Curtis High School - Curtis Annual Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 71 text:

It brought a perplexed meaning Into my perfect piece, And frightened me into thinking I was writing with too much ease. I have tried, but I try it vainly, The one lost word to divine, Which came from the keys of my typewriter And so would pass as mine. It may be some other typewriter Will produce that word again, It may be, but only for others- I shall write henceforth with a pen. Sixty-nine

Page 70 text:

THE LOST WORD Soliloquy by Pupil of the Typewriting Class Seated one day at the typewriter, I was weary of a's and e's, And my fingers wandered wildly Over the consonant keys. I know not what I was writing, With that thing so like a peng But I struck one word astounding- Unknown to the speech of men. It Hooded the sense of my verses Like the break of a tinker's pan, And I felt as one feels when the printer Of your infinite calmy' makes clam, Sixty-eight

Page 72 text:

VIRGINIA SUMMERDALE U UMPHV' said Virginia, entering her room and locking the door, Hvery little good will it do to let papa and mamma read this letter Ilve just received from Dr. Franklin. Didn't papa say decidedly that it was utterly impossible for him to send me to college? Oh, dear! I do want to go, but there's always something to upset my plans. I don't believe I'll ever accom- plish what I want to do. Of course, I'm only seventeen, but then- Oh, no one has such experiences as mine! I suppose I'll be a failure after allf' Throwing aside the letter in a passion, she sank upon the sofa and wept bitterly. In a short time she recovered from her discontented mood, picked up a book from the table with the intention of reading it. It proved to be Shakespeare's 'fMacbeth. Immediately her eyes rested on the words, If we should fail, we fail, but screw your courage to the sticking place and we'll not fail. Very wisely Virginia consid-- ered this and wondered if her courage could be shown in being pa- tient and waiting for opportunities. She now, recalled how difficult it was for her dear father to tell her that under present circumstances her hope of a college career could not be realized. Then having wiped her reddened eyes and rearranged her locks she went down stairsto assist her mother, who was busy sewing. I Mrs. Summerdale and Virginia sewed industriously until four o'clock when the children returned from school. Then, assisted by her brothers, Virginia prepared supper which was ready when Mr. Summerdale came home from work. Pleasantly looking at his fam- ily seated at the table, he exclaimed: Well, I wonder what has hap- pened, you all look especially cheerful tonight. Oh, papa,', said Priscilla, filling her mouth with berries, ain't our supper good though! Virginia made it all alone! After the meal Mr. Summerdale echoed his little daughter's words by smiling kindly upon Virginia and giving her a loving embrace. While the family were discussing current events of interest, she suddenly left the room. Upon returning, she exclaimed, Oh, papa, here's a letter from Dr. Franklin. I'd almost forgotten to let you read it. John's difficulties in algebra were cleared away, Fred's geography lesson and Charlie's tables were made interesting by following Vir- giniais helpful suggestions and explanations. After the father read Seventy