Burlington High School - Rarebits Yearbook (Burlington, Ontario Canada)

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50 R A R E B I T S She ilinzea 1-Im' mhrella By KATHERINE GASH, CCommercialj lane made a perfect private secretary. Like her name, Iane Brown, she was plain, serviceable, neat and undistinguished. She wore clothes that suited her, that always followed the mode, but very discreetly. Iane had not been born plain, but she achieved this effect by large, shell-rimmed spectacles and a very unbecoming coiffure. Paul XVetherby, her employer, asked for nothing better than lane. He would cross his fingers and mutter to himself Gosh, but she's good! He never told anyone this, because it may have subtracted a bit from his glory. Paul you see, was a go-getternand junior member of the old, conservative firm of Kane and Wether- by, Advertisers. The company was dying of dry rot when I breezed in, he would say to his cronies, but I've put new life into it. New ideas, pep, up-to- date approachf' He moved snappily from con- ference to conference, always 'ton his toes , as he phrased it. Always a picture of what the well dressed man wears, he caused many skipped heart-beats among the girls. Chiefly they were enraptured by his good looks-quick grey eyes, tanned skin, lean fitness and his perfect groom- ing. 'He was a modern hero! Here was Iane's one defect. There was some- thing lacking in her polite attention when Paul would interrupt her work to tell her of a new plan. She failed to be properly impressed, or something hard to defineybut he felt it. It was well that she had much work to occupy her time. For lane did not make friends easily, and, save for her work, her three years in New York had been quite empty. At the boarding-house the girls drifted off after dinner with young men, and, at the office, if she approached a whispering group of girls, they separated, and asked tentatively: Did you want something, Miss Brown? It gave her a shut-out feeling, and it hurt- Nobody suspected that it hurt, and they thought Iane's shyness was coldness. The real trouble was that she was a battle- field. Inside her small person, Gallic fire and love of beauty inherited from her French mother fought iron control and distrust of anything beautiful, inherited from her New England father. Her mother had died when she was a babyg consequently her father's ideas dominated. 'She had a picture of her mother and three beautiful trinkets she dared not wear. It would seem that the Puritan side had won the victory until that day, that rainy day in April. lane was working in her office which guarded the entrance to Paul XVetherby's impressive rooms. He was not there, because he was staying at Long Island for the week-end. It was a wet, dirty day, and only routine appoint- ments were scheduled. so he had been sure lane could handle them. Iane's mouth tightened at the implication. So lane sat alone, working. She was so busy that she didn't notice a drip-drip-drip on her rug, until a throat was cleared and a pleasant masculine voice inquired: Is there some other place you'd rather I'd drip? This looks like an expensive rug. Looking up, startled, lane beheld the wettesf object she had ever seen. Every Puritan in- stinct she possessed had a voice in her exclama- tion: Oh, dear, my rug. Yes, darling, but where am I to stand? The room is so small and the rug so big there is no space left, answered the wet object. lane flushed, whisked a paper out of her desk, put it on part of the rug, and asked him to stand there. Quite so, agreed her visitor, and shook him- self like a great shaggy dog. However did you get so wet?U she asked. Well, I was sure I saw enough blue between the clouds to make a pair of sailor's pants, and that means it won't rain anymore. Superstition, sniffed lane, you got pretty wet following it. Didn't I though? he agreed. And of course you had no umbrella, she thought aloud. Why the 'of course', sister? he asked. You wouldn't carry an umbrella. I'm sure,', Iane said. Thank you, he said feelingly. But what for? lane asked. For telling me I'm such a courageous soul. You see, the umbrella is the symbol of caution. Now, I very much fear, you are an umbrella carrier. Iane's eyes turned to the corner where her hat, coat, and umbrella were neatly hung. The man's eyes followed hers. Ah, yes, he sighed. Iane came back to earth, Is there anything I can do for you? I came to your hospitable office -he glanced at the damp paper on which he stood- to see Mr. Wetherby with regard to a contract. Mr. Wetherby is out of the city, but I am his secretary. Possibly I can be of some assistance? I'm sure you can tell me what I want to know, as well or better than Mr. Wetherby, he said, shrewdly. I am Robert Knowles of the Radio Corporation, he introduced himself. lane supressed a gasp. Robert Knowles of the great Radio Corporation! If Kane and Wetherby could get the radio account, it would be the biggest job they had had in many days. Her knees felt wobbly. Then she remembered Tom Se al, a young copy writer on their staff, who hacf shown her some of his work, and she knew it was good. He could map out an adver- tising campaign that would be a winner. She pushed a button, and told the office boy who answered the call to bring Mr. Segal to her. Then she realized that Robert Knowles was still standing on a newspaper. Oh, please, won't you sit down? she asked in a very small voice. Why the change of heart, sisteru Ifm as wet when I'm Robert Knowles as when I'm nobody. He was accusing her of snobbery, and she knew it was true. But something was happening to lane, so she cocked her head, and said: You are not nearly so wet now as you were, she said. Please step off the paper, and bundle itdinto the wastebasket, so my office can be ti y'

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RAREBITS gg. get Shnulh 2 Attenh Glnllegr? By KATI'iLEEN COLEMAN IIIA. Pau.vc', fnjforr you -1-0lll'l1C'-If 011 To give ear unlo my worry. SHOULD WE ATTEND COLLEGE? This is one ofthe most important questions that we, as the youth of today, have to face. Vtlhat is our reply to it? .XVe should respond immediately in the affirm- ative. If you are one of those who hurl back why I will endeavor to dissolve your why into a conviction that a College Education is all important. Vtlhen you desire to build something worth while you select the very best material and then commence working. The world demands this of you when you set about building your career. Today one finds it extremely difficult to obtain a worth while position without a college degree. If you wish to specialize in any line there is only one place for you and that place is College. If' you desire to be a Civil Engineer, a Govern- ment Zoologist, an industrial Scientist, a Teacher of a Secondary School, a Dentist, a Doctor, a Druggist, or an Architect, a college course is imperative. Thus to get anywhere in the world one is forced to attend college. You should not feel that going to College is a compulsory law passed by the demanding world, but you should seek it eagerly as a betterment of yourself. To develop and strengthen your body exer- cise is requiredg similarly, to develop and in- crease your knowledge a further education is requiredg the same applies to your outlook and general development. The intimate contact between your mind, as the student, and the cultivated mind of' the pro- fessor promotes greater mental development. The outside activities, such as discussion groups, debating, music, art, and dramatic clubs, and in short all the organizations which form the recreational side of college life are of inestimable value to you. Then there is your association with your fellow students. You are a unit of a large body which has varied interests and is following many walks of life. The essence of' youth is enthusiasm and when those about you are bubbling over with eager- ness to tell you what they are interested in, you listen and learn. This extensive knowledge obtained through contact would otherwise be denied you as your interest would not be intense enough to follow it up in books. A College Course is within the reach of every boy and girl who has physical strength and perseverance. The only person who would deny himself' all that even one year could give, is one who does not know the intangible and well as the tangible benefits to be derived. Tixzxrninzxtinn.-ze H11 DORIS Srirru It was nine bells ringing, And exams had just begun, And they all were thinking, As they scanned the questions, One by one. It was noontide ringing, And the first exam was done, They their homeward way were winging As they hurried home to study, For the next one. Thereis a liar bell ringing, i At the finish ofthe last one, And many voices mingling, And fair cheeks hot and tingling At the days to come. f. 5 Q ,, ililippetg-iHlnp J Laugh again! Play again! Dance and be gay again! Gladdest and maddest are crooning Strike up the blues! And then YVail the retrain again! All the wild ache of it calling to go. Punch in the coffee-pot! Glide to the super-hot! Partners and playmates, come boop-boo Thrill to a random chord! All to abandon. Lord! lust one I care about!4vagabond you. 29 in? .ea x it low. p-a-doo! .,,f'iif . 3 ,ff

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RAREBITS 31 That word 'tidy' you must have found in an awfully old dictionary. Here Tom Segal entered, and his puzzzlement changed to stage fright when he found out what he was to do. Finally, he started to talk, and he got Robert Knowles' interest, too. An hour later Tom left with a dazed look in his eyes. Then Iane and Robert Knowles went out to dinner together. Next day lane told Mr. Wetherby what had happened. Paul Wetherby's mouth opened in uncon- trolled amazement. Then: Segal isn't the man to handle this. You should have waited until my return. Then he pushed buttons, and flung orders at the people who answered the signals. Persons stopping at Iane's desk asked. Did you hear that Mr. Yvetherby landed the big Radio contract? Iane's mouth tightened ominously, Mr. Xvetherby indeed! Somehow she found it less thrilling to work after that rainy April day. Paul Wetherby was conscious of the change. He felt her looking at him when he was making a big impression and it made him uncomfortable. He felt particularly so when he told her he had given the Radio Contract to some other copyright to do. She said: Mr. Knowles was interested in Segal's plans. He decided to put her in her place. lt's not a question of plans but of talent. It was very unwise of you to attempt to handle this Contract. lane was silent. She met Segal in the eleva- tor. He looked very much discouraged and told her that he had all the plans finished, but Wetherby wouldn't look at them. lane told him to bring them to hergsomething might hap- pen. Something did happen a week later. Robert Knowles turned down flat the plans that Wether- by had prepared. Then, the next morning, Miss Klien one of the typists got into Wether- by's office before lane could stop her. She heard her say something, then Wetherby said: I have been think of making a change. Miss Brown is a good worker, but- lan-e didn't hear anymore. She carried on her work in a sort of frozen daze. Alone in her room that night she had another fight with herself. This time the French side won out. She went to the office, did a bit of work, then left a note saying Shopping Back later. About four hours later a bewildered ofiice boy announced to Mr. Knowles that the girl who carried an umbrella would like to see him. Suddenly Robert Knowles chuckled, Show her in, he said. She came in, and he made a queer noise in his throat. The girl who stood before him was Spring. The corners of her wide eyes, the corners of her isweet mouth, the curling ends of her short hair the flare of her brief sport skirt-everything about her quirked up, happily. .'Al've brought something to show you, she sai . She first drawing caught his interest, and he sax : Why wasn't l shown these before? These are Segal's copies. Vtletherby took the job away from him, but I saw his work, and thought you would like it. Well, suppose we call it a go, then, he said. Returning to the office she almost stumbled over Wetherby hunting through the files. Welll he said, what's the big idea of a morning off? Don't you think it was worth itrfu she asked. He gasped. I'll say it was, he told her, and grinned. NVhile I was out, I persuaded Mr. Knowles to give us the contract, after all. You persuaded him! On condition that you use these copies. He studied the work, then: Who did these? lane looked him in the eye, and said: Tom Segal. He retired to his office, but took Segal's plans along. lane smiled. She looked at her desk calendar, Friday, the thirteenth. Tomorrow, she was going to dine with Robert Knowles. How glorious to have plenty of tomorrow's coming! For lane, you see, no longer raised the um- brella of caution against Fate. Qbur Ginwn ' By IEAN COUTTS Burlington Heights- Twinkling lights, Awink across the lake, ln sheltering arm Free from harm Of Ontario's thundering break. Quiet town- In Autumn brown- Seems to dwell in summer, Cool and peaceful, Staid and graceful YVelcomes each newcomer. Homey place- With a quiet grace- Progressive though not booming Among our people, 'Neath each steeple Kindness is always blooming.