Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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the reflector CLIFTON II I 0 n SCHOOL F E II ft U A R Y l y 2 I THE CANARY AND THE CAT Mr. James Brunson whistled merrily as lie turned on the faucet in the bathroom. The cheery melody of flowing water mingled with his blithely piercing tones. He was in the sin- gularly happy frame of mind that only a healthy, heart-free man can whistle over. Thirty years old that very day, a successful farmer, a brother lucky enough to have his two sisters engaged. Jimmy Brunson mentally pat- ted himself on his back as he glanced out of the tiny window and caught a glimpse of the beau- tiful symphony in green, which was his farm. Sea green next to emerald, then olive deepening and lifting to unnamed shades of green billow- ed and waved in the bright sunlight. The dreaming owner reluctantly brought his eyes back to the overflowing wash bowl, and turned off the flood. As the rush of water ceased, he heard voices in the next room. His sisters, Mary and Edith, were chatting gaily as they performed the delightful task of dressing for the evening. On Jimmy’s birthday he was accustomed to take them to Connersville to the theatre. Mary, the younger, whose angelic blue eves belied the perverse imp of mischief that dwelled in her chestnut head, was talking. “I)o you know, Edie, why I’ve asked Claire to come tonight?’’ “Certainly! For the same reason I’ve asked Jeanne,” came the muffled answer which be- spoke of a mouth filled with hairpins. “I thought so. But really, this is serious. Jimmy ought to marry. He’s thirty years old!” As Mary uttered this amazing announcement, Edith said, “Sh! Jimmy’s in the bathroom, he may hear us. Honestly, I led the same vay about it. If mother were living, it would be all right, but since we’re leaving at Christmas, he needs a wife! And then Claire and Jeanne are the nicest girls we know, and they’re, such good friends. 1 know they both would jump at the chance, so I’m giving Jimmy the opportunity of his life.” That was a long speech for the usually mono- syllabic Edith, and Jimmy chuckled as he imag- ed them conversing. Then he reflected serious- ly. That phase of his sisters’ marriages had never entered his head. He had thought how peaceful the huge farmhouse would be without them, but now he wondered how he could do without their jolly company. At six o’clock, Violet, the only domestic em- ployed in the house, rang the dinncrbcll. Jimmy took the stairs three at a time on his way down to the fragrant kitchen. In farms like Brun- sons’, to eat in the kitchen is not merely a sign of convenience. The secret of Jimmy’s success as a boss was a big democratic attitude. All the hired men ate at the same table with the family. His dainty sisters helped Violet set the long narrow tables, pulled the benches up, and when all were seated, Violet herself slipped into the vacant place next to Mary. A long rectangular mirror, hanging over the old fashioned shelves of shining utensils, reflected the whole room. Over their last bowls of coffee the men were amiably arguing about the coming election when Edith said, “Well, Jim, we’ll rush up for our hats so we can go immediately!” The two girls rose, but Jimmy, knowing from ex- perience how long it took them to “rush up for their hats,” reached out his bowl for more cof- fee. As Violet poured it full, he asked her how night school was progressing. She glowed at his interest and almost drop- ped the coffee pot as she replied that she was at the head of the class. “Mr. Satler wants me to start French class.” “By all means do so!” Jimmy exclaimed enthusiastically. pa ;e nine

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THE REFLECTOR CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 1924 isting anywhere! This is the pride of the girls' hearts as they show it off to admiring visitors. Well, let us reluctantly proceed to the Chemical Laboratory. Here presides Professor Derr with a beaming smile while he is instructing some students who eagerly set about their lab- oratory work. Certainly inspiring! And on the same floor we find the Physical Science and General Science rooms. Only one class room is located here. Now that we have roamed through the in- terior, let’s go outside and survey the site where the athletic field will be located sometime in the future when the money has been appropriated for it. The building itself, which is to be one thousand two hundred feet from Main Avenue, will overlook the athletic field, for it is to be located directly in front of the school. Here it is that our future football and baseball stars will display their ability, and here it is that our track team will be rewarded with the honors due its merits. Here it is that the student-body as a whole will enjoy themselves in the future. Now, fellow students, this is the exact plan of our new high school as taken from the architectural plans. Sounds fine, doesn't it? So cheer up, ye entering Freshmen, and ye Sophomores and Juniors; for the departing Seniors are mourning the fact that they will not be present to enjoy the advantage of a new, modern, and up-to-date high school. G. D. C. Feb. '24 IN THE SPOT-LIGHT OF SCHOOL LIFE By Georgette I). Connors The Seniors are reluctantly preparing for their departure from C. H. S., and some Fresh- man are reluctantly preparing to enter. Queer what four years of studying will do for one! We note with the greatest of pleasure that our school is beginning to take pride in its own talent. Senor Kupper, violinist, and Professor Kuzmiak at the piano. The Seniors have certainly done some tall “stepping out” in their production “Miss Bob White.” But when all is said and done we must remember all the credit which is due to the Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors who have supported the cast. Ves! we have no exchange department in this edition, but wait and see what will happen in the June number. You’ll be surprised! School songs in this edition are noticeable because of their absence. We certainly need some! Take heart, ye budding poets, and let’s hope that you will find yourselves between now and June. Probably you’ve noticed that our “Reflector” is without a cover design- We advertised a cover- design contest, but no one entered it. Now since we all prefer a decoration on the cover, let’s see what wc can do for the June number. Why, hello! I’m glad you’re going to take a little interest in what I have to say. What it’s about? O yes, I rep- resent the cartoon de- partment, of course. No, that’s not a cartoon, that’s just me. You laugh; evidently it isn’t very hard to see a joke. Now, all jokes aside,—excuse me, I didn’t mean you. Let’s talk business—aw, I don’t want your money, just vour attention, that’s all. Tell the truth now, don’t you enjoy a car- toon? Don’t they improve the Reflector about 100%? Of course. That’s why we wrant to have good ones, and lots of them in our paper. I’ve received drawings that—well, I had to pass them up. They were good drawings, sure they were, but the subject? When you go to a show with a name like “In the Frozen North,” you don’t want to see anything like hunting tigers in Central Africa. Do you? Same with the cartoons. The Reflector is a school paper; naturally you expect to see school stuff in it. The persons who had contributed some draw- ings felt rather discouraged, I guess, when they received them back, and didn’t hand any more in. What a poor attitude to take. Gosh, if you want a drawing in the paper and it is rejected, do another one having some connection with the school. Then keep on handing in drawings, loads and loads of them. Some will surely be used. W by, drawing is fun,—a few lines, some shading, and the drawing is done. You just admitted you liked jokes; so just for the joke, draw a few jokes for the June paper. PAGE EIGHT A. L. DE LUCA

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THE REFLECT O K CLIFTON HICH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 192 “Well, I want to thank you for your lie!]),’’ she remarked shyly. Jimmy looked at her in a kindly way as he was about to reply. What a shame such a nice girl did not have the advantages his sisters had ! He noticed the slender hands, the delicate col- oring. As he glanced at her eyes she jumped up with a queer motion which disturbed Cor- nelia, the cat. Cornelia meowed scoldingly from her gratifying saucer of milk. Violet patted her reassuringly while Jimmy looked on silently, and picked up a bowl of applesauce. At a glimpse of this, Cornelia made one leap for Jimmy’s surprised lap. He laughed as he saw her stretch longingly towards the tempting applesauce Suddenly there was a significant rustling in the canary’s cage. Jimmy and Violet watched the ensuing pan- tomime with deepening smiles. “To think,” he said, “that they both should want such an unheard of thing as applesauce so much that it makes bitter enemies of them.” “Yes,” she said. “Now watch when I take it away.” She took the bowl of applesauce into the pantry. Immediately Cornelia leaped down to the neglected milk, and the canary, subsiding, burst into a rippling song. On the way to Connorsville, Edith suddenly said, “Jimmy. I wish you wouldn’t talk to Violet so much. She’ll think you’re interested in her.” “Well, I am,” he retorted. “That child has had a hard time of it. I’m going to help her all I can!” “Oh yes, she knows why she wants an edu- cation,” was the sarcastic answer. An electric silence followed, in which Jimmy wondered what caused this sudden snobbishness. Edith and Mary were reflecting with growing suspicion over the way Violet looked at Jimmy, over the care she was giving to her appearance. Violet was a nice girl, but Jimmy must have someone like Claire or Jeanne. Claire and Jeanne were neighbors, and lived farther from Connorsville than the Brunsons, but nevertheless they came at Mary’s urgent invitation. The play was interesting to the girls but not to Jimmy. His thoughts kept wandering back to the day’s events. He remembered his sisters conversation, and he glanced at the two possible wives picked out for him. Then he realized there was something different in their attitudes. Ordinarily they were frank chums, but tonight there was something antagonistic in their well bred air of amusement. Jimmy wondered. Where had he seen that attitude before? Why, they acted just as the cat and the canary did when the applesauce appeared! Amused bv this fancy Jimmy studied them covertly. Yes, Claire was the cat. Tall, plump and smooth, she seemed to retire within herself and view' with disdainful eyes the flutterings of her small, sweet friend. But the applesauce, the cause of strife among friends? Why, that was himself! As Jimmy realized this, it so tickled his sense of humor, that he chuckled too loudly. “Hush! You laughed at the wrong time. Jim!” whispered Mary. After the play, the party emerged from the theatre to face a clattering deluge of rain. “Well, I see where we'll have to put you up for the night, girls!” gleefully exclaimed Mary. “We can’t drive you home in this rain!” Claire and Jeanne assented eagerly enough, while Jimmy groaned inwardly. Aloud he said, “'Ehis isn’t so bad, but to think I’ve got to go to market in this weather!” “Oh, Jimmy, Why didn’t you remind us? We could have started home earlier!” said Edith. Next morning, at the dark, dripping hour of four Jimmy slipped shiveringly into the kitchen. To his surprise, his coffee and toast awaited him, and he turned grateful eyes to Violet, fresh and smiling in her gingham dress. “I remembered that you were going to mark- et,” she said apologetically, “and besides, your sister told me you were thinking of marrying. If you marry you won’t need me here so you can take me to town with you this morning. I want to look for a different place.” “Why,” Jimmy exclaimed, “I’m not—” He stopped short and started at Violet. Her sweetness struck him so suddenly that he al- most choked. He realized how much this struggling girl meant to him. “Yes, I am,” he told the amazed little figure before him. Get your things on!” That evening Mr. James Brunson and his new wife descended from the market truck and paused outside the door. “Jimmy,” said she shyly, “last night when you all came in, and I made hot chocolate for you, I thought of something awfully funny!” “Yes, dearest, tell me.” “Well, those two girls reminded me of your of our cat and canary when they sec apple- sauce.” “How did you ever get that into your head?” —as if it were a strange story. I hey seemed to be watching for something they both wanted—like applesauce. Why, Jim- my, you were the applesauce and I took you away! Now they’ll be friends again.” ELSIE KALLEN June 24 PACE TEN