Woonsocket High School - Quiver Yearbook (Woonsocket, RI)

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THE QUIVER 25 MY TRIP TO MOUNT VESUVIUS Mount Vesuvius is a famous volcano of southern Italy, just aljout six miles east of Naples. The Ixise is about thirty miles in circumference; its height is 4,200 feet alx)ve sea level; its crater,350 feetindepth.withacircum-ference of two miles at its outer part. The earliest known eruption occurred in 79 A. I)., when the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae were overwhelmed beneath the mass of mud and ashes it disgorged. The latest one occurred in 1906, when it rained ashes for seven long days, a new type of ash coming out of the cone each day. My uncle, father, brother, and I had just arrived at the starting point and, looking up, I asked my uncle if we were going to the very top. “We certainly are,” he said. That mountain looked very high to me, and it tea.? certainly high. We all got into a small trolley car. and away we went. We rode for bout half an hour. Then the car stopped to have an engine hooked on, and as soon as this was done, the journey was resumed. I kept looking out and presently noticed a strange thing. I saw a large number of high walls built on the sides of the mountain. I asked the guide the reason for building them there. He said it was to stop the flow of the lava. It seems that the government had built them for the protection of the various cities, many of which had given money to this cause. Many of the walls were buried and some of them were half buried. The guide told us that, if in 79 A. D. they had had these walls. Pompeii would probably not have been buried. At the base of the mountain we had been gasping for air. but now we began to get cold. About one thousand feet from the top. the trolley stopj ed. and the guide told us to go on the small train in front of us. In Italy they call this last train “the funicolare.” I held my breath. I thought I was going straight up. The grade of that last lap was something terrible. This train let us off about two yards from the very top. I was happy when I got oflf and was able to get on my feet. The crater was the strongest sight that I have ever seen. The way I think of it is as follows: a huge hole, very deep; in the middle of this enormous hole, a cone, the exact shape of an ice-cream cone turned upside down. It is from this little cone that all the action comes. Our guide took us down about twenty-five feet into the large hole; hut at this moment, the cone shot some stones into the air. and we made a l»ee line dive for the outside. The guide showed us small holes that were still warm from the last eruption. He had small bottles which contained the different kinds of ashes from the last eruption, and I succeeded in getting my father to buy one. After seeing everything we could, we went down, stopping at the base of the mountain at the hotel owned by “Thomas Cook and Son.” We all agreed that it had been a worth while trip. Hf.nrv Rizzinj. '27.

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24 THE QUIVER married to the lovely Princess C ushion. The music you hear is the Musical-lx x Hand. The merry-making has l»egun. Come with me, and you shall sec the wedding.” The three travelers were delighted with this invitation and hurried along with Mr. Holster. Such a wedding! Never had there been one like it before. Never can there l e one like it again. It was a l eautiful sight! A whole armv of tin soldiers paraded before Prince Fern and his blushing bride, who looked lovely in a gown of white satin. Shepherds and shepherdesses from Chimney-piece Mountain came and danced before the throne, while tops hummed and the Musical-box Hand played. There was a magnificent breakfast, to which the three travelers were invited by the Prince, while the crew was given as much milk as it cared to drink. The next day Prince Fern ordered the “Clothes-basket,” which had drifted on the beach, to be repaired : and while this was l eing done, Captain Lilly, the Mate, and the Midshipman remained his guests, and a very pleasant visit they had. It was with many regrets that they at last hade good-bye to their friends, hut the ship was ready and waiting for them. At last the “Clothes-lxasket sailed away, with its prow turned towards home, arriving without any more wonderful adventures. The three travelers hurried away to tell Nurse alnuit their strange cruise and their stay at Sofa Island, while the crew said nothing, hut thought a great deal about a little shepherdess who had danced at the wedding feast. Hack I came to the earth, smiling a little at these thoughts. Childhood surely is a happy time, and 1 wondered if those children, now grown up. ever ] ause in their busy lives to look hack on such innocent fun. Elizabeth M'ickks, ’27. THE DOGS AND I Good friends we are whenever we meet. At home, abroad, or just in the street. The dogs and I. Each one I hail with a word of cheer. And ]K‘t them all with never a fear As 1 walk by. Hut mine the most of the race 1 prize. For when 1 look in his honest eyes From day to day. “Would those we love of the human kind Had half the worth of his faithful mind. I often say. Madeleine Pkessoir. '17.

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26 THE QUIVER THE GIRL ASSISTANT AT THE LOAN DESK IN THE LIBRARY It was with a haughty air That she stood by the desk there. Stamping and passing out books With many condescending looks. ()h, that calm, superior smile! N et. who is this girl. Who, charging Walt Whitman, Will Shakesj eare. and Milton, Smiles, smiles, all the while!' Who is she, who, this wav, With winning, drooping grace, sends away History, poetry, novels, and a play. Without a thought as to what they say? What does she know about books, anvwav ? Lksi.ik Arnold, '17. STORIES IN PROSE IN “STOP-SHORT” STYLE ( With apologies to the Chinese poets) I THE GRIM INVADER HE afternoon sun shone warmly upon the cosy little cottage. With its prim holly-hocks and fresh green lawn, the front yard was very attractive. To complete a scene of true domestic happiness, several care-free cihldren were romping outside, and from inside could be heard the vibrant hum of a new vacuum-cleaner. Ah. how little unsuspecting of trouble were the care-free children! Suddenly a cloud darkened the sun. With a glance down the street, the youngsters ran pell-mell into the cottage—and the sound of the vacuum-cleaner was at once stilled. Now there was no sign of life about the house—all seemed sad and desolate. A heavy step sounded upon the gravel walk, and a thick set. bullnecked man strode to the door. In his hand he bore a yellow paj er. He rang the l ell impatiently. He rang again—he knocked—he walked around to the rear of the house, and. failing to get admission there, came back.