Catholic Central High School - Banner Yearbook (Fort Madison, IA)

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WHA'T PRICE YOUTH? It was raining. The streets were slippery and flooded and the trolley traf- fic was interrupted. Professor Oliver stared angrily at the unceasing down-pour and muttered. He was supposed to attend a laboratory experiment at the col- lege of which he was Professor of Science, but he was gradually succumbing to a strong temptation. At last he yielded. After a short telephone call, he re- tired but not until he had consumed several bananas of which he was very fond. They proved too much for his digestive powers and with his opening nightmare we find him in his laboratory. I-Ie is on his way to a great discovery- Per petual Youth, The Elixir of Life. Now let's see, he meditated, on what shall 1 try it first? Ah! I have it. I will give a portion of it to a guinea pig. He left the laboratory and walked across the street to a bird and animal store to buy his victim to science. As he came from the entrance he met Mr. Walker and told him of his find. Mr. 'Nalker was a very rich and prominent man. Although he was in good health financially, his eyesight was failing rapidly and rheumatism was raging a win- ning battle against the former spryness of his limbs. The words of Oliver were music to his ears. He invited himself to the test-room at four o'clock the next afternoon. As he hurried away, he chuckled to himself. He would buy the right to the secret and have the joke on Jones, another rich rival in search of health. He would, he gloated, still be young and in good health, when they carry Jones to his last resting-place. Oh manlg the follies of youth would be his to live over again. But, fate was conspiring against him. Oliver invited jones to the appointment alsog and they arrived at the same time. Of course, neither one relished the presence of the other and speaking terms were torn out by their roots. Oliver greeted them with bubbling words and a beaming face. It worked! It worked! The pig is in its infancy again. I have to feed it with a bottle. The two customers sighed with contentment. Soon their stiffened legs would be carrying them blithely to dances and hikes. Oliver ushered them into the room in which he had discovered his great human aid. After having seated his friends in a place most conducive to the comfort of their protesting bones, he opened a drawer and extracted a little brown bottle. Here is life! Here is joy! Here is youth with all its glories! he cried with enthusiasm. Now if you gentlemen will wait a few minutes I will get the several animals that have been given various-sized doses of this won- derful discovery. He left in a hurry with much noise. His progress to the rear of the build- ing could be heard plainly in the laboratory. As the sound finally ceased, Mr. Jones rose and limped to a window. When his back was turned, Walker quickly took a large swallow of the liquid in the bottle. Why pay for what can be obtained for nothing? he thought with a grin, Oliver will never know the difference. Jones returned to his vacated chair and settled himself with many grunts and sighs. What a terrible thing is old age, commented Walker to himself with a smile as he walked around the room examining the many curiosities. It seemed that Jones was thinking the same, for, as the other became engrossed in an inscription upon the wall, a swallow of the amber colored liquid found its way to his mouth also. How refreshing it was! The fluid had a sweet cool taste and was very soothing. He actually felt like taking a long walk in the park. He would do-. Why, what was happening, he inquired of himself. Was he intoxicated? Mr. Walker had grown shorter, and by George! it wasn't Walk- ONE HUNDRED AND SIX

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SPRING In the songs of birds, so sweet and clear In their little hops, so blithe and gay In the balmy breeze, which ceases not With the night, nor yet at break of day Spring is evident. In the changing hue of grass and trees Which for many months were drab and bare KH not still clothed in a sheet of whitel Now in fresh green beauty everywhere Spring is evident. In the corresponding change of dress VVhich all, yes the old and young affect In the lazy gait of passers-by In the groups that here and there collect Spring is evident. We all do know it when it comes It is not known to just a few We all have learned to read the signs Why in every shape and form and hue Spring is evident! SUNSHINE Friendly meetings Now and then, Friendly greetings Cheer us when All seems uselessg We're so blue, Thinking: Fruitless All we dol Hearty handclasps When we meet, Make life seem the More complete. Kindly wishes Oft-expressed Urge us on to Do our best. Just a gay smile Here and there Is worth-while Yes, everywhere. just a gay smile Any time Helps to keep our Lives in rhyme. -AGNES KESSLER 26 ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE

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er. It was a younger man. What the-! Was the fellow crazy? Playing on the floor was not an occupation for a man of sixty-five. Good gracious! The man was actually crying! He seems to-. His stream of surprised meditation was interrupted by a loud thump at the foot of his chair. He looked down and almost fainted. His shoe had fallenloff. He added to the din made by the baby with a terrified shriek that no gentle- man with the use of reason would utter. But what did he care? The tempta- tion to crawl upon the floor was becoming very strong. But, oh, the chair was so high and he was so small! As he tried to touch the floor with his tiny foot the wails of Mr. Walker ceased. Why all the silence, da-da-daed Mr. Jones with a baby stare at the spot last occupied by the other. Walker was gone. He had vanished into thin air. Oh, he was all alone! How terrible! What was that noise! The other shoe was gone also! Mr. Carver approached his office rapidly. He thought he heard a baby crying. The sound seemed to be growing fainter and he burst into the room in time to see Mr. Jones' clothing sag into a heap on the chair. With a choking cry, Oliver rushed to the table. His priceless elixir was goneg the bottle was lying at the foot of Jones' vacated chair. And horrors of horrors! the two men had vanished leaving their clothing behind. What a predicament to be in! He was responsible for the disappearance of the fellows. The papers would call it murder. Why there was a policeman pacing up and down in front of his building already. He could hear his steps as he walked slowly back and forth. His body was shaking and he was steadily becoming weaker. He was a murder- er. The thought was too much for him and his knees sagged. He fell to the floor and lost consciousness. Suddenly he woke up and found himself lying on the floor at his bedside shaking in a cold breeze blowing in from an open win- dow. -CARL SUPER '28. . A WINTER FROLIC A laugh of mirth, a win'try clay, Ice-laden trees along the way, A skating party comes in sight, All clad in coats and tams so bright- We wonder why they seem so gay. But now we know, when 'long the bay They glide, and quickly make their way O'er sil'vry ice-and swing to right. A laugh of mirth. The sun slants down with low'ring ray, Skates cease to clank, across the way The moon shines down and now 'tis night. A shout-a swing-a snowy fight, Now homeward bound-away-away A laugh of mirth. ' -ROSE GOCKEL ,25. ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN