Trafalgar Castle School - Yearbook (Whitby, Ontario Canada)

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8 VOX COLLEGII. NEWS FROM ABROAD. We have recently received this, entertaining and well-written letter from one of our former students. We are sorry that lack of space made it necessary to omit some minor parts, but what we give is in- tensely interesting : My Dear Vox, — If, in the reading of this sketch, you derive as much pleasure in following our course from ocean to ocean as I have in review- ing the delights and pleasant associations connected with it, my wish will be gratified, for it will be my one aim to make you see, though but through the medium of an inadequate pen, the wonders of this world of ours. On the day of departure, when we drove down to the dock, passengers were already going on board. It was exciting to watch the stir and bustle as the great ship was made ready for her long sea trip. Such a babel of tongues one would imagine Bedlam had been let loose ; such a calling of friends to one another from the wharf to the hurricane and pro- menade decks. The different bits of conversation were amusing yet pathetic. But time sped all too quickly, and now the captain, tall and commanding, at the head of the gangway calls out : All visitors ashore now. Reluctant good-byes are said again, and as the ropes were cast off and the good ship slowly drew away from the wharf there rose over all this confusion the clear sweet tones of the bugles playing Old Lang Syne, ' ' as we swung out into the open sea, full steam ahead. Some people still stood at the railing, straining their eyes for one more glimpse of friends on the fast receding shores. Days at sea follow one another monotonously alike. There was first the novelty of throwing quoits, and playing endless games of shuffleboard, but one very soon settles down to the usual quiet routine of life on board an ocean liner. The first three or four days out were quite squally, but otherwise we were very fortunate in having beautifully calm and delightful weather. It is surprising how quickly one drifts into conver- sation with a neighbor. At first it is on very minor subjects, but soon you are talking away as if you had met one another every day of your life. And so the days slipped by. After we had been out about a week, our flagging energies and interests were once more aroused by the news that next day we would reach the Azore Islands. Friday, January 23rd, we dropped anchor, and how our sea-tired eyes grew brighter at the sight of the low grassy shores, and the rows of pink, green and white houses shining in the rays of a warm sun. Cameras were now busily employed. Presently natives put out from the shore in their boats, laden with fruit and curios, and they very quickly disposed of their wares and returned for other loads, for it is the only time they have to make any money. We remained here only three hours. It had been an exciting day, and as every one was tired we retired very regularly. So we settled down once more to quietness and gossip. Our next stopping place was at Gibraltar. We arrived there at three m the afternoon and anchored in the bay. How glad we were to be on terra firma once more. Scarcely had we landed when we were surrounded by the natives, who were mostly Arabs, tall, swarthy-skinned men, with brilliant black eyes, clad in long flowing robes with gayly colored tur- bans on their heads, selling all sorts of curios. Of course, there were any number of Spaniards. We had the funniest and most amusing one for our guide, and he kept us in laughter all the time by his peculiar broken English. As we went in we entered through a gate at which an official stood who presented us with tickets, which our guide explained to us were to be used in case of our not being out of the gate before sundown, when the gun was fired. After this to leave the city one required a ticket. We took a quaint little yellow carriage with cur- tains and drove through the principal streets to where the Moorish bazaar was held. Here we were met by the most suave merchants who, in spite of our reluctance, sold us the quaintest curios which we didn ' t want, but which they solemnly assured they were positively giving away. We drove through the public gardens, cool and inviting, and from, there we had a splendid view of the harbor. Laden with all sorts of things dear to the heart of a tourist, especially a woman, we re- turned to our boat, and after the last load of passen- gers had been brought we started. By this time it was quite dusk, and as we swung slowly round the point across the quiet v aters there boomed the deep tones of the sunset-gun. One by one the lights began to twinkle, and soon the whole city with its varied crowd of strange and familiar sights and peoples lay outlined before us. Two days later, at midnight, we anchored in

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vox COLLEGII. 7 A fair, sweet country elfin, Who to her work is wed ; Her daily thoughts do heavenward tend, To judge by the poise of her head. Another happy elfin Is Marian, the fair, She graduates in M.E.L. And all such kindred w ' are. She really is so clever, The genius in her head. Perforce flows through each filament And turns them almost red. I read softly — do not raise a din A Star hos now reclined Behind a cloud of coverlets A refreshing nap to find. Ye winds, blow not the clouds away For fear the Star might soar Away beyond our vision ' s reach. And never twinkle more. We all admire Grace Silcox With her domestic art. You ' d know her by her smiling face And her large and kindly heart. If e ' er we were in trouble. Dear Grace was ever nigh To smooth the rough place over, To dry the tear-dimmed eye. Come, Beatrice, come, my muse inspire With various joys attend. Thou source of sweet and kindly acts. Thou dear obliging friend. But sometimes you excited get. And lose your little head. I trust this weakness you ' ll outgrow When you are better fed. Behold an elfin tall and red Retiring in her mood, She steals away and meditates Just as a fairy should. Our Nellie is a charming girl And perhaps I shouldn ' t tell. That she ' s not contented with a chap But add s a man as well. Well, Emma, we ' ll be easy dear, We know that thou art fair, And that thou art a precious Wood A timber sweet and rare. But ne ' ertheless some future time You may be bought for pelf. And some good-natured lumberman May take you to himself. Who can with Emily compete In beating ' gainst the wind ; She ' s built for cutting it in two. She ' d leave us all behind. This is the fairy that delights In looking down on me. But some day I ' ll look down on her When I can climb a tree. Ho ! ye that want, come to the spring Of Sammie ' s verbal flow. Open your ears and gladly Hear logic sweet and low. To high altitudes she leads, To nobleness allures, The ethics from her cherry lips True happiness ensures. Ah ! Anna, who from Southern Isles, To our College halls did come ; We had in thee a happy elf, A treasure for our home. Now back to Southern warmth and flowers With thy fairy wings out spread. Thou flittest to thy native homes With smiling skies o ' er head. Our much-accomplished Agnes, Divinely tall and fair. Of charms and arts of every kind Thou hast more than thy share. To know thee is to love thee, And although it was not meant We feel thou hast unkind been For thou all our hearts hast Dent. And now, dear fairies, one and all. Ye tall, ye short, ye thin. Ye stout, ye dark, ye red, ye fair, My pleasing task is done. Farewell, ye comrades of my heart. May each one wear a crown. An d ne ' er forget the glad school-days We spent in Whitby town.

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vox COLLEGII. 9 Algiers, and early the next morning, just in time to see a most beautiful sunrise, we were rowed ashore in small boats by the picturesque natives. The city was built on the side oi the hill, and the streets rose one above the other like tiers in a theatre. The first place we went through was a terribly squalid quarter known as Arab town, ' ' where the streets were dreadfully narrow and not very clean, and paved with cobble-stones. Along these alleys were the shops of the natives, dark squares cut in the rock. In the doorways sat the merchant, cross- legged, with his long black pipe or herkah between his lips. At the side was placed, on a low tabouret, a cup of jet black coffee, from which he solemnly took a sip now and then. But so much filth and squalor disgusted us, and descending again into the city, we went into one of the mosques, with its shining minarets and marble pillars. Before entering we must either remove our shoes or put sandals over our own, as it was be- lieved we would profane the holy building. At- tempting to walk A ' ith the sandals on gave one the sensation of trying to learn how to skate ; so as best we could we shuffled along in the wake of our guide. In front of the pillars were natives busily engaged in saying their devotions, while not stopping their sing-song monotone their eyes followed us about. One old man read his Koran, starting at the back ; of course none understood what was said. We went from here to the governor ' s palace, which may be visited while he is absent, and as this took us an hour or more we had just time to hurry to our boat and scramble uj before the gangway was pulled in, and once more were off again. Genoa, our last stopping place, was reached in the next two days, but there we visited only the Campo Santo, or city of the dead, famous for its wonderful statuary. From the time when we left Genoa till landing at Naples, our destination, we spent the time in taking last walks together with our newly-made friends. At last the time had come ; we were at anchor at Naples. Natives in picturesque costume surrounded and welcomed us with sweet songs to the notes of guitar and tambaurine. We threw them pennies and watched the dexterity with which they caught them in the extended umbrellas. Good-byes were said and promises made of future meetings, and at last we were off the boat. It seemed strange not to hear the familiar swish of the water and the regular beat of the engines, and we left many a regret behind us, for life had been pleasant these two weeks at sea, and friends had been made. But it came to my mind as our ship slowly sailed from our sight, how true it was, that after all we ate but ships that pass in the night. As our time here was rather limited we did as much sight-seeing as possible, starting off the next day early for the ruins of Pompeii. At last we were in the Silent City of the Dead. We saw the Roman forum and amphitheatre and also the homes of famous Romans. The rtreets were very narrow with but room for one chariot to pass. In the stones were still the ruts worn by the carts. One could very well spend hours here going over each place carefully, but as we had a long drive to go we very reluctantly left. Our hotel was very pleasantly situated on a hill, and from our windows we obtained a fine view of Mount Vesuvius and the Islands round about. But to tell you all would but prove wearisome to you, so let us hurry on to Rome. Truly, it earns the name of Eternal City. Rome, that in its many-sided complexity endears itself to one and all, has a fascin- ation that makes one long for its many beauties. There is a tradition still believed, that he who drinks at night of the waters of the fountain of Trare and casts a coin to its depths will return a ain. On the day of our arrival we visited the wonder- ful Colosseum in the evening, and as it was moon- light the enjoyment was deepened. It was a sight I shall never forget, as we stood in that vast and darkened amphitheatre that had stood well the storm and stress of years, even centuries. The feelings of strange emotions struggled within us as we saw, in fancy, the terror-stricken human beings as they cowered before the first growl of the infuriated lions waiting impatiently to fasten their cruel teeth into the quivering flesh of their victims. Thus it was of old ; they paid the penalty of their steadfast adherence to a hated faith. So true the words : — While stands the Colosseum Rome shall stand, when falls the Colosseum Rome shall fall, and when Rome falls with it shall fall the world. Let us go on now to Switzerland to the Lake of Lucerne. Who is there whose heart does not beat faster as he reads this name, which recalls to us all that we have heard of the sublime scenery of this Lake Lucerne, the magnificent description of Schil- ler and the history of William Tell, of whose heroic