Richmond Hill High School - Archway / Dome Yearbook (Richmond Hill, NY)

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people it was a mere matter of form, they would sign as many as were brought to them. But it wasnit until he was seated on the platform in Hazen Hall, listening to Hal Rhodes deliver his load of drivel, that Oscar fully realized what he was up against. The ever-stupid public was evidently lapping up Rhodes' mess of gib- herish and asking for more. Gibberish, that's what it was, sheer gibberish! . . . But surely there was a spark of reason in that enormous the had never known it would be so enormousj horde. They couldn't possibly take that stuff Rhodes was dishing out seriously. Why, it was ludicrous! Certainly, a few of them were laughing now, although, as Rhodes had already finished and Oscar was being introduced, it had taken them long enough to catch on. But it was just when Oscar had begun an impassioned appeal to their reason and their sense of justice that the full absurdity of Rhodes' speech dawned on them, and they roared derision. Oscar smiled with inward satis- faction, and, seeing that he appreciated the joke, they laughed louder. Mean- while, Rhodes, evidently not knowing that he was being ridiculed, smiled weakly as if he knew what it was all about, a shining proof of the bliss of ignorance. When Oscar caught his eye, Rhodes forced a quick laugh in a pathetic attempt to keep up the illusion. Oscar almost pitied his ignorance, but what could you expect from a dope like that, anyway? Then, when the laughter had subsided, Oscar continued his talk. He told them something of what was in his mind concerning popular idols and the many lights this own for examplej that were hidden under bushels. He poured out his heart to them, assured them of his sincerity, told them of his platform, of his plans, his intentions. He told them! At first, Oscar had been keenly conscious of a dryness in his mouth and a shivering in his knees. Not ordinary stage-fright, of course, but it gave one the same reactions as fear. Grim, stark, staring fear. When he had finished, however, Oscar was sure they understood him. Out in the hall again, Oscar wondered how he had ever thought the walls forbidding. They were warm and friendly now, and it was with a suspicious huskiness in his throat that Oscar murmured, '6Good ole schoolf' Then something went wrong. The vote-counting, which should have been a mere formality, went against him. Of course, the count must have been fixed, for he knew that everybody had voted for him. He had even asked about ten or twelve people, and they had told him so. But then, who would ever believe that? Oscar wandered out into the dull, forbidding hall again, his eyes blinded by tears. He felt oppressed. fFrustrated is the word.j With savage viciousness, he kicked the nearest wall. 4'Lousy dump! DANIEL FISCHEL, January '39 Page 25

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Oscar had, of course, protested violently. If this was not a flagrant case of favoritism and prejudice, what Was? But the teacher, suddenly grown unsympathetic, told him to mind his own business-or else. So he did. Was it any wonder, then, that as he strode savagely down the hall, the dull gray walls seemed to stifle him. Their bleak, forbidding aspect was oppressive. Suddenly vicious, he kicked the nearest wall fiercely, and mut- tered, '4Lousy dump! Only slightly relieved, he went on, consigning the school and all its contents fprincipally, Hal Rhodesj to the devil. fThat Cod was not in His Heaven that day was plainly evident, for the school remained standingj As Oscar turned the corner, he came upon a group of loitering dumb bells. fYes, they could laugh, they who knew nothing of the graver and more vital things in life.J The center of the group, as usual, was the insuf- f erably popular Rhodes. As soon as they saw Oscar, there was a good deal of ostentatious nudg- ing, with the obvious effect that, as he passed, they were suddenly, and oh, so mysteriously silent. Oscar knew they were talking about him fthey made it plain enoughj, but what could he do? Face red, eyes staring rigidly ahead, he passed with undignified haste and hurried to his next class, not, however, before a simultaneous fthat is, it sounded simultaneous, but, of course, it was really plannedj shout of laughter reached him. This was too much! Who was the rotten, sneaking, apple-polisher that he thought he could get away with this? For two cents Oscar would knock Rhodes' block off! On second thought, however, he decided not to revert to childish brawlsg Anyway, it wasn't because Rhodes was a four-letter man. fThat was nat- ural, animal brains-animal brawn. And the particular animal in Oscar's mind at that moment was possessed of a long, striped, bushy tail and a decidedly unpleasant odor.j But even though he had changed his mind about upasting Rhodes on the snoot, Oscar was really determined to do something this time. Some- thing drastic . . . Something colossal . . . Something stupendous . . . Later, Pete Leary, an imposing-looking document in his hand, ap- proached Oscar. Hey, Whifllel Sign 'is willya? 'Sa petishun so Hal- you know, Hal Rhodes-can run fer G.O. president. Jus, puddown yer name ,n ofiicialf, Oscar muttered something incomprehensible and passed on, but he was no longer angry. He knew what to do. is vs wk :af Pk It was easy to get a petition signed, for no one ever refused. To most Page 24

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Cjity Cdeeat It was hot in the city, Blistering hot. They sat on the steps and talked and dreamed. He wanted to feel the cool, lazy water Close in over his head, and stay there Until he had to come up for air, .And then go under again, flr else -- - He would like to lean against a big tree, Dangle his feet in the water, And fish. She wanted to be on top of a high mountain. She'd never seen a mountain, And couldn't exactly understand How a person would go about climbing one, But from what she had heard, There was always a fine, refreshing breeze, And you could see miles around you In every direction Without any dirty buildings to interrupt the sky. Yes, she knew she would love a mountain. She would even be satisfied with a small one, But, of course, sheld prefer the highest one there was Because then you could see more. Page 26