Northern Oklahoma College - Roundup Yearbook (Tonkawa, OK)

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Q!v.9! 'I ' ' 'il f e 1 a 9 a 6 . ward to degredation and crime no cunning devices were there to lure innocent girl' hood to misery and death, and no needy, helpless man, woman, or child was passed carelessly by and left to his own hard fate, but all were cared for by the will- ing hands of charity and sympathy, Oh how different and wonderful! The air was f.i-lled with the musical laughter of the youth and maiden as they partook of their wholesome and harmless pleasures, bright, happy children frolicked innocently upon the velvety lawns, while the proud, contented mothers busily employed themselves about the well-kept households. The birds sang joyously as they flitted merrily about among the leafy branches. Not a cloud could be seen in the bright blue can- opy of heaven. My soul was so filled with the inexpreggible joy and beauty of the surroundings, that I was not aware of the rapid flight of the time until my guide said, It is becoming late, and if you wish to return home before darkness falls, we must hurry. ' Moll, I Could only Stay here fgl-eveylu I C1'IGCl 1'3.ptll1'0llSly, taklflg OHS last l0Oli at the beautiful things as we passed along, Suddenly, a low, distant rumble was heard. My guide stopped short in alarm, 'fWhat was that? I asked, becoming uneasy at my little friend's apparent fear. I'm sure I do not know, for I have never heard anything like it. Her little body trembled visibly, as she clung to me like a frightened child to its mother. Nearer and nearer, louderpmnd louder became the terrifying roar, like unto the thundering hoofbeats of an on-coming host, mingled with the clanging steel of sword and shield. The clear sky was suddenly overcast by black clouds, which scud- ded quickly across the sky, like huge eagles, darting hither and thither in search of thelir prey. The pure air became hot and heavy, and filled with the dust rising from beneath the feet ofthe invisible army! While on and on came the roaring thunder with terrifying rapidity. - A moment more, and from out the cloud of dust and darkness, our startled eyes beheld a great army, plunging madly forward and laying waste everything as it passed! As it came nearer, we could distinguish different individuals from the con- fused mass. At the front, riding haughtily on 3 coal-black steed, was one who apparently was the leader. He bore a large banner, on which were the words, painted in fiery red letters, King ofTodaya Until this time, so great had been our fear, my little guide and I stood as if rooted to the spot, but as the enemy came onward, we hastily retreated toa place of safety. We knew we were powerless to aid in any way, the doomed city, all we could do was to sit back and watch the work of destruction as the powel-S of evil swept mercilessly on. The beautiful walls of the fair city was as nothing, for in a few moments time it was crumbled into fragments beneath ironshod feet, and the mighty army of the King of To-day with h.is cruel and heartless emissaries, passed on to lay low the fair city of Tomorrow. From our place of retreat we could view the procession as it passed. And such a procession as it Was! My little guide covered her face in horror as the realities of the world of To-day passed before us. The King was attended on either side by his faithful helpers and body-guards, Greed and Graft. Close behind followed the mighty patriarchs of Political Corruption, bearing in their train Wealth and Worldly 136 , 4

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Warsl. .asf .gnu J ,. 1 :V IQ came to o large open space, on which the sun shone, with a dazzling, but mild brightness. As soon as the momentary blindness, which was caused by the sudden exposure to the glaring light, had passed away I could see distinctly before me o large wall, beautiful beyond comparison with its delicate colors, and intricate carvings, .its mass- ive arches and lofty towers. I gazed 1.1pOnit.iI'1 open-eyed wonder and amazement, for I had never dreamed of anything so wonderful, even in Fairyland, where all things are possible. My little guide watched me in silence for a moment, and then her tiny, rosebud face suddenly dimpled, and laughing gayly, she again spoke. You mortals are such queer people-you seem to be so much surprised and awed by things that we consider very commonplace. You'll pardon me, I hope, for laughing at you so impolitely, but the expression on your face did look so funny. Have you never seen walls before? Yes, I answered, still dazzled, but none so exquisitely beautiful as that! What .is it? .. That-, she answered, her dimpled face becoming serious, that is the City of Tomorrow, as we fairy-folk call it. We have planned and built it with our own hands, as a model for you mortals to follow. ' You now are looking only upon the outside. The inside .is made more beautiful by the people who dwell there. You know we have some knowledge of the life .in the lower world, and the sin and sorrow there is more than we can understand, so we have planned the Future for Man, and it can be made to come to pass if only all take a willing part and do all they can to replace sin and sorrow with the joy and happ.iness found within these walls. ' .- Oh, may I have just one look inside, I questioned eagerly. My story was for- gotten, and the wonderful revelation of the mystic, hazy future filled' my mind, and permeated my whole being. Yes, she answered, I will take yOu inside, so that you may see for yourself a place blessed by divine presence. ' We advanced to the great white gate hung on golden hinges, my guide rapped thi-ee times thereon with her pearl wand, the gate swung noiselessly back, and we entered the City of Tomorrow. I did not feel at all as I thought I should, as a strangeifin a strange world, but at onoo oonfoi-med myself to my surroundings, and a feeling of peace and content- ment Stole Over me. My eager eyes tried to take in everything at once, but oh! the Sights vveye go many, go wonderfully beautiful and different, that I felt as if I could not enjoy any one very long for fear of missing others. i 1 had Completely forgotten my little guide, but was brought to a conciousness of her presence again, when she gently touched my hand, as if to waken me from a trance. She was greatly delighted with my praise and admiration of that which her people hd W1-ought, and tirelessly led me from one scene, to another more wonderful and glorious. i We passed through broad, clean streets upon which all was order and the very imperson-,tion of Law itself, no skulking thieves lurked behind house corners ready , . h their avaricious thirst, no cursing or scandal polluted the pure atmosphere, no saloon stood on the street corner to entice the youth down- to .spring upon YOU 130 queue 135

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Five-f24 '-f-.-ali, 32,1 - ffm .if . 1:14.15 ,Ii bb 4 wg salt fy' power, with Misery, Crime, and Poverty crouching at their feet and filling the air with wailing cries of desperation. The pale, haggard face of Despair was turned toward us for a moment, and then again swept along with that seething, suffering mass of humanity. I could endure the awful scene no longer, covering my face with my hands, I cried aloud, Oh, God, can all this be possible? At that moment, a mighty shout rent the air, the darkness deepened, and by the glare of the burning city-our fair City of Tomorrowkwe could plainly see the triumphant King and his faithful allies viewing the work of destruction with stony and expressionless faces. Shrill cries arose above the noise and confusion, Come, let us get away from this awful scene! I cried, and catching my little guide by the hand, we sped swiftly on, away from the doomed city, We ran on and on until almost exhaustedg at last we reached the edge of a mighty precipice, tower- ing above a yawning chasm. We hesitated but a moment, and jumped. Down, down, down we fell, until- I awoke. The schoolboys, glad of their freedom, were laughing and shouting merrily in the street. My book had dropped to the floor, and I was sitting in a cramped and uncomfortable position .in the Old Chair On the P01'Ch- I Tubbefl my eyes and gazed around to make sure where I was, for it seemed hard to realize that the experiences I had just undergone had been only visionary. I sat thinking and think- ing until the world was clothed in darkness, and all was still. Was it merely a vision? 137