Winchester School - Oui Dire Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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OUT pine 47 fright. Suddenly a hearty laugh made us open our eyes, and to our great relief and joy we saw my young uncles holding tlash-lights so tha-t their faces were plainly visible. They had heard of our little trip and had come to sur- prise us. ll. ll., io. LE VOYAGE. Ort we started! Our loyalty to tiencva was shown by the red and yellow bands around our large dilapidated straw hats. l wore an old blue skirt, rose-colored sweater, tan tramp shoes, and last but not least, a knapsaek on my back. As we arrived at the station with this outfit there were ten chattering girls wait- ing for us, making a party of twenty to take the trip. XYe filled one whole coach, and if anyone chanced to look in for a place, we would call out, Filled, and he would gasp at such a strange sight and turn away. K At St. Maurice, forming ourselves in march- ing order, we walked through the quaint town of one street to a hill overlooking the Rlifnie River. Here we ate our lunch. which we had brought with us. NYe then climbed a very steep, winding path to a grotto called l.a Grotto des Fees. It was very interesting, with water dripping down the sides forming queer figures on the wall. .Xt the end there was a wonderful waterfall which the guide illumin- ated with a lantern in such a way as to create the most wonderful colors, which made it look like a rainbow with diamonds sprinkled through. On the way back to the station, we looked at the ruins of a church built in Roman times. NYC had to go through a comparatively modern churcrh tbuilt in the Middle Agesi, and through a little narrow door to see the ruins which were behind it. There were very few remains, as it had not all been entirely excavated at that time. But there was a part of what must have been an altar, and also some of the original pav- ing stones. At Sion, our next stop, we saw some forti- fications of the Middle Ages. As the fortifica- tions were on a hill, we went through the town on our way up. It happened to be market day. and one street was Filled on both sides by booths. where Swiss merchants sold not only eatable products, but also all kinds of wear- ing apparel. The outside walls of the forti- fications still seemed to be pretty strong, but were slowly going to ruin, as no care was taken of them. We entered through a beautiful arch of which we all took pictures. The barracks, or at least what seemed like barracks, had lit- tle narrow rooms, hardly large enough to turn around in. The chapel. not far from the bar- racks, was very beautiful on account of the wonderful carvings on the pillars, pulpit and also on ix hat seemed to be the choir pews. llut. after seeing this, we had to go back for the train to F-ierre, where we spent the night. There was nothing to see here but the beautiful coun- try, and on the front of the hotel the loveliest wisteria l have ever beheld. Un the way to the station next morning for llrig, our military inode ol walking and our strange outfit caused quite a sensation among the villagers. llere, forming ranks again, we marched to a hotel, where we deposited our things. as the knapsacks were not light by any means. Un going up the street, we saw a very impressive old house which we were told had been the largest private house in Switzerland. lt was built after the llonian style. The iron entrance door, the work of years, no doubt, was very beautifully carved. There were bal- conies on the stcond and third tloors running all around the house and facing on a very love' ly court, which contained a fountain and some marble statuary. ln the gallery there were still some pictu1'es of the family. which gave us a very good idea of the costumes of the early periods. After this. we went to see a church upon a very steep hill. Nye were a lit- tle disappointed in this building, as it seemed too modern to be interesting after what we had seen, but we could admire a very wonderful view which extended to the St. llernard l ass. lt had the great snow-capped .Xlps as a back- ground. while in the foreground a smaller moun- tain covered with green trees sloped gradually to the fields where cattle were grazing, .Xfter luncheon we went to a small village called Rarogne. The first thing l noticed was that evervthin--' was written in lierman and all the people Epoke it. The village was full light out of the most picturesque blue, pink, and green houses, with little balconies jutting in the most unexpected places. tlne house, in- habited by stolid peasants. had upon it the coat of arms of some baron, who evidently had once lived there. Most of the houses had friczes of different scenes around the top just under the eaves. Again climbing a hill, we came to a church which was not interesting inside. but was very beautiful outside, because of its grace- ful lines and the ivy-cove11 l QVQY Walls- XTC then took a train back to Sion, where we spent

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46 QUT DIRE A SUNSET AT SEA. XX e had lieen tossing ahout on a rough sea all dav, lvut altout six o'clock it liecame very calm. ,,kr far as we could see there was scarce- lv a ripple. 'lihe air hecome crisp and cold and there was no wind stirring. is the sun low- ered. we saw a small hlack spot on the horizon. liol' a while we could not tell what it was. hut great was the excitement when it was found In he an ieehergl Meanwhile the low-hang- ing' clouds had lmecome crimson and gold. Une flame of red shot up into the sky making' every- thing' appear to he on tire, Even the boat no lly this frjl' sea, the Zllirl the we U the light fell upon it, it became a cloudy emerald green. Near this floating mass uf ice, two whales were playing. .Xt that distance they were merely lmlack ohjects that kept appear- ing and disappearing, lt was more interest- ing to watch a school of jellyfish, through which the ship had lieen plowing for an hour or more. 'lihe sailors caught some in a hueket caught and reflected the color, The 5621. longer dull, lmecame pink and orange. time we had come duite near the iceherg, three or four miles is a short distance at and it looked aliout four times the size of hom, It rinse In a point like a mountain, had many sharp pinnacles which caught sunlight and glistened like steel. XX'hen first saw it, it was grev and hlack. hut as SH that we might examine them more closely. These jellyfish were pale yellow and were shaped like stars. AX few of 1110 largest 112111 red markings which radiated from the center. iXt the sight of the icelrerg, the captain had turnezl the lvoat southward, and we seemed to 110 leav- ing the sun hehind us. Slowly, like a huge hall of tire, it sank lnelow the waves. 'lihough a glow remained over the sky, the water liecame so dark that we soon lost sight of the icelmerg completely. lil, li, '16, AN ADVENTURE IN A HAUNTED HOUSE. Une warm summer evening, while l was vis- iting' in Iilne llill, ten of us decided to make Z1 ll'l1r rrl L'XlllIJl'Zlll4Jll. lk L' lmiulq se-vergll stout sticks and a couple of lanterns with us, .Xfter a walk ot several miles we came in sight of a ramliling' old house surrounded by gr fleugg grove, through which a mislv moon gleanied faintly. lhe owls hooted from the treetops and frogs croaked from the marshes nearby, making it very dreary and desolate. By this time our busy tongues had ceased wagging and some of our courage had disappeared, but as we were determined to continue our quest, we approached the large old-fashioned Veranda with its worm-eaten pillars gleaming like mar- lile in the moonlight. Having timidly mounted the rickety steps, which squeaked at every move, we tried the door several times before it opened. As our courage was not quite sufficient for us to ex- plore. guided only hy a ray of moonlight which came through the vacant window frame, we lighted our lanterns and entered a dark, dreary and solemn hall. There were many holes in the lloor and the loose hoards squeaked loudly. liieht doors opened from this hall, seven of which we were successful in opening, but the eighth seemed to he locked on the inside. We divided into groups hefore exploring. lfive of us first visited a room which evidently had once been a fine lilvrary, as there were large hookeases containing' a numher of hooks that seemed to he very interesting, but which we found upon closer investigation to he far heyond our knowledge, XX'hile we were thus engaged, we heard an excited call from some- where further down the hall. XYe started in the direction of the sound, hut had reached only the lilirary door when our lantern went out. Xte fumhled ahout in the hall, which was very dark, and fell over every object that came in contact with our feet. fly the frequent exelamations, I judged that the others were also discovering that the floor was cluttered with a miscellaneous collection of old hottles, boxes and loose planks. .Xt last we came to a door through which a dim light glimmered. Upon entering the room the other five appeared to lie very much excited and interested by an old organ which, when the keys were struck, sereeehed and groaned like a soul in torment. ,lust as we were pocketing some pieces from the sheet of music for our memory hooks, we heard a key click and a door slowly open. This frightened us so much that we started for the hall, screaming att the top of our lungs. Xve got no further than the door, when our last lantern went out, and we were left in pitch darkness! Too terrified to move, we crouched in a huddled group in a corner. Soon light, tapping' footsteps were heard coming towards us, and in the ghostly moonlight two large ldack things were outlined. XVe screamed and elosed our eyes, clutching' each other vvith S

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nights Crawl only tight dollars! l , 48 oUi-DIRE the night. 'Iihat night quite an uproar arose because a mouse ran aeross the iloor ot the bedf Vtvrvlll adyonnng ours jtlrl as we were about to get lllltb lied, so of CtJlll4SC ll. lmudi US tltllltl 21 timetogrrt1vslet'1l, Taking earriaees early in the morning, we went through some lovely Swiss eountry. Une village. called Clages, was having an auction of ealxes, and it was great lun watching the gestieulating of the people. The ehureh here is very old with a tower whieh is even older. .Xll the morning we went through many quaint straggling towns eaeh eonsisting of one street. liinally, at Saxton, we walked out into the Qoune try to eat our luncheon pienie fashion. tioing back to town we went through a preserving fae- tory, whieh seemed almost primitive to me in eontrast with the ones we have in the Linited States. XXX' 111011 took a train for lieneva, ar- riving with many regrets at not being able to start right over again. Ilns trip was not like anything l had 0101 experienced because 110 spoke l'reneh all the time. and so:ne of 1110 seenes were very unusual. lhe NXXHS girls 11010 jllml as laughter-loving as those I had been used to, and we had manv good times. lint the greatest surprise was tail tinding that the trip for 111100 days and two Q. Klef., Io, A STRANGE STEED. During the eivil war Mr. XYilliamson and his eldest son were away lighting, leaving only Mrs. XX ilhamson, 1101 daughter ul' lifteen, llCl' bov of seven, and llel' babv. The union soldiers had attacked the farm and 1111111011 it uf everything eatable, drinkable or ride- able on 11111011 they could lay their hands. Mrs. Xkilliamson and the lllly, who was very dglit-Ute, were made so siek from fright, fatigue and ex- eitement that Miss XX'illiamson thought she had better eonsult a doetor about her mother and brother and get 1110111 some medicine. llut how was she to get to town? The soldiers had taken every horse, mule, and eow on the plaee except one pet eow whieh Xliss Williamson had managed to hide in the bushes by the stream, Now it were to prove it-elf useful in a dillierent way from giv- ing milkg it was to earry her lu town, She rode it there, ereating quite a sensation in the eountrv villages through 11111011 she rode. She consulted lllCll' doetor, got the medicine, and returned llfllllk' lll lllii S2l1llLT XVUV. ' ii, '11 ny. IN MEMORY OF A BRAVE GIRL. Small groups of villagers huddled on the door- steps or 'stood in the streets discussing, in sub- dued whispers, the progress of the war. The sen- try had reported that the enemy's scouts were nearing the town and there was an undereurrent uf inteiise excitement. Already families were be- ginning to gather sueh food and clothing as they Crvllltl earry and were hurrying along the roads in search of a plaee of safety. At dusk the enemy entered the town, and after capturing the few re- maining eitizens, they fired the houses, eut the telephone and telegraph wires, and left destruc- tion and desolation in their wake. The pillagers saw an unpretentirwus-looking house on the hill- side but, thinking it had been deserted, they passed on and pitehed their eamp on the out- skirts of the village. Fate aided the slim light haired girl of the un- pretentious house, and she watehed the enemy's movements from an attie window every day and reported what she saw over a private telephone wire whieh had been overlooked by the enemy. ller supply of food was low and the loneliness and terror uf it all was maddening, but her father had given his life for his eountry and with that in mind she continued. Une day the general uf the enemy's army or- dered a thorough seareh of the town for spies. for it was eertain that they were being spied upon. ln the little house on the hill they found the girl at her post. reporting their last move. She was taken prisoner, guarded that night and after a eonrt martial. it was deeided that she should be put to death. At sunrise she was led out and stood. a slim figure against the blue sky, waiting for her death. .Xt a signal there was a flash of tire from half a dozen rifles and she slipped to the ground lifeless. M. T. '17. THE LITTLE LAME BOY. Ile was a beautiful ehild, this little lame boy, who sat every morning in the same window as I went by to work. l'le had soft eurly hair and deep blue eyes that eompelled one to look twice at their owner. He sat in the same big ehair covered with a downy eom fort whieh almost hid him from view in its soft folds. He always waited for me with a eheery smile and a wave of his thin little hand as Iipassed by: and in summer. when the window was raised to let in the warm sun- shine, he and I would talk together. ln one of these talks he told me that his name 'B