Central High School - Cog N Pen Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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Violet offered no resistance, while Jerry himself was so surprised at the masterful tone he used that his pulse actually beat faster; poor boy, how much he hated to think that his hard luck might interfere with his unexpected pleasure. Well, so far so good. While sipping their hot chocolate, both Violet and Jerry refrained from talking. Jerry took this time to collect his thoughts. He actually shivered when he pictured in his mind how close Violet was to falling into a hole in the ice that he had seen before the ice- skating party came, and how thankful he felt that he was there in time to save her. But best of all (with an assuring side glance at Violet) she surely knew nothing about the danger she was in and that was a great deal to be thankful for. “Why, Jerry, what are you dreaming about,” asked Violet, interrupting his thoughts. Jerry almost dropped his cup of steaming choco- late at being thus i nterrupted. Evidently, his hard luck was taking a more merciful attitude towards him, for wouldn’t he surely have dropped the hot drink and burnt Violet at any other time? “Well, to be perfectly frank,” answered Jerry, quickly changing the subject, “I was wondering whether you would consider me too bold if I asked you to honor me by going to the senior Prom as my partner?” lt was all Jerry could think of, and, after fairly blurting it out, he paused and—were his ears deceiv- ing him? “TIl most certainly accept your kind invitation, Jerry, if you'll tell me more particulars about it.” Poor Jerry was left fairly speechless with surprise. Violet Drake promised to go to the Prom with him! No, he must have heard wrong. “Surely, Jerry, you don’t think that I would re fuse to go to a Prom with anyone who was as unsel, fish, brave and quick-quitted as you were.” “Why, Violet, what do you mean?” asked Jerry “I simply mean that I knew all the while that then was a hole in the ice and that I was skating directly towards it.” “Vi, I can’t understand. self,” added the confused boy. “Well, to make a clean breast of it, Ned cam over to my house after leaving you and told me whal you were going to do and he suggested that in all dy fairness to you, since I could not go ice-skating will you to become more acquainted with you, we would try the plan he had thought out. The plan was tha he should make the hole in the ice and I would skatd directly towards it when I was sure you saw me, ang then by your actions under the circumstances I migh judge whether I thought enough of you to go to thi Prom with you. Poor Jerry! “Please go on.” “Well,” continued Violet, ''there is nothing mor to say except that anyone who could act as you dil under the circumstances, so quick, and with so littl conceit as to refrain from mentioning what a wonder ful thing he did, certainly deserves not only th highest of praise but is entitled to anything he couli possibly get in the way of enjoyment—and” with | roguish smile) “TIl certainly try my best to see tha as far as you are concerned the Prom will be th greatest success.” Jerry was too dazed to think, but four words stool in front of his eyes, in flaming red colors, and the were, “My worm has turned.” Please explain your All he could do was to gasp CLASS SONG By E. M. Cog Alma Mater we are leaving With our hearts filled to the brim You have given us rare treasure Stood by us thru thick and thin. May your fame spread o’er the nation Live in glory not in shame May your banner be the foremost On the hill or in the plain. May the Lord of Hosts be with you May you glorify his name Striving ever on and upward Till the laurels you shall gain. CHORUS The world beckons and we heed it We to greater task must bend But we never shall forget thee Central, Alma Mater, friend.

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By ANNA KITZMAN Jerry Bronson and Ned Gordon were walking home Írom school one afternoon. Somehow, the grav skies and somewhat foggv atmosphere seemed to re- flect most noticeably upon the two boys. Neither of them spoke a word. Jerry looked straight ahead and his jaw appeared stronger set than ever before, while Ned cast a not-too-little inquisitive glance at his friend every now and then. Ned was anxious to know the cause of Jerry's queer behavior, but, exer- cising a great deal of tact he refrained from asking. “Say, Ned,” burst from Jerry, “do you think that it is safe for me to ask Violet Drake to go to the Prom with me?” ‘This unexpected question quite took Ned off his guard, but he answered as he thought would best suit the occasion, by saying, “Well, Jerry, I don’t know as she would want to go to the Prom with you when she hardly knows you, but why don't you get better acquainted with her by asking her to go ice-skating with you Saturday afternoon?” By this time the boys reached Jerry’s house and, with a “Well, Ned, I'll ask her tomorrow,” Jerry ascended his front steps. While walking home, Ned tried to think of some way to help Jerry. Yes, Jerry certainly needed help when he was so sad and thoughtful instead of optim- istic and happy, as was his usual frame of mind. While Ned tried to straighten things out, I'll try to explain the strange actions of both boys. Jerry was the most popular boy in Clifton High School. It was not thru wonderful feats on the gridiron or on the race track, nor even in the scholastic field that brought him his popularity, but he got it thru his hard luck. Everyone in the school knew Jerry and was always ready with a few words of sympathy for the unfortunate boy; but he had always laughed at their “needless sympathy” as he put it, and refused to lis- ten to the warnings of his friends to keep out of active affairs in order to prevent making a mess of them or himself. He always answered their warnings, how- ever, by saying, “things may go wrong now, but wait until the worm turns.” Well, if Jerry insisted upon being optimistic, it was useless to try to change his outlook in the matter. But he was forced, neverthe- less, to admit that hard luck followed him around like a shadow. As soon as Jerry reached home he sat down and planned how to ask Violet to go with him. Yes, he knew his hard luck might want to interfere with his plans again, but he decided that he would go over every minute detail so that nothing could possibly arise which he would not be prepared for, and in that way a good time would be assured. After an almost sleepless night, Jerry prepared for school, once more optimistic and feeling secure. lt was not until lunch time that he could manage to speak to Violet and then her calm and sweet pres- ence so disarmed him that he almost made a mess of the whole thing before he started it. However, he collected himself, and stammered “‘er, er’’—then all in one breath, willyougoice-skating-withmeSaturday afternoon? Jerry mopped his face after this. “Im so sorry, Jerry,” Violet sweetly answered, “but I have already promised to go ice-skating with Eugene Reed on Saturdav afternoon. There is go- Ing to be a real party of it with two other boys and girls. Perhaps we can go some other time.” Jerry barely controlled himself long enough to voice his regrets and to take leave of the girl. To think that after all of his planing he should be disappointed in such a manner. “Well,” Jerry told himself, “I should have known better than to expect Violet, the prettiest and most popular girl in the school, to spend a whole afternoon with me.” Finally Saturday came and, Jerry too restless to stay at home, decided that he would go to the lake and watch Violet have a good time even though she did not go with him. He immediately set out ana reached the lake in good time— Violet was not yet there. Finally, he saw the party come, and, with much unnecessarv noise customarv on such occasions, thev frolicked around the lake for about an hour, while Jerry kept constantly in sight of Violet. 'Oh, when will mv luck change,” though Jerry to himself, now undoubtedly feeling wretched, in spite of his optimistic view in the matter. “At this very moment Í might have been skating hand in hand withe—'''Oh''—eried Jerry, and with that he fair- ly flew towards the speeding Violet and, grasping her hands, he pulled her around and started to skate to- wards the edge of the lake, as if intruding in such a matter were the most every-day happening. “How do you do, Vi,” said Jerry. “I hope you'll excuse my sudden appearance on the scene, but I just couldn’t resist going over to you when I saw you leave the crowd. “You are excused, Jerry,” added Violet, “but J think I’ll have to leave you now or there will be a search committee sent out for me by the rest of the crowd.” “Oh, no,” hastily added Jerry, “I’m not going to let you go away so easily. First we'll have somethiag warm to drink and then we'll decide whether to re- lieve the search committee or not.”

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MMe o En, HOW THE WARRIORSOF RUTHERFORD HIGH SCHOOL OVERCAME THE VALOROUS CENTRALITES ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD—AN IMITATION OF BEOWULF By GERTRUDE D. SCHNARR Hear ve, all ve lovers of the ancient and time- onored sport of Rugby, of the fierce and bloody attle waged between the bold-hearted heroes of Cen- al High School and the doughty warriors of Ruther- ord. Never heard tell of an encounter more thrilling lor with an ending more tragic. On the benches surrounding the field of football ere seated those who were come to cheer for the bams, brave with pennants and banners. ‘Tense and ager they waited the coming of the brave youths. “Then from under the seried stands came the fight- g men of Central striding, fierce of mood, An proar, strange enough, rose on high. Straightway e armored-ones, decked out in blue, began to prac- se hurling the shining oval or sending it far into bace by giving it a gentle boost with the toes of their ell cleated shoon. “Then from an unknown place be- eath the stands came the proud warriors of Ruther- ord, clad in brightest scarlet. An unlovely light, kest to flame, stood in their eyes. They saw on the eld the doughty fighters of Central and their hearts hughed within them. They thought the proud- learted ones, the undefeated heroes, to gather many redits to themselves and leave their vanquished foes are of honors. But it. was fate’s decree that ‘it ould not be thus. The warsmen of Central, strong in might, watched ow the fell spoilers were minded to set about their dden onslaughts. The scarlet-clad ones thought ot to be long about it but for a first start seized ickly on the mishaps of their opponents. The much- sired ball came into the possession of the Ruther- ordians. One of their valorous youths thought to arry it to the goal but a bold Centralite grasped him vith set purpose and threw his weight upon him. But re long a fighter from Rutherford, Webster by name, p the first honors for his side by kicking the thern oval straight between the two tall posts that harked the goal of Central. Then was heard the houting of the favored ones; the uproar of it sounded orth, joyous was their converse. But Wyrd had de- reed that even more honors should be heaped upon hem for ere long the shining oval bounded over the ine that marked the goal and a red-ciad warrior fell pon it. Again rose the revel, the clamor along the benches resounded clear; song and sound of playing were joined together. But no longer was it fate's decree that the proud-hearted ones might, after that, gather more credits to themselves. Quaking fear lay upon the Central-folk, upon those who heard the outcry of their enemies’ cheers. Now and again, striving against one another, the bold- hearted ones advanced to the shadow of Central's goal. Locked in deadly combat were the Centralites and the Rutherfordians; m addened were the raging strugglers. Seeking to gain more honors for his side Dixon, the leader of the favored ones, thought to throw the leathern ball to Wallace. Then from the mass of fighters emerged one destined to be the hero of the blue-clad ones. From mid-air snatched he the ball and tightly held it in his sturdy grasp. His one thought was to get him gone; to flee down the field; to carry his precious burden to the goal line. Swiftly sped he along the muddy ground, skillfully evading his dismayed opponents. Close behind him a wars- man of Rutherford strove vainly to clutch him as he went. Hearing the panting of his pursuer, the fleet- footed one hastened on with mightly stride, scarce touching the green turf. The press of spectators all arose ,tense were they with excitement. On and on ran he, never stopping until he placed the pigskin safe behind the goal. Then was raised a mighty cheer, the huge stadium was clamorous with the din. Joy was unconfined among the hosts of loyal rooters for Central had scored against the renowned Ruther- ford. Furiously then did the battle rage when once again the warfare was resumed. In vain did Central strive to win more credits than those gained by Rutherford. ‘Thus was the afternoon light sped on and hasten:d by. Finally was heard the signal's last ending the struggle. Fame of the battle was given to Ruther- ford. The uproar rose of the victor-folk; in gladness were they. Not so the Centralites. Sorrow of soul was theirs and mood of mourning. Their was a great grief that caused them to sit joyless and under- go heaviness of heart. So ended the mighty conflict when Central’s hopes of winning the championship were dashed to the ground. Ah, that was a dreary ending.