Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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- 0l?'+ . .. -is if - 5 -f Era nerves ELDWUDGE Avery E slammed down his pencil, in disgust, and tore up another sheet of paper. The commotion was too much for him. A Hute, whistling on one sideg a Hbasso-profundof' on the otherg opposite was a piano, blood-curdlingly out of tune. At the end of the hall, an operatic soprano, wildly trilling, and to add to the deafening roar, was the endless throng, surging back and forth on the street below. He looked about the dark, ill-smelling room, and a feeling of in- tense repulsion came over him. In one corner was the cheap rented piano. ln the opposite one, stood the old bed-stead, with a wash-stand at the head. ln the center of the room was the table, littered with papers and music. On top of the piano, in a shabby, wooden case, wrapped in a silk American Hag, reposed the one thing he worshippedg that which he was more careful of than his life: his all-in-all -his violing a beautiful Stradivarius, which had been in his family for many generations. He thought of the long hours he had spent, wishing for, and dream- ing of, this chance to go to Europe to study, and hear and see how the big ones did it',g of how he had schemed and saved. And here he was in Dresden. It was so different from what he had pictured, and had been led to believe it would be. Suddenly it came to him like a flash. He seized a piece of paper and the pencil flew. Ah, at last he had it! Heedless of the din out- side he wrote on furiously. When he had finished, he arose with arms extended upwardg and then, realizing the full beauty of it, he dropped back into the chair, his head upon his outstretched arms, sobbing con- vulsively. It was at one of the semi-monthly meetings of the International Music Students' Club of Dresden. They were assembled in the studio of one of the leading teachers of the city. They were mostly poor stu-- dentsg men and women passionately fond of good musicg willing to do 24

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OLLA PODRIDA : 2 : BERKELEY HIGH V.fV7,VxA box, and hastily entering the tonneau, bade the driver make all speed to Jack Barry's home, which was but a short distance. Arriving there, the two men alighted, and settling with the driver, hurried into the house. ' They set the box upon the table, and removing their overcoats and hats, sat for many minutes, thoughtful and meditating. At last Jack Barry observed, laughingly, Do you suppose that little old brown man really believed we were messengers from his god? Well, he certainly did seem earnest about it, replied the other. The Persians are so superstitious that l would believe almost anything of them. I Wonder what this box containsf' Yes, I wonder, mused jack. Perhaps some mystery connected with their religiong possibly something of value. Well, there is surely no harm in opening it. With this, he drew the sandal-wood box from his pocket, and opening it, removed the key. What a very odd piece of workmanship this is, he observed, referring to the box, as he in- serted the key in the lock. And indeed it was. The box was made of coal-black ebony, fin-- ished with a smooth, shiny surface, which was deeply and richly inlaid in opals and weird ornaments of jet. Many bands of dull, heavy gold encircled the box, each one artistically engraved. Slowly he inserted the key into the lock, and turning it carefully and without noise, he silently raised the heavy cover. The two curious, excited men rose and gazed long and anxiously within the box. Long and anxiously did they gaze, at last raising their eyes to stare at one another with a foolish grin. What did the box contain? The box, sought after and gained only after so much trouble and excitement, as here related-the box was empty! O00 o O . Q , oooooo 0 ' . . ' I 9 v '. ' 00 ' 'HW -0,540 O 0000 1' 23

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OLLA PODRIDA : BERKELEY HIGH almost anything to secure it. They were of various nationalities, mostly German, French, Italian and Russian, with a few Americans, English- men and Swedes. It was the custom for all who came to perform. The program had this evening been exceptionally good. A Frenchman and three Ital- ians had played Handel's l..argo. A Swedish girl had sung the Mad Scene from Lucia, with great effect. A German baritone had ren- dered HO, Du Mein Holder Abendsternf' from Tannhauser. The last number was a violin solo by an American, one of his own composition. He was a small, thin, pale little man, with long, delicate fingers and heavy, black, curly hairy He raised his violin and began. The first part was light and ripplingg one could hear the violin laugh. Suddenly the music changed to wild, minor chant: then came harmony, which sent thrill after thrill through the auditors. Gradually the tempo quickened, until there was a bright uswingi' to the aria. The tones were of a won- derfully sweet, cool, pureness. The player's body swung with the rythm of is, as his quick fingers flew up and down the strings. His head was bent low and moved from side 'to side with the wave of the body. Finally, with an exquisite run and a trill, the music ended, and the artist, head still bowed, hand fallen, eyes half closed, sank into a seat, amidst dead silence. The stillness was at last broken by a woman's sob. The first to speak was a little fat Italian, who was sitting next the composer, Holy Mother, Signore, it was beautifulli' The spell was broken. They crowded around him, congratulating him, praising him, shaking his hand, and a pretty French girl kissed him on the lips. We x 'fJ sw of 'vi X f N 1 5 25