Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

Page 16 text:

Gus and The Sacred Circle If 1 had a dollar fur every time that Augustus Sterling, commonly known as Gus. had grated on my nerves, I'd he able to hold my own with the Vanderbilts. As a matter of fact, whenever I look at the child ( this is a startling confession for a sister to make, but then. Gus is a startling creature 1, I feel irritated, “huffed. as Gus says. Although he has reached the maturity of nine years, his development since the time I sang him to sleep with “Rock-n-bye Baby (the family imposed the pleasant task on me), has been confined to a steady growth in roundness, until it looks as though we are trying to develop a curiosity in the form of a fat hov. But the climax to my woes came when Gus announced his intention of being in my big brother Tom's wedding. The wedding was going to be exceedingly flossy, with a perfectly huge bridal party, and imported dresses for the bride and her maids, in St. Mark's Cathedral at high noon—all very stylish, and Lucy, 'Pom's fiancee had planned to have her little brother Gerald, who compares with Gus as Little Lord Fauntleroy to an infant pugilist, as the ring-bearer. But when news of this reached mother, she didn’t like it at all. Never yet having been able to detect a flaw in ('.us, she couldn’t understand and was therefore indignant that Gus, the family darling in spite of his size, hadn't been selected to carry the ring. And the suggestion being made to Gus, the family had no peace. He was determined not to be outdone by Gerald. “The child may never have another chance to he in a wedding.” mother said, dolefully. “Of course Susie would never have him in her’s.” No. I certainly will not.” 1 spoke up briskly. It’s bad enough now when I’m maid of honor to think of Gus strutting up the aisle in front of me and falling up the chancel steps » r something quite as bad. I won’t, neither, Gus sniffled—lie invariably resorts to sniffling when he can’t carry bis point in any other way. and that sissy lil‘ ole Gerald Gerald is not a siss simply because he chances to conflict with your high ideals of manhood. Gus. Just let me tell you. young man. that there are two families concerned in this wedding and that you won’t get anywhere by running Gerald down. Look here! broke in Tom, who had been impatiently listening to this council of war. I think I ought t« have some say-so about my own wedding. Get it straight now. that I won’t have that baby elephant in any ceremony where I’m officiating.” The groom does not officiate, Tom. said mother reprovingly, and I don’t see whv you should speak so of (ins. A man oil the point of marriage should be more dignified.” I'tue fourteen

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A number of Central High School’s boys have already joined the colors in different branches of the service and many more will go. One thing we have learned in High School is loyalty. The school has always stood behind athletic and other contests with a support worthy «»1 any student body, and surely we will show the same but greater patriotism tor that which is greater and dearer. America. In the boys of Central High School who have first answered the call will be found staunch and true Americans. TO OUR ADVERTISERS. In this last issue of The Mirror we want to thank our patrons, the advertisers. who have done their hit” to make the Mirror once more a possibility and a success. The business men of Birmingham who helped to found the Mirror, almost a decade ago, must feel as we do, pride in its growth through the years.. The first Mirror ever printed was very small, almost a pamphlet, but today we have a magazine of one hundred and fifty-two pages, almost an annual. The advertisers helped to print the first and they helped to print the last. The Mirror thanks its advertisers! Realities Everything is dead- even the smoke lies dull in the trees. The very hills ache at the void weight of the sky And seem to sink into the valley. My heart is dead—its impulse lies exhausted: My very soul aches holding up frail dreams Against the world’s realities. —M. II. I‘atte thirteen

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Well, the long and short of it was that we compromised and agreed that Gerald should carry the ring and that (Jus should walk by his side as a sort of body-guard. (Jus was delighted, lie cared only to be seen, parading up the aisle, and to have a large share in the wedding breakfast. Ilis soul was at peace with all the world. ’o human being will ever know the agony I suffered in those weeks before the wedding. Looking back on it now. 1 wonder that 1 ever came out of the ordeal alive. (Jus was insufferable and one might as well have tried to dry up the Pacific Ocean as to quench his outbursts, lie considered hint-self in a position to dictate to Lucy his ideas (and Solomon in all Ins glory could not have formulated things like these), about a wedding-cake, and Lucy, poor girl, not understanding that a polite hut utterly indifferent attitude is the only one that can be assumed around (Jus, was extremely worried because she couldn’t make the unholy concoction (Jus planned. Then, whenever there was a party for the bride. King Hearer and Co., must be on band, and (Jus was seen on all occasions, usually somewhat awry and always in the vicinity of the bonbons. He patronized Tom. gave directions to the best man and even had the bare-faced audacity to ask me. the maid of honor, if I wouldn’t like to be in his place. Hut no more of this. The final day came, with the confusion that is characteristic of such days. At the last minute (Jits' velvet suit was discovered to he a size too small, he had put glue in his hair to create a pompadour like Turn's and consequently his head resembled a split-rail fence, and as the last drop in my clip of bitterness, bis shoes squeaked. At the church door. I straightened his collar, buttoned bis cuffs and sighed at his pompadour. (Jus was hopeless. but it was too late now—-the die was. cast. The wedding party proceeded up the aisle. For a time everything went off beautifully. Lucy looked gorgeous and Tom was splendid, even though a trifle shaky in the knees. For better, for worse, tor richer, for poorer.........' Tom repeated the words, very clear and strong, and reached out his hand to (Jerald. All of us involuntarily looked toward the little cushion (Jerald held. Gerald, with mouth and eyes opened wide, was gazing vacantly at the place where the ring should have been and was not. There was a dreadful pause. The wedding-party was aghast. Tom shook (Jerald. What have you done with the ring? I have never seen anyone behave quite so idiotically as did (Jerald at this trying moment, lie felt absently in ltis pockets, gazed at the ceiling as if by some phenomenon of nature the ring had found its way there and finally murmured: I duiitto. This was awful. Every second added to our agony. The guests were craning forward to see the cause of the interruption. Then, just as Lucy was on the point of hysterics, we heard a lazy, somewhat sleepy voice: “Here ’tis! I'oiie fifteen