Woonsocket High School - Quiver Yearbook (Woonsocket, RI)

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8 THE HIGH SCHOOL QUIVER there still stands her great, four-posted bed, with its tattered canopy and coverlets, and beside it. on a small table, her work-basket, containing a thimble and a piece of unfinished needlework. As one wanders through these places it is impossible to check the thoughts which come to the mind, . First, he imagines the beautiful young Queen surrounded by courtiers, charming all with her grace and beauty. Later, as he gazes at the spot where her friend, Rizzio, lost his life, the image changes to one of grief, and he seems to see her bowed with care and sorrow. It is with a sigh of relief that he leaves these rooms, so burdened with unhappy memories. Edinburgh Castle is one of the central features of the city, and is composed of a number of very old buildings. It is situated on the summit of high cliffs and may be seen from all parts of the city. It contains a famous old banqueting hall, the walls of which are covered with weapons and banners of all kinds. Here also one may see the historic gun carriage which conveyed Queen Victoria’s remains to their resting-place. The oldest of the castle’s buildings is called St. Margaret’s Chapel, and is the smallest church in Great Britain. In this castle, as in Holyrood, one feels that the rooms are ull of poignant memories. After visiting the above-mentioned places of historical interest, I had the pleasure of viewing the city from the Scott monument on Princes Street. From here 1 had a picturesque view of the huge, gray castle on the cliffs, and the Princes Street Gardens, with their memorial monuments peeping from among the green trees and shrubs, of the city’s tall, dark buildings with their spires and domes; and, finally, of a range of low, misty hills on the distant horizon. ISABELLE NAISMITH, ’13. MAY DAY AT MT. HOLYOKE COLLEGE Having the good fortune to be a visitor at Mt. Holyoke College recently, I had the pleasure of witnessing the May Day celebration, and what was of especial interest, the festival procession or pageant. 1 his pageant was first presented last fall at the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the college, but was repeated for the benefit of those who were not able to be present at that time. 1 he event took place in the open air theatre, the seats of which are located on the side of a gently sloping hill. At the foot of this hill there is a large expanse of level ground covered with velvety grass, which was used for the stage. A row of large and beautiful trees, which extends half-way around this stage, formed the setting,

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THE HIGH SCHOOL QUIVER A VISIT TO EDINBURGH Before visiting Edinburgh, I had heard so much of its beauties and of the historical events which make it so interesting to tourists that it became one of my chief desires to see this famous old city. Therefore, when I realized that I was to have this wish gratified, my joy and anticipation were almost unbounded. There are a number of reasons which, I found, make Edinburgh very interesting. In the first place, its origin is deeply involved in mystery, and there are, consequently, many conjectures and traditions concerning it. Secondly, it is a most beautiful place, so full of fine old buildings and relics of other days that it naturally arouses one’s imagination until he feels as if he, too, were living in those bygone ages. In connection with its points of beauty, it might be well to mention Princes Street. This is long and broad with prettily arranged gardens on one side and buildings of varied and beautiful styles of architecture on the other. Here is seen the remarkable monument erected in memory of Sir Walter Scott. It is very high, graceful, and elaborate, and contains many niches, which are occupied by figures of characters in Scott’s writings. Over two hundred steps lead to the top gallery, from which one obtains an excellent view of the whole city. Another object of interest is the old-fashioned house in which John Knox, the great reformer, spent the last years of his life. It is situated in the poorer section of the town, and is surrounded by dark, grimy buildings. The house projects into the street, and the three upper stories overhang the lower, which is now used as a store where one may buy pamphlets and other material relating to John Knox. Holy rood, the former home of Scottish royalty, is perhaps, most interesting because of the memories which seem to haunt it. On entering its great, tall, silent halls, one is deeply impressed by the gloomy dreariness of the very atmosphere. It contains a very long picture gallery, the walls of which are covered with fanciful paintings of Scottish kings and queens, splendidly gowned in velvet and gold lace. Many of these are so life-like that one almost expects them to step down from their frames and speak. On the upper floor of the palace are the apartments of the unfortunate Queen Mary, and the rooms of Lord Darnley, her consort. All these rooms are large and lofty, with the exception of the one used by Mary in dressing, which is small and oblong-shaped. In the Queen’s bedroom

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THE HIGH SCHOOL QUIVER 1) while the sky overhead added to the natural beauty of the place. In the middle of this row of trees is a bridge, leading across Stony Brook to Prospect Hill, which is seen rising in the background. We took our seats early and awaited the procession with much interest. The brightly colored costumes of the girls, who could be seen hurrying back and forth, gave us an inkling of the gorgeous spectacle that we were soon to behold. The pageant formed across the bridge at the foot of the hill, and from there advanced slowly across the brook to the Green. Then, at the appointed time, the May Queen with her attendants came forward and took her seat on the throne. At a sign from the master of ceremonies, the first section of the pageant came forward to the middle of the green, and after pausing a moment there to illustrate the event which it represented, passed on, and the next group took its place. As a word ' of explanation, it may be said that the pageant was divided into sections, each of which represented one department of education in the college. Then in turn each section was sub-divided into parts, so that each of them represented a certain event in history, which came under that department. In this way the affair was made an educational as well as a spectacular event. Of special interest to former students of the Woonsocket High School who were present were the departments of Mathematics, English Literature, and Economics, in which three graduates of our school took part. In the first, Helen France, ’09, was Chwarizmi, an Arabian of the ninth century; in the next, Dellar Cook, ’09, took the part of the miller in the “Canterbury Pilgrims,” and in the last, Muriel McFee, ’08, represented electricity. It is impossible to give more than a vague idea of the grandeur and splendor of the scene. The rich costumes, the grace and beauty of the participants, and the natural setting formed a spectacle that will not soon be forgotten. To conclude the event, the girls, grouping together on the Green, sang their college song. The sound of their voices blending in rich harmony was truly inspiring, and the earnestness and sincerity of the singers impressed upon one’s mind the spirit of loyalty which seemed to pervade the whole college. As the sound of their voices died away, the sun slowly sank behind the mountains, bringing to an end a day of great interest and pleasure, and leaving impressions and memories that will ever remain bright.—LLOYD McFEE, ’13.