Collegiate School - Torch Yearbook (Richmond, VA)

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IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII III I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII lllll I I lIIIIIIIlIlIlI I I I IIIIIII I Ill Il I IIIIIIII IIIIII IIlI IIIIIIIIIIIII II II IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII' 60 T H E T O R C H A Day of Forgetfulness AWOKE to the noise of someone hammering- on the door, and yelling, Time to to get up. Having murmured, All right, very indistinctly, I turned over for . my morning nap. Suddenly the thought entered my mind that maybe this was not Saturday, and I had better get up. I pondered on this for a few minutes, and finally concluded it was Wednesday. Groaning at the thought, I decided to arise. lVIy-toilet being completed, I gathered up my books, and started for breakfast. At the top of the steps I stopped suddenly, and stared wildly around. Then, dropping everything, I rushed pell mell back and began to tear off my dress. I had forgotten it was gym day, and had dressed accordingly. In the midst of my re-dressing, I heard the faint echo of the breakfast bell, and, being desperate, threw things on in the most remarkable way, leaving off tie and handkerchief, and, in my wild hurry, forgetting to powder my nose. Being late for breakfast, I had to hurry through in order to reach school before the bell rang. I ran most of the way, consequently forgetting to mail the letter I had so carefully brought. Reaching school, I rushed upstairs. When I gained the third Hoor it burst upon me that I had forgotten to leave my sweater in the basement, The morning that followed was one continual Uforgetf' In Latin I had forgotten to copy off the board something very important, and so missed half my lesson. In physics I had forgotten the rule Mrs. Smith had taught us the day before. My fol- lowing study period was of no use, because I had forgotten what the lesson was, as well as having forgotten the book, which was reposing on my desk at home. All recess I sat in assembly hall wondering where everybody was, and it was not until the bell rang that I remembered I should have been at a very important class meeting. French passed uneventfully, except that I had forgotten paper and pencil. English came next, and I forgot what lVIiss Greenleaf had told me, and talked to Elizabeth Lee. She changed my seat, which caused me much sorrow. Last, but in no way least, was geometry, which was the only class that day through which I passed unforgetfully. Now, to my horror, I discovered it was raining, and having forgotten my umbrella, I had to walk home in the pouring rain. After dinner, while I was sitting peacefully sewing, a voice bawled from above, Nora Lee, you're wanted on the phone! Forgetting that the front stairs had just been re-varnished, I rushed up, leaving a large footprint on each step. Reaching the telephone I took down the receiver to hear the dressmaker say that I had forgotten my appointment. I sat down weakly on the nearest piece of furniture, forgetting to hang up the receiver, and wondered what I would forget next. I went downtown to shop, and came home late with several things I did not need, and found I had for- gotten the main object I had gone for. This was getting serious. How long would this curious spell of forgetfulness last? Supper finished, I studied, and then prepared for bed without any further mishap. I soon fell asleep, utterly exhausted with forgetting. I had not been asleep long be- fore I waked up with a start to find the light on in my room. I was petrihed, and looked around wildly, expecting any minute to gaze into the muzzle of a revolver held by some villianous-looking burglar. Seeing no one, I began to wonder why my light was burning in the the night. Slowly to my dazed brain crept a solution. Of course, I had forgotten to turn it off. N. L. A., '25.

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IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII III II I IIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I I III III I Ill IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII T H E T O R C H 59 1IIIIIllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII III IIIIIII II I I I II lll I ll I I I I Illlll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII lmIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllllllllllllll A Dining-Room Conversation I always did think I was cute, said the cuckoo clock, looking into the mirror across the room to powder her nose. If I have ever heard your honorable mouth utter those honorable words once, I have honorably heard them a thousand honorable times, patiently murmured the Japanese tray, who had not yet dropped his oriental form of speech. The clock paid not the slightest attention to him and continued, It certainly is nice that I have been placed across the room from the mirror, for I can see to straighten these grape leaves of mine. How gracefully my pendulum swings! The chandelier is slightly in the way, though. There you go again, said the chandelier peevishly, Hyou are always picking on me. It was just the other day that you blamed me for being in the way so that you couldn't see the new maid when she dropped that tray of dishesfl Thank my honorable ancestors that I was not dropped like that, breathed the Japanese tray. You know very well I can't help it,,' rattled on the chandelier. I don't see why you have to bring up such an unpleasant subject. Oh, wellff replied the clock, who did not like to be argued at as well as to argue, 'Klet's change the subject. I'll tell you about my love affairs. 'Speaking of love affairs, interrupted the chandelier, Hyou ought to be glad that I was in the way when you tried to flirt with that new vase which was taken, back to the store, for would you believe it, my dear, the maid said he was cracked ? . A'Cracked ? gasped the clock, 'Kyou don't say. Well, I am thankful I didn't flirt with anybody who was cracked. Why-. All conversation was cut short as the maid came in to set the table for supper. VVhen she had finished and had gone out, the Japanese tray spoke: Seeing that silver reminds me of something that happened last night. I was awakened rather early in the morning by mufhed footsteps. Qpening my eyes with a start, I saw a strange man standing in front of me., This man had a flashlight in his hand, a black cloth over the lower part of his face, and he walked with a creeping stealthiness. He went over to the sideboard, and, after a moment of concentrated listening, began to put the silver into a bag. A burglar ? asked the chandelier. Exactly what I thought, replied the tray, and continued, Hwhen he had gotten all the silver, he started for the door, and-. Do go on,', exclaimed the chandelier, who was in great suspense. Well, as I was saying, he had gotten to the door when-. Goodness, here come the humans for supper, I'11 tell you later. I canlt wait. Go on, quick,', nearly screamed the chandelier. But the tray answered not a word, for the humans had come into the dining-room. MARGARET GREEN, ,25.

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llllllllllllllllllllIIIIllllllllllIIIIIlllnlIIIIllllllllIIIIlnlllllllllllllllllllllll I I IIIIIII l Illllllllllllllllllllllh T H E T O R C H 61 UllllllllllIIIIlllllllllllIIIIllllllllIIIIIllllllllIIlllllllllIlllllllllllllllllll I lllllllllllllllll Jimsky, the Orator T was the night of the commencement of the Sugarfoot School. All the graduat- ing class was in the little room back of the stage, waiting for the time to go on. Over in one corner a black youth of seventeen might be seen making gestures and muttering to himself. Every now and then he pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead. ' Qver in the corner with the girls was a small girl with long Hpig-tails, who was looking at him lovingly. This was his sweetheart, Indy. When she thought he :was looking in her direction she would give a smile. But Jimsky did not see the smiles. Perhaps, if he had, he would have had a little more courage. At last the class filed on the stage, The service began. Finally Jimsky heard the principal say, De next number on de program will be a speech by Mr. Jimsky Fitz-Washington.'l Jimsky arose. He felt the cold sweat breaking out on his brow. He came for- ward to the front of the stage, made a small bow and began: H 'The Valoo of a Edicationf Ladies an' gen'men, it do er-er give me er-er great er-er pleasure to er-er be hea' tonight. Ilse gwine to speak to you' all on 'The Valoo of Edicationf He rached in his pocket, pulled out his handkerchief, wiped his forehead, and went on, Edication is a article which er-er all er-er young ladies an' young gen'men right a have. CA giggle from the class.j It er-er, evy body ought a have er-er as I done said before a edication. Again he reached in his pocket for his handkerchief, but it wasn't there. He continued, 'Edication ought a be developed er-er had er-er by ev-y-er-er boy and girlf, A giggle was heard again. This time it came from the audience. ffimsky began pulling at hs coat. Then he cleared his throat and began again, I wouldlt take nuttin' in dis' whole wide wull for my edication. Some day I rnay wanna, er-er be pres'den' of dis hea' country. At this a roar of laughter greeted him. He pulled at the back of his collar, ran his Hngers through his hair, and cleared his throat. Ladies an' gem'men, edication is vey-ka-chew l ka-chew I The audience nudged one another and laughed. Poor Jimskyl He was ruined. Something tickled his nose and made him sneeze again. But still something tickled his nose. He put his hand to his neck and there he found his handkerchief. In his confusion he had stuck it in his collar instead of in his pocket. He gave the audience a sickly little smile. Then he continued: The' fo' ladies an, gen'men I done come to de conclusion dat edication am vely valooablef' At last his oration was at an end. Jimsky sat down. He glanced in the direction of Indy, who was proudly beaming on him. After the commencement, he walked home with Indy. On the way home, he felt a little hand on his arm. Indy turned to him and said, -limsky, I sho' is proud of you. Ah, go on, replied Jimsky bashfully. HI sho' is, responded Indy. Jimsky trod on air. What did he care about all those people? Indy was proud of him. By JEANNETTE CoL.LiER, '26.