Robert Louis Stevenson School - Circus Yearbook (New York, NY)

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'Rx - f to af- c s N 1 i' A .3 f f 4,5 I 4 Q , L as 1 X c I X f I X X, 'yi 'st . I +C' Two wendy +8 I would never have gone if I had known we'd meet. It was a big surprise seeing him there walking toward me on 34th street. I tell you I would never have gone, and I would still be living in blissful peace, no thoughts haunting me - not see his face. You see it's night. All this happened today, a few hours ago. The day had starred beautifully, little puffs of clouds, blue, blue, sky, and a warm May sun. Yes the day was beautiful and I was going dancing. I was happy. Then I saw him. He saw me at the same time. His face lit up and he smiled a broad grin, he walked toward me. Yes, I'd known this boy well, I'd lived a whole summer with him, sung, danced and eaten with him. We'd gone to the same camp, laughed, cried, and played together, and'now we met. He hadn't changed, he looked the same. I was glad to see him and we stood and talked about camp, his sister, how he was, and then I looked around. People were looking at us, staring at us, staring at me. Two women, well dressed and sleek, brushed past me and I caught the word Shame Outraged stares, indig- nant stares, stares, smres, stares, everyone was staring at me. I felt as though I was on a stage, a huge stage, I was an actress, I'd forgotten my lines. I knew. I knew then what was wrong. Somehow my joy felt forced and wrong. My skin felt tight and stretched across my face. I didn't feel right. He realized the trouble and his face tightened. I shall never forget his face. His head held high and his shoulders taut. We both began to speak and stopped embarrassed. He said he'd see me soon and went on. I knew I'd probably never see him again. I was there alone at 34th street, the crowds pushing past me. My fun was spoiled. Yes I got a dress, a beautiful dress, a dress to have fun in, to dance in. This all happened today, and now it's night and I can't help thinking, thinking of a Negro boy whom I hope I shall never see again. .jdlly glint!

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K , v fmt ' 'lil' JH A . it i in ' I r g .. qv X 'R 1 , 4 I ,rr lil' 'lielFll'YEIV A f 'N l f itll ,l, l.l'l !' I 'M ll gl '. f x If .ll ,, in In .0 'P ll 'J f 9 fff X' v A A 'A A: I A ,L IU uf y l V 5 !' hi ' 11 'tv I ' n 1 y A ,KXI.:':.v ll if ,fi U l 'N H, , 'Q if l fi e iv, . , 4 lf . 4' ! I , '1-A H fl I U Y t ' Q ' X ,, l i ' 6 ' N ' NYG THE GREATEST SHOW CN EARTH Yep, as I have always said, Agnes, the circus is the personification of America. Sort of like baseball-real old American tradition. Please get off my toes Ma'am! Hurry up Aggie, we want to see all of the side show. And a lady, with all life drained from her, holds up a prattling head for all the world to admire. The armless and legless wonder, who can type and write and do count- less things, just as you and I. Look at that, will you. My goodness, I wouldn't like to be a freak, sort of horrible. What's that you say? Well, money ain't everything. Gosh just a stub of a hand. Sure love the circus. Makes me proud to be an American. God, what a crowd! Flab upon flab drools down a shapeless leg. Forever, that smile that's as false as the day is long. Fat and formless, Lord what a posterior! Wizened little chaps who seem to have a fountain of knowledge that far exceeds their tiny forms. All wrinkled, they sit and smile on a gullible public, who are willing to pay to see folks smaller than they. lt's ghastly the way that lady swallows those neon tubes! She seems to glow from the inside. Sort of spooky like. My see the midgets! just like little monkeys. Gosh the' smallest one made a face at me, I'll slug him. This is fun. So democratic. The musty smell of the basement and the electric lights, and the pink! fuzzy candy that melts in your mouth, the roar of a tired lion, the roar of a tired barker, the roar of the crowd all seem to fuse together into one colored mass. I love side shows. All the people having a good time. Stop pushing! This mob doesn't know how to behave. No consideration for others. Look at the midgets, and the sword swallower, gee! a tatooed man. Gosh this is as American as peanuts. Hurry up, Agnes, sneak ahead of that old woman with the crutches. .fdfklll Walldefldllhl , .ll

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The Shore Special The 5:50 chugged past the many tourist and resort towns that spot the north Jersey shore. The car was full of mid-summer commuters who sat hunched over their New York Times or Wall Street journal. It had been a hot sticky day and the faint breeze that came through the open windows was met with weak and grateful murmurs from the passengers. Tlx k bldg- - .15 I r . W i if .. 1 l 'kv .1 f, mx Y X Q Mike slumped in a seat at the rear of the car. He threw j .4 2 his dufile bag down at his feet and let it rest there as he 5 fumbled through his pockets. The conductor came by and 9' . . . . i -. waited patiently while the soldier pulled out a crumpled half to a round trip ticket. The train clambered along into heavy sea-mist. Mike pulled out a pack of cigarettes and began to take long thoughtful draws from one. He let the smoke settle around his head, his eyes following the swirls and patterns with a blank stare of exhaustion, his uniform was mussed and the bright colors' of his campaign ribbons were shadowed by a film of soot and dust. He slumped further in his seat and with the window ledge as a pillow he tried to sleep. At Red Bank the car emptied, a dead greyness fell over everything and as the electricity was switched on the figures of a few dozing old men were sharp shadows against the lifeless car. Mike stirred and tried to turn his head away from the glare. As the train jerked along his head kept hitting the ledge in time with the engines steady drone. Little lines seemed to cross his forehead and around his eyes. His handswere clenched and the muscles of his jaw worked up and down. These people - the 5:50 regulars were going home to a cool shower and a detective novel - this was their routine-oiiice-train home-train-oflice. Mike had his routine to-war-train to camp to train to destination unknown-and back. Now he was on his way again. By the time the train left Alberon the ugly lines and tense muscles had disappeared. Mike slept - in the groggy unconsciousness that follows a long period of strain. He let his head pound against the ledge and his knees were extended in wild contortions over the opposite seat. Last stop - Ocean Grove -- Everybody off now! the conductor hustled into the car. Hey Mac - the ride's over - move the body, he gently nudged the sleeping soldier. Slowly with terrible deliberation Mike opened one eye - then the next. They were clouded with fatigue and the rims were red and swollen. As he untwined himself and began to adjust his dufile bag the horrible littlei lines began to sharpen and the muscles in his jaw shot out. Finally, he threw the bag over his shoulder and walked carefully down the aisle. Inaba Zinnerafein G