Girls High School - Yearbook (Reading, PA)

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lt wouldn't look bad on the marble mantel l'm going to have. lt would be a precious gem, was the response. He wondered how much he could ask for it without losing a good cus- tomer. This pompous fellow would return to the store for more articles, pro- vided Mr. Grannit's prices were not high as to turn him to some cheaper place. Mr. Grannit decided to work slowly, and a steady income for even a year might result. As I was able to buy it cheap, and because you promise to become a steady customer, I will give you a bargain and ask only Eve thousandff Five thousand dollars for an old, funny-looking dish? I can buy a whole houseful of new ones. No doubt, but let me explain the value of the Ming vase. Then Mr. Grannit told the history of China and the Ming dynasty, and the connection of the Ming vase. He knew his business and selected his words well. George Blake leaned weakly against the counter, took off his hat and fanned his face with it. Gosh, I didn't know any man knew that much! I guess it will make a whale of a hit with the girl. Wrap it up, and I'll take it along. I can have it packed and delivered, Mr. Blake. I'll just pack it along myself, Blake said, pulling a roll of bills from his pocket. Buy a thing, pay for it, and take it along, that's me. Do you realize the value of the vase, sir? It would be terrible if it were broken-not only a loss to you, but a pity for the vase itself. I'm paying for it, so wrap it up. If you are doubtful about those bills, send them to some bank. My cashier is an expert in such matters, he answered wrapping the vase slowly until he received a flash from the cashier's desk that the bills were genuine. Then he smiled and handed the vase to Mr. Blake. Three days later Mr. Blake returned to the antique shopg Grannit hur- ried forward to greet him. Well, here I am back again. You certainly put me in a fix by selling me that vase. I, should have known better than to mix in things I don't know much about. ' I don't understand you, sir, but I do know that the vase is genuine, said Mr. Grannit in a worried tone. 'I'm not kicking about that, the vase is too good. It made a hit with my girl. 'Put that thing in the library? I should say not! I'll use that in the drawing room,' says my girl. So as the mantel has two ends, it's two vases it must have, and it's up to you to get me another to match the first. Thomas Grannit gas ed. One cannot ick u such thin s ever da . vb Those vases are very rare. ' It's your job to find such things, isn't it? Blake demanded. Certainly, replied Mr. Grannit. All right then, get me that vase,' 'said the other sharply, taking out a fat roll of bills. VVhen my girl wants a thing, she gets it. Mr. Grannit thought for a moment. He could take the offer and adver- tise in the papers. He Could charge a good price and make a nice pile of coin. ' 5 tcontinued on page 41

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THE MING VASE By VERA KASSUR, Class of 1926 February Mr. Thomas Grannit stood in his antique shop and pretended to be un- coneerned, but in reality he was watching carefully the gentleman outside the show window, who seemed to be interested in the wares exhibited there. Some of these antiques were genuine, and some of them were not. In the minds of those who knew Mr. Grannit, there was no doubt as to his ex- pertness in judging valuable things, nor was there doubt that he evaded the hand of the law to keep his supposedly Clean business. Persons who really knew anything about antiques were not offered fakes. Those who tried to give the impression that they knew something about them were imposed upon by him, for Mr. Grannit was a genius at telling the sheep from the goats. He pretended to be busy in his shop, yet not a move of the man outside escaped him. He was a small, middle-aged man, dressed rather loud, and seemed to be broadcasting the idea that he was rich. He was exactly the sort of man Mr. Grannit loved to handle. The antique dealer had already decided that the man outside the window knew little of those things that he, Mr. Grannit, had for sale. Mr. Grannit's chief clerk, a man with about the same morals as his own, passed, and Mr. Grannit spoke to him in an undertone. l'll handle him if he comes into the store. He is looking at the Ming Vase. Ah! the one with the tiny flaw in it?,' the clerk exclaimed, and slipped quietly away as Mr. Grannit nodded and went forward to greet his new cus- tomer. My name's George Blake, the gaudily dressed man announced, as though it would startle this ordinary antique dealer by the mere mention of it. I suppose you have heard of me? I hadn't any money to amount to anything until about six months ago when I struck oil. I am very glad to meet you, Mr. Blake, answered Grannit-and he meant it. Here was the sort of customer Grannit loved, a new rich who knew little and liked to spend money and make a show. I am going to get married, George Blake continued. I am going to build a house that can't be beat. Got to fix it up, of course. Certainly, agreed the other pleasantly. - l've got almost everything planned. Going to have a library that will be thirty feet long, Italian marble. My girl raves about such stuff, Got to buy a lot of it, so I came here. l'm likely to drop in every few days and buy what I like. l've been looking at that funny dish in the corner of the window. Ah! The Ming vase? That what it is? snapped George Blake. Looks old! lt is very old, Thomas Grannit replied. lt came down to us from the Ming dynasty. Only once in years is it pos-sible to make such a find. I ob- tained it from an old man that was forced to sell all his old treasures to pre- vent poverty. 4

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.. ,Riff I -.-. K., - 422,-Eiga - .V 1: Q ly ' x XX iii Q A X wrf iwx yy. - itll f. ll X 40, N atm!! X .0 F',u.-. M L . 1 A 9-'65 mf - YL Nl ' ' K if--W -v 1 1 5 wr ' .1 ' THE FACULTY MARY H. MAYER ..,..,..,,............,................,... ..........,.... P rincipal FLORENCE B. BEITENMAN .,..,, ,.,.,....,.K,K. ,,,...,,. Vice-Principal Department of English FLORENCE B. BElTENlXIAN, Department Head Marietta E. Johnston Jeanette Jamison Ruth C. Jones Mildred E. Runyeon Angeline L. Henricks Department of Mathematics ELSIE M. EIDAM, Department Head Ethel M. Hicks Annie M. Swartz Evelyn E. Fox May F. Slavin Department of Science LENA G. LEITZEL, Department Head . Sophie W. Eldridge Margaret G. Montgomery A Elizabeth E. Smith Department of History CLARA M. DECK, Department Head Martha V. Schmidt Valeria E. Hotiert M. Arline W'inter Department of Latin ALETHIA N. LOVE, Department Head Theresa Finkelstein P Mabel M. Kurtz Department of Modern Languages ELEANOR SANDER, Department Head Martha M. Morrette Elsa Oehlecker Alma E. Noonan Esther E. Shirey COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT CARRIE M. HALLER, Department Head Harriet B. Bitler Elsie M. Lamine Ola C. Walt Anna L. Fetherolf Ester P. Hood Mary E. Sprague Department of Home Economics LURA M. WARE, Department Head Helen Goydics, Household Science Frances Brown, Foods Miriam A. Boyer, Art Elizabeth Iobst, Foods Librarian ..,..,.....,.....,.,,,.,.....,... - .... -..-Rena M. Carlson Physical Director .................... ....... E thel B. Haugen Home Nursing Instructor ..... ......... .Emma J. Hiester ' Supervisor of Music .....,.., ........ ......... A n na M. Shearer 6