Seven Hills High School - Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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having the time of his life splashing ,Ianny and me. Our guide rambled on, telling us the story of the mine. It was 3000 years old and had, through the centuries, furnished salt for miles and miles around. The mine was about 1500 feet under the mountain, and was so large that it took you fourteen days to go through it completely. In a few minutes we came to our first Chute. It was like a slide only it was 250 feet long and you could barely see a tiny speck of light to convince you that there was a bottom to it. We all held on to each other and whizz-we were down. It was just like a roller coaster. It took your breath away and gave you that sinking feeling in your stomach. I simply loved it. I could see why the miners liked the mine. Think of being able to get that exliilerated-feeling anytime you wanted to. We turned the corner then, and arrived at a scene which also took our breath away, but this time it was because of its beauty. We saw an under- ground lake lighted by red and white lights, reflected in the darkest water imaginable. An illuminated barge was waiting to take us on our way. We sang in order to hear our echoes and we dipped our fingers into the liquid salt as we made our fairy journey. A gentle bump and our boat- ride was over. As soon as we were on our feet again the guide turned to us with a grin on his face and announced that we were going to cross the border from Austria to Germany. Think of crossing a border without having to show your passport and getting a new kind of money. It was quite an event, but little did I dream that in a few months there would be no border to cross. At that time, 1937, there was an agreement between Austria and Germany concerning the mine. Austria was allowed to own and operate the salt mine which was only partly on Austrian soil, and Germany was allowed to own all of the lumber on top of the mountain. That way they would both receive what they wanted. From the border we went to the underground rooms. They contained many old miner's implements and some very large salt crystals. In one of them there was a plaque commemorating the time Franz Josef, a former emperor of Austria, had come to visit the mine. According to our guide the temperature of these rooms never varied a degree throughout the year. After about ten minutes, our hilarious sliding and running through corri- dors came to an end. We discovered the little car that was to take us out. It was a simple board fastened on to some wheels. We prepared ourselves Widow., 193 9 l65l

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Evening Melody A rose-golden sun Sings aloha to the fire-flamed earth While deep green leaves Sway to the evening lullaby. Birds chirp drowsily As evening settles its dusky feathers And prepares to lull the weary earth Into sleep with an enchanting song. The dying embers of sunset Throw forth a final mellow glow Before yielding to the rich midnight-blue Heralded by a haunting evening melody. JOAN B. SULLIVAN, 1939 HONORABLE MENTION I5O0 Feet Underground Up, up, up, when I had expected to go down, down, down. We were climbing up a mountain on our way to a salt mine. Every few minutes Mother had to stop and rest and, although we didn't admit it, all of us wanted to rest too. We were overjoyed when we caught sight of a little cabin which meant that our journey was over. We were going to see our first Austrian salt mine. First of all we had to don white cotton suits and caps which made us resemble the most modern of garbage-men. Then we were presented with a guide. He was just the kind of dwarf-like man you knew was made to mine salt. He couldn't have been five feet tall and he had a long white beard and a little red nose. Heid been working in that mine for forty years. Imagine! After entering the mine by way of a small door, we walked two miles down a chilly maze of corridors. We were continually turning right or left and how the guide knew his way was a mystery to me. Each of us, Mother, Daddy, Janny, Bill, and I, had a dim lantern with us as there were no lights in the corridors. It was very dark and wet and Bill was W afme, 193 Q l64l

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as We had for the chutes, by holding tightly to each other, and we shot through the darkness. I still insist that we were going at least 60 miles an hour, but Daddy assures me that it was only 20 miles an hour at the most. Anyway, all I thought of as the wind rushed past me was Hwhat would happen if I fell off. Luckily no one did. On our way out, we rode along beside the wooden tubes which carry the liquid salt to the bottom of the mountain where it is made into salt as we know it. The tubes were made hundreds of years ago when Wood was the only material that could be used to conduct the salt. The salt is apt to stick to the sides of the tubes and therefore fresh water must be run through them frequently. They serve their purpose, however, and help bring the neighboring peasants their salt. Now that I am back in America and Europe is in such a state of turmoil, I am glad that I was able to see the salt mine at I-lallein, Austria. BARBARA SLADE, 1940 The Best People Three boys stood on the steps of the library building at Miami University. They interrupted their conversation as a tall, blond, young man, with some books under his arm, passed. '4Hey, Edward, shouted one, ucoming to the barn dance tonight? 56 No, thank you, answered Edward, I have some work to do. And he passed on without further comment. Why does he want to work on Saturday night?', asked another. 4'Well, all I have to say is, that he had better come down off his high horse, said the third. '6I..ord Hamilton is going to pay his respects to the King no doubt. A young girl who had watched this scene from the doorway came down the steps. uYou boys shouldn't make fun of Edwardf, she said, 'che just isn,t very well acquainted around heref' 4'But Anne, he has had plenty of time to get acquainted in two months. He just considers himself too high and mighty. I knowf' she agreed, abut he will change, I am suref' And then and there, she decided to get to know Edward better. Edward Hamilton had recently come to America. I-Iis father was a W afonp, 193 Q I 60 I