Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 1926 TO A SPARROW What strange thoughts are yours, oh sparrow. Speeding yonder through the sky? Do you think of Him who made you? Do you wonder how and why? As you wing your way above us, Are we ever in your thought? Do you marvel at the cities That the hand of man has wrought? Have you love of mate or sweetheart Stirring in your feathered breast, Giving added power to you, Flying homeward to your nest? Or is your life just the living. Each day thoughtless of the next. And your brain, a nerve cell merely, Bv no worldly problems vexed? Can it be that, as we see you Passing swiftly through the sky, You are like a Glowing ember, Simply made to be—and die? I for one can not believe that You, of God and Nature born, Are deprived of dreams and visions, Are of love’s sweet pleasure shorn. It must be that somewhere in you, There’s a thinking, dreaming brain, Dreaming dreams of Nature’s heaven, Where the sparrow lives again. Just a tiny winged atom. Chirping clearly as a bell, What strange thoughts are yours, oh sparrow. Ah, if you could only tell! Warren Piaget, June ’27. EARTH'S PARADISE In the shades so sheltered, cool, She sits, mirrored in the pool, Watching goldfish down the stream Brightly in the sunshine gleam; Hearing birds enraptured sing, Till the blue-bells echoing ring; Scenting perfumes born in flowers, Brought to life by April showers; Drinking waters that gurgling flow Eating foods from plants that flourish Just to hungry mortals nourish; Feeling puffs of wind that sway Birds, like ships, from out their way; Dreaming till the shades of slumber Dim the thoughts that rest encumber. Erna Stcrsburg, .June ’26. Have ideals no meaning for you? Is there not a worthy goal? You who seem so blithe and happy, Have you neither mind nor soul? pace nineteen

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THE REFLECTOR CLI FTO N II I C. II S C H O O L F E II R U ARY I 9 2 f. Introductions followed and then I found out why I had been invited, for I was introduced as Alice of Wonderland, and I certainly felt as if 1 was in wonderland. When the excite- ment was over we played games of every age. George Washington started the fun by suggest- ing a dance which was in style at his time. And although no one else was familiar with the steps, we started, and before long were dancing it as well as he. Next Christopher Columbus began a funny game of rolling around the floor like a ball to show why he thought the world was round. Then Captain Kidd showed his weakness for the jingle of money, so we match- ed pennies. He won them all. Robinson Crusoe appointed Iluek Finn as his good man Friday, and then started a game he called “foot prints.” This game was interesting and very amusing, for we all had to step in flour and then walk around and make the foot prints, and then follow each other. Afterwards the others suggested several games which we played until we were called to the table to eat, and then the fun really began. We were scarcely seated when Geargc Wash- ington jumped up. produced a hatchet, and said he smelled cherries. He discovered they were in my pie so he chopped the pie in even pieces and served it. Christopher Columbus then call- ed for a hard boiled egg so that he could cut the end off and make it stand up. Rut by some mistake the egg was not boiled, and when he cut the top off the egg splashed around most inconveniently. Jessie James asked for a broom. He mounted this, making believe it was a horse, and then began to gallop around the room. Tom Sawyer brought out his pipe and started to smoke. Huck Finn laughed at him and said that he could smoke better than that, so Tom gave him his pipe. After a few puffs Iluek became sick and had to be taken home. When somebody bumped into Coptain Kidd he began to jingle. It was then discovered that he had all the silverware in his pockets. Robin- son Crusoe took a huge animal rug off the floor, put it around him, and shouted that he was once again on his island. Little Red Riding Hood sat in the corner with her arm around a huge dog which she said was a wolf. Shortly after we had eaten, we took our de- parture. As we reached the door a strange looking little fellow, with cap in hand, was shouting, “Taxi,—Taxi.” Standing at the curb was a peculiar looking vehicle with a big sign painted on it which read “The Magic C arpet.” Into this we crowd- ed and were whisked away at a terrific pace through the path of time, history, and fiction. Year after year flew by. with each of my com- panions leaving the carpet at the proper time and disappearing into space. Before long I was the only passenger left, when suddenly I was dropped into space—and back to my own Won- derland. Adeline Maih, June ’28. A MOV IK COMEDY DRAMA The Midshipman, on his way Over the Hill to the Poorhouse, found a Sea Hawk. Upon closer examination it proved to have been dead tor at least Six Days. He picked up the bird and tried to feed it to his pet Cobra. Needle., to say, the snake refused to eat it, so his mas- ter sent him into The Lost World. Continuing on his way our hero met Little Annie Rooney, accompanied by Her Sister From Paris. The latter had been given only One Year To Liv • by her physician. Therefore she had decided to sec The Iron Horse before it should join The Big Parade in the Scarlet West. While they were talking who should come up but The Mer- ry Widow whom Zander the Great called The Dark Angel. She was very unhappy over the publicity given to the Classified Ad she had inserted in The Limited Mail. The paper had unjustly represented her as a Goose Woman. She was leading A Dog’s Life, she said. At this moment the Covered Wagon came along and they all hopped in. When they had seated themselves they began to sing the Song of Love. A Fresh- man interrupted them in the chorus. Regard- ing him as a Necessary Evil they made him ride with I he Man On The Box. All was well for a time until they were held up by Seven Sin- ners headed by Wild Wild Susan. She had Bobbed Hair and was dressed in Sackcloth and Scarlet. She was more wicked than The Thief of Bagdad. Her ruling passion was Greed. In one small Crowded Hour she Obtained enough loot to set ther back on The Road To Yester- day. The terror after she left was worse than that occasioned bv the discovery of Spook Ranch. As they were coming through The Street of Forgotten Men, A beggar on Horse- back fired at them from North of 36. By this time the occupants in fear of being held up jumped out. But the stranger proved to be The Best Bad Man they had ever seen, for he gave them each a Desert Flower, and told them to turn back because a White Monkey was mak- ing his way from California Straight Ahead to them. They disregarded his warning, however, and entered the Gold Rush country in Six Weeks under The Light of Western Stars. Irma Peters, June ’ 26. pac;e eighteen

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THE REFLECTOR CLIFTON HIGH S C II O O L FEBRUARY 1926 TO MY MOTHER Down in the deepest depths of my heart. There is a corner, secluded, apart. In it a love that will live on forever. Through years of happiness, sorrow, endeavor. A love for one who has always been true. Don’t blush, mother darlin’. I’m speaking of you. Warren Piaget, June ’27. SAY, RUDDY Say, Buddy, does it seem to you That life is kinda hard. Because you’ve had a scrap with him, Your good old friend and pard? Say. Buddy, get that look right off Your face and smile again. Because, up in the sky, the sun Is shinin’ just the same. Say, Buddy, don’t you think that he Ain’t worryin same as you; lie is, old boy. Now just perk up And cut out feelin’ blue. Sav, Buddy, there's another day A-comin’ with the sun, Bringin’ hopes that he’ll come back Again to be your chum. Warren Piaget, June '27. CLOUDS Oh clouds, why do you rain. Or huddle close to-gether, When you could float in your quiet sea And bring this world fair weather? Oh clouds, you must be sad Forming your opaque wall. I know you wish condolence now Before your rain drops fall. Oh clouds, your cause of life Is worn and rather shattered, But you’ll find rest, when to the winds Your vapors cold are scattered. G. R. Connors, Jr., Feb. '2(5. ME PAL Aw mister, go easy, Can’t you see he’s a pup? He’s lonely and starvin’. Just too weak to get up. In the way? Let me see If I can’t help him out. I’ve wanted a comrade. Gee, I almost could shout! Come on, pup, I’ll help ya, I know where there’s bones, And mabee I’ll get milk From kind Missus Jones. Years ago, on the street, We happened together. And through thick and thin, We’ve laughed at the weather. It’s been only a week, Since he lay down to rest, But it seems like a year— Oh, I spose it was best. He was old, gettin’ weak, Though his eye still was bright. And he always was set For a game or a fight. Well, he’s gone, went to sleep With a wag of his tail, And his brown eyes a’sayin’— “Pard, I’ve got to set sail.” I am a man grown. Though I’ve married a gal, I’ll never forget him— For that dog was me pal. Warren Piaget, June '27. MODERN POETRY What I like about Free Verse is this: First It doesn’t have to scan. Then you make a very long line like this one. And then A short one like the above. Forgetting rhyme, this makes a nice beginning. So I’ll end now before I spoil it. G. Connors, June ’26. PAGE TWENTY