Shortridge High School - Annual Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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IIN AS MUCH DVVIGHT BENDER 'T WAS ONE of those calm, oriental days when the sea is like glass that the U. S. S. Hatfield was plow- ing her way toward the port of Beruit, Syria. The proud ship sped along like a thoroughbred with her nose in the air, trying, as it seemed, to complete the journey before nightfall. The setting sun was now directing a golden path of beautiful light through the sea, apparently ending at her starboard side as if a great search light were showing her the way. Land off the port bow, somebody' shouted. On turning I looked in that directiong blinked and looked again. Yes, it was there and a more beautiful picture I have never seen. On a hill, that rose gently from the water, lay the city of Beruit. With the sun's reflection on the golden tile roofs, spotted with green trees between, it did not look like a city built by the hand of man, but like a paradise built by God. While I meditated over the beautiful picture, the sun dropped into the sea and the picture faded. I sadly turned away, not wishing to see the change, trying to hold that picture in my mind. You have no doubt met people who were always smiling and appeared to be happy, but when you became intimately acquainted with them you found that they had great troubles in their hearts, and so it was with this city. I was brought to myself again by the boatswain mate's call, Stand by the lines I The great engines groaned and the ship quivered as the propell- ers were reversed to check the speed. The lines creaked as they tightened around the bits, drawing the ship safely along side the dock. I was off duty that night, so I walked up toward the gangway to join a crowd that was waiting to go ashore. Soon the oflicer of the deck came with the liberty list and checked us out, ordering us to report 'aboard by ten o'cloek that night. When we were on shore I did not go directly up to the city with the other boys. I walked up the dock for a :Qty and then turned in at a narrow cobble-stone street that led up the 1 . As I passed the houses that had appeared to be so beautiful from a distance I saw quite a different sight. There were no curtains in the windows and most of them had little glass. Through the open door I could see the bare stone floor, with perhaps two or three chairs and an old table in the center of the room. Men and women with drawn faces, which showed the many hardships that they had suffered, and with hardly' enough clothes to cover them, were seated on the steps or ground by the door, talking and laughing and apparently enjoying themselves. How little is required to make those happy who have known nothing but hardships. I walked on up the street watching the little, ragged, thin- faced children play. They also seemed to be enjoying themselves. Before long I came out into the business part of the city. There were

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THE CONSTRUCTE-J-If OF 5 BUILDING DORIS WINIFRED EGBERT F2 -Q iv, e , Q, ',,, . I xx N. w-n--Q, -Q Y , 'g ' f J ' wk: A -ig i..?Q ivil E lx-1-ax XA l' ,,......o- . W y i -e + :..'-4 - :Dr til? gl I r v sl L 'E x uni It r Wmjlg UST I 181,55 iq q N' we 9 nm 'Vx 'X ? I 'ri f1J'5.1.Li. al- ing ai arf' Q l 1 u WW ' x IB 'BQ li-IIE!! Q I A ,.Q-:-.-:,f fkif-ff-f I f ,-- 'Q' ' 5 l fl l WU Will in 1 'C X . 1 , A W f ' -- f e4 - - S , 0 A 93' 1 S ' ff ,, L ' .-I, : - ,l J! :W . K ss E , ' Xa, 4 '.. A 'f i - Lil' 'x lx lah 1 ,I :lille HN .f e L 1' .ugh Z 3. 15 . 11-'hr , ini f- -K i. , 5 ,.,' ,' 1' ' if i is 4, fry fffff , . rflil .- i-I wr Q ' -. . wg-fri: .. - Q ' ffxwy JUN F NE' xx: ' U , K I ! ,I , U Lf ,vigil V? I 'Vip' ' u I 'w'I .-A ig w K ' 2' -v -5 -2-. +1 . 1 1.5-' iwuiolaunl' ' ,P ul pr 0:1 , ,- -I -' :uh-. - w I 'x ii ' V .EEEM ' 'H' l I ', 'q J. at -- .9 --5 nciy z ye e mai' , 7, 'M I i '--- :- - 5.3. : 'xg' 432 , 525.-l - ina 1, H155 3 .. e : - ff 5-.--12 1-:' - i 'V Qi- - . wwf 2 .-is th I ll My my II' ,qu .I 5 .u. n Z ', Lg - I 12? I ., 5 --1 2 3 be in , . ' g',g.e- rut P ' az - ,-'- gglie ' rp X ii : ., 'lr' ll 5-'1 'gl -'75-UW 1, , 1 , X i A ' 211.2 Q L? Iii' ' 51' . gl Jul- I ' 'mth .VL ' fx That gaunt framework of wood and steel, Will it be a mighty edifice one day? Will the day come when we shall feel Its loveliness and under sway Of its marble beauty gaze in awe At man's handiwork with blade and saw? air. -A X' :vis .J lil! YS N 7 Is that skeleton a promise of fairer things to come, A noble work as yet undone?

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:IN AS MU'CH many fruit stands, shops, and restaurants along this street, as are found in any city of the Orient. I wandered around for an hour or two buying some souvenirs and a bite to eat, then started back toward the dock. I was walking down a street that was for the most part deserted when I noticed a little boy running toward me and calling to me in a language that I did not understand. I waited until the boy caught up with me and asked him what he wanted. t Bon Americano, he said, Me no mere, no pere, sleep in street, no ea . There are many professional beggars in those old countries, which makes it hard to tell who is deserving and I was wondering what I should do about him. We were walking down the dock now and he was holding my arm and repeating those words. I saw a little shop just across the street, so we went over and found there, as I expected, a native who could speak some English. My intention was to try this boy and see if he really was telling the truth. The man interpreted the boy's story for meg a short story, indeed, but one which said more than we can comprehend. His father and mother and all his relatives were killed by the Turks and he, a boy of eight, was left to shift for himself in a country where even grown people were dying of starvation. - Tell the child he may go back to the ship with me. I will ask the captain if he may be allowed to work on the ship, Where he will have plenty to eat and a good place to sleep. The man repeated what I had said and the poor child was almost hysterical with joy. He clenched my arm as if he were afraid I would get away and, dancing by' my side and mumbling words that I did not understand, I led him toward the dock. As soon as we were aboard I took him straight to the galley. There we found the fat-good-natured cook, straightening away the pots and pans and getting ready to go below. - - Hello, cook, I called, stepping into the galley with my little friend, Whats have you to eat ? What do you care what I have to eat, you old pelican? said the cook. Did they run out of grub ashore or are you too cheap to buy it? At the same time he was setting out some food for me. I want it for this little orphan boy, I told him, and the jovial look on his face changed. Ah, he said, stooping to put his arm around the child, You look -almost starved, but you won't be long, if I can help it. With this the cook got busy, and the food he fixed for that little orphan would have been good enough for the captain. After the waif had finished we went out on deck and sat on a hatch door to watch for the captain's return. He had gone ashore to see the American consul. Soon I saw him coming toward the ship, so I went to the gangway to meet him. Good evening, sir. I said, saluting him as he came aboard. '3Good evening, my boy, returned the captain. What can I do for you .