Santa Rosa High School - Echo Yearbook (Santa Rosa, CA)

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THE ECHO. PANAMA-PACIFIC EXPOSITION---1915 Frances Ahl. URRAH! The year of Mm grace, 1915, has arrived, the time for the Panama- Pacific Exposition. Peo- ple from all over the uni- verse are traveling to San to witness the World’s Fair, which is about to be held in honor of the opening of the Panama Canal. On such a mission was I, as I entered a crowded train, and departed for the me- tropolis. As I gazed from the car window I thought of the passed days, how in the early part of 1911, Congress, by a large ma- jority, had decided in favor of the Western city, how the news was so quickly tele- graphed over the world, how the State of California rejoiced that day, and showed her appreciation by the blowing of whistles and the ringing of bells. Then, adding to all the joy of this January morning, Apollo drove his steeds across the sky and the sun shone down, after almost a week of contin- ual rainy weather. After having ridden on the train for about two and one-half hours, I stepped onto the ferry-boat, and enjoyed a most magnificent ride across the bay. It was a beautiful, calm morning, and as the sun was making its journey across the sky, it shed its beams down on the blue waters, presenting a scene more beautiful than tongue or pen can de- scribe. Francisco Before me were many war vessels from every nation, decorated with their bril- liant flags. Adding to the life and the beau- ty of this scene many small sailing boats were moving about, while overhead, airships of various designs were constantly passing on their way to the big celebration. Notice- able among these was the handsome new model of the Wiseman biplane. In a short time I was across the bay and soon had passed through the ferry building. Before me lay the glorious San Francisco; behind me the clear blue waters of the bay. The surrounding streets were crowded with clattering carriages and automobiles. Street cars were continually running thru the crowded streets. The cement sidewalks were thronged with people from every nation of the globe. The buildings were decorated with the ilags of the various countries, but above them all floated the proud red, white and blue. I gazed upon these lively scenes a few minutes, and then entered a touring car. Within the next few hours I enjoyed a most beautiful 1ide through the entire city. I saw all the sites of San Francisco, including the Cliff House, Golden Gate Park, the lead- ing exposition buildings, and many other places of interest. In general, the entire city was one scene of grandeur and mirth, all decorated and arranged for the opening of the fair on the following Monday. Monday dawned bright and clear, and as the hour of nine drew near, Market street was the scene of one of the largest gather- ings the world has ever witnessed. The President and Vice President of the United States, together with the President’s cabi- net, representatives of the mightiest republic on earth; ministers of kings; governors of States; statesmen, warriors, and ambassa- dors gathered here to be conveyed to the exposition grounds. A long line of hand- some carriages and automobiles, beautiful in their equipments, lined both sides of the street as far as the eye could see. This group of national celebrities entered the car- riages and autos, and started tor Golden Gate Park amid cheers from the vast multi- tude assembled for the occasion. Following these men were mauy other officials ; indeed it seemed as if all the world’s famous men were present to participate in this noted

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THE ECHO. the ground and quickly brought him to consciousness. The boy was none other than Earl Rush- more, the son of the banker. On account of his wealth he considered himself superior to the other boys. Slowly he raised him- self, and seeing Harry, flushed painfully. “You!” he exclaimed. Something in his voice at once aroused Harry’s suspicion, and he said: “Yes; your horse seemed badly fright- ened.” “You,” Earl repeated, assuming not to have heard his remark. “You sure happen- ed along at a lucky time for me, Norcross. A little more and I would have had a dirty fall. By George, Harry, you’ve been white to me! Why didn’t you let that horse throw me? Why haven’t you choked me? I de- serve anything. I am sorry, but I was the whole cause of your recent disgrace! Snatching him, Harry’s face became livid, and it seemed for a moment that he would choke Rushmore; but on second thought he calmed himself, and spoke none too harshly. “You scoundrel, you haven’t been content with knocking me, but now you try to get me in wrong with some dirty trick. I might have known that you had something to do with it. Explain!” “I will,’ he whimpered. “But it seems you are such a lucky fellow, always winning honors and increasing your popularity, while I never seemed to make any impres- sion.” A feeling of pity arose in Harry’s heart as he looked at the cowardly boy before him. After all, he was to be pitied. He had never had a chance to be a man, for he had been petted and cajoled by an ambitious mother and an over-indulgent father. “How did you do it?” “I circulated the story that the High School money had been taken for your pri- vate use. It seemed easy, as the school funds are in my father’s bank, and I was cashiering when the president came to find out how much money there was in the bank. It seemed such an easy way. But you treat me so square that I’m getting tired of try- ing to down you. I will confess it all to- morrow. Now let go of my neck; you’re choking me.” With these words, the two walked to- wards the town, where they met a party of High School boys, who paused in astonish- ment at seeing the two boys together. As- suming a courage wholly unfelt, Earl made his way to the boys and told the tale, which exonerated Harry from all blame. The boys were overjoyed to hear that their popular school fellow was not guilty of such an act. Karl standing alone, he could not help but feel envious as the boys gathered around Harry with the old love of comradship. “Tf I could only win friends like that—I can too, if I make up my mind to be as honest as he is; I wonder if the fellows could ever like me like that.” As he walked away, alone, wholly unmissed by the boys, he did some good thinking, which helped him to become the man he proved to be in later years. Harry had been home only a few min- utes when the telephone bell rang, and a girlish voice inquired, “You are coming over as usual, aren’t you, Harry? I just saw Earl Rushmore and he told me a long story —but you come up tonight and I’ll tell you all about it. Goodbye.” The next evening a very happy, enthus- iastic boy was seen seated by quite the pret- tiest girl in the hall, loudly cheering the home team.

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THE ECHO. event. Never before in the history of man- kind have so many representatives from the various countries of the world gathered in one place for the celebration of a common cause. The parade journeyed for several miles along the beautiful streets, which were lined with stately mansions, over which waved American flags. At Golden Gate Park, millions of specta- tors occupied the space beyond the confines of the parade grounds. Hundreds of autos and rigs, filled with handsomely dressed ladies an-] gentlemen, were lined up on all sides. As the parade approached, the mili- tary arm of the country rose in grateful sa- lute to the civil power. Infantry, cavalry and artillery with banners gleaming in the sunlight, stood in martial array, while bands crashed, and officers brilliantiy mounted dashed hither and thither. Guns were fired, flags were raised, and cheer after cheer pro- claimed the loyalty and enthusiasm of the defenders of the republic. When the parade passed, the crowd rush- ed to the entrances of a colossal lecture hall, which was soon packed to its utmost. A sea of human faces stretched far away on both sides. The great audience rose and cheered until the hollow dome thundered and roared in concord, as President Bryan stepped forward to give his introductory address. I remained in this building for several hours, listening to the lectures of various leading men, and the singing of national GALLEY TWO—.. hymns. After the last speaker had com- pleted his address, the great audience slowly arose as if loath to leave the scene of such an impressive ceremony. As the crowds filed slowly out of the great hall, the firing of guns and the blowing of whistles pro- claimed that the great advent had been con- cluded. The Panama-Pacific Exposition build- ings have recently been dedicated to the greatest exposition the world have ever wit- nessed since the beginning of time. But dedication day was not yet over, the mag- nificent display of firewarks at night was one of the most popular features of the day. Even before dusk several millions of people were gathering to witness the fiery siege. The skies were soon aflame with light and the air was filled with myriads of Roman candles, rockets, and all sorts of strange devices for making various colored lights. The scene continued late into the night, in fact it was almost dawn ere the streets were once more cleared of their throngs. On the following morning, I decided to return to the park and spend the day visit- ing the various exposition buildings. I took an early car from the city, thinking I might see the decorations and grounds be- fore the crowds gathered, but when I ar- rived at the park it was already thronged with thousands of people. After surveying the beautiful grounds, I decided to enter some of the buildings. As I had always heard so many stories in connection with the beauty and magnificence of buildings of art, it was my desire to first visit the Pal- ace of Arts. This building was well lo- cated near the center of the grounds and was set off to good advantage. It was an immense structure, covering more than thirty acres of ground. It was classic in style, bearing a strong resemblance to the Grecian-Ionic models. Its leading architec- tural feature was a huge dome, which meas- ured one hundred and fifty feet in diameter and one hundred and seventy-five feet in height. After having thoroughly surveyed the exterior of the building and its immed- iate neighborhood, which was ornamented with groups of statues, replica ornaments of classic art, Grecian art and the like, I as- cended the front steps and entered the beau- tiful arched doors. When I gained my first view of the interior of the “palace,” I was by no means disappointed with what I saw. Before me lay the grandest gallery I had ever seen. It was the main floor with a