East High School - Orient Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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His thoughts were hitter hut again hope came Perhaps once more for him the flower would bloom. And he would surely grasp it e’er it went. Steeper and steeper grew the way. He left The berry-laden hushes and the grass. Only strange herbs grew on the barren soil; And slowly now the sun crept toward the west. The path wound round a mighty rock, that reared Its head toward Heaven many feet. And on The other side a fearful chasm yawned And scarce was room for one to walk between. Weary, Sir Gallian slowly struggled till Upon a sudden he came face to face With an old hag. A peasant woman. Ugly and bent she crept adown the path, nnjJ in her hand she grasped a bunch of herbs. They both stopned short. With bleary eyes she watched Him, and shrank back a little as afraid. Old mother, fear me not,” impatiently He cried, “but tell me does the path Grow broader farther on? Not so, Sir Knight,” She quavering said, It is a single path For far enough.” And wondering she was still. Sir Gallian lay stretched upon the path And bade her pass across him. Reluctantly She stepped upon his body. As she did He saw again, and just beyond his reach, The lily, blooming fairer to a waiting death. And but a movement and ’twas his. Yet if He did, the creature on his back must be Hurled down, downward to waiting death. All motionless he lay. And the old hag. Muttering blessings, tottered down the path. A tiny mound of ashes lay beyond And a wind caught and whirled them o’er the rock. Slowly Sir Gallian rose and staggered on. While hitter thoughts surged through his weary mind That which I want cometh without search And that which I have sought I may not have.” But still he clambered on, he knew not why. Since hope was gone and disappointment sore Lay heavy on his heart. O’er the bright sky The thunder-clouds spread swiftly, warning him To seek a shelter; still he heeded not. Over the mighty mountain broke the storm, And all the way was darkened. Thunder pealed And echoed from a thousand answering cliffs. And ever and anon a line of fire Pierced the dark clouds and left them darker still. And Gallian, hastening onward, missed his way. Twas but a step but there a step meant death. So on the ledge he lav with face upturned, And a great blank fell on his throbbing brain, While the black heavens o’er him swept their tears. The storm raged on, and when it ceased the clouds, Still hovered close about he setting sun, That tinged their edges with a golden light, And turned their darkness to a royal hue. Wandering a moment from its home, a ray Passed through the clouds and touched the upturned face And kissed a beauteous flower that bloomed so near He might have touched it with his out-stretched hand. Within its leaves a fire seemed to burn, And made it glow and glimmer with a light That could not be of earth. And then the blank Was lifted from his mind. His eyes unclosed; With a glad cry he saw and grasped it close, And the soft fragrance stole from out its heart And filled his own with pc'fcct peace and joy. Sir Gallian's search was o’er, the Quest was his; And with a smile upon his lips lie died. —Cliarlollc Dann. IS

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Sir Gallian’s Quest In those bright days when Arthur held his court And gathered round him knights of fair renown, There came from far-off shores and distant lands A stranger guest, who told them wondrous talcs Of marvels and of far-famed knightly deeds. And once he told them of a beauteous flower That grew on those huge mountains far-away Whose hoary heads were muffled in the clouds. Of lily shape it was, and its pale leaves Shone with a silken sheen and lustrous light; And from its heart at eve a fragrance stole Like that which sweeps across Elysian fields; And if ’twere plucked it did not fade or die, But to the wearer with its breath it gave A perfect peace and joy. But still through time Full many a goodly knight had sought in vain. Though some had seen, yet none might bring it home. Then Guinevere, with longing in her eyes, ' Said, “Would that I might see it; breathe its breath!” Up rose Sir Gallian, youngest of the knights, And came unto King Arthur, begging him,— “Oh, master, grant that 1 may go to seek This wonder of the foreign mountain-top, And perchance find and bring it to the Queen.” And Arthur, smiling, gently hade him go. Thus far across strange seas and distant lands Journeyed the youthful knight, Sir Gallian, Until he came at evening-tide unto the base Of that great rocky height, whereon there grew And bloomed the end of all his weary search. But now the shadows deepened, and he sought A shelter for the night in a thatched hut, Whose owner bade him welcome. There he asked Some word of that he sought. And the old man Smiled sadly and said, “Full many a knight, Young, worthy as thyself, has sought in vain; And yet, perchance, thou mavest find thy quest. Of this I warn thee: thou must pluck the flower When first thou seest it or 'twill turn to dust.” Yet, nothing daunted, ere the sun had risen Sir Gallian, hopeful, left his steed behind And mounted eagerly the rocky height He followed up the winding mountain road That led by yawning depths and towering heights, But still the grass grew on the mountain side, And here and there the berries glimmered red. But as he climbed he heard a frightened cry, A cry as of a child in sore distress. Quick then, lie pushed the tangled screen aside Of bushes with their harvest of ripe fruit. And saw a little child with upturned face, His great eyes staring wide, with his last strength Ginging unto a bush that over-hung The precipice. 'Twas hut a moment’s time Sir Gallian knelt upon the very edge And, holding as he might to a frail bush. Stretched out his arm.—when lo! just beyond, Beside a rock he saw the lily bloom. Its pale leaves shone and glistened in the sun, And it was wondrous fair, Which should it lie? Quickly he raised the wee, tense form and placed It on the grass. But when he looked again 1 he flow’er had faded,—withered into dust. With anguish in his heart he ministered Unto the child until it was revived; Then led it partway down the mountain slope. As once again he climbed the rocky path, 14

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Senior Class History On a bright and sunny day of September, 1902. the stairs of the old building on South Fitzhugh street creaked and resounded to the tread of many a cheerful youth and maiden. These comprised the class of naughty-fivc, now for the first time starting on that path “where many enter but from which few return.” Some of us were stationed at the so-called Annex on Williams street, where in truth our material and bodily condition was somewhat confined and narrow, but our minds were destined to broaden and develop to a remarkable degree under the cheerful guidance and protecting wing of “Aunt Minnie.” To recount all the deeds that have served to make '05 famous and to cause her name to be written with everlasting glory on the school records would, the Historian fears, he beyond his poor capabilities, however he will strive to mention the most important. Shall we soon forget that 30th of May when our valiant sons, led by the redoubtable “Heinie,” broke through and dispersed the sturdy Sophs and were only hindered from repeating the trick by the junction of some of the Juniors with their lower classmates, thus forming a combination before which we had to give way, though stubbornly lighting every inch of the disputed territory? Or can we forget that memorable base-ball team which so decisively defeated our old rivals, Bradstreets, and humbled in the dust all other opposing teams? Our Sophomore year ushered in a notable event, viz: the completion and occupation of the new building. Here was an edifice for whose welfare and glory we would ever be proud and happy to strive. In her Junior year naughty-live seemed to have reached the climax of her success, hut every day added to her laurels. Our “Prom.” proved to be the most auspicious social function of the year, and one of which the sons of '05 will have every reason to he proud. On Field clay we carried off second honors with the boasted Sophs trailing far in the rear. That '05 banner which floated so proudly and defiantly from the towers that memorable spring day, was a fit emblem of our position as Seniors. The Senior play, to quote from one of our prominent daily newspapers, “was a per- formance which for completeness of detail and forceful portrayal of the characters represented has probably never been equaled by high-class actors.” Commencement and the Senior ball present every indication of success, and, if the sons of '05 give them the same loyal support that has attended all past enter- prises, no fear need be felt for their issue. Never has a class possessed such talent in every branch of school activity. In athletics wc boast of our Babcock. Waugh, and Johnson, our Avery and Crowley, our Snell and our Hanford, all of whom have won fame and glory for their Alma Mater on many a hard-fought field. As debaters we have need to be proud of our Wright, Smith and Foster, who so successfully trailed in the dust the banners of our proud rival, Masten Park. In the way of musical talent wc will always sing the praises of our Snell and our “Puddle.” whom all admit as the backbone of the musical organizations of the school. The great success of tiie ‘Clarion, during the two years when she has been practically in the control of nanghty-five. will amply attest our literary abilities. In Crowley, Williams. Babcock, and Smith we possess dramatic talent never equaled in the annals of the school, while wc have ever listened with delight to the many humorous characters portrayed by “Dick. Our mental equipment, too, is of a high order. We have the business-like activity of Todd, the poetic genius of Smith and “Ted,” the scholarship of Gilman, the political faculties of Wynn, and the grinding powers of Robinson and Earle. 16