Charlotte High School - Witan Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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THE WITAN TOMORROW’S ASSIGNMENT “Tomorrow’s assignment said the teacher, and waited for the noise to subside, “is to write an essay, on any- thing you wish- “Hmm ' remarked Archibald to himself, and repeated iL He always did this when he began to think. He also gazed owlishly at nothing when he thought, which he was now doing. The boy was not trying to think of what to write. Oh, no. Archibald was a very deep thinker, he could write an essay on almost anything, but his main trouble lay in trying to decide on a subject. After a full minute of meditation he said to himself: “Supposing I write something about airplanes. Hmm. No, that's too far over my head. (Long pause.) Well, how about submarines That’s a pretty deep subject. ’ Thus his thoughts rambled on, first one thing and then another and then both being given over for something else, until at last on the verge of despair, he told himself he must take a rest before he could think any more. Fifteen minutes really was a long time for Archibald to think, all at one stretch. As he leaned back to rest—pop! The big idea struck him. He would write an essay on candles. Ah, that was it, just it—candles. “Now, let’s see,” said he to him- self, “a candle is composed of string and wax. The string being called a wick and the wax—wax. Hmm. It bums, giving off light and heat. That’s all 1 know about candles. I must needs make a trip to the li- brary.’ After supper he started for the library. Then thinking he might need his library card, turned about and re- entered the house. Going to the table drawer he looked for h;s card hut couldn't find it. “Has anyone seen my library card?' he asked. There was no reply. “I wish you folks would leave my stuff where I set it down, said Archi- bald, becoming irritated at the delay thus caused. “Ever tried remembering where you set it down? ' asked his sister sweetly. Then a hot argument ensued which ended when Archibald jammed his hand into his pocket and discovered his card therein. Again Archibald set out, feeling ;ather squelched 'tis true and conse- quently not in good humor. How- ever, his new trouble was soon given over for the old one, ie, his essay. So deeply immersed was he in his thoughts that when he entered the library he forgot to remove his hat. The librarian, however, reminded him of this deficiency of his memory. Af- ter thoughtfully gazing at nothing for a minute or two he approached the shelves containing the reference books. “Hmm, said he to himself, “a candle is composed of string and wax. I will see what I can find under ‘string in the encyclopedia. Of course he found nothing of value to him. Slightly disappointed and feeling baffled, he looked under ‘wax.’ Here he found, among other things, that it was sometimes used in making candles, and, see Volume II, page .3002. “Oh, v s ’ said he. and as urual, to himself, “why didn’t I think of that before ? He found Volume II, page 3002, without much difficulty, the main dif- ficulty being in getting it down from its high rhelf. »n the process of which it came into violent contact with his nose. He found what he wanted and took down a few notes in a note-book, feel- ing that he had enough to fill a news- paper. After several unsuccessful attempts to replace the book on its shelf, he gave it up and went home. “At last ’ said he to himself, “I will write my essay. Laying pen, paper, and eraser on the desk before him, he opened his note-hook and gazed at it. Gazed (Continued on page 22) 9

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THE WITAN trot. It was hard work, they soon discovered, running in w et, stiff cloth- ing. Bob followed after as fast as he could, with Alice. When the latter two reached the farmhouse, they found Dick and the mysterious boy before the fire, talking as though they had been friends for life. “Can you beat it, Bob—oh, yes, this is Art Sanford—he lives on the farm right back of Grandma’s, on the State road, and he was sliding on a hill back of his house and fell in just the same as I did.” “Oh,” said Bob. And the three boys grinned in com- panionship. Marguerite Heydweiler '27. AROUND THE WORLD One time 1 went to England, Again I went to Spain; I took a trip to China, Another one to Maine. I like the little village Where trains go twice a day; I like the great rich city Where everything is gay. I visit every country, Though 1 am very small; You always pay my passage; I thank you one and all. Now, if you cannot guess me, Perhaps I'd better try To help you just a little— The postman's going by. —Marion Smith '25. BE HAPPY When all your friends desert you And the sun has left the sky. Do not be morose and lonely; There’ll be a rainbow by and by. For haven't you noticed quite often That, tho the storms he fierce and not few, There’s always a silver lining With a rainbow a-peeping thru? So smile tho your heart be heavy, And laugh, but do not frown, For there are better times coming And the sun will be shining down. —Louise Ruestow ’26. AUTUMN'S END 1 gazed from my window one chilly mom, As I lay cozily tucked in bed; The sky was a cold, dull, bluish gray. And the tree tops were leafless, and dead. The wind was howling, a dismal sound, The dead branches swayed to ami fro, And I wondered what secrets they whispered then That men should never know. And 1 thought of the summer that had seemed to pass Just a day or two ago, Anil of Autumn, speedily winging her way To a land that we do not know . And then, while I gazed, a white flake sped by, Then more, as though dancing in fun, Till the ground was covered with glistening white, And I knew that Winter had come. —Marguerite Heydweiller '27. THE BATTLE At night, when snuggled down in bed With covers tucked about my head, The armies of the day go by To be reviewed with inward eye. The smiles and quirks which pass that way Are all bedecked in proud array, While frowns and sulks with downcast eyes Slink by, with sullen and sloppy files. I look them over, up and down, And count the smile, and note the frown, And wonder which of the forces will win— A sullen look, or cheerful grin. The battle's fought, the smiles have won I The frowns are going on the run. And I turn to sleep the whole night through To prepare on the morrow my troops for review. —Arlene VanDerhoef '27. 8

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OUT THE WITAN OUR SCHOLARSHIP Our school days amount to nothing, We think, as the days pass by, But when it conies to the end of the month, We want our marks up high. To get the marks we wish for, Hard work must be our aim, For to a lazy pupil A scholarship never came. So let us give our attention And work with all our will To try to raise our standard high. That our hopes we may fulfill. —Geraldine Gallery ’27. NINETEEN TWENTY-FIVE It takes one year for the earth to make one complete revolution around the sun. During that three hundred and sixty-five days the people of the earth are eating, drinking and sleep- ing, three essentials necessary for life. Yet, despite the fact that they per- form these three essentials, all people are different. Different in appear- ance, different in habits, different in character and intellect. It is during the three hundred and sixty-five days that these distinctions are formed. Would it not he well then for us to think how we are forming these dis- tinctions? Are we making our standard high and trying to live up to it or are we sliding along with no particular standard or ideals, follow- ing our own inclinations whether they he good or bad ? In a word, living along the lines of least resistance— the easy way but not the best way. “Lest we forget” that the old year has rolled away and the new year is upon us, let us take a mental inven- tory of ourselves. Nineteen twenty- four has passed and carried with it all the faults and errors of that year. Nineteen twenty-five comes in with a clean slate, giving us a chance to make our record clean; giving us a chance to perform our tasks each day to the best of our ability, to grasp the opportunities for good as they come to us, opportunities to be cheer- ful and bright, to scatter a little sun- shine on the lives of those around us. Opportunities for strength, courage, perseverance and service. Remember, opportunity knocks but once and when it passes by it is gone forever. Let us then resolve at the threshold of the New Year to “be up and doing, with a heart for any fate, still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labor and to wait.” Elizabeth Brown 26. BROMIDIC AS USUAL Sub-Title—4Pet Aversions” I realize that there is nothing new or original about this topic, but I think it’s one of those subjects on which everyone must express his opinion, at one time or another, in order to get square with his feelings toward the world. Here are the ways some things affect me: When a person says “he don’t,” I feel exactly as 1 do when the dentist starts to drill and says gently. “I may hurt you a little now.” if 10