Central YMCA High School - Centralite Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 79 text:

, sa- 2-in '. c ' We Q12 cz no Il grail 6 de er- - Literary CLASS PROPHECY-DAY Midnight finds me seated at my desk, upon which lie an open book on medicine, some prescriptions, a crystal ball used as a paper weight, the eve- ning paper, and a skull, the emblem of my profession. For ten years I have been a practicing physician. Today I have been so busy that this is my first opportunity to glance over the news. At once my eye is caught by the headline, Jack Owen, Chicago's own track star injured in an aeroplane crash. His manager, continues the article, ML Otto, says the injury was not severe, but has turned the case over to his physicians, Dr. Shaw and Dr. Terborghf' I am thus reassured, because I have heard of the remarkable ability of these physicians. ln another column I see the title of an article, The Development of Chem- istry, by L. C. Anderson: also the announcement that Prof. A. Olson, of Harvard is to give a lecture upon Ladies at the Woman's Club on Tuesday. I then turn to the editorial page and among the staff see several names, which seem familiar. There is C. Porter, as literary editor: M. Kirby, as city editor, and W. Corski, as sport editor. These items send my thoughts into the past. My classmates of long ago pass in review before me. I fall into a reverie. Where now are all my friends? Are they all happy and successful? Suddenly I hear a voice and sit spell- bound. Have no fear, although a skull is speaking to you. Little did you know that in this skull which you have looked upon as your property, lives the spirit of Hermes Tresmigistis. I know your thoughts. Past, present and future are all alike to me. Look into the crystal upon your table and you shall see what you seek to know. Timidly I obey, and in the crystal depths I see the White House in which two men are in conference. I recognize one as our President, john Sweetman, who is discussing with his secretary, B. Feldthouse, a bill introduced in Congress by Senator Harney, of Illinois. The bill provides for an increase in the salary of the vice-president, and is strongly opposed by A. Lilyfors, who holds that position. Mr. Lilyfors states he would refuse to accept an increase unless the people insisted upon it. As this scene vanishes, a stage appears upon which Claude Smith, who takes the part of leading lady, with haughty words, refuses the ardent pro- posals of the leading man, Hartney. Next Garth, who has been recog- nized as a rival to Paderewski, plays upon the piano a selection by L. Crosby, the famed composer, while the audience sits fascinated. ln the audience I see such prominent men as S. Ellison, the criminal lawyer, A. Alderson, Chi- cago's greatest architect, and Bell, who is endeavoring to retain his heavy- weight checker championship, which he recently won from Van Reekum. This scene then changes and I find myself once more in the halls of Central Prep. In the office of the Principal I can see C. Goonrey, who is busy talking to some of the students. ln the study hall I see S. Levitus, the geometry in- structor, talking to H. Wheeler, the English instructor, about the appointment of G. Varonis as director of the School. In the Spanish class I see W. Murback trying to explain to a class of freshmen, the whys and wherefores of Spanish. In the gym I see Mulacek and Torres trying their hardest to keep the Junior School boys from raising the roof off the house. fPage 751 , .. . --.vu v ummvumn-ummm-1-www.-n--v--nw-m.4 mmm in -.1 v v ...ni I .l .., . . .. .... .U Q YLLLVAA :I-1,,--f-. -L--'1--1.4,-Ag.,5--LDL. -4, ,-

Page 78 text:

g g luuvl Q93 wi! Q ff: Literary A. i l It its r '. . fa il, v r l 0 if P i l r n r I r L r I E 1 I s 6 1 n P 5. I P . V ,. 'a E F. V K E r r A 1 V r V v v LP '. . without a struggle? How can things be accomplished if there are no obstacles to surmount, to conquer? You struggled as a babe to become what you have now grown to be, and in that struggle did you not vanquish your boy- hood and in turn your manhood? Are you not now a man? ls that not the finest struggle? Would you like to have gone through life without an effort? just think whether the world would progress if there were no such struggles, no strifes. At your query of 'what is there before me?' l am astonished. Why do you ask what there is before you? Why not look backward? Did you not see your children grown to manhood and womanhood? How many enjoy that privilege? Should not your outlook on life be a little more calm, a little more serene? You have had all there is to offer. A family, long life and wisdom. lf you did not achieve more, if you did not bring about a greater measure of success, whom have you to blame? I repeat that you have had everything there is to offer. For every day of honest effort you have received an equally honest return. Why ask 'What is there before me?' A shock went through the old man's frame, his face became distorted and he tried to rise, but, the effort being in vain, he sank back with a weak hoarse whisper and replied, Yes, oh! yes, honest work, honest return, fine. A privilege to exist, a privilege to struggle and then die. Bah! Go away, take yourself from me. I am tired-tired of myself and tired of your foolish philosophy. Go away l say-go! leave me forever. At this juncture a low rumble was heard and a slow but steady dribble of rain beat down upon the earth. It was dark, so dark that one seemed to feel the closeness of the clouds over him, and Life turning to go, said, Be- ware, old man, in darkness you came into this world and in darkness l have Edecided you must leave it. l depart forever. The clock on the mantel, ticking away in his accustomed place, saw that the old figure in the chair did not move. He gaped, he could not hide his anxiety. Could it be true? His face showed his emotion, his hands stopped their perpetual movement, and with a sudden stop, a sudden realization that all was over, he crashed to the Hoor, for Life had withdrawn from him too. HARRY BRODI. SWEET ALICE Sweet Alice you have captured me With pure and lovely eyes, So pure that they can only see The good that in me lies. To ope your eyes would be a sin, To close them be a lie: So my salvation lies but in Forcing my sins to die. I'll kill them with my love for you, A weapon superfineg Each sin shall die by love so true And then you shall be mine. WILLARD G. MURBACH. lPage 741 ---'-'- - ' mihE1KiJnRfinTm:ium-uIi.T..'3 v4ii i1-5i1Wui.vFnuuu1vm1In rC.M-95.76445-,lH1ivT '771TT. ' . . .v . muummm-wmuumimmminminu vim-vm...-...W - , -.. ,. 1,1 A-gggw. - L+1'- f'd-fw--- - ' .-L '..i1.s:.:1

Page 80 text:

. . G- -A '1 fs me QQ mggirfkggqa Literary Once more the scene changes and this time I find myself on a crowded street corner, where a crowd has gathered to listen to P. Cosme's lecture on Why you should attend baseball games on Wednesday. He is fol- lowed by Keefe who talks on the advantages of travel fby way of the side-door Pullmanl. Next I see a spacious studio, in which an artist is working upon a master- piece. The painter is none other than H. Pareira, looking greatly inspired by his work. The magical power again changes the scene and presents The Hall of The League of Nations at Paris, at which sit C. Dralle and IVI. Hull as delegates from the United States and C. Costales and A. Bustamante as delegates from the Philippine Islands. Following this comes the interior of a beautiful New York hotel, designed by the greatest of all American architects, B. Peterson, and owned by his classmate, F. Cushing. In the lobby are I. Bednarchuk, an expert in horti- culture, who has just returned from Egypt where he improved the agricultural system: and R. Gobczynski, an ambassador, recently returned from China. As I gaze, this marvelous scene changes and presents the interior of a bank, of which I... Lightel is president with S. Munson as his secretary. This scene vanishes and as I continue to search the clear depths of the crystal, I see the Editor's Office of the Atlantic Monthly, where H. Fenske, the editor, is discussing with F. Dattlesweig, a friend, a new book written by their former classmate, F. Howell, and published by Schneider and Schryver, New York publishers. Next I behold a chicken farm of great extent. The owner of the farm and of several thousand chickens appears, and I recognize I... McFarland, who has become wealthy through the discovery of a substance, which, when mixed with chicken feed, makes hens lay two eggs daily. Now I see a tall dignified man with golden red hair. He enters the state capital at Nebraska, and seats himself in the governor's chair. Viewing him more closely I find he is W. Readdy. This vision is replaced by another which shows a room at the University of Chicago. Here, in the Professor of Physics, I recognize B. Speirs, who is demonstrating before his class a perpetual motion machine which, with the aid of O'Keefe, he has invented. The crystal ball next shows me Messrs. Allen and Hough, on their way to Europe to inspect a new bridge constructed by P. Canizzo. A quick change presents V. Costales, a prominent modiste, who surpasses the best Parisiennesg and after him R. Driscoll, the dean of men at the University of Illinois, where he is liked and respected by all the students. As this last scene vanishes, the magic light that surrounded the crystal ball disappears. I am suddenly aroused by the alarm clock, and I find myself still seated in my chair at six o'clock in the morning. SOL. LUBELSKY. lPage 761 Tm..m.amam.1.m..1r'1r.:.::.:.m...r' .. '.n..1.:... ......:, ......1,n'.:.:r.f.ma. ...,..:.a..m...x.:.. ......a..m.a..:7-a.m.:.m.r. .,. ' - mr .. - ,Ml ,,,.,,, ,....,l , V., .1,L3A.A.1,1,.,.,.,,.V,g,A,..-