Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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“I dose,” Mike answered. “Go over there and find out why the trucks are stopping there.” Mike returned after ten minutes absence and informed Mr. Smith that the trucks and men intend to camp there for the night. “Where are they going to?” asked Smith. “I don’t know.” “Go and find out.” Mike returned after acquiring his information. “They is goin’ ta Belvil,” he told Smith. “Where are they coming from?” “I didna ask ’em.” “Go again and find out.” “They came from de Caskaven Camp,” said Mike on returning the third time. “What have they in the trucks?” questioned Smith again. “I’l ga end eskem,” was the enlightment Mr. Smith received. And so Mike went back and forth asking one question per trip. After having made about ten trips Mr. Smith asked him to sit down for a moment. Shortly afterwards Williams returned and reported to his superior. “Now Williams,” said Smith, “do you see that group of trucks in the distance? Well, I want you to go over there and find out what they are doing there.” Mike Hogan sat there wondering why Smith was sending Williams to find out something which he had already learned for Mr. Smith. Hogan said nothing but waited for Williams’ report. The door opened a short time afterwards and Williams appeared. “Well, what did you find out?” asked Smith. “The trucks out there,” began Mr. Williams, “are camping there for the night. They are going to Belvil from the Caskavan camps. On the trucks they have some electric motors which save much time in cutting wood.” And so Williams kept on until he had informed Smith of all the information he had received. “All right, you may go,” said Smith to Williams after he had stopped talking. “Now Mike, you have seen and heard everything that was going on in the office until now. Am I right?” twelve

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POURQUOI? Retold from an old Russian legend ELL, Mike, what it is that you want to know?” “Itz dis a way Mister Smith, ya kno’ das I’ma woiken harda to meka de livin’ and yet da clurka. Mister Williams, woika lesa harda dan me an he getza mucha mor’ monies. I vana kno’ how isa dat be.” “That’s true,” said Mr. Smith, “but if you do not see why it is so, I want you to come down to the office tomorrow morning and I will try to show you why.” “Alla rite,” said Mike, “Ise come mover termorrow morin.” “Good night, Mike.” “Sa long, Mister Smith.” A liitle information regarding the characters is due the reader. Mr. Smith was head of one of the lumber camps in Fall River City, Canada. He was a sociable fellow after working hours. During working hours he was very strict with men for he made them earn their wages. Mike Hogan, for that is Mike’s full name, was a common lumber jack in the camp. He had been working for a living ever since he could remember; his future held the same in store, for how would you expect an uneducated person to have any other future? Mike Hogan had recently thought of the question which we find him asking Mr. Smith. The next morning Mike Hogan came to the office of Mr. Smith who told Mike to sit down and wait as he had some important letters to write. Williams was also there. He was writing letters and puffing furiously on a big Havana cigar. Mike envied him greatly, and for that matter what hard working man wouldn’t like to change his posi- tion with Williams? “Say Williams,” said Smith as he put the letters away, I want you to go over to the camp and see what the men are doing.” After Williams left Smith turned to Mike and said, “Won’t you do an errand for me?” Vy satinly,” replied Mike, “vat is it?” “Come over here to the window. Do you see that group of trucks in the distance?” said Smith. eleven

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even “Ya ar.” “So now you see why Williams’ salary is larger than yours though you work harder. I had to send you ten times to get me as much information as Williams did in one trip. I asked the same thing of Williams as of you and what was the result?” Mike Hogan now understood. He learned one thing which every- one knows and yet if they have the means to acquire it, they don’t get it. That is “EDUCATION.” “You promised to show me why,” said Mike after a slight pause in the conservation, “and you did.” “I thought you’d understand.” The plot of this tale is not only to show Mike why but also to show you readers why an educated person works less and receives a larger salary than an uneducated person. A word to the wise is sufficient,” or as they say it in French “II suffit d’un mot.” L. Razen, January, 1924. thirteen