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

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' '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

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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

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-'qqu1uuuunu ' The Erzszent 15 straw, wool and hair or often of hardened earth. There the tender little ones are carefully guarded by the fine mother until they are old enough to soar away and find their own food. Of the many gifts Nature has provided for the children, none is lovelier than the sweet-voiced birds, which come alike to all. ANNIE C. PARKER, '29. BUXTON IN THE WARS Amerfiran Legion Prize Essay Buxton has every reason to be proud of her service record in time of war. Her sons have fought valiantly and Well in every conflict, from the outbreak of the Revolution in 1775 to the end of the world struggle in 1918. History tells us that Buxton, according to its population, was represented by more men in the Revolution than any other town in New England, this number be- ing one hundred and forty-three. NVhat an enviable record! At least one Buxton man accompanied Arnold on his ill-fated expedition against Quebec. Buxton men gained honor under Prescott at Bunker Hill g crossed the Dela- ware with Washington in '76, suffered in the snow at Valley Forge, fought under Stark at Bennington, and witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, Other Buxtonians served on Washing- ton's Life Guard, were with Gates at Camden: served under Morgan at Cowpensg followed the fortunes of Greene in the South, and even partici- pated in Mad Anthony Wayne's gallant capture of Stony Point at the point of the bayonet. Surely Buxton did her bit in winning the Independence which we en- joy today, and at least two of her men paid the supreme sacrifice for it. Advancing a quarter of a century we find the sons of Buxton again answering the nation's call in the short but decisive conflict of 1812. In the spirit of the slogan of Hurrah for free trade and Sailors' rights, one hundred Buxton men took service in the war which gave us Freedom of the Seas. No casualties were suffered by our town in this war, however. Almost four decades roll by before the nation and town are again confronted by war. Four decades of prosperity and continued growth for Buxton. Those who have studied history realize the relative insignificance of this war in comparison to the two preceding it. In spite of the fact that few New England men fought in the American army during the Mex- ican War, Buxton was represented by one man, Lieutenant John D. Bacon. The death of Lieut. Bacon at the battle of Buena Vista added still another name to Buxton's honored dead. In 1861 the war horn sounded still again, and sounded a note that stirred men's souls as they are seldom stirred- the note of emancipation. When Lincoln sent the stirring call for seventy-five thousand men, none answered more promptly than those of Buxton. Our town was represented by two hundred