Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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The Aegis I 1 920 HYes, replied the nurse graciously. This is Oteen, a T. B. Hospital belong- ing to the United States Government. 'fAnd will you please inform me what has become of my daughter and what good she can do here ? She is the dearest girl imaginable, and-Oh, how we all have missed her. Wihy, Mrs. Mcljride, she comes here early every morning with her car loaded with fruit, candy, and chewing gum. And it is not only what she brings, it is the girl herself that does the most good. She- But here Miss May was interrupted by the quick, soft steps of another snow-white figure. Come, mother, I am going over to VVard I, 7. VVe will start there this morning. I know you are going to have the time of your lifef' Nancy, how could you ?' asked Mrs. Mcllride in a hurt to.ne. All her pride was completely crushed to see her only daughter in such a place and such an outfit. And to think, Nancy, your father died- Yes, mother, I know. That is one reason I came. By this time they were at VVard I, 7. As Xancy opened the screen door, fifteen pale, haggard faces were raised from as many white cots and, too, there came over the same fifteen fa-ces a smile, the first for many days. Nancy stopped to explain in a low tone to her mother, These out here are the worst and will not live long. You see on the inside there are two rows of cots. Those 'boys are a little better, but will really never get wellf' She passed from cot to cot, stopping at each for a pleasant remark and, as the boy frowned as she turned to go she smiled and promised to return soon. So, down the row she went. In the last bed was an Indian boy of twenty-one who could hardly speak English. Nevertheless he had been in three of the largest bat- tles of the Vlforld ll'ar, had been gassed twice and returned to America consump- tive. He had been in bed ten months, but was still ready to smile when the pretty pale-faced squaw came to his cot. VVhen Mrs. Mcliride was left alone, she stood aghast, but those soft brown eyes wandered-down one row. up another. How sad ! Une boy had a guitar and was picking a familiar tune softly. On one cot was some cards, on another a checker board. just outside under the trees were several hammocks and a couple of young looking boys were tottering slowly toward them. The boys coughed-Oh, so much 5 Nancy, dear, whispered Mrs. llcllride as she came to her daughters side, have you an extra white dress here ? An Excerpt From Senior Salamagundi To the all-highest, Haybad Cep Ti Khan, Chief Rice Gatherer of Ajmir: My four years of exile will soon be over, dear Haybad, and l will then be able to leave this land of infidels and barbarians to return to the beauty and culture of our native village of .-Xjmir. Many tales of strange and unusual customs will I relate to thee and I swear by the beard of Mahomet that every word is true. Everything that is done in this Page Tweiity-nine

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l 920 The Aegis see you aren't going to tell, so I'll just see that you stay with me for a few monthsf' W'ith that she left the room, locked the door, and took the key with her. Near the end of the second week Nancy was almost in hysterics. Her mother had not been two inches from her, she could not write, she could not telephone- what should she do? One afternoon Nancy pleaded a headache, so Mrs. McBride took her to her room, tucked her in bed and pulled down the shades. When all was quiet Nancy crept stealthily from bed and wrote the following note in the semi-darkness: My dear Miss May: It is mother, just as I have feared all the time. I just can't tell her, she would worry so, and then she would not let me come back. How are the boys? Tell them I am coming tomorrow morning at any cost. INANCY NICBRIDE. With a sigh of relief Nancy fell asleep. Of course, dear, I'll go with you for a drive. XVhy, you haven't been out for two weeksf, r No, mother, and it's a grand morning. Nancy had been driving east and as this puzzled her mother she asked, Where are you going, Nancy ? No place in particular. just anywheref, Another five minutes of silence and then from Mrs. McBride: Nancy, please do not drive so fast. VVhy did you choose such a road? There is not a straight place in it. I know it, mother, it is one curve after another. It is so beautiful-that is why I came. It is too early for other cars to be out, so I can make the bends easily. Don't be nervous. Another fifteen minutes of continual winding around the mountain they were almost at the summit. At a distance could be seen about two dozen large, grey, oblong buildings. Nancy, what on earth is that ? Nancy's whole thought was absorbed in the narrow grey streak of pavement ahead of her. Every moment the little car shot on slightly faster than the moment before. She gave three short honks and the khaki-clad sentry recognizing them, jumped aside just in time to save his life. The next instant Nancy was on the ground. She fairly dragged her mother from the car and up the steps of the nearest buildinlg. The young lady did not speak, but pointed to a large white cardboard, turned the corner and was gone. Mrs. Mcllride collected a few of her scattered wits, got out her reading glasses, and read the glaring white sign which had only one word and that was Silence, She turned and saw another which said Speak Very Softly. . At the far end of the almost bare room sat a woman in white behind a large desk. As she was the only other occupant, M rs. Mcliride naturally made her way to that spot. Good morning, Mrs. McBride, I am Miss May, the Superintendent. Superintendent of what? VVil1 you kindly tell me where I am F asked the bewildered Mrs. McBride. W M APage Twenty-eiight

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1920 The Aegis stronghold of the heathen is directly opposite to the law laid down by our three hundred sixty-five prophets to whom you must daily remember me in your prayers. Only a short time ago, word went out from the throne room of the native rajah, that his subjects should assemble immediately in their temple. In a moment zu series of harsh, clanging bells began to spread the alarm. These 'bells lack the music and beauty of tone so much sought for by our own builders, but they har- monize well with the life of these northern barbarians. Pandemonium now reigned in place of law and order. Witlh no regard for one another, or for their prophets-for I thought they assembled to perform some religious ceremonies- they rushed into their temple and at the same time set up a racket that can only be likened to a monkey battle in our native jungle. Again all were quiet, for the rajah had entered the temple and with a movement of his hand and the fire of his eye, he quieted the infidels. He then made a short speech, but as my interpreter was not present I could not understand what he said. A stranger now entered the scene, no doubt a foreign potentate with messages of peace to the rajah. Oh, Haybad, sage of the ages, and truest disciple of Mahomet, believe the words you now read. The stranger began to talk and immediately an evil spell spread over the multi- tude, the truth came to meg this was a magician who had come to demonstrate his power. Only after paying homage to my twelve patron prophets was I able to withstand his deadly influence. At last one of the audience succumbed to the magicians power. Fate cer- tainly played a foul trick on this unfortunate. VVell, thou rememtberest, Haybad, that on our last journey to Mecca we met a magician who turned three true believers into monkeys. His power was naught compared to the master I just described. As his spell deepened, the victim uttered strange and unusual words and syllables that contained no doubt hidden meanings. llnt the power of the mind of the victim gradually triumphed over the magician. At last he was released from the evil spell. Again the insensibility of the heathen is shown, for the rabble clapped, chat- tcred. and cheered after the magician lost his power over the victim. liut stranger happenings than even this I have to recount. After the magician left the temple, the rajah again arose and proclaimed three magic words. Haybad, the power of Mahomefs words compare with this potentate's phrase as an Indian Zephyr with Chinese monsoon. To a man the entire assemblage arose to their feet and, sending up their usual wails and shrieks. rushed for the door as though the walls were likely to fall, though they seemed solid to me. Scarcely had I recovered from the temple affair, when I was aroused from my august meditations by numerous public and private councils. Soon the word was passed that on a certain day a celebration was to be held in honor of one of the prophets. l'nfortunately I had lost the pin of my new pink and green turban and was unable to attend the rites. Much to my surprise I learned that instead of spending the time in talk and study as we do, the barbarians, by dancing and other modes of revelry wasted their time and in no wise benefited themselves. Again 'we see the inconsistencies of the unbelievers. A At present the great literary lights of the palace spend their days racking their W'-I4YIIrAMOi I iiii ,III I I A I-in Page Thirty