Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

Page 8 text:

He worked frantically over the engine. A muffled explosion was heard, and a spurt of blue flame leaped upward; the motor roared and shot forward cutting the clear blue waters in two. A wild cheer rose from the eager spectators. The other boats were now far ahead of him but he gained steadily on them. When the turning point was reached George was second. He turned, going at full speed, just missing one and scraping another. Such a demon never before existed. He passed the finishing line a good two hundred yards ahead of the rest. George slowed down, his mouth stretched from ear to ear and his big white teeth shining in the sun. That evening he returned the boat to Thomas. “Well, George, how do yo’ all like it?” “A’s sorry Thomas, very sorry, but et’s not fast ’nuff fo me. “What!” “Yes sah! it’s too slow, but don’ yo’ let a thing like a boat make our friendship bust.” “No, no, not at all.” “O’right Thomas, much obliged. Bye.” When George turned the corner he began to whistle loud enough to blow his teeth out. But he had five hundred dollars added to his bank account, and he didn’t even have to buy the gasoline he ran the boat with. William Mair, June, 1922. 81X

Page 7 text:

HIS BLACK SOUL R. George Washington Abraham Lincoln Brown, colored, had just finished reading a sign, tacked on a pole, an- nouncing the coming motor boat races. What had im- pressed him most was the fact that the winner would re- ceive five hundred dollars cash, and he knew where there was a boat for sale for the same amount. He read the sign again and decided that he was going to get that five hundred. He walked slowly down the street, and as he turned the corner he met Thomas Lee, the owner of the boat for sale. “Hello, Thomas,” said George. “Hello, George,” was the reply. “Say Thomas, a been thinkin’ ’bout buyin’ dat der boat of yours.” “Yea? Well dat’s a right powerful boat, an’ it can’t be beat.” I hat s what a been thinkin too. Don spose yo all ud let me take it fo’ a try-out sometime, would you?” Shoo, shoo. When do yo wan it? said I homas eagerly, think- ing he had a buyer. George s heart gave a leap, and his mind sought rapidly the date of the race. “How ’bout de fourth ob July?” “Dats o’right, yo’ can hab it den. Don’ forget now.” “A won’t. Bye.” “Bye.” At five minutes of two, George sailed the boat to the starting point. In a short time the boats were all lined up for the race. I he starter raised his pistol. A sharp report followed. There was a roar of motors as the boats leaped forward. But one did not start— it was George’s. five

Page 9 text:

BOB’S PA Yestidday after suppir I wunted to ask pop if I could go out, ony I dident dass to on account of him being mad at me for falling down on my way home from the cigar store and handing him broken cigars and two hole ones instead of six hole ones, me thinking, G, I wish I could make him laff or something and then I’d ask him while he was in good humer. And I peeked in the setting room and pop was in there reeding the paper with a ixpression as if it would take a hole lot to make him laff. Jest then I had a good ideer, thinking, G, I know wot. I’ll diskize myself in pop’s new hat and rane-coat and come up and leeve him see me and he’ll laff like anything and then I’ll quick ask him. I went down and put on his rane-coat and new hat and started to walk upstairs, walking carefil on account of the rane-coat coming away down farther than my feet and the hat coming down to my nose, me thinking, I bet I look funny as the dooce. I bet I did, and jest then I almost tripped but dident, and I got up to the setting room, and father was still setting there and reading and looking even less like laffing than wat he did before, and I sed, look father, and started to walk in, and just then I almost tripped agen and kepp on tripping and the straw hat came off and fell under me so I had to fall on top of it, and I herd some-thing make a fu jiy noise like straw breaking, thinking this ain’t making him laff. Wich it wasent, and he jumped up and pulled me up by the back of his rane-coat and saw how different his new hat looked saying, I think youve fallen on enuff of my things for one day now I think its time something of mine fell on you. Wich it did, being his slipper. F. Shelkowitz, class of 1923. seven