Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR l g GRO V C? ax X- I It 4 H f - we 'il ' h- Q f, 1 ,W Deshny's Road V X 1' ia 1.12. f xx i By Richard H. Young, june '37 ' K 1 W K T l.f1.vs if l- 'if N I - fi'-lll l fe : The time-worn Four-wheels and T p ' - Goes rolled to a stop in front of the ar g:-D Colinsville General Store-rolled to f 'W T f 'So 7 a stop because that was all it could do. Long ago its brakes had been consumed on the daily trip from Ebenezer Stiles' home to his store, a distance of about a mile. The road running out that way was little used because of its danger spots. Chief among these was the Devils Slide. Leading from town the road at one point made a sharp right turn, dipped down at a terrific angle, and a thousand feet down the hill swerved left around a rock wall. Straight ahead lay the Slide. A thin board fence was the only protection from a perpendicular drop to the rocks below. Thus had the brakes been used up, and lately Stiles had used another road. So much by way of explanation-and back to town. Eb Stiles detached himself from the steering'wheel, climbed down to the dust, and ambled over to his store. . 'Mawnin', drawled a bystander. Eb looked up and beheld the person of Slim Perkins, Eb's oldest friend and best customer. 'Mawnin', returned Eb, as he drew out his jangling keys and opened the store. Bin waitin' here 'bout half hour, said Slim. But I don't mind, so long as it helps you. Thanks, returned Stiles. A friend in need is a friend indeed, he thought. With that, he walked over behind the counter to serve his friend. What'1l it be this mawnin'P he asked. Quart 'uh milk, roll 'uh Hypaper, some apples-and a fryin' pan. Need a new fryin' pan, eh? Well, I've just one left. Dollar and a half. But I'll let you have it for a dollar. Nothing doing! ejaculated the customer. You charge me full price and fergit it. Ed added up the amount, and as he did so, a slight haze came into his eyes. Here, he rel-lected, was one who had stood with him through thick and thin. Long years ago they had had many good times together. Eb had got him- self a wife, but Slim remained unmarried. Then, fifteen years later, when his wife died, Slim had helped Eb in every way that he could. Only Eb's daugh- ter, Sylvia, was left, and Eb devoted all his attentions to her. just now Slim was again lending him the helping hand in supporting Ebenezer's rapidly 16

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THE REFLEC TOR - , afternoon. A telephone call shattered the peace and calm of Freddie's home, and his mother regretfully pllt aside her sewing. There followed numerous ejaculations of dismay and distracted apologies. Barbara-Jane's mother was extremely vituperative about Freddie's activities, and expressed her emotion in rapid, angry, and lengthy sputtering. Needless to say, Freddie's dietetical inclinations were abruptly terminated, as well as his talent for marksmanship. From the sounds issuing from the house when his father arrived, one could almost believe that Freddie himself had terminated. The origin of the egg supply and the amount and price were all taken into consideration, and I rather think that Freddie slept more com- fortably on his stomach that night. One need not go as far as New England, however, to see young innocence in its full glory. Several days ago, attracted to the window by a great clamor outside, I saw a congregation of children in the street. They had all varieties of vehicles, from bicycles to roller-skates, but only two at the time were in use. As I watched, fascinated, I discerned two apart from the rest, one Master Drew, and Billy. They were approximately twenty yards apart, in wagons, and facing each other. Someone in the group apparently gave the signal. They made for each other at top speed. CRASH! Billy was thrown out onto the street by the impact: he was not hurt, but was full of righteous indignation-well, at least indignation. He seemed to be trying to communicate to Master Drew that he had violated the regulations of the tournament. Master Drew evidently remained uncomprehensive, because Billy became violent when he received no satisfaction. His right hand landed solidly on Master Drew's visage. In a moment they were clawing, punching, and bawling in outraged fury. Meanwhile, those who had been spectators joined the fracas. The boys as- sisted, mostly verbally, but the weaker sex aided the winner of the tourney by administering resounding kicks on any part of Billy's anatomy that came into view until I ran out and rescued him from enraged juvenile citizenry. Not only are they like the old Romans in their. desire for gladiatorial combats, but the majority seem to aspire to the modern type of piracy com- monly known as racketeering. From the time they get up until they go to bed. they are industriously secreting themselves in bushes, garages, and any other convenient hiding place. They imaginarily shoot each other down just as ruthlessly as the gangsters themselves. My stand on this subject may be biased, because usually our back-yard is used for their hideout, and there are numerous raids on it every Saturday morning. The raids themselves aren't so bad, but coupled with puerile shriek- ing, they entirely disrupt the sleep I'm trying so desperately to make up. Today I was startled into wakefulness by a raucous debate as to whether jimmy was dead or not. After vainly trying to induce them to leave for a yard down the street which has as many admirable qualities as ours, I equally vainly tried to get back to sleep. But it was like trying to recapture an eluded dream. The disgruntlement of this frustrated desire indirectly led me to write this defamatory outburst on the innocence-and gentleness-of children. 15

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THE REFLECTOR l , falling business. Since that chain store opened 'cross the way, I've lost a tol'ble lot o' customers, said Eb. Certainly is a shame, Slim observed. I still can't see, though, why you didn't sell out to them, 'stead o' lettin' them take away yore business. Nothin' doin', came back Stiles. If I can't buy and sell as I please, I don't want to do it at all. And then, most likely they'd shift me to some strange town where I'd know nobody or be known-an' I couldn't take part in the community affairs. No, sirree! I stay right here. Here's your groceries, Slim, and your change. Keep it-the change, I mean. 'Twon't do me as much good as 'twill you. The two shuffled over to the door and went out on the porch. Eb sat down on the bench there and pulled out his pipe. Then he produced his tobacco wallet. Um, he mused, peering into it, not much left. Guess I'11 have to get some inside. Well, I'll be toddlin' along now, Eb, said Slim. Be seein' yuh later- at the rest'rant. So long, Slim. Well, Eben got his tobacco. It was the last he had in the store. But Eb figured it was all right, no one would be likely to buy it anyway. Since the new chain place started business across the way, his own business had sagged, even as a clothesline sags with Monday's wash. Its prices were, nat- urally, much lower than his. Now, no one was going to pay a high price for an article when the same thing could be obtained elsewhere for a few cents less. Every penny counted, and so the Streamline Grocery Sales stuck its fangs into Stiles' business. I'm on my last legs, thought the man. Don't know how much longer I can keep on. If that store pulls its prices down any further, I'm lost. Only enough left to keep this place open. Look at all the people over there buyin' the place out. What a break some people get! Nearly all my savin's gone now. He brushed a suspicious drop from his cheek. Thought I'd be able to give Sylvia a good education and a happy life, but I guess that's just another dream gone forever. And thus his thoughts ran on. For nearly an hour and a half he sat there with his pipe, having nothing to do. Once, someone stopped in for a broom and a tin of Epsom Salts. That was all for the morning. At noon he locked up his dingy establishment and walked over to the lunch room. Entering the place he went to the rear, where he found Perkins munching a ham on rye. Hello, greeted Slim. 'Lo, Slim, he returned, but his words were hardly audible. Saay, what's the matter with you, anyhow? came from Slim, after he gulped the last of the sandwich. Would you be very glad if your life savin's was gone, your business 17