Athens State College - Columns Yearbook (Athens, AL)

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than themselves — some with the most woeful countenances, some gay and joyful. Then I began to find among the number little gnome men, with features like the people I had known up in the world of to-day, only the true character of the persons was even more plainly stamped upon their faces here than in the other world. These strange little creatures were each keeping the records of his double, who lived and acted in reality what these little men were simply writing ' as it happened there. I observed one little gnome who could scarcely write for the big tears which followed one another helter-skelter down its cheeks. I knew that what it was writing of the present day must be far from agreeable; and when it looked up, I saw that the brown eyes so bedewed were Ola ' s, and 1 understood. Thus it is that the past is so closely linked with the future, for we passed from this into a light so faint that at first I could distinguish nothing; but when my eyes became more accustomed to the light, I saw a strange-looking apparatus near me, and, in front of this, a large, white piece of canvas-looking material. Gradually the canvas seemed to melt into the softest light imaginable: then one by one objects became visible, and I was filled with the mysterious feeling of awe, because I knew that I was about to see that which no other living person had seen or ever would see. I could now clearly see a room furnished as an office. At the desk sat Madge, the president of the largest woman ' s college in the South. Near her sat Ola, her dean, and Opie, her secretary. As I looked, the office door opened, and a lady with a young girl entered. It was Myrtle, who was bringing her daughter to Madge ' s school. Everything faded ; and when I could see distinctly again, there was a prim, sedate lady of middle age — in other words, an old maid — be- fore me. She was endeavoring to instruct a small boy, who seemed to be confident he knew quite as much as his instructor. Before I could recognize his teacher, his mother came into the room. There was no doubt here. It was the Lillie I know now, with scarcely a change. The other I saw at last was Kate. The room was furnished elegantly. Lillie was wealthy, and had not forgotten her classmates; for before the picture faded, another entered the room — Lucy — who was Lillie ' s companion and social secretary. These disappeared, and there arose before me a large room. Near a window, carefully correcting manu- script, sat Isola. She was completing her fifth book in seven years — the Walter Scott of the twentieth century. Page 20

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Senior Prophecy iT last I realized that I was lost. I recognized a peculiar mark on a birch tree, and knew that for the last half hour I must have merely been going round in a circle. The trees had grown thicker and thicker together ; the sunshine filtered through the leaves in tiny patches upon the ground ; but as I wandered farther, the gloom cast by the shade of the trees was so great that it seemed to me the sun must have become suddenly clouded. Deep, deep in the heart of this great forest there was never a sound of the work and life of the world outside. The chirping of the wood life and the caroling music of one bird in the distance were the only sounds to be heard. I stood there with thoughts I had never thought before and a belief in all beyond reality. Thus I was not surprised to see before me a strange, gnomelike figure, staring up at me with eyes no more aston- ished than mine. He turned and, without a sound, moved even farther into the depths of the forest. I followed without considering where he might lead me — indeed, as if by an uncontrollable power. Where he stopped and lifted his weird little face to look into mine, it was almost dark, the shade of the immense trees was so great. At his feet there was an opening in the ground. With the one word, Come, he disappeared ; and I followed him unhesitatingly. There were steps leading down into such darkness that I could not catch the most shadowy glimpse of my little guide. On and on until there were no more steps ; but we walked on some substance neither soft nor yet firm. There were no words from the little man, but I knew that my dearest wish was to be fulfilled. I knew that in some way through him a glimpse into the unknown was to be given me, and that now I was in that mysterious land of the yet to be. We seemed to pass a threshold, and entered a room where at last there were the faintest glimmerings of light. Here at the tiniest desks sat little men like my guide, only much smaller, writing in books larger Page 19

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The room gave place to an outdoor scene. Two women, dressed in a very peculiar fashion, holding small instruments of some kind, were seen. Presently I distinguished a larg - e affair in the background, which looked like either a balloon or an air ship ; but it was neither. These two were Sallie and Nora, and this was a ship of their own invention, in which they had successfully navigated the ether. They were just then leaving for a trip to Mars. As the canvas became dark, then slowly gleamed again with its strange power, I turned and fled, because I knew what was about to be shown was my own future, and I dared not remain. CLASS PROPHET. Page 21