Oakhurst Collegiate School - Acorn Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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8 THE ACORN AN IMPRESSION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUILDING -N IMPRESSION, startling in its novelty, was made upon me by the i erection of the new Chamber of Commerce Building. Now, ordinarily, the building of a much talked about structure is watched with interest by anyone, especially when it becomes neces- sary for him to pass by the place at numerous different times, thus seeing it, as he is bound to do if he has any curiosity at all, grow larger and more magnificent day by day. When it is finally completed, no matter how enormous 0r awe-insrpiring it may be, it fails to make an unusual impression on his mind, such as it probably would on that of a man Who had never seen the building until completed. This is what happened to me. Although it was convenient and sometimes even necessary for me to walk down Fourth Street in getting to Mullaneis on several different occasions, I never caught a glimpse of the wonderful skyscraper which was being erected there, until it was almost finished. It was in this manner that I contrived to get the startling impression of the New Chamber of Commerce Building. Now, although one may have limited intelligence, nevertheless when one so limited sees a goodly half of the population of his city standing on the street cor- ners with mouths agape and eyes rolling upward, he naturally does not desire to make one of such a foolish-looking crowd, but moves swiftly onward, feeling on the whole rather above it - not the building, of course - but above the curiosity that the common herd exhibit for gaping at high buildings. It goes on in this manner for a long time and the building becomes higher and higher, but still the person of the limited intelligence never looks up, held by an unfamiliar kind of shame. At last, after having had it read to him from the newspaper all about ttt'he first lady who ever went up in Cincinnatiis new building, and ttthe daring work- men who get one hundred dollars a minute for working up theref curiosity tnot the common kind of coursey gets the upper hand, and, first looking down and all around to see who is looking, he looks up, up, up, until his hat slides down from his almost horizontal head. But still his fascinated gaze continues to travel upward. By this time he does not care who sees him, or whose way he may be imped- ing, but is only conscious of a wild desire to shout Look ! e for truly it is an un- usual sight that, by some strange mirage, has been unfolded before his gaze; beau- tiful smooth white stone, high blocks of it step on step extending up till it seems

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THE ACORN 7 It was not long till the window was out and the three men stepped into the mom, drawing the heavy portieres behind them. Shall we switch on the lights Em asked one. I can see from here that the lights are still aglow at Sherryis and young Bob will not he in till a late hour. The young spendthriftli, So saying he touched the electric button and the room was Hooded with a stream of light from an oval red globe above. The men uttered a stifled exclamation and drew near the window. The picture of Mephisto was startling in its reality. 'tTut! Itis nothing but a picture? said the leader of the three. But, by Jove, it's a splendid copy- I suppose a hand-me-down from several generations. After we have secured the contents of the safe, we might as well take it along? His last remark was in a harsh tone, and the two men to whom it was addressed fell to work to Fll'ld the combination of the safe. This was soon done and large sacks, which they produced from benearth their coats, were rapidly filled with money, bank notes and jewelry. The latter was of great value and had belonged to Mr. Greerfs mother. The wound left by her death tin his boyish hearU even now caused a sharp pain when anyone spoke of her. uGet to work at that portrait, Jenkins. Hereis a knife, called the leader of the trio. Jenkins reached up, standing on tip toe; for his small arms were far from reaching the top. Even this proved in vain, so that he was obliged to pile books on a high chair before he was able to reach the top of the portrait. Jenkins touched the knife to the canvas, but before the blade had cut an inch, the handsomely carved door in the rear opened and in came the Iiving Mephisto. The two thieves who were on the floor tying up their sacks dashed for the win- dows. Jenkins turned around and seeing Mephisto in front of and behind him, he turned a somersault over his books and leaped down the tire escape. At the bottom a corps of policemen were waiting and hurried the thieves to jail. Above, Bobbie Green, the living Mephisto, turned into his study, laughing softly to himself. mYou have done me more than one service tonight, old chap! he called to his satanic majesty on the wall above him. e-ELIZABETH CDNROY, 1916.

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THE ACORN 9 to end in a peak and :1 Flag. Massive windows arched and carved rear themselves before him in their stateliness. And then, calmly, his eyes travel down the smooth surface and rest on the faces tonce 50 foolism of those who have taken this wonderful opportunity of seeing the erection of this splendid structure, and mentally he takes off his hat to them. 1 ELIZABETH PENDLETON KROGER, 1915. THE OCEAN age Sometime the ocearfs green and still, At other times iFs gray, Tomorrow there may be a storm, Although ifs calm today. i The white-capped waves coxhe tumbling up, To break upon the beach; They wash away the sea shells That are within their reach. But when the sky is black with clouds, And lightning rends the air, The sea seems quite to be alive, To dash and splash and tear. 1 But in the morning, all is hushed, The waves run smoothly in, The sky is blue 1 it seems as if The storm had never been. -BARBARA MCKAY, 1918.