Adventures of the Year 1950 A.D.: This Is the Journal of a Boy Who Went to Europe for 9 Months When He Was 12 Years Old

By Anthony P. Marshall

This book recounts the adventures of a 12-year-old boy studying and touring in France, Italy, Yugoslavia and Switzerland. The countrysides of each are compared and the ravages of World War II noted. Many areas visited had not seen foreigners since the war.

The wonders and beauty of cities like Rome, Naples, Florence, Vienna, Trieste, Belgrade, Lucerne, Geneva and Paris are described and compared. Students in pairs often explored them on their own.

How communism worked in Yugoslavia is described in detail.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Mar 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781480858701

Anthony P. Marshall

Anthony (Tony) P. Marshall was born in Manhattan in 1937. He grew up in a mid-town five story walk-up on cobble stoned east 53rd street, which is now the site of Citicorp headquarters. His first word was “horse” because he heard the horse drawn carts bringing blocks of ice, large containers of milk and coal for the building’s basement furnace. The Third Avenue El was still in operation for north - south transportation. When it was too hot to play ball in Central Park, the East River piers offered water relief. Tony attended Hunter College Elementary School (HCES) on East 69th Street, an elementary school for “gifted children”. The Rev. Michael Millen, who believed in progressive education through travel, came to Tony’s 6th grade class looking for candidates for his 7th to 12th grade school in Camden, Maine. As a very wealthy man, he was able to offer substantial scholarships. The fall semester in Maine and the entire European trip only cost Tony’s parents $500.

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Copyright © 2018 Anthony P. Marshall.

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ISBN: 978-1-4808-5869-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-5868-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-5870-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018902522

Archway Publishing rev. date: 03/20/2018

Contents

Introduction

Journal (as written – except for spelling corrections)

Sketch of Portion of Marshal Tito’s Home

Autographs

Les Jeune Filles

Education Epilogue

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Tito Greets Maine Progressive Party Leader, Touring Camden Students

London, May 2 (1950) (AP)

Premier Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia received a group of touring American students today and praised their efforts to preserve peace and good relations in the world.

The Belgrade Radio, heard here, said the group was headed by the Rev. Michael Millen, chairman of the Maine Progressive Party.

Millen is also head of the Landhaven Private Preparatory School in Camden, Maine, and a former Methodist minister in Rockport, Me. The school makes a practice of sending its students on tours to various parts of the world.

The radio quoted Tito as saying:

We greatly appreciate the efforts of the progressive people of America to preserve the peace and realize good relations in the world. I think that American youth, as well as Yugoslav youth, should be in the front ranks of that struggle.

The Yugoslav dictator was also quoted as saying his country would always welcome men from other countries who want to understand what is happening here.

A student, identified as William Frohlich, was quoted as saying that never before had he seen youth work so hard to build up their country.

The radio said another student, identified as Anthony Parr Marshall, stressed that he had never before seen such mass participation in cultural work.

It reported that Millen told Tito his pupils would return to tell America the truth about Yugoslavia successfully building up socialism.

This article appeared in the Newport Daily News Newport, Rhode Island

on May 3, 1950, p. 8

Copy of Actual Original Newspaper Article follows

MarshallPhotoTitoArticle.jpgGroupPhoto.jpg

Students and teachers of Landhaven School pose for a photo in February 1950 just before boarding Queen Elizabeth I for a 9-month European tour. Far back, from left, students Charles Beveridge, Arthur Hepburn, John Noonan and Barry Simmons. Students, back from left, Tom Beveridge, Ted Johnson, Steve Aaron, Klaus Wehrmeister, WA Frohlich, Jim Eggling and Robert George. Teachers, middle from left, Rev. Michael Millen, his mother, Mildred Parsons and Frank Schacht. Students, front from left, Norwood Bro Beveridge, Jonathan Wainwright, Tony Marshall (journal author) and Hal Boyer. Several other teachers joined us in Europe.

Actually, the trip did not last nine months, but it was an experience of a lifetime.

Date: Feb. 23, 1950 – First day on Boat

A t 7 o’clock this morning mother came into my room and woke me up. At first I was a little tired, but then I realized that today was the day that I was to sail for Europe. Then my aunt came in and told me to hurry up. I got up and went into the bathroom to get dressed. Meanwhile, mother was packing the few last minute things that had to be put in. As I got dressed I went into the living room and checked up on the things mother was putting in my bags. After I finished dressing, I went into the kitchen and had breakfast. After breakfast, I made one more last minute check and started off for the boat. We got a taxi and arrived at the pier about 8:30. The boat at first look a little small but once we got on it was pretty big. When we arrived at the pier the taxi drove us in to the elevator where you go up stairs. The porter took our bags and mother thought that we were to meet Rev. downstairs in the front. She went and looked for him but he wasn’t around so we went upstairs. There we met Arthur and his mother, and they said Jim was the only other person there. So we went to the waiting room because it was a little chilly. Then Rev. came and we went with him. Mother, Dad and my two aunts wanted to go aboard, so they went aboard. I couldn’t go because we were going in our cabin groups. So after Tom came we went aboard. It was a thrilling experience to walk aboard the gangplank into the world’s ship Queen Elizabeth. We went to see our cabins and my folks met me in the hallway in front of them. The cabins were smaller than I figured they would be, but we were all right. After seeing them I went around the boat with my folks. We went almost everywhere and then they said all the non-passengers should get off so I said goodbye.

After they left I went up to the front of the boat to try and see them. I couldn’t, so I went to the front of the boat to see Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty go by. After lunch, I went to the movies. It was a pretty poor picture. After that came supper. After supper, I went and lie down because I didn’t feel very good. I fell asleep and woke up about 9:00, got undressed and went to bed.

Date: Feb. 24, 1950 – Boat

I was awakened by Rev. and got up. After I finished brushing my teeth, the gong rang for breakfast. I had a very enjoyable breakfast made up of: grapefruit juice, bacon and eggs, and tea. After that I went upstairs to the sports deck and played shuffleboard, and deck tennis. Then I went to the movie, which I enjoyed very much. Then came lunch. After lunch, I went up to the sports deck and played until 4:00 o’clock. Then I went downstairs to get ready for class. In class we reviewed modern and medieval and ancient history. Then we had some French and went upstairs for a concert. The people in the smoking room were too noisy so we went downstairs and did some more French. Then supper and after that I wrote in my diary. Then I went downstairs and wasted time.

We had to go bed at 8:30 because Rev. thought we were tired.

Date: Feb. 25, 1950 – Boat

T oday I was awakened by the purser knocking at our door. I got out of bed feeling better than when I went to bed. I got dressed and went upstairs for breakfast. I had a good breakfast to suit my appetite, which included: orange juice, griddle cakes, tea, and milk. After that we had worship. Rev. talked to us about trying to accept God and make a change in our lives to better ourselves. When that was over, I went downstairs to the bathroom. Then to a movie called the Blue Lamp. It was about London’s policemen. I thought it was very good and the best one yet. Then I went downstairs and got ready for a very enjoyable lunch. To me the morning on this boat goes very fast. It is crammed with events and is very enjoyable. After lunch, I was looking forward to an afternoon of fun and pleasure. I was having this when it started raining about 3 o’clock. I came in and got my book and bought some postcards at the shop. I read for about 40 minutes and wrote some postcards. Then the school went on a guided tour of first class. After that a history review and some French. Then supper. I had chicken. After supper, I went to the lounge and wrote in my diary. Then since I had a little time left over I wrote some cards and letters. At 9 o’clock I went to the concert, which was quite good.

Date: Feb. 26, 1950 – Boat

T his morning the purser forgot to wake us up or we didn’t hear him. When I did wake up it was about 8:30. I got dressed in a hurry, hoping that I might make breakfast. I got there too late, so I read my book. Then I went to church in the cabin class lounge. The service lasted about 1 half an hour. It was the Church of England. It was a lot like our Episcopal Service. The morning went pretty fast with nothing of great interest going on. For lunch I had sausages. It tasted very well and was very refreshing. At the table everybody was shocked by the news that we were going to have French class from 2 – 4 and history from 4:30 – 6. We had had one class from 4:30 – 6 the other days and besides this was Sunday. Nonetheless, we went and I got an A- on the history test and an A on the same test later. Then came supper and after that I wrote in my diary, copied some French from the dictionary and took a bath and went to bed.

Date: Feb. 27, 1950 – Boat

T his morning I was woken up by the purser. I felt the most tired of all mornings, which I was here. I got out of bed and got ready for breakfast. After breakfast I went to worship and then to a movie, which was pretty poor. Then lunch and Rev. said that we would have class from 2 – 4 and 4:30 – 6. We got there at 2 and Rev. gave us forms to fill out. We had French and left at 4. Rev. said to come back at 5, so we did. We then had class to 6. Mr. Schacht told us about Cherbourg during the First World War. Then supper and after that I wrote in my diary and fooled around.

Date: Feb. 28, 1950 - We Land

W hen I was wakened up I got up in a hurry and got dressed and went to breakfast. After breakfast, the waiter told us that lunch would be at 11:30. This was because we would land about sometime after 12:00. I went to worship and then to the movie. I couldn’t stay to the end because it was time for lunch. I wasn’t on deck all morning to see land; but after lunch I couldn’t go to see it then. So my first sight of land was when we got off. After lunch I went downstairs and made a last minute check of my baggage. Then I got my bag (my other was shipped last night) and went upstairs for my landing permit. When I got there, it was so crowded and stuffy that I took my baggage downstairs and went up again. When I go there I stood in line and then Mrs. Millen told me I had to go down to the lounge and that my landing card was taken care of. Then Mr. Schacht told me that I had to bring my baggage with me. I went downstairs and got my bags and went up again. There Rev. gave me my landing card and after a while we went downstairs and out the gangplank. Then came the thrill of excitement as I walked down into a small steamer. Soon we pushed off and headed toward a wall with an opening near the center of Cherbourg. At the opening on both sides were small war torn fortresses. On top of the hill in back of Cherbourg was an Atlantic wall fortress. When we approached the dock I took one last look at the Queen in the distance and then saw Mr. Turner running along the dock to meet us. Finally, we landed and got an even greater thrill than before as we stepped on French soil. We then went and got on a boat train. The compartments were very comfortable and good. As soon as the train left, we went to the diner and had a very good French meal. The countryside was very different and well-kept lands with storybook houses and villages. The houses were also in bad condition from enemy or allied bombing of the last war. When we arrived at Paris, we were met by Henry Noel, a friend of the school. He and Mr. Turner took us to the Foyer Brambly where we were going to stay. We traveled by train. Most of us didn’t like the Foyer and its atmosphere. We slept in a big dormitory on cots that were hard as a rock. We got out our sleeping bags and got ready for bed. We were uncomfortable, but we finally managed to get to sleep.

Date: March 1, 1950 – First day in France

W e woke up freezing to death about 10:30 in the morning. I climbed into my clothes and went to breakfast. For breakfast we had two pieces of bread, marmalade, and a cup of cocoa. Then we went down to the American Express and waited there while Rev. got some business settled. Then we walked over to the Louvre. It is a magnificent palace. We stood in the center of it and looked down to the Jardin des Tuileries and down to the Palace de Concord where the Egyptian Oblique is, past that to the Arch de Triomphe in the distance. We then walked on through the streets of Paris filled with huge masterpieces of architecture along with Seine. Then we crossed over onto the island and saw more marvelous buildings that looked like government buildings. Then we stood in awe in front of the most beautiful and magnificent Cathedral of Notre Dame. Then on through the Latin Quarter and past some of the University buildings down a big wide street where we ate at a restaurant. We had soup, hors d’oeuvres, and beefsteak with French fried potatoes for only 50 cents. It was marvelous. Then we went back to the Place de Opera and then back to the Foyer Brambly where we had supper. Then I went to the Paris circus with some of the boys and Rev. We missed the lions but saw jugglers, elephants, trapeze artists, clowns, tumblers, and a mind reader. It was all very good for a small circus. Then we went home by the Paris Metro and went to bed.

Date: March 2, 1950 – Paris by Groups

T oday we woke up about 10:50 and were freezing again. We ate the same food that we had yesterday and then we fixed our luggage so we could leave half of it behind when we left Paris. Everybody had too much luggage so the other was to be stored in Paris and sent to us at the Chambon in about 2 months. We had to wait around for Rev. for about 1 half an hour but finally we started out in 4 groups. Mr. Noel headed one group. He knew the most French and about Paris. He had a big red beard and is only 26 years old. Rev. knew the least French but I went with him. We got along fine and we didn’t make any mistakes. By the time we left the Foyer it was about 12:30. We went straight to the American Express office and changed some money. We then went to a restaurant called the Pom Pom. It was an English type restaurant. We all were a little hungry for some sweets. I had chocolate ice cream and after that I was still hungry so I had tea with toast, butter and cake. It was all very good. Then we took a walk down the Champs-Élysées to the Arch de Triomphe. It was a very impressive walk. What ! a ! beautiful !! avenue ! The sidewalks were lined with trees and were as wide as most American streets. There were a lot of American motion pictures beside the French ones. Then after a walk that held me fascinated with impressions, we reached the Arch de Triomphe and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was also very impressive. Then we hopped onto a bus and went back to the Foyer for supper. After supper we went right to bed because we were going to get up at 5 for we had to catch a train for Bardonecchia, Italy. In Rev’s group were Mrs. Millen, Dick, Claude, Lowell, Teddy, and me.

Date: March 3, 1950 – On The Train

W e woke up at 5:30 and got dressed and put our things in order. We left one bag to be stored and went into breakfast. It was the same