Shortridge High School - Annual Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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A PIPE AND AN ADVENTURE pended from the ceiling by rusty brass chains and illuminated by Chinese dragon candles. On one side was a cupboard, over which hung a bright red curtain, the only spot of color in the room. Also at one end was a Chinese jewel three, very highly prized and very expensive. All these articles were distributed without much regard for order. At either end of the room was a door, similar in construction to the windows. We had entered by one of these doors and the other one, from which a part of the paper had been torn, revealed another poorly-lighted room. I went over and looked through the rents. There I beheld evidence of the institution which was the curse to Chinese civilization, the parasite which was slowly undermining the people-an opium den. The room was not unlike the first one, except that along the sides were two long, high, mat-covered benches. Lying stretched prone on each of these were per- haps a dozen men. Some were asleep or dozing, and others were still smoking, attended by pretty, Chinese slave-girls. Each man's head was resting on a porcelain pillow, which had about the same shape and softness as a Milwaukee brick. Beside each man were his implements, consisting of a pipe, a lamp, the picks, the pins, the spades, and the opium. I opened the door and walked in, so that I could get a better look at their faces. There were men of all ages. Each face bore the stamp of listlessness, of physical and moral ruin that characterizes the habitual addiction. I wondered at the corruptness and inefficiency of a government that permitted, fairly under its nose, a practice of such rank unlawfulness, for I knew that opium is taboo in French colonies. I returnedloilae etheiaroom, and presentlythe man came back with a pipe which he consented to sell. I was glad enough to buy it at his own price, so that I could once more get back into the fresh night and away from the sickening, sweet smell of burnt opium. i PUSSY WILLOW Beautiful willow, don't I know Why you chose this place to grow? Here you can lean o'er the waters cool, And see yourself in the glassy pool! Doesn't your beauty make you vain, Mirrored in its depths so plain ? Look at the sky, it whispers low, Never a pussy looks below! I A MIRIAM I-IUTCHINSON

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ROY ROGERS Velly hot day, said my companion. Velly, velly hot day he em- phasized. It was a very hot day, and I had been spending the major por- tion of it in combing this God forsaken sea-port of Saigon for an opium pipe. Not that I wanted to smoke one-far from that. I had observed enough of the stuff to know that once opium had one in its grip, it was fatal. My guest had led me over the town, through all the large and the small shops that gave the least air of encouragement. Finally, in sheer despera- tion, I stopped in front of an old Chinese tailor who was sitting perched comfortably on his bench. I inquired of him if he knew the whereabouts of an accessible opium pipe. He thought a while and then said he did. Whereupon he jumped nimbly off his perch and bade me follow him. He led the way through a labyrinth of tiny, ribbon-like streets and stopped at last in front of a gate that was unmistakably Chinese in archi- tecture. He pulled the bell rope and in a short time a little sliding door in the gate opened, and an old idol-faced gateman thrust his head through the opening. He inquired in Chinese the purpose of the visit. This boy would like a pipe, said my guide. Evidently this satisfied the gateman, for in a moment the big gate swung back, and we were bowed into the presence of a man who was evidently the proprietor of the place. Here again I was asked to state my business. Oh, you wantee smoke hap, he said. So that was what my guide had thought I meant by a pipe! I hastened to correct the manager's erroneous impression and told him that what I wanted to do was not to smoke a pipe, but to buy one. He grunted an understanding and parted to find the pipe. While I was waiting, I examined more closely my surroundings. It was a small room with low, thick-plastered Walls. and a thick-plastered ceiling. High upon one side were two windows that were covered with carved, open-work wood. Heavy paper was pasted over this structure to prevent any stray breeze from coming in, for the Chinese have an aversion to fresh air. The room was lighted by three dim Chinese lanterns, that were sus-

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COUNTRY DARK nnlnunnlltlihhlhlinnlnlllnl-li!l-uhhh!!!Il-lihlllllhilnllihl MALCOLM SNODDY OUNTRY DARK is the darkest dark there is. Did you ever drive into the country on a moonless night and turn out the lights of your car? Absolute darkness. When I was seven years of age, I had my fist real ex- perience with Country Dark. I was lost. When I first realized that I was lost, I was wander- . ing down a road whicn I had never seen before. Dark- ness Was approaching swiftly. I was anxious to get back to the country home where I was staying for my , walk had made my appetite quite sharp. I walked farther, hoping to find a farmhouse before dark. I was never too brave at home in the dark, much less in a district which I had never seen before. Long before a house was in sight, the twilight deepened, it seemed almost at once, an inky curtain dropped around me. I stumbled along-the darkness was not broken by a light anywhere. The wind moaned and the trees that I could not see swished as if wailing for death. No moon or stars were to be seen. The hoot of a screech owl came to my ears. It seemed to Vbe asking, How did you come to be in such a plight ? I was tired, sleepy, and frightened. I walked to what I thought was the edge of the road and sat down to wait for a passing motor. None came, or at least I didn't see one, for I fell asleep. I was very startled when I awoke and I could not realize I was not safe at home in my bedroom. As soon as I could collect myself, I was deeply grateful for the crescent moon and the few stars that had appeared. My cheer soon changed to horror when I glanced behind me and looked upon a headstone. The only fear greater than my fear of the dark was my fear of the dead. All the sounds of the night seemed doubly loud, owls hooted, there was a mysterious rustling in the grass. A dog somewhere in the distance howled mournfully. A rabbit jumped out at my feet. I thought my heart had stopped beating. A cold sweat stood out on my forehead. I began to wonder if my friends would find my body the next day. I will never know whether I fainted or fell asleep for the next thing I knew my pal was arousing me. The whole country-side had been searching for me. P - -Y Y Y A,-,- V ,EEILY :fl