George E Westinghouse High School - Sketch Book Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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---Q--de ,The sketch I300k ?-i f in which our scheduled dancer, Mademoiselle La Grise injured her ankle, she will not be able to dance tonight. However, Hhe continued tonelessly, 'Kshe has provid- ed us with her new understudyf' The audience sat back and sighed with disappointment. VVhen a dainty figure appeared on the stage, the people sat up a little more interest. Martina began to dancedslowly, like a feather wafted by a gentle breeze. Her light, gauzy rose gown floated mistily about her slender figure. Then the dance became more animated and her gown swirled and billowed. Fin- ally the orchestra stopped-and Martina was gone. The audience, which had become more and more thrilled, sank back with an audible sigh, and then all burst into wild applause. They clapped again and again, but behind the scenes poor, frightened Martina clung to her disabled guardian, Mademoiselle, and could not be induced to appear again. Thus was Martina released from suppression and ostracized by her people and thus was one of the countryls greatest entertainers introduced to the stage. JANE BUCK, '29 uquup.. The International House-Painter AIRY tales do happen these days. You cannot boldly set out with a sword and and expect to unearth hidden treasures in a secret cave, nor can you expect to behead great giants and thereby gain a princess and a kingdom. But often an insignificant human being suddenly gains fame and success in just as romantic a way as Cinderella did. This is a fairy story that really happened. Pittsburgh, a great art and in- dustrial center, became the cynosure of many eyes, for this city was the proud host to the International Art Exhibition. Expert art critics had selected the paintings to be exhibited in the Carnegie galleries. Everyone was anxious to know which of the many noted contributors would receive the honor of displaying his work. VVhen the opening day came, the President of the United States led the oliicial party in reviewing the pictures. Every piece of work but one bore the name of some well-known painter. Because of a growing curiosity concerning the identity of the unknown artist, a committee was to send his address. Strange as it may seem, they found him in a little ramshackle house down in the poorer section of the city. He was a common house painter-but I think he must have had an uncommon genius, too. They compared his style with that of Theodore Rousseau, the great French artist, but the poor fellow probably never had heard of him. To- day he is prosperous, and fame is smiling on him. His fortune is made, and suc- cess is literally following him like a shadow. It really is not impossible, then, to have an honest-to-goodness fairy story come to life right beside you. CATHERINE KEPPEL , ,28 Thirteen --Qui .li,- 7 Af 1 9 2 8 :A--, ,,g,..

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--la-1 The Sketch B00k -on Martina N an Amish-Dutch settlement near New Castle, Pennsylvania, some years ago, one might have seen a small, dark-haired Amish girl in the Vaughledt house or moving restlessly about the plain yard. Although she was clad in the severe habit of her sect, Martina's piquant face with its crown of almost black hair distinguished her from the usual pink and white Amish girl. She was, in the eyes of the self-righteous farmers, a sinful girl. She would not go to the meeting house unless so inclined, and what was more, Martina danced. This little rebel had, however, one secret admirer, old Peter Vengehl, great uncle to nearly every young person in the settlement. The aged man well remem- bered the brave little French grandmother who had often told him fanciful tales and had crooned little French songs to him when his parents were not about. He saw reflected in Martina the grace and loveliness of her ancestor. One warm spring day after a hard winter Martina stood alone in a little clearing separated from the house by a grove of trees. The Vaughledt family had gone to a funeral, leaving Martina free for a whole afternoon. As she gazed happily about her, she swayed gently back and forth, and then as she grew more and more exultant, she danced a wild dance of freedom as though her soul were released from suppression. Her full skirt of gray cotton material she lifted from the ground to free her quickly moving feet. At the height of the dance, feeling eyes watching her, she turned abruptly, and, as she did so, two women stepped into the clearing. One was small and grace- ful, while the other was sweet and motherly. Martina recognized the latter as a woman to whom her father sold butter and eggs. 'KAre you one of the Vaughledts? she asked. I am Mrs. Martin from New Castle and this is my friend, Mademoiselle La Grise. I have come for my butter and-H Ahl Marief' said Mademoiselle with a gesture ofimpatience, forget your butter and eggs. I want to see this child dance. VVill you? she turned to Mar- tina eagerly. Martina was amazed and very shy, but Mademoiselle soon put her at her ease. She stepped into the clearing and began to dance, timidly at first, then wildly, hauntingly. Jeanne La Grise Watched her, noting the lovely face alight with joy. Finally, Martina stopped, breathless, her diffidence overcoming her again. Mademoiselle thanked her and asked her questions about her life. In her answers Martina unwittingly revealed her dislike fer her drab existence. When the three went to the house to get the neglected butter and eggs, they found that Martina's father and old Peter Vaughledt had returned early from the funeral. Mademoiselle very delicately broached the subject of taking Martina to New York with her, but Mr. Vaughledt's slow mind stubbornly persisted that Martina was good Amish girl and she stay on farm. It was Uncle Peter who unexpectedly pleaded and won Martina's case. That night an old Amish man and a speechless girl sat side by side in the great Syrian Temple at New Castle while the famous dancer, Mademoiselle La Grise, Hitted back and forth on the large stage. The next morning the same old man helpedf Lhe same wondering girl into the train and charged Mademoiselle to take care o er. Some two months later, an announcer stepped forward on a well-lighted stage of a ball-room in New York and said, On account of an accident this afternoon Twelve ---an e 1928 ee 1-9--

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s'- l The Sketch Book l '-v-- An Artist's Adventure NOTHER touch here-a flercer twist to his moustache there.-Gee, but he looks villainous! Thus ran George Ramsey's thoughts as he sat in the street car on his way home from art school, idly sketching on the back of an en- velope. His unknown model, a foreign Workman, sat across the aisle. A sup! pressed snicker from the occupant of the seat next to George roused him. His neighbor had glanced over his shoulder and had been much amused by the strik- ing likeness. Rather embarrassed because his cartoon had been seen, George stuffed it into his coat pocket and sat quietly watching his fellow passengers. Somehow his glance seemed to be drawn irresistibly back to the unsuspecting object of his artistic efforts. It seemed to him that he had seen the man somewhere before- but where? Lazily he turned the question over his mind. Suddenly, he knew where he had seen that face! The picture flashed before his mind with the caption, Reward-S1000 for the capture of this dangerous criminal, bank robber and murderer. Just then the bandit rose to leave the car and George followed. It was a dark and lonely neighborhood in which he found himself, but he followed the robber unhesitatingly down the black street. The robber, unware that he was being pursued, looked neither to the right nor to the left, butstrode on. George sprang forward, leaped on the startled bandit, and after a terrific struggle over- powered him. Hearing the battle, a crowd quickly gathered, the police patrol arrived, and George found himself being hustled off to the police station in company with his prize. There the Chief of Police clapped him on the back saying, Young man, we need more of your type and are proud to reward this S1000 for-'Oakview Avenuel' The vision of a fat roll ofbills faded as George blinked and looked around. He was still on the street car, while the mustached villain of his dream dozed peace- fully. George left the car, sighing heavily as he thought of the reward and wish- ing that dreams might come true. FRANCES GRAHAM QQUIQJ.. The Spirit Marauder AYLAND'S rubber plantation, situated near the source of the Trabajo River, a tributory of the Amazon, was on the verge of failure due to a series of depredations made upon both workers and beasts around the farm. The help had gradually deserted, one by one, until only Bisesa, a faithful Indian whose life Nayland had once saved, Howard McKee, who had accepted the position of manager, and Albert Nayland himself were left. At first the attacks were made solely upon the calves, a few of which disap- peared leaving no trace. These onsets were thought to be the work of some night prowler desiring meat, and so only dogs were set as guards. Nevertheless, this did not stop the inroads on the stock, alarm was added to displeasure,.for soon both dogs and cows suffered. Several animals were found dead, their bodies crushed to a pulp, but no blood shed. Fourteen --4--i 1928 - A-1