Seven Hills High School - Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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HONORABLE MENTION The Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower Situated in the center of Florida, the Sanctuary is a natural halt for birds passing north and south, or crossing from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico. Bok Tower, often called the uSinging Tower, is on top of Mt. Iron, and is surrounded by beautifully planted grounds where hundreds of birds make their homes every year. Mr. Bokls reasons for building this sanctuary are due to his ancestors. Many years ago the Dutch government entrusted the care of a dangerous sandbar off the Dutch coast to his grandfather. It Was infested with pirates, and was absolutely barren of all vegetation. Nevertheless, order was not only established here but more. His grandfather was a great lover of beauty and by his own art and persistence changed this sandbar into an island of rare beauty, where birds rested on their way across the North Sea. Many people, such as poets and artists, came here for inspiration. The message left by his grandfather umake you the world a bit more beautiful and better because you have lived in it,77 became Mr. Bok's thought throughout his life in America. But he did not find a place in which to really realize his grand- father's message until he had seen the spot where Bok Tower now stands. He felt that this mountain, once worshiped by the lndians of Florida, who used to meet here every spring to reverence the Great Spirit, was the place to establish a sanctuary for birds and humans. The Tower rises to a height of two hundred and five feet, where, by gradu- ally tapering lines, it becomes octagonal and is but thirty-seven feet wide. Around the top are panels of roses and palms, and its pinnacles are in the shape of herons. The detailed carvings encircling the Tower are of pelicans, herons, and many other Sanctuary birds. The huge sundial carved on the south side of the Tower shows the longi- tude and latitude of lron Mountain. lt is known as an uErect Declining Dial as it stands vertically at an exact right angle with the surface of the earth. Surrounding the dial are twelve figures of the Zodiac and their an- cient mythological characters. Except for the original pines, practically all the planting has been brought to the Sanctuary since nineteen twenty-three. Over one-half of it has been collected from the wilds, and much of it was found within a radius of twenty miles of the Sanctuary. The fifty-three acres of beautifully planted grounds entirely cover Mt. Iron, which is supposed to be the highest point in Florida. JANE GOODYEAR, Eighth Grade W afm, 193 Q f52l

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INTERMEDIATE PRIZE STORY An Exciting Story As the sun slowly ascended, the forest became alive with noise. Squirrels leaped from tree to tree and birds quarreled over bits of food. A stag stood motionless in a clover field, feeding on the clover. Every now and then he raised his head restlessly. Suddenly he was alert. ln the distance was the faint baying of some hounds. Instantly he wheeled around, leaped the fence, and bounded into the woods. Just as his stately form vanished from sight, two hounds and an airedale crawled through the fence at the far side of the field, and soon were on the deer scent. After a mile of running his heavy antlers weighed heavily on his head. He paused and faced the wind. The dogs were still half a mile away. He ran towards them until within a quarter of a mile of them, turned, and raced towards the right. When the hounds came to the hreak in the trail, they were confused and started circling to the right. Finding the way ahead they ran forward. The stag lying concealed in some bushes waited, listening. Soon he heard the hounds coming back. The stag was tired and headed towards the lake. Reaching its edge he plunged in. Half way across he looked back to see the dogs starting across, the airedale in the lead. As he neared the bank, he was gasping for breath, but he rushed on. Reaching a clearing he encountered a herd of does. Plung- ing among them he hoped to confuse the dogs by mixing his scent with theirs. The does scattered in every direction. The stag raced on. When the dogs reached the clearing, after a moment's hesitation they found the scent of the buck and rushed on. As the buck bounded blindly on, he suddenly reached a rock wall. Halt- ing just in time to avoid colliding into it he realized only too late that he was cornered. Just then the dogs appeared, running low to the ground. As they saw their quarry facing them, his legs apart and his breath coming in short gasps, they gave a triumphant yelp of victory and rushed forward. The first hound was lifted high in the air on the buck's antlers, thrown, and then trampled to the ground. At this exhibition the other two dogs drew back and stood watching their victim and barking loudly. Suddenly the aire- dale dashed forward and snapped at the buck's legs. He was quick, but the buck was quicker. The dog received the same treatment as his companion. At this the other dog let out a yelp and rushed home, defeated. The stag looked after him, shook his antlers, snorted, pawed the ground, and van- ished into the woods. JOAN LITTLEFoRD, Eighth Grade Whoa., 193 9 I51l

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HIGH SCHOOL PRIZE STORY Windy Hill Standing in the dim old hallway, Robert F arquharson, a tall, heavily built, dark young man, suddenly knew, with sickening certainty, what had caused the turmoil that lately so dominated his usually high spirits. With a clutch- ing fear he realized what had made him wander through dark, bleak halls to the door before him. The Farquharson family, an old and formerly wealthy one, living in the north of Ireland, had known for some time that their youngest son had . Hisli'rrot-hers felt that this younger man, of an uncertain temperament and a large amount of determination, would make himself, if allowed, a discordant note in their midst. Hence his approaching departure was viewed by them, with an air of calm complacency. But standing with the cold air from the window chilling his back, and listening to the ceaseless rushing of the wind around the rugged old corners of Windy Hill, this youngest son of the Farquharson clan, felt a passion of love, and kinship for his home that for the moment crowded out the fears and doubts that rushed through his troubled mind. He saw with amazing clarity why he had been afraid to leave this land, this house, these brothers. They were all a part of his individuality. Strong as he was, he could not throw them aside and step forth unchanged into a new life. With an im- petuous motion he pushed open the door and walked, with a defiant air into the room beyond. A small bright eyed woman smiled up at him, and motioned to a chair by the fire. ul wondered how long you and your haverings would go on outside my door, she said. This small, quick woman had the power to make any of her numerous sons ill at ease by her shrewd perception, and rather uncomfortable wit. Robert, no exception, moved restively in his chair and finally pulled himself together for the effort he was about to make. Clearing his throat, he proceeded: HlVlother I have been meaning to talk to you about going awayf' Here he looked up to see what effect his statement had had, and was rather pained to see that she kept a steady, calm countenance. He faltered and went on. Wiafm, 193 Q I53I