Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE K E F L E C T O R CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 19 2 8 THE RISE TO FAME As Marie Moniva walked down the many flights of stairs she thought of her past; what amusements had she had behind those brick walls, the only good times that she could think of were those when she sat at the piano in the little old fashioned sitting room singing the songs of her childhood. Now she rejoiced over these happy moments as she reached the street. Her short well worn coat barely covered her knees and the hat, a purple felt adorned with a simple black ribbon, was crushed on her bushy unkempt hair. She stood perfectly still for a moment and looked around. Just above the door out of which she had just come she read two words which seemed to stand out in large letters, “Orphan Asylum.” “Yes, I leave you now,” she thought, “to see what this outside world has to offer me.” She didn’t know which way to turn and stood, motionless thinking of the responsibilities which had fallen on her young shoulders but she again plucked up her courage saying to herself, Well other girls have been in this very same dread- ful position.” “What can I do,” lurked in her mind. “Take care of children? Oh no! no patience for that. Housework? no again, I’m too thin and small, it would be too strenuous but maybe I could—my, my was that a child’s scream I heard?” Grasping her suitcase tighter she ran quickly toward Pine Park and there in the duck pond found the object of her search. Its head bobbed up and down and suddenly disappeared. Quickly she plunged into the water and with a vigorous pull, pulled the small unconscious boy out of the water. When she finally reached the bank dripping wet she was surrounded by a cheering crowd of people out of which emerged a short stout woman who came running toward her with out- stretched arms. Bewildered and amazed, Marie stood motionless not even aware of the cold which was gripping her now soaked body hold- ing tightly to the little boy in her arms. Suddenly she awoke from the trance which she seemed to be in, and handed the little boy to the tearful woman who was his mother. She thanked Marie and invited her to her home to dry her clothing. So taking her suitcase and putting the woman’s wrap over her shivering figure, she walked hastily with the woman to a waiting car in which sat a doctor who soon brought the. little boy back to consciousness. Sitting beside the doctor was a middle-aged well groomed man in uniform who now drew Marie’s hand toward him and placed in it a shining gold medal which was her reward for her bravery. She thanked him heartily and sank back into the ear closing her dreamy eyes. After what seemed a very long time to Marie she found herself standing before a very small weather-beaten cottage which needed more than a coat of paint. The next moment she had entered and was sitting in a small par- lor furnished shabbily but having an air of pure cleanliness about it. Here she sat and told the woman whose name she now learned was Mrs. Bradley that she had just left an asylum to start her own way in the world. Thus it came to pass that Marie became like one of the family at Bradleys. The following week she found work in a de- partment store in the city in spite of her six- teen years and earned just about enough to pay Mrs. Bradley for her hospitality. Even though she detested this work the very noise of which made her nervous, she worked there for a very long time creating a very good reputation for herself. On Marie’s seventeenth birthday Mrs. Brad- ley had managed to prepare a very delicious supper. After this fine repast, Marie was re- quested to play and sing at the old forlorn looking piano which very badly needed a tun- ing. While this was going on inside a destitute old man, the very picture of sorrow passed the little cottage and Marie’s voice came like music to his ears. It rose higher and higher and grad- ually died away into a low, sad melancholy murmur. It stirred the very heart of him and the next minute he was telling Marie how her voice had stirred him, given him courage and sealed his past forever. He further told her to have an interview with some great music master which she instantly said she would do but the words kept ringing in her ears—her fu- ture—w'hat about it—rise to fame—were her dreams coming true? She couldn’t say but she determined to try very hard to please who ever her master would be. The following week she went to the studio of Monsieur Dauphel who marveled over her voice and told her that with a little polish and culture she would soon rise to fame. This in- terview cost Marie twenty dollars which was far too much for her to pay and while paying her second call at the studio she told the Monsieur of her plight. At first he meant to dismiss her but generosity soon overpowered him who had always been very strict about the payments of his services and he decided to cultivate Marie’s voice for five dollars a lesson if she worked hard. She was overjoyed and promised to do her best. PAGE SIXTEEN

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THE REFLECTOR CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 1928 He walked at a fast pace up the Rue de la Fontaine and turned down Re Boulevard. He stopped at 113, ran up a flight of stone steps and rang the bell. He was immediately ushered into a large room. A moment later a young and beautiful girl came hurriedly into the room. “Ah Rem, how very seldom I see you. Since that night three months ago,” she blushed, “I have seen you but four times.” “Rene,” he squeezed her hand tenderly, “you know how much I love you. If I don’t come very often you know I can’t. I’m always thinking of you; I—Oh, Rene why think of the past? Are we not together now? I will see you very often soon again at the party.” “Oh yes.” She seemed happy. “Mother says I could wear those famous pearls which were almost stolen twice. “Yes, Ah here comes father.” “Father this is Monsieur Irriem who has invited us to his chateau.” Monsieur Valera was perhaps sixtv years old. He had an intelligent and somewhat fas- cinating gaze which when leveled at a person caused the latter to move uneasily. On this occasion he walked rapidly toward Rem and greeted him courteously. “Yes, ah yes,” he soliloquized, “I’m very glad to see you so that I can offer my apologies for being unable to accept your invitation. “Oh, well, maybe you’ll honor me with a visit some other time.” “Surely.” The evening passed in such conversation. Rem left at ten and walked slowly home- ward. “The old bird doesn’t like me much,” he mused. “Well,” with a sudden burst of en- thusiasm. “everything is coming along first rate even at that.” At seven on Thursday evening the majority of the guests were already collected in Rem Irriem’s spacious and beautiful salon. Rene, possibly to be decidely fashionable, came late. Rem went to the door immediately to meet her. Ah, come in. Now we’re all here.” Time passed rapidly with the customary ex- citement that is a positive feature of French gatherings. Some of the guests formed in groups and walked through the building. Others went in pairs. Rene and Rem formed one of these pairs. They were seated on a marble bench in an in- conspicuous corner of the main salon. At eleven o’clock or there about Rene sud- denly noted the loss of her pearls. ' Oh, Rem they’re gone.” “What’s gone?” “The pearls.” “The pearls ! They’re gone ! “Yes gone.” “Wait,—wait here. I’ll get the police.” “Yes, yes do so.” This conversation had not reached the ears of the guests who already showed the effects of too much liquor. Rem calmly walked out of the main door and ran quickly, by a side entrance, to the second floor. He stopped before a door; looked both ways and walked in locking the door behind him. Out of his pocket he drew a long, shining, pearl necklace: the famous “Million Franc,” Valera collection of pearls! Rem Irriem’s calmness and exterior coolness disappeared. “How simple,” he cried. “Every- thing was ‘pie’ as the Americans say. One mil- lion francs! Equivalent to about forty-two thousand pounds. I’ll get forty thousand sure from dad. I’ll leave for Arabia now and be there in sixteen days.” Monsieur Remif Irriem. native of Arabia, was never heard of again. Rene Valvera drove her “Parisian” slowly home. She almost cried at the thought of Rem’s hypocricy. She wondered what her father would say—she reached home. Rene opened the living room door and walked silently in. There, contrary to any expecta- tions, for it was late, sat her father, on a big comfortable easy chair reading a thick volume of I he Life of Napoleon.” Upon her en- trance he looked up, welcomed her with a pa- ternal welcome and continued reading. “Father I have something important to say to you.” “Monsieur Valera looked up. “Yes?” “Father I—the— “Yes?” “I lost—someone stole—Rem— “Your Arabian friend ‘Borrowed’ your necklace. Is that it? he asked sarcastiacallv. “Yes, How— “Well, Rene, time and experience are the best teachers. I didn’t like this Arab from the first. My suspicions were correct.” But mother s necklace. Your suspicions didn’t save that.” “Oh my dear daughter, don’t worry over the loss of that necklace you were wearing.” He seemed to enjoy the situation. “It cost me exactly twelve francs. The original is lying safely on the second shelf in that safe,” he said pointing a steady finger at a small, barrel shaped steel structure. Anthony Tubbiolo. June ’30. PAGE FIFTEEN

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THE REFLECTOR CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY 1928 So for two years she worked in Long’s De- partment Store during the day and practiced operettas of all kinds at night. At the end of this time she was a very accomplished singer and her looks were vastly improved. She al- ways had a very happy glint in her large blue eyes and with much care her hair had been trained into a very glossy and wavy mass. Wherever she went she made a very entranc- ing figure at which everybody marveled. On Christmas Eve, in 1926, she made her debut in her home town which started her road to fame and she was known in the little town as the great Maria Moniva. During the following year she was booked up for many concerts which kept her busy but the second great moment in her life (the first being that she could rise to fame by cultivating her voice) was when she went aboard the Levia- than with Marion Talley the celebrated opera star. That night Maria, now Madame Moniva, was scheduled to sing in the music room. When she had finished she was congratulated by many notable people some of which were, Frieda Hempel, another singer who was accompanied by Leonora Corona who had risen to fame in 1927 and members of the Aviation Committee which was represented by Colonel Lindbergh, Mr. Chamberlain, Colonel Byrd, Mr. Haldman, and Mrs. Grayson. Maria smiled to herself. Here she was a prima donna: she who had been an orphan was to make her London debut in fifteen days in the famous operetta, “Golden Dawn.” She had succeeded, her dreams had come true, and she had met many of the most notable people in the world. Corinne Kumlin, June ’30. TRUE LOVE Glaucus, the Roman governor, Chilo’s son and David, the lowly shepherd’s son, were the best of friends. Imagine David’s sorrow there- for when he heard that Glaucus was to be kept from him until he was again able to regain his strength after falling from his gilded chariot drawn by four pure white Arabian horses. The strongest bond which bound their friend- ship so solidly was the fact that David -was teaching Glaucus the lessons which Jesus Christ, the new teacher of Nazareth, had been teaching on the shores of Galilee to the shep- herd’s son and a host of others. Neither David’s father nor Glaucus’ father knew of their friend- ship which had been brought about by Glaucus’ slave Lucus who used to live near David’s hut. Neither did they believe in Jesus Christ’s teachings or miracles. When Glaucus had been treated by several learned Roman, Greek, Egyptian and numerous other physicians of great renown hut to no avail, he sent his slave, Lucus, who believed in Jesus Christ also to find David and bring him to him for David alone could sooth his troubled mind and aching body. At the same time that Lucus was setting out for the home of David, David was running very rapidly in the direction of the home of the Roman governor to tell Glaucus that Jesus of Nazareth was but five miles away, just think of it! He would never be any nearer to them than that and David had a plan. But let us return to the poor little rich boy, Glaucus, on his embroidered, bejeweled lounge tossing with pain. After Lucus had gone. Glaucus was more alone than before for there was not a person in the house of the governor with whom to talk. His father, mother, sister Cornelia and all the servants had taken a trip into Greece to pay a visit to the great Caesar who was staying there with people such as Petronius, Vinicius, Tigellinus and many others of those historic times. While he lay there very weak and extremely alone with his aching limbs and sharp pains nearly tearing him from his lounge, David en- tered and was surprised to see how badly his friend was really hurt (he had not seen Glaucus since he had been hurt because the governor had not allowed Glaucus to lie on the plaza, the accustomed meeting place.) Glaucus suddenly opening his eyes and seeing David standing be- fore him seized David and began to embrace him but David brushed him aside and told him to make haste and get upon his back. “But you are not strong enough to hold me and besides I am not able, you see, to get upon your back for I am very weak,” replied the astonished Glaucus. “You must,” commanded David, “For Jesus C hrist of Nazareth is but a few miles away and I am able to carry you. See how strong I am? Just look at that muscle! Come! Make haste!” Glaucus tried to raise himself but was un- able. He tried again and again and finally succeeded in raising himself to a sitting posture. He clasped his arms about the shepherd lad’s neck and held on as tightly as he could. David struggled under his heavy burden but plodded on and on. He had already covered two and a half miles. Just half the distance to be gone over! Although he was an extremely strong lad for his age he was beginning to get tired. Glaucus was now heavier for he had fallen asleep and was sleeping like a little baby without cares. David staggered onward and could finally see the hill upon which Jesus of Nazareth was standing and teaching the people and healing their sick and giving life to their dead loved ones. PAGE SEVENTEEN