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
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Date: Feb. 25, 1950 – Boat
Today 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.
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About the Book
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.
About the Author
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.