Central High School - Brecky Yearbook (Washington, DC)

Page 31 text:

class No. 322, division 3 ? Although the little ghost had to admit it had been some time, he added: It isn't worth the while. No, it just isn't worth the while. No one has ever tried to spend the night here. All I have had to spook is a few cows and some tramps. VVhen I was assistant to Archibald at that man- sion, I had respectable people to haunt almost every night. No respectable people ever come here. And when I was at the mansion, I saw Moana every week. Ah, how often I think of her! He smiled shyly and pulled a sheet of paper out of a notebook. I write poetry about her. Would you like to hear some? Although he tried to hide it, the spectre was really quite sentimental, so he said, Go ahead, as carelessly as possible. The little ghost cleared his throat rather self- consciously and began: Never so fair was any ghost As Moana, my own true love, Far brighter twinkled her azure lights Than the pole star up above. Her sighing voice and her ghostly smile Had spoken her heart's desire, Why, a single glance from her shining eyes Would freeze me with icy fire. Here's another-, the little ghost was be- ginning, when the house suddenly shook to a loud rapping on the door. Good heavens! cried the spectre. Here's a traveler, at this time of night, and a very re- spectable one, too! Why, this is your big chance l What? Do let me see! Do you think that, if I did this job well, I might get a better position? Do you thinkin ' Is there nobody here ? shouted the traveler. My car has broken down, and I cawn't spend the night out here, you know. Why, I do believe the door is unlocked. Dear, dear, I hope nobody minds, but I must go in-I say, the house is de- serted! How cozy! Jasper took time to observe the traveler well. He was perhaps thirty, tall and lean, dressed in evening clothes, top hat, and a long, flowing coat, ll he carried a cane. Having made a mental note of all this, Jasper very carefully moaned a No. 15, division 2, that was recommended for a beginning. Without batting an eyelash, the traveler set about making a fire in the fireplace. The spectre frowned. A most unusual person. Try No. 1, division 8. Jasper complied with this most eerie squeak. My, how loud the mosquitoes sing! the traveler remarked, casually. Jasper tweaked the traveler's coat tails. Jasper rattled his chains and knocked the cane onto the floor. Jasper put the fire out. The traveler was lost in dreams. Jasper ran through a hair-raising series of squeaks, moans, howls, and groans, the traveler yawned. Desperate, Jasper gave such a performance as he had never given before g indeed, few ghosts had ever done so well. For two hours the house re- verberated to all the screams, groans, squeaks, rattles, chromatic howls, and sighs that ghostdom had ever known, and indeed a few new ones. Yet, at the end, the traveler was asleep! Don't mind that, my boy, the spectre whis- pered, tears in his eyes. I'll see that you get a castle, at least, for this performance. I know of a splendid opening for a family ghost. Jasper, however, did not hear. He shook the traveler and cried in his ear: Please be fright- ened. Please be scared. Or, at least, tell me what's wrong with me. All my ghost-time I have waited for this opportunity. You mustn't fail me. Now, at last, the traveler took some notice. Sitting up very slowly, he spoke: That was a truly great performance. Yes, inspired. It ought to have turned my hair white-no, colorless- but, --here he seemed to blur into the back- ground- it couldn't very well. He drew him- self up. My dear fellow, do you know that you are addressing a super-'spector, a society ghost and a master of the chillins howl gone slumming? Farewell l The roof split open with a flash of blue light- ning, and the traveler was gone, leaving stunned silence and darkness behind. Tn: Rzvrnw l29l

Page 30 text:

Glzcuzce 0 cz ghost- Zime CHARLOTTE DAVIS '41 T WAS midnight in a haunted house at the top of a crumbly hill. As the moon slithered past another cloud, a lonely traveler might have been seen wending his way in that direction. He was no ordinary traveler, certainly. Attired in a long robe of ectoplasm tastefully ornamented with the finest of blue lights and solid silver chains, he was no usual ghost. In fact, he was a spectre coming to 'spect the house which, so headquarters had reported, had fallen into the hands of the ghost of a poet, who was a little too inclined to let his hobby interfere with the serious business of haunting. Nasty night, reflected the spectre. Nasty night, and so cold. Such a long way to walk, too! And all for a house! Why, time was, a few hundred years ago, when I 'spected nothing but castles. Castles of princes, at that! But now they are very scarce. I'm lucky to get one as- signment in ten, and then they're usually museums where people think you're a machine. Well, hello! Here I am. At this he gave a second-class, No. 19284, division 5, blood-curdling moan and shook his chains. A few seconds later the door swung open, and he walked, or rather glided, in. The house had been built around 1850 and abandoned in 1905. There had been no murders, violent quarrels, suicides, nor accidents. There was nothing unusual about the house itself, and on the whole it was a pretty tough proposition for any ghost. But a poet! mumbled the spectre. Wasn't there any other place to put him ? The poet was clearly a young ghost and in- experienced, whose low degree and youth were shown by only one blue light of a poor quality. which did not flicker, and a single set of cast-iron chains. He bowed low and led his superior into the parlor. Not being one to mince words, the spectre came straight to the point. Now, see here, young man, he said. I don't like to say this but- well--I have been hearing some, shall we say, un- favorable reports of your ghosting. VVe expect THE Rrzvraw X281 high standards around here. I know this is a tough assignment, but I don't believe you're actually trying. Mortals are beginning to take all this for granted. Now, what's the matter ? Jasper, the poet, hung his head. I don't know, he said at last. Something seems to have gone out of my work. I was all excited when I first came here, the big promotion and all that. But now, here a tear trickled hown his cheek, I haven't heard a ghostly voice for months, and it's just the same old grind day after day, and I'm so lonely ! Well, well, see here, my boy ! replied the spectre, somewhat sharply. A good ghost is never lonely. A good ghost never has time to be lonely, he is always trying out new methods on stray mortals or practicing old ones. I daresay you haven't gone through your repertoire for days. How long has it been since you howled 2, first-

Page 32 text:

elzfrafis alzquar BETTY BOND '40 ID you ever stop to think that the girl you were talking to just now or the boy who sits across from you in English class may be famous some day? Have you 'ever wondered if, some time, you yourself might bring more fame to Central? I wonder if you know that, after you graduate, you still belong , Everything that Central has stood for, the life that is Central, does not break off when you leave this school as a graduate. Her graduates can still remain active Centralites through their Alumni Association. The first meeting of Central's Alumni Associa- tion was held on December 26, 1908. In order to keep in touch with their classmates, the gradu- ating class of June, 1908, had decided to hold a reunion the following winter. One hundred and ten members of the class were present at that first meeting. It was such a success that the class of 1909 decided to do the same thing. At their meeting not only 1909 graduates, but grad- uates of many years before, were present: and that year the Alumni Association became a per- manent organization. Every year since then, on January 1, Central alumni have gathered. The thirtieth meeting was held last year in the school library, with a program which varied only slightly from those of previous meetings. First of all, at two o'clock, the alumni played the varsity team in a basket- ball game. fThe varsity always winsll After that the officers for the new year were elected, and the certificates of distinction were awarded. From 4:00 to 7 :OO there was dancing in the li- brary, with refreshments served in the lunchroom. For about eight years, certificates of distinction have been awarded at each of these reunions to three or four graduates of Central who have done outstanding work in their chosen fields. Last year those vanguards who were selected for THE Rnvriaw l30l the honor were: Col. W. E. Covell, U. S. A., at one time engineer commissioner here in the Dis- trict of Columbia, at present working on flood control in Pittsburgh, Edwin Hughes, a noted teacher of piano in New York City and an inter- nationally known concert pianistg and Judge Nathan Cayton, who is doing outstanding work in the small claims court of the District. Outstanding among Central's Vanguard who have been so honored are the following persons, representing widely varying fields of achieve- ment: J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the Bureau of Investigation of the Department of Justice: Dr. Sao-Ke Alfred Sze, Chinese Amoassador to Great Britain and to the United States, who attended Central while his father was attached to the Chinese Legationg Lt. Norman S. Ives, United States Navy, who received the Navy Cross for hazardous duty developing submarine devices: Gideon A. Lyon, an editor of the Evening S tar: Conway P. Coe, Commissioner of Patentsg Dr. Arthur C. Willard, President of the University of Illinois, Dr. Percival D. Lowell, who has mad .r some momentous improvements in radio, and Dr. Custis Lee Hall, noted orthopedic surgeon. Many others have been distinguished in the fields of education, medicine, law, army and navy, inven- tion, public service-oh, so many kinds of work! There is no way of looking ahead ten or twenty years. No one knows what the future holds in store for him. NVe can all dream and plan. Yet who knows what will become of our plans and our dreams? We only know that we can do our best to achieve our aims. Perhaps, some day, you will be called back to Central as an honored guest, and in the library you will receive, with two or three other Centralites. a Certificate of Distinc- tion as a token of your outstanding service to your country or your community. Then indeed you will be a true Centralite.