Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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T H E A E G I S INTERRUPTIONS HELEN H Anmsox When we all came to school at the first of the year, And started our classes anew, Things continued as smoothly as if well in gear, And we acted quite calm, for us, too. VVhen the teachers arrived on the morn of each day And they started their classes with spirit, There appeared on their faces expressions quite gay, ' But lo and behold -- There was hustle and bustle-no one was cool, For in line and according to size, Two by two we marched over to our new high school And we waved at the camera's eyes. - After this great event, we had hardly calmed down, When confused but slightly elated, Since the germ of a smallpox had sailed into town, We were sent up to be vaccinated. Then- It was awful, and terrible, quite vexing, too, And created a shocking sensation. How we fussed and we fumed till we felt mighty blue, They compelled us to take spring vacation! VVhcn we came back to school, I truly believe That you might have seen curious things, Such as limping on crutches, and empty coat sleeves, Also arms that were bound up in slings. But 't is now almost over, and no one seems ailing, So perhaps we shall have pretty soon, Just a short little stretch of some quieter sailing From this uproarious time until June.

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THE AEGIS 23 Then clouds began to accumulate in the sky and soon the sun disappeared behind them. On we glided down the silent, glassy river, winding among mountains covered with soft and feathery bamboo. There was not a sound. Everything wasistill save the gentle lapping of the waves against the side of the raft. It began to rain, a soft pitter-patter and the fresh, green banks seemed to give out a quieter radiance of their own. Here and there were brilliant hanging vines, spreading up the mountain side in their gorgeous array of colors. We passed a score of little black Jamaican boys swimming near the shore. As we sat there in a reverie silently drinking in the beauty of it all, we little noticed our increasing speed or the gurgling of the water as it rushed over the rocks. All of a sudden 1 came to the realization that we were dashing swiftly down, down another rapids and a pleasant little thrill of anticipation ran through me. However, this thrill soon gave place to fear for in an instant we began to whirl. Our raft wheeled completely around and then struck a rock with a terrible crash and splintering. The corner of our raft against the rock acted as a pivot and as the treacherous, whirling water struck against us, over the whole thing turned and i11 almost a moment we were all three of us in the water. As we went over I had the feeling that we were in rather deep water and I was greatly relieved when I felt bottom. Notwithstanding the shallow water it seemed to me as if l would never reach the surface and in my mad scramble to get my head above water it came into rather violent contact with the raft. The shock was so great that I gulped, swallowing about a quart of water, more or less, and sank down only to 1'ise immediately quite free from the raft. I clung to the side of the raft, gulping and spluttering, with water streaming out of my nose and mouth. As soon as I could regain my senses and strength, I tugged at the raft, but it was stuck fast. At the other end a black face emerged with gleaming white teeth. I sup- pose this Hdriver to destruction was in his element but not I. l am very fond of swimming but not this kind. Then Mr. -l arose holding a camera high in his right hand. We all pulled together and finally turned over the raft, Init the poor chap lost his balance and fell in again losing his fine camera. So in- stead of saving me, the purpose for which he had been sent, I had to turn life- saver and grab hold of his hand and help him upon the raft. Once more we started 011 talking and laughing about our unusual exper- ience. lt was still raining, Init we didn't take the trouble to put up our um- brella as before. After that we went over six more rapids very successfully. When we finally came to the end of our three miles, every one was waiting anxiously for us. They evidently thought that something must have happened, because they were just going to send some one back after us. However, I found that we were not the only ones that got a ducking-which was really a consolation. It causes me much mirth when I think of how they sent Mr. -l along with me for protection. I can 't help but think that if I had stayed with my or- iginal partner, our craft would have been more evenly balanced and our acci- dent would never have occurred.

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T H E A E G I S 25 ANYWHERE IN AUSTRIA Lotus EPs'r1a1N The battle was over and all was still and motionless on the field. Perhaps it had once been a green pasture, dotted with passive sheep and their joyful lambs, or with peace-loving cattle grazing on the fresh grasses. Now-all was changed. The turf was cut and overturned in many places where heavy wheels had crushed it. Unsightly holes showed where shells had exploded-on men? A shallow trench crossed the field, and near it were the ruins of cannon. A huge oak had been struck by an exploding shell, and its limbs, half-buried, now lay prostrate. Mangled horses lay about, sometimes upon their riders. Near the oak, a French peasant felt that the wound in his breast was soon t.o prove fatal. All night long he had prayed that Death might still the cruel pain in his chest, but now numbness had silenced the burning nerves and his thoughts were free. The sky was clear, and fresh, and blue. A strong, warm sun was in the ascent. Somewhere in France, was that same blue sky and that same bright sun, looking down on a pure, simple cottage. Far away, Oh! so far away that simple little cottage. And its inmates-Sophie and the chil- dren, Emile, Remi, Francois. Never, never would he see them again. O, God! lt was unbearable. His head rolled over and his eyes fell upon a tiny flower that still dared to lift its head on the field of Death. lt was the muguet. How Sophie loved its white blossoms! How she had loved to gather them in the Spring! ...... Oh ! what misery! After all, what was the difference? Here was the same sweet flowers as were back there in France. The same blue sky and the same golden sun looked down on the same big Mother-earth. A few yards away lay another form. Slowly, laboriously, painfully, he dragged his body over to the other. It was a German soldier. A deep red cut across the head and temple showed what had caused his death. He was an enemy. Was he an enemy? What was it all about anyway? Back at that little cottage, all had been peaceful and happy and contented. Then came The War. He had been told that the Germans were cruel, and would invade his tranquil little home. A slight breeze arose and stirred the fair locks over the peaceful face of the dead man. He was a German. After all, did not the same sky and the same sun look down on Germany that looked down on France, and on Austria? Again the breeze stirred the dead man's hair. Perhaps he too had somewhere a humble cottage and his own Sophie, and his own little Emile, and Remi, and Francois. Farther off somewhere, a dying soldier was trying with his last breath to sing a hymn. Scarcely audible, the words floated to him on the breeze: Tu notre Dieu, Pere de bonte. Nous sommes tout tes enfa'n,fs. Yes, we are all His children. Still-? Even a man would not want his sons to fight each other. Surely the Great Father does not want his children to kill one another? Oh, what was it all about? Why must he die here, far away