Northeast High School - Nor Easter Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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scene glance d the r. The rd the 'What 'ne to Jpears n the fusely nakes lience, have 1 this ot be I will omise n the ,tely, as the l for rough ever v his fectly, 1d in- nbles. :nows Jetter from and alary jether night. .t he next star's life's l and rome! 'murs fXN3n noise lews- apers ntury '. His OP' QHSTQIY 15 acting during the second act surpassed that of the first. He virtually lived his part. To one watching the play, the surroundings seemed to fade from him, and it was as if he watched the drama alone. In the last act the prin- cipal went insane over the death of his wife. All who knew of this watched for the climax with intense eagerness. And they were not dis- appointed. At the end of the play the applause lasted for five minutes. The old thea- tre-goers were surprised, for this new star had done what very few popular actors had dared to do-he had not answered his curtain calls. At last the crowd gives up and goes home, the one topic of conversation being the acting they had seen that night. The magazine and newspaper reviewers were lavish in their praise and for once gave real talent the tribute it deserved. Especially were they ex- cited over the depth of acting shown in the last scene. Pkfkbk Next morning, at one of the Rivei side hospitals a case is being wheeled in. One interne says to the other, What is this-an operation? No, the surgeon says there is no hope for this patient. His mind gave way altogether last night. A sad case! Yes, very sad. It seems that ha- played his part at the Royal last night so well that he really went mad in the last act. The attendants wheel a raving maniac into the ward for incurables. A Withered Flower. HAROLD F. RICHTER, '2i. T A few short hours ago, with pulsing heart, You lived and breathed, a radiant, lovely flower, Diffusing perfume gentle, fragrant, rare, In cultured garden or wild wood- land bower. Carefree and glad, as with your lovely kin, Rejoicing in God's all-embracing love, ln mute communion in the mighty choir, You sang the praise of Him in heav'n above But now life's o'er. After a too brief time, . Your hour is done. Aside you're wither'd cast, Yet still within the ashes lingers faint A subtle perfume, a mem'ry of the past. O God in heaven, when on steed of Night To realms of darkness we've been ta'en by Death, Grant that we, too, may leave no stain behind, Our mem'ry be but a sweet, per- fum'd breath. . ..,.,: . n.,,,' A anmzavai-,.:.:: an-ci-:T :gi -Jzaasnsliu 5: S:-2: if. ' 24 e - V -V . A -

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14 OP' QELSTC-21? The Ambitious Understudy. DAN R. BOISSEAU, 'Zl. CAn Evening at the TheatneJ The theatre is crowded. Rank upon rank of faces stretch back from the orchestra pit, flanked on either side by the overflowing boxes and' loges. Expressive faces, some -showing an eagerness and imagined delight in the scenes to come, some blase with the sophisticated look of the first-nighter, whom no actor or actress could hope to surprise. Upon others a look of in- difference is sketched, and some even seem to say, Just two hours more and this useless waste of time will be over. Whispered nothings fill the air with the busy hum of many voices. Shaded lights are reflected from nu- merous precious stones and gleaming jewelry set in fair splendor against some woman's ivory-colored neck or wisps of perfume help finger. Airy to delight the senses. Every one pres- ent seems to monplace air have laid aside his com- in the change from the practical to the realm of imagination and fancy. Late comers whisper to their neighbors of the line besieging the ticket agent-of the crowd being turned away. ' Well might this theatre be crowded. The play, now in its sixth week, was drawing as strong as lever, an unusual thing for a drama. Written by an author famed for his dramatic abil.ty, the play was considered his best pro- duction. The actor, blanvier, favorite for a decade, was allowed in this ve- hicle to bring into use all his latent ability, to build on each word and lay his audience under ,a marvelous spell. People talked about it, telling their friends how they cried and laughed at the crucial moments. The newspapers were lavish in their praises, some even comparing it to Shakespeare. It was indeed a play by which to compare other plays, one that might be used as a standard in all that is good in 3 production employing art, skill, and craftsmanship. The time for the opening scene draws near and passes. Men glance critically at their watches, and the hum of many voices grows louder. The audience glances critically toward the back, squirming in their seats. What is the matter, they whisper one to another. Then the manager appears -a large florid man risen from the ranks. He is perspiring profusely and seems a trifle nervous. He makes the announcement to the audience, The great Janvier, whom you have all come to hear, is indisposed this evening. However, you will not be disappointed, for his understudy will take the part. And I can promise you something extraordinary in the acts which will begin immediatelyf' he adds hypocritically. Back behind the wings trembles the understudy. He had worked for months knowing that only through such accident as this would he ever have the opportunity to show his talent. He knew every line perfectly, every gesture, every emphasis and in- flection of the voice. Still he trembles. Not from stage fright. No, he knows himself to be the equal if not better than the great Janvier. It is from weakness that his legs shake and body trembles. His meagre salary hardly kept body and soul together during the months before this night. Qften he went supperless that he might have a clean collar for the next rehearsal. He has donned the star's clothes and awaits his cue. His life's ambition is about to be realized and he knows it. My chance has come! My chance has come! he murmurs over and over to himself. The applause after the first act was deafening. The walls rang, the noise could be heard a block away. News- paper men telephoned their papers that the greatest find of the centurv was in the understudy of janvier. His

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--f --ML - T - W ' ' ' . 11-g1 f .T T-' if' TS'-F --jggrr' Mi- ' ' - - - -..,..1fwnnt'l . 1 fi:-xf+1,f?'e f f f m . H L .W i . , , V 16 OF' C-ZEIISTQI3 The Value to Young People of An Intel- ligent Study of the Harmful Effects on Their Bodies and Morals of Alcohol and Tobacco OLIVE RUSSELL, '23. This Essay Won the First Prize in the Missouri W. C. T. U. Essay Contest. The hangman stood near, noose in hand, the condemned spy spoke With- out a tremor, I only regret that 1 have but one life to give for my coun- try. A sharp command, aisickening thud, and Nathan Hale made the supreme sacrifice for his country. That was true patriotism and yet there lies a much deeper meaning than death. There are those who, keeping them- selves physically fit, morally straight and mentally awake, live lives of greater service to God and their coun- try than many who have laid down their lives. Dr. Chas. H. Barker, in a recent address to high school pupils, said that a brave heart, a clear brain and a strong arm were the character- istics of a true life. May I add that these are also the characteristics of true patriotism. But what a stumbling block to these high ideals is the use of alcohol and tobacco. Little more than an intelligent study of the harm- ful effects of these practices is needed to remove all desire to engage in them. Before discussing at length our duty in regard to these evils, let us see some of their effects, thereby im- pressing upon our minds the urgent needs of an action on our part. Considering just the effect of alco- hol on our bodies we find that more than seventy per cent of the ills of men are due to it. Many men habitually take just a little each day. Little by little this habit grows until all of a sudden the whole system collapses. It not only upsets their vvhole nervous and digestive system, but leads to much viler, filthier habits which make the health of the partaker a vvreck. Alcohol goes from the stomach into the 'blood which circulates all thru the body, carrying this poisonous nar- cotic vvith it. In the stomach it keeps the food from digesting and dimin- ishes greatly the utilization of the food by the body. The organs all thru the body become congested and burned by the liquor and the result is what is known as delirium tremens, in which the congestion, burning and absorption of the liquor in the body cause such mortal agony as to drive the sufferer insane. Death usually comes in to close the deal. We also find that the drinkers are invariably the first to succumb to typhoid, pneu- monia and tuberculosis. Another effect of alcohol is the stunting of the growth by a contrac- tion or burning up of the tissues. The bodily growth not only of the drinker, but of the generations that follovv is affected. The children ofthe next generation are sickly. puny Weak- lings, prone to follow in the foot- steps of their parents, becoming drink- ers and sending the habit with its accompanying ill health on to future generations. Considering tobacco, we see that the difference in the effect on the body is very slight. The action of the heart is seriously impaired by the use of tobacco, the rate of heart-beats and the blood-pressure being raised remarkably. If such results are pro- duced by moderate smoking, what is the effect of the widespread use of tobacco on the manhood of our na- tion? Une would not mistreat the main-spring of an expensive watchg hovv much more foolish to subject one flui exp cig 3 i effi goi I neg oft Wh are coi ye: I of wo bei ly. ou the sti the the liq so: cre Bc ne th' ac de dr th th ar co an th tic it al. tl cz w QT 5