Spencer High School - Spencerian Yearbook (Spencer, IN)

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McCormick's Fall. MARIAN BIXLER, '15, 1 After the heat and glare of the summer day, what a relief it is to slip from my wheel and run through the woods in the direction of the low rumbling, which I recognize as that of the fall! Opposite, the perpendicular wall of stone, rough and jagged, suggests strength and durability. On top, the low-hanging limbs of the trees and shrubs droop gracefully over the edge, mosses and vines clamber over the face of the cliff, lending their soft colors as a contrast to the dull leaden- gray of the stone. From where I stand, the polished rock reaches down to the water and stretches across, making a floor worn smooth by the uninterrupted washing of centuries. A few feet from the water is a shelf in the wall, forming a miniature cave, which is the object of much scrambling and sliding on my part, but which, finally attained, is hastily vacated at the sight of a small, squirming, black lizard, which no doubt, is much more alarmed at the strange creature, which has invaded its privacy, than I by its wriggling. A But again the fall clamors for attentiong so to gain a better view, I go around through the wood. By means of vines I swing down onto a level with the foot of the fall,and step out on one of the boulders with which the pool is strewn. The fall is small, hardly deserving the name, but what it lacks in volume it makes up in picturesqueness. The water tumbles over a rough wall of solid stone, similar to that of the cliff above, only not nearly so high. At the base is a semi-circle of steplike rock, over which the water ripples after its merry dash, and these steps complete the vague resem- blance to a throne, which the cliff indefinitely suggests. How simple it is 28 Q L gg H

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The Narrows. l ARTHUR WELLS, '15, At the first bend ofthe railroad, a short distance east of Spencer, we find what is locally known as the f'NarroWs. It is so called because here, there is barely room for the railroad to pass between the high, thickly- wooded bluff' and White River. Near the top of this cliff is a narrow ledge of rock called the goat's path. From here one can see the river flowing peacefully and gently in its bed, a source of comfort and pleasure. As the warm afternoon sun beams down upon the water, it sparkles as if the surface were covered with thousands of diamonds. But suddenly the tranquility of the scene is dis- turbed by a loud rumbling, looking to the north we see a cloud of smoke, and almost before we are aware of what is happening a freight train goes whizzing by far below. But the rattle and roar soon die away, and once more we find the usual serenity. Far up the railroad we soon see an object moving slowly toward us. As it draws closer we observe that it is some Weary Willie who is mak- ing his way to the village with the idea, no doubt, of getting a hand-out and, perhaps, lodging from some of the good housewives of Spencer. But now somewhat refreshed after the fatigue of hill-climbing, we arise and wend our way carefully along - the ledge, noticing 'with interest the little pockets and projections. These hollows are favorite haunts of the weary pedestrian, who can here build a fire and spend a night by its cheerful light and warmth. On reaching the end of the Hgoatls path, we ascend to the top of the hill from which we can see the beautiful river valley below. Two farmers with their teams, returning from their day's labor in the fields, remind us that it is now near the close of day. 'Looking farther to the west We see the cozy little town, nestled among the green hills, the houses partly hidden by the foliage of the great elms and maples. The beautifully colored west- ern sky and the sinking sun complete the picture.. As we descend and near the rail- road once more, we see a band of section men pass on a hand-car on their way home. All of these things again remind me that it is near night-fall, and I must not tarry longer, but hasten to my home in the near-by village. 27 ' ------ A

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McCORMICK'S FALL-Continued. - 1 to picture a water-fairy holdinglher court on the throne, with a rainbow for a crown, and the water for her robes of state 3 with her mermaids languidly splashing in the pool, or lounging gracefully on the steps of the throne. Perhaps on a still moon-light night a water-nymph comes out from her home under the rocks and for a few brief hours reigns supreme, dressed in silvery robes. with moon-beams for jewels. But the sudden whistle of a red-bird in a neighboring tree brings me back to my surroundings: and again the water flows over dull gray rock, where a few moments ago it rippled through the golden hair of a mermaid. I Leaving the fall, I watch the little stream as it moves almost imper- ceptibly toward the rocks. The water is shallow and very calm, but it is as the calm before the storm, for soon striking the rough bed, it battles its way around, between, and even over the resisting rocks. Beyond these I can only imagine its course. Perhaps after its tussle with the rocks, it flows between meadows and fields, with only the memory of its former power, or, perhaps, it continues its wild course until it joins a larger river and finally reaches the sea. Faustus' Prayer. TRANSLATED BY RUTH ALVERSON, '14. The following prayer to evil powers, translated from Latin is taken from The Tragical History of Doctor Faustusf' written about 1588, by Christopher Marlowe: ' May the gods of Acheron be gracious unto me! Farewell, three-fold divinity of Jehovah! Hail, spirits of fire, air and water! Prince of the orient, Belzebub, monarch of burning Hell and Demogorgon, I propitiate you that Mephistophilis may become visible and arise. By Gehenna, and by the consecratedgwater which now I sprinkle, and by the sign of the cross which now I make, and by my vows, let Mephistophilis himself arise devoted to mef The May Morning. LORNA OOLEY, '15, The sun rose bright o'er hills of gray, And early iiowers sprang upg A little brook beside the way Gladdened the buttercup. The violets and the daisies bright, Were lovely, sweet and gay: The fields were flooded with delight, On this most gladsome day. 29