Central School - Deeds and Misdeeds Yearbook (Decatur, IN)

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20 DEEDS AND MISDEEDS EIGHTH GRADE PLAY Day after day, as grave as a judge, Miss Coffee would spend her assemb¬ ly period presumably trying to pene¬ trate our inmost being. Finally she announced that the boys and girls who were to impersonate the char¬ acters in the play selected, “An Old- Fashioned Mother” had been decided upon. At our first meeting we were very frankly told that unless we were willing to work and work hard, we should make it known then and there and another character would be chosen, for, upon our shoulders rested the responsibility of maintain¬ ing the high standard in amateur theatricals that former eighth grades had established. Rehearsals for the first few weeks were held for the purpose of mem¬ orizing lines and before the novelty wore off they were real larks for us, but after the date, May 1 and 2, had been definitely decided upon we awoke to the realization that there was hard work ahead and plenty of it and we went at it with redoubled energy. Several parts of the play appealed ( ' specially to some of us. Helen Shroll just doted on her refusal of Chester Brandyberry’s proposal of marriage because (you know) Helen lias decided to have “Miss” engraved on her tombstone, so she says. George Kinzle always wanted to prac¬ tice the second act as eating a quarter of a pie was a part of his perform¬ ance in that act. Virginia Hite was at her best when bossing “Sukey” and “Jerry Gosling.” Everybody worked hard for the success of the play and we felt amply rewarded when after our second night’s performance, Miss Coffee and Mr. Brown said, “We are satisfied, you did well.” Feeling that a load of responsibility had been lifted from their shoulders after the presentation of the play, the cast and the teachers enjoyed a de¬ lightful luncheon, which was served in the domestic science room. An old rocking chair saved Helen Haubold’s reputation as an acrtess in the closing scene as she stumbled very gracefully into the arms of her long lost son. Our conduct during rehearsals must have been of unusually high order for Miss Coffee only once threatened to resign. The growing esteem of the play cast for Miss Coffee as coach of “An Old-Fashioned Mother,” bloomed forth in the form of a dozen beautiful roses on the final night of the play. The twelve roses represented the twelve characters in the cast. The gift was a fitting recognition of Miss Coffee’s ability as a teacher and coach. To all the teachers and pupils of Central to Mr. Wilson Beery, our in¬ dispensable make-up man, and to the public who patronized us so liberally, we extend our heartfelt appreciation. Vivian Thomas, who served as sub¬ stitute in the play, seldom was ab¬ sent from rehearsal and was always so sweet and gracious in doing what¬ ever part fell to her that those in charge feel impelled to express to her their gratitude. And last but certainly not the least were the villiage choir and their very able little organist, Eibenezer Sourapple (Harry Dailey). Their quaint costumes, their singing of the good old songs, and the celever act¬ ing of their part evoked many a hearty laugh and added much to the evening’s entertainment.

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DEEDS AND MISDEEDS 19 WHY SHOULD ONE TRAVEL? In tlie first place, traveling brings to one a realization of the true nature of God ' s creation, which is impossible when one lives his life in so-called seclusion—never peeping beyond his little border line of neigh¬ borhood, county, or state. Some of the wonders of nature, like the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, the awe-in¬ spiring scenery of the Canadian Rockies, the great expanse of ocean the desert, and hundreds of other things, never brought to the view of people in some parts of the earth, are sights so grand and magnificent that they are indescribable as the eye of the beholder alone can bear witness. In the second place traveling is an educational process, and he who has tried it is convinced of the fact that it excels in many respects the methods of a regular school. To the tourist the map ceases to be a blank with so many lines and dots; border lines, custom houses and time belts are no longer insoluble puzzles. The people he meets are not always the type he has been accustomed to, but rather a mixture of all colors, nation¬ alities, beliefs and ideas, and they willing and inclined to exchange their ideas, thereby unconsciously giving the fortunate tourist a prac¬ tical course in psychology, geography, history, economics and nature; yes and I dare say in mathematics, for should he forget to figure, hungry and helpless lie would be. However the reader may feel assured that even though it takes a little time and money to tour, a vacation thus spent brings a combination of pleasure, education, and culture acquired in no other way, and certainly not at so low a cost and in so short a time. It is my earnest hope that some reader of these few lines may re¬ ceive enough inspiration to save his pennies and to prove the experiment for himself. —MISS MUTSCHLER - » - A PROBLEM I saw an earthworm in a glade, Upon a summer day, Bisected with a garden spade, And both halves crawled away! The thing both shocked and puzzled me As I stood there, because I could but wonder which was he, And which the other was. A moment gone these worms were one, Sent forth to writhe and squirm; A daughter, or perhaps a son, Of some fond mother worm, Possessing but a single brain Their entities to sway, But suddenly they-re cleft in twain And each half goes its way. Which is the worm, and which the tail? Such questions oft must spring Down deep within them to assail Each section of the thing. As, hidden from the light of day, Curled up in clods they sit, Should one — as I do — call them they, Or should he call it it? And in the future if they meet Upon some mossy lea Do you suppose that they would greet Themselves with: “Morning, Me!”? Most puzzles ’neath the shining sun May be resolved, no doubt, But I submit that here is one That can’t be figured out!

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An Old-Fashioned Mother