Calhoun School - Ink Pot Yearbook (New York, NY)

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Q 1936 INK POT Q a profound touch of tragedy, so true of the sea, has added drama to an otherwise happy ending. Captain Saulters, master of the ship, was found by the rescue party dead upon the bridge. Tenderly, but firmly grasped in his hand was the faded picture of a beautiful young girl dressed in a bridal costume. -Ik it -JK BK' -Ni 'IF -Ili BK' -lk' -JF -JK' The little old lady was still rocking in her chair. Her rocking was reminiscent of surf breaking against a rockbound shore and washing over a dead body. Thank God, she softly murmured, I knew he would redeem himself for the failure of his first ship if given the chance, I knew John Saulters was a good man when I married him. And the rocking chair slowly creaked on. JOAN JACOBSON, '38. The CdP,7l SO I takes the black-guard by the neck, and with me own two hands, I feeds him to the sharks. Ooh, did you really, Cap'n ? asked a saucer-eyed pigtail. The Cap'n shook his head in assent as he removed a battered old sailor's cap from a mop of thick, flaming hair. Now, with the sun playing brilliantly on it, it seemed to take a fierce, fiery glow which did not at all befit this mild old man of the sea. Sitting there, smiling amiably at his audience, composed mainly of children, he puffed at his ancient pipe which had long since become part of him. One of the village gossips had said, Ei ye wants to find the Cap'n, look fer his pipe. A strange thing to say about a man, but then, everything about the Cap'n was strange. His love for children was one of the things the villagers of this quiet New England town could not grasp. He Was a large, well-built man with a pale, smooth, almost girlish complexion, more like a city-fellar than the old sea captain he claimed to be. His large knuckled hands were clumsy, but, when he offered the always magically filled cookie jar to his small friends, they seemed to be the nicest, kindest, I1l0St adept hands those young eyes had ever seen. Ah, but his eyes! They had a magnetic pull to their softness which compelled you to look at his almost huge, dominating Hgure. Those eyes, sad and sorrowful, yet gay and twinkling, were full of expression, they were his personality, they were him. The beak-nosed, gossipy spinsters could not understand him. lVIany years ago he had come to live among them and had bought the small shack at the ocean's edge. On stormy nights people said he walked the beach, sobbing bitterly, and no matter how much the doctor had warned him against it, a large figure could be seen trudging the beach on nights when most people would not set foot out of their houses. The last of the cookies had disappeared, and with it his little audience. The sea giant had seated himself in his creaking old rocker and unfolded a yellowed newspaper article. A sweet, girlish face was smiling adoringly at a small, snub-nosed boy. His eyes were twinkling, and if the picture had been in color one would have seen that he had the same flaming hair as the Cap'n. Under the picture words could still be read, but faintly: Wife and son of young captain lost at seaf' The article told of a young man who had taken his wife and son on his first voyage as Captain. The ship had met a horrible fate in a treacherous sea. The Cap'n sighed wearily and looked out toward the ocean, searchingly, yearn- ingly. None knew the reason for the sad, painful look in those merry old eyes. LILLIAN FIcHTENHoI.Tz, '39, Thirty-eight

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Q 1936 INK POT 0 News Flash ONIETHING had happened to the radiog all the local stations had suddenly ceased to broadcast, for some unknown reason. Then once again the voice of the announcer was heard, but this time notes' of excitement and anxiety could be detected in his voice. News flash: The S.S. lllonronia, of the Blue Diamond Line, has foundered off Cape Horn. Nearby vessels are rushing to her aid, but with the heavy seas and severe storms in this section it will be at least a day before help can be on hand. Y 'I' 'K il' ik 'li 'I' X 'F if 'il' In a little seaboard town situated somewhere on the coast of North America, an old woman sat in her favorite chair listening to the radio. She, too, had heard the announcement, but it did not seem to alarm her, though greatly excited she walked about her room, deftly placing already well arranged articles in different positions, all the while smiling a bit to herself in reassurance. This was the chance john had been waiting for, these many years, he would Il0t overlook this heaven-sent opportunity. if il- 'lk 'll' SK- ik- if SK- -If 'li' 'K Captain Saulters stood on the bridge of the ill-fated vessel, directing his men. His cool, unassuming actions served to re-establish a strong, new feeling of confidence and hope in them. He was a tall, rugged-looking individual, this old sea-dog, a typical Yankee skipper, who had, as a heritage from earlier days, learned the laws of self-preservation and defiance of the sea. At this very moment he was engaged in trying to keep his ship on a straight course, his eyes never left the instrument board. A look of frustration fringed his troubled brow. The intensity of the storm was increasingg the vessel was listing badly on the star-board side. How long could they possibly remain afloat? How long could the inevitable be staved off? But in this brief interlude, he had time to reflect a bit over bygone days. He remembered with pride his first command and his marriage to Mary. A sudden tremor of emotion swept through his body as he recalled with dismay the Black Hull, his first ship. The very thought of this caused a cold sweat to envelop him. It must never happen againg a similar occurrence he could never bear to face. A cold, icy spray from some mountainous wave which had washed over the ship brought him promptly back to his senses. Calling his mate, he lashed out his orders. Have the men abandon holds one and two. Close the compartment doors and leave the cargo to its fate. Captain, answered the mate gruffly, that cargo is worth a fortune. What possible value could cargo have when it endangered human life? It could always be replaced, but the sailors, most of whom were family men with wives and children depending on them for their very existence, never could be. They owed the company only their allegiance where labor was concernedg life had never entered into the contract. Get below and carry out my orders at once! bellowed the captain, after coming to his decision. lt's I who's running this boat, it's I who gives the orders. Now carry on before I throw you in irons. Somehow he felt very much relieved, he honestly felt that he had chosen the right path, and come now what may, he would never change his plans. K- -R -IE il' ik it 'X' -I' il' 1- I' The radio announcer was talking again. News again of the ill-fated Jllonrovin. Help reached the vessel late last night, and thirty-five men have been transferred safely aboard the rescue ship. However, Thirty-seven

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Q 1936 INK POT ' Faith T HE wind howled and blew the sleet in all directions. lt was a wretched night, a night in which a mother should be home before a blazing fire telling bedtime stories to a sleepy-eyed child. But for Anna life was not like that, warm and cozy, but hard and cold. She was walking now with her head down, her chin against her chest, to brace herself from the wind's sharp fangs. Laughter from above caused her to jerk her head and look upward. Glancing into the window she saw young men and women, warm and gay, laughing and joking, with evidently nothing better to do than drink to each other's health in champagne. She turned away with a disgusted look and muttered to herself, They squander money, those young fools. While people starve and fight for life they drink champagne. A chuckle escaped her, but the almost black eyes fiamed with fire and vengeance. Soon she came to the poorer section where in the midst of the bitter cold she came upon the Temple and entered its holy portals. Its very silence was reverent. She sat down in a pew and soon her face relaxed from its tense expression and the dark eyes filled with tears. One could see from the finely chiselled nose that she was not common. Folding her hands, she lifted earnest eyes and said, Why am I here begging help from YOU? ls it because I'm a Jew? Surely that cannot be the whole truthful reason. Tell me, dear Lord, how can I keep from becoming like my parents and grandparents. They cringed, shied from the fact that they were Jews, because the people told them they were no earthly good in this world. That is not true, I know it, I feel it. Help me to keep my courage, restore my failing faith in my religion, my people, and myself. She sat quietly for a moment, not an eyelash blinked, not a finger moved, and then she got up and went into the cold night, head up, shoulders back. As she reached the top flight of stairs leading to her room, she heard the lusty cry of her baby. Opening the door, she ran to the crib and picked up the soft bundle, smothering it with kisses. You want your supper, don't you, darling? she said, and went to the closet to get some milk. She heated the milk, put some in a bottle and gave it to the child. Then she put him to bed and rocked him to sleep. When the dark eyes had closed in contented slumber, she lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling. The room was very small, but she kept it immaculate. Slowly her gaze turned to the child and filled with tender compassion. Little Ralph, she whispered, your struggle won't be as hard as mine, for I shall make it easier for you if I can. But, my darling, always remember, never give up your hopes or faiths, for where there's hope and faith there's life. The next morning dawned cold and crisp. When Anna awoke the sun was streaming into the one small window. She dressed quickly, made her breakfast and her child's and went over to Ralph. After dressing him, she took him to the janitor, who kept him for her while she looked for work. Emerging from the house, young, hopeful and lovely, she gave no inkling of the rebellion that surged in her heart for those who make life so difiicult. Walking to the car, she took out a nickel and rode to her destination. Upon entering the room she noticed that there were many ahead of her. Finally when it was her turn, the man asked, Age ?', Thirty,,' she replied. Experience ? None in this line, she answered Religion ? he shot at her, and the beady eyes were cold as he awaited the answer. Her body stiffened, but she answered steadily, I am a Jewessf' Sorry, you won't do. Next, he called impersonally. Thirty-nine