Humboldt High School - Life Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

Page 14 text:

Sixteen By ELVIRA LESZINSKI CHARACTERS Nance, the daughter. Jonathan De Vor, the father. David, the Question Mark. David, last name, Van Dyne. SETTING: As the curtain parts, the living room in the home of a prominent political leader is shown. Good taste is revealed in every detail. It is about 8:30 in the evening, and a fireplace at the left lights the room. An easy chair faces the fire. with an end table near it, containing books of well- known authors. A cogswell chair is in one corner and behind it is a lamp. A small table is in the rear of the room, and on it are a telephone, a bright colored scarf, and gloves. Through a window to the side of this table one can see a bright winter moon, clouded a little by flaky, falling snow. At the right back is a staircase leading upstairs. The scene opens with Jonathan, grave-faced, sitting in the chair by the fireplace smoking a' pipe. All is quiet, until Nance comes in, From the expressions of both father and daughter, an argument is about to be resumed. NANCE-Dad, it's so silly, your wanting me to bring in every fellow I meet, so that you can quiz him. It's ridiculous! JONATHAN-I'm sorry. Nance, but that's just what I want you to do. You're young. and I'm afraid not a very good judge of people. NANCE--You'd think I was infant in arms! JONATHAN-There's no use arguing with me, Nance. I mean what I say. NANCE-Won't I be the laughing stock of the crowd? Nance has to bring her boy friends home to her dad, so he can put his O. K. on theml JONATHAN-Does it mean more to you what your crowd thinks than what I want, Nance? fNance puts her arms around her dad and hugs him affectionatelyj NANCE--Of course not, dad? You know I think more of you than the whole world rolled up in one. Why, I'd give them up in a minute for you: but, old Topper, can't you put your third degree off for tonight, please? JONATHAN-Why tonight? NANCE-Well-I met a fellow the other night at the Prison Cafe. He's different from the rest of the boys I've known-he's older and I'm sure he'd feel offended if I told him, Trot up, old fellow, and get your O. K. from the honorable father. JONATHAN-I don't see why he should object any more than the other fellows would. NANCE-It would hurt him terribly to think that some one mistreated him, He's hurt so easily. JONATHAN--He told you that? , NANCE-Yes, he's told me a lot about himself. His people don't understand him, but I do. JONATHAN-What don't they understand about him? Page Ten NANCE-Well-his art. He wants to paint, but his dad wants him to go into the steel business. His dad is the owner of the Van Dyne Corporation of Pittsburgh. Oh yes--he wants to paint me. Whoever thought that I'd be an artist's model! JONATHAN--I-Ie hasn't painted you yet? NANCE-But he will. He promised. JONATHAN-What did you say his name was? NANCE-David. David Van Dyne, Jr. Quite an artistic name, don't you think? JONATHAN-Where is he from? NANCE--From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. JONATHAN-And his father is a steel man? NANCE-Yes, but what makes you so inquisi- tive? Oh, I know. You're trying the third de- gree on me. Dad, are you going to grant me the favor-just for tonight? JONATHAN-Yes, I think I will. I have some- thing important to do. NANCE-You darling! CHorn is heara'.j Oh, there he is now. 'Bye. I'm going for a little ride. Be back early. JONATHAN Cmuses to himselfJ-Pittsburgh-- Steel Magnate-Let me see. I think I'll use the telephone. CAt telephonej-Information. CPauseJ -Van Dyne's residence, Pittsburgh. QAnother pausel -John Van Dyne? No, David Van Dyne, Sr. This is Jonathan. I would like to know if your son4 QAt this moment the curtain is drawnj . My SCENE II CThe second scene opens with Nance and David standing in the doorway.j DAVID-Goodnight. I'm very glad you came. I don't know what I would have done tonight if you hadn't gone for a ride with me. NANCE-Oh, I was only too glad to go. Thanks for asking me and thanks again for the lovely lunch. Goodnighti DAVID-I'll see you again tomorrow, won't I? Oh, by the way, you didn't tell your dad anything about me, did you? I-I mean about my dad being a steel magnate? NANCE Csurpri'sedj-Why yes, of course. He asked me who I was going out with. In fact, he wanted to see you after I told him who you were. DAVID fchokingy--Ohl NANCE--Was there anything wrong with that? DAVID-No, of course not. I just happened to remember that I can't see you tomorrow Funny how it slipped my mind before. NANCE-Why, David, what's wrong? DAVID-I got a letter today. I didn't want to spoil your good time, so I didn't tell you until now. I must go away for a few days. Well- goodbye. NANCE-Goodbye, David. fVoice is heard from up stairsD

Page 13 text:

HUMBOLDT LIFE your lavender tie? What if the onions do give you an Uunforgivable social fault for a few hours? Would a hot dog be complete without them? Does the clerk ask, With or without? with any doubt in his mind as to what will be your answer? No. Again I say no. Not that he cares if you take it or not! I-Ie gets his nickel anyway. But it's part of his job. I always watch the clerk, though, to see that he puts on a sufficient quantity of everything he has from onion to tomato sauce. Is there anything so popular as a hot dog? Candy bars come and candy bars go, but hot dogs stay forever. Some bars are good: some bars are bad: some appeal: some don't appeal. But just try to name the time when hot dogs don't taste good! What do you long for, after an outing on the beach? What do you love to eat during a roller-coaster ride? At a ball game? Ice cream will pass, but a cone can't be clutched conclusively at a thrilling moment. Candy bars are good, but they get mushy with the heat, and ooze when you bite them. A hot dog stands all abuse. You may clutch it tight while the sun beats down with full strength. But the hot dog, and the onion smell, remain in- tact, unharmed by the wear and tear in- Hicted by its thoughtless owner. It tastes, and the onion smells, just as it did when you bought it. Therefore, I say, crunch a candy bar: lick a cone. But when you're really hun- gry, pass them by: scorn the candy, ice cream, peanuts, and all their relations, and look for the hot dawg stand. John Wentz. Robin Redbreast I saw a little bird That looked so sweet: I-Ie hopped along the grassy path Beneath my feet. Do you know the name of him? I wonder, can you guess? I-Ie is the queerest little bird, Robin redbreast. A long ways OH In the meadows one day, I saw him jump and And he was at play, run, Snatching at angle worms And crickets in the grass: So I said, Good morning, And went on past, MARY JoNEs. Page Nine

Page 15 text:

HUMBOLDT LIFE JONATHAN-Is that you, Nance? NANCE-Yes, father. Goodbye, David. Wait! Oh-goodbye. CML De Vor comes down the stairs. His face expresses complete satisfactionj JONATHAN-Did you have a nice time? NANCE Cmumbling to hez'selfDfYes, we had a nice ride. JONATHAN-Fine fellow, David is. NANCE Cshe looks up in surprisej-I-low do you know? JONATHAN-Quite an artist. NANCE-What? JONATHAN-I said he is quite an artist. Like- able fellow, isn't he? NANCE-But dad, I thought- JONATHAN-That I didn't know David Van Dyne. NANCE-Yes. JONATHAN-Hmmmmm. NANCE-When did you meet him? JONATHAN-Meet him?-Oh, I almost forgot. There is someone here I want you to meet. Oh, David. CVoice off stagej-Coming. CA young man enters the roomj JONATHAN-Nance, this is David Van Dyne, Jr. NANCF-What? DAVID-Can't you even say I-Iello? NANCE-But, I don't understand. JONATHAN-Of course, you don't. When you came and told me that you were going out with a David Van Dyne, son of a steel magnate, I knew there was something wrong. I talked to Mr. Van Dyne this morning and he told me his son would be home this afternoon. The reason I had you come here, David. was to get the two of you to- gether. .Something must have scared the young man away, Nance. Did you say anything to makc him leave in such a hurry? NANCE-Only that I had told you who he was. JONATHAN-No wonder. CURTAIN ,l Achievement Do you often sit and wonder Why some heroes rise to fame, And wish that you were able To merit such acclaim? Do you often sit and wonder Why you cannot make the grade And become a national hero, And to you have homage paid? Don't say that you're unlucky, For this is far from true. Just use all the equipment That God has given you. Two eyes, two legs, two hands, two eyes, A brain you can employ. That's all your favorite hero had When he was just a boy. Abe Lincoln was a country lad, Who couldn't go to school, But by using his equipment. He achieved the highest goal. Teddy Roosevelt was a sickly lad Who fought his way to health, And continued on in manhood And achieved both fame and wealth. Lindbergh was just like you and me When he first started in But he did not fret at troubles: I-Ie took them with a grin. I-Ie became a national hero By using brain and eye And the wrote the word, Achievement Across the broad blue sky. You, too, can triumph over all If you have the will and grit, The fighting spirit that they had That would not let them quit. IVIURIEL JENNE. Page Eleven