings in most of the people. The Matterhorn is a huge man-made mountain through which run roller-coasters. In the Haunted House a run-down, old house is beset by ghosts and skeletons. New Orleans Square is built to resemble the old French Quarter of New Orleans. There are also boat rides. In short, there is a place for everyone in the Magic Kingdom . One is fascinated by the way the rides inside the buildings are made. One of the attractions, for in- stance, is Pirates of the Caribbean . This is situated inside what appears to be a large house, but inside in dark tunnels, sight-seeing boats travel and lakes, trains, forts and ships are shown, often with mechanical figures. There are even waterfalls and caverns so that it is surprising that all fits inside the buildings but thanks to the engineering, it does. The whole park is spotlessly clean, which is sur- prising in such a visited place. The gardens are in per- fect order and nowhere is there any sign of disrepair. The fact that it is an amusement park is forgotten after eating in one of the many fine restaurants. At night there are fireworks and parades of electric floats. In short, the place is very active at night. The great wastage of electricity is forgotten completely. Even the best places have problems, however, even if they are not readily seen by the visitor. True, the trash problem is well contained but it must be a difficult job keeping ii up. It is discontenting, to say the least, to see a queue a long as Front Street going to see an exhibit, but the wait 13 always worthwhile. Even at Disneyland, a pickpocket might infiltrate the crowds, and in the ex- citement and confusion, it would be fairly easy and it does happen The monagement must have great problems, keeping everything clean and in good repair and thus employs fiundreds of people, but these are not thought of by the visito. I would cctainly recommend and stay there myself for a day or, as it is easy to do, a week. It is most enjoyable and truly fascinating. THE CITY By: S. Shepperd (3G) Above all, cities are masses of civilization. They are terminals for an influx of population from the neigh- bouring countryside. They are colossal, yet intricate, seemingly alike, yet interesting. How many people have seen a city once, and then don ' t make a return trip sometime in the future? Not too many. The reasons for coming to the city are many. They serve as a business centre for a whole continent, or a shopping arcade for the people, or even a place of residence, if you care to put up with the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the city. Do people really notice other people in the city? Does one notice that besides yourself on the sidewalk, there are hundreds of others, each moving in his or her own direction, intent upon his or her own specific pur- pose? And what is that specific purpose, that one must walk, dodge and elbow briskly through the rushing crowd? Perhaps he ' s going to catch the subway up- town, the city ' s great graffiti-covered, mass transit system, going from everywhere to everywhere every few minutes. Or maybe he ' s going to work nearby, in one of the magnificent buildings, masses of steel, con- crete, aluminium and glass, stretching so many seemingly endless stories above you. Or still, maybe, he ' s going for lunch — a bagel and coffee in one of the hundreds of small coffee shops in the city. Or perhpas he ' s going to walk to the corner of the street and procure for himself a steaming hot soft-pretzel from the umbrella-covered cart for a quarter. Wherever he ' s going, it ' s likely to be part of the everyday life in a city, a routine one adjusts to, a commonplace event, as com- mon as the steam issueing from the manhole-covers and vent-holes in the street. The scene here is the same, basically, as in any city, with a few differences. It could be happening in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, London, or anywhere, but those few minor differences are what gives each city it ' s own character or personality. Cities are the focal point of mankind, they are gleaming metropolises of civilization and technology. 20

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MY INVENTION — BRICK UNLOADER By:- C. Hook (2 A) I started my invention by first buying a large wheelbarrow. With this I tied a rope to all four corners and attached a thick 300 foot rope to it, feeding the rope through a large pulley at the top of the building at which we were unloading the bricks. After this had been set up and tested without bricks, standing on the ground I pulled the rope, sending the barrow up. When the barrow reached the top, I tied the rope around my wrist to save me from growing tired. When the men at the top had filled the barrow with bricks, they pushed it off the ledge and left to get more bricks. The barrow and the bricks suddenly became heavier than I was and they started to descend, pulling me upwards. The rope being tied to my wrist, would not let me fall. Halfway up, I met the barrow coming down, and I then received cuts and major abrasions to the top half of my body. After this I continued on my way up at a very high speed. When I reached the top, the hand which was tied by the rope was half crushed in the pulley, ripping skin from all parts of my hand. When I reached the top, the barrow hit the ground and tipped out everything it contained. Now the barrow was empty, and once again lighter than I was. Now, I being heavier than the barrow, started to descend at very high speed. Halfway down I met the empty barrow coming up, and received cuts and minor abrasions to my backside and lower half of my body. I continued on my journey down until I hit the ground, breaking one leg, and fracturing the other. On that journey up, the men had been collecting bricks elsewhere and had not seen me. When they came back they saw the barrow standing there ready to be filled again. They filled it again and puched the bar- row off the ledge. The barrow started to descend pulling me upwards once again. Looking up, I saw the rope fraying and also saw the heavy barrow coming down. Still looking up, the barrow hit me smack in the face, making it look like a cherry pie. I continued on my way up until I hit the pulley, pulling more and more of my hand through it. The barrow at the bottom tipped its contents once again, and I started back down. The fraying rope passed me on the way down and it had nearly torn the whole way through. I hit the barrow on the way down with such impact that the rope snapped and left me lying in the barrow in mid-air. I fell to the ground and broke my back at the same time and also lost my mind. CRUCIFIXION By:- K. Van Beelen (2 A) The dov began quite normally. Who could have for- seen hov n was to end? In the early morning a large number of people gathered outside Pontious Pilate ' s palace. I mingled in the large crowd of angry people. We waited cutside the palace for quite a A4hile when a man tailered and barefoot appeared before the angry mob. Pilate appeared alongside him. Crucify him, Crucify him the mob shouted. I strained my eyes to see a better view of the man. His back showed the long, cruel stripes from which blood flowed freely. Upon his head was a deadly crown of thorns. Beads of blood streamed down the man ' s face. He looked onto the angry mob. He seemed quite unmoved. What is this man ' s name? I asked this shouting man. Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth. He claims he ' s the King of the Jews , he answered. The mob suddenly broke out into a chorous of blood curdling cries. Free Barabus, Crucify Jesus . Barabus was a hardened murderer. The Levites were mingling in the mob offering larger bribes to those who would cry out for the death of this man of Nazareth and for the freedom of Barabus. I walked away, disgusted and I felt ashamed to be a Jew. When I arrived at my house just outside the city of Jerusalem I heard jeers and insults. I knew what had happened, this Jesus had been condemned of an unknown crime. I looked upon Golgotha. This is where the Romans usually crucified criminals. Two criminals were already being crucified there. They wrestled in the hands of those who stretched them upon the cross. One of them continued to cry out in anguish for some time. I was about one hundred rods away from them when I saw a Roman Soldier beat the complaining criminal with a whip. When I arrived on the hill, this Jesus had also just completed the journey from the city to the hill. I grabb- ed a Roman ' s water bottle from the ground and advanc- ed towards the exhausted man. I looked into his pacifying eyes and was about to hand him the bottle of water, when the savage kick of a Roman Soldier kicked me aside. I got up and watched. They stripped him from his garments and tied him to the cross. Then they nailed him to that tree, amid the jeers and insults of his own people. I watched horrified as blood poured from his pierced hands and feet. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do . He gasped. At about twelve o ' clock the sky began to turn black. The lightnings seemed to be hurled at Him as He hung upon the cross. Jesus sent up a despairing cry: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The day dragged on slowly. I watched Jesus agonising on the cross. At about three o ' clock in the af- ternoon Jesus gasped, Father into thy hands I com- mend my Spirit. With this his eyes rolled towards the back of his head, he bowed his head and died. Thunder roared and rocks split open. Tombs were broken open, and many of the dead were cast out. The earth shook and lightning occasionally flashed forth from a cloud, revealing the lifeless body of Jesus hanging on the cross. I was amazed and went throughout Judea preaching of Jesus Christ, the King of all Mankind and the Son of the Living God. Death Before Dishonour K. Lambert 5T 22