Samuel D Hanson School - Crescent Yearbook (Buxton, ME)

Page 15 text:

Ciba Glresrent 13 but they are fading flowers, they bloom one day and wither the next, while these living blossoms of the sea are even more marvelous in their beautiful colors and delicate form, and excel them in life, for they last for a score or more of years. I think the Sea-pen is a wonderful creature and should not be overlooked. It differs from the others of its class because it spends most of its time floating on the surface of the sea, instead of living be- neath the water. It is from three to four inches in length, beautifully curved and filled with polyps. Its color is a paleish red or purple, passing into orange at the base of the quill. One variety has the power to send forth a brilliant phosphor- escent light, and it has been said that when they are clustered together in large masses, they so brightly illuminate the bottom of the sea as to enable the observer to count the fish or other objects which may pass between them and the surface. The coral is a wonderful formation, built by the little architects of the sea. called polyps. They are small round flower animals, having a disk fringed around with tentacles. Below the disk is the body, which is arranged to act as a mould, depositing the secretions of lime that form the walls of the coral. The sub- stance of coral is nearly pure carbonate of lime. In the Central Pacific Ocean are vast beds of coral, also a large amount is found in the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea. and the Mediterranean. The East and West Indies and coasts of Florida abound in coral formations. The coral used for ornamental purposes grows in clusters or sprays similar to shrubs. There is an outer covering which becomes dry and rubs off, leaving the pure hard coral. When alive, the delicate polyp flowers are seen all over the plant in little buds of six or eight rich white or creamy petals. The coral is of different colors, some being black, red or violet. The white variety is highly prized. One of the most beautiful and delicate of corals grows in long slender branches, each twig being adorned with a delicate polyp flower. When it is dead it is clear white and very hard. Still another of the interesting animal plants of the ocean gardens is the sponge. It is built by the tiny polyps, the same as the coral. When the sponge is examined under the microscope, it is found that the substance of which it is formed is made up of sharp spicules of silica and lime and an animal secretion. This combina- tion of stone and flesh is formed in tough fibres, twined and intertwined. The struc- ture of the sponge is very porous and elas- tic when cleansed from impurities, as it must be before it is ready for the market. The color varies through all the shades of brown to a pale yellow. The shapes also differ. Some are shaped like vases or cups, but the most highly prized are the round perfect ones. They attach them- selves to rocks and coral formations, and sometimes to shrubs and sea-weed. The last but not least of the sea won- ders are the star-fishes. The common st-ar-flshes which are found on these coasts are mostly five-rayed or five- pointed. They are of a dingy yellow and

Page 14 text:

--:vgnuq'-v- --... . -- 12 Eb: Crescent Around the walls is a race track, where all kinds of races are held. In the center is a place for jumping. After our tour of the campus and after having dinner, we again assembled at Winslow Hall, where speeches were made and songs sang. One of the most promi- nent speakers was Mr. William Tudor Gardiner, the speaker of the House of Representatives at Augusta. His talk concerning agriculture was very interest- ing. This made up the afternoon's program. That evening was the banquet, of which I can not speak too highly. Fol- lowing the banquet were speeches by some of the different club members. Then at 9 o'clock was the final meeting, which included the awarding of the prizes. The night was not as peaceful as it might have been. As it was the last night of 1926, the boys at Oak Hall watched the old year outg and I think from all reports the girls did likewise at Balentine. But, oh, next morning! 3.30 was the time stated for rising. Of course this was not exceedingly hard, as the night had been so noisy. Breakfast was served at 4.30 and then every one was ready to take the train for his home town. We left Orono at about 6 A. M. 'in a blinding snowstorm. The trip home from Bangor was spent in laughing and joking. Well, anyway, everyone arrived home safe and sound, and I daresay all would be ready at short notice to go again. HARRY TYLER, '29. WONDERS OF THE SEA Thousands of people look upon the ocean every year and exclaim at -its beauties, but how great would be their surprise and admiration if they could get a glimpse of some of the things which the diver sees. For in the ocean depths are veritable gardens. glowing with all the colors of the rainbow, blended together in every rare form of plant growth. One of these beautiful forms of plant life on the oceanis bottom is the Sea- Anemone or Aster. It is really a living creature, eating everything which it can digest. but resembling a Hower. The base is spread out, the top is expanded, and it has tentacles which are arranged around the top in one or more circles, just like the Hower whose name it bears. The mouth is situated in the center of its body and the tentacles are filled with sharp nettles that grasp any object which it touches and conveys it to the mouth. It is beautifully tinted. Sometimes the body is spotted with different shades of brown, blue, or delicate pink, while the tentacles are rose, purple or gold. This highly colored Sea-Anemone exists only in the warmer seas. .Another magnificent creature is the Arborescent Actinia, which means the tree animal. The body is a handsomely shaped living vase, beautifully striped, spotted and shaded, from which shoot up a large number of branches, each one adorned with a series of bud-shaped pro- jections much resembling moss-rose buds. This makes a living shrub of great beauty. The gardens of the earth are beautiful,

Page 16 text:

' 'f1Qe1p ' 'W -' ' 14 The Erzsnznt are thickly covered on the back with spines. In the center of the under side is the nucleus, which forms the mouth, and from which the arms of the animal extend into the rays. The edges are fringed with tentacles, which constitute the arms and means of moving. The star-fishes -are en- dowed with a wonderful power of re- producing any part of the body of which they may be deprived. They can restore one or more rays if broken off, and do not seem to be inconvenienced at all. The twelve-rayed star-fish is one of the handsomest of the sea-stars. It is perfect in form and very brilliant in coloring. It lives in deep water and is not very plenti- ful. The upper part is a bright pink, with shades of blue and yellow. Because of its bright colors it is sometimes called the sun-star. The last variety is the Astrophyton, the most Wonderful of all. From the center five arms branch out, which are sub-divided, and these divided again, and so on until there are more than eighty thousand branches. These tentacles are flexible and are generally kept turning and twisting, so that by means of these the animal forms a net and captures its prev. Surely the wonders of G0d's handi- work are strange and beautiful. But these which I have mentioned are only a few specimens taken from the great bor- ders of the sea, not from the vast plateaus of the ocean. I think that now the sea will not seem to me a wild waste of water. but a great treasure house of God's creative skill. As the poet says, Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs And works his sovereign will. , YOLA TURNER, '27, BIRDS OF SPRING Winter, with its ice and snow and chill- ing winds has passed and all are sensible of the delightful infiuences which accom- pany the earliest indications of spring. Of these none are more pleasant than the first notes of the birds. The hardy crow is generally the first bird to return from the winter's quarters. and following closely after him come the robin. blue- bird and bobolink. Their sweet voices gladden the whole land. telling us that summer in all its beauty is not far away. The first appearance of the robin is hailed with joy, as it is a certain indica- tion of spring. In his simple song there seems a strain of sorrow when he visits his last year's withered nest. just as we recall fond memories of a happy past. But when the gloom of twilight falls, he perches himself upon a slender twig and pours forth in song the burdens of his little heart. One of the happiest birds of our spring is the bobolink. His life seems to be all enjoyment, song and sunshine as he pours forth a succession of rich tinkling notes. When the spring rains are over. and many tinted flowers appear, and the trees are in their fullest foliage, then the birds begin to build their snug little nests of