San Diego State University - Del Sudoeste Yearbook (San Diego, CA)

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12 WHITEANDGOLD We were both wakeful during the rest of the night and rose early. Soon after daylight there was a knock on the door and Forbes appeared. HMorning, he said, IiWhat in thunder was the matter with you felIows last night? You made a most unearthly racket? , I There was an earthquakef, began Ashton, but Forbes broke in, nNot unless you had a patent, individual, madeto-order one. All the earthquake there was last night occurred in your room? Then I advanced my theory of the agency of Warrexfs ghost. This so- lution of the mystery seemed to please hlim mightily. He shook with laughter and proposed a further investigation. Together we sought out the Offending bed. After listening to Willis: dramatic account of the affair he hippantly remarked that, Theres a screw loose somewhere? and between fits of laugh- ter he explained how he had removed said screw that afternoon, Iijust to see what might happen? At this instant he dodged a well-aimed pillow and darted downstairs to escape a shower of worse missles. Simultaneously we realized how Will, suddenly throwing himself on my side of the folding bed had occasioned the buckling of that treacherous article of fumiture.- L- K- Diplomacy The clear cold December day was drawing to a close and the last rays of the winter sun were slanting in under the half-drawn window shades of the deserted school room. Not quite deserted, either, for in one comer-sat a: little, sobbing, be-pinafo-red girl, her face buried in her arms, a miserable lit- tle picture of juvenile despair. The door opened a crack and another child peeped in. Then he entered, and, with a carefully assumed air of indifference, sauntered diagonally past her. It Say, I got the prize package a, gum an, you can have the ring; I doani want it. Rings ain't no good? A quivery little smile was his reward. En- couraged, he tried again. wSay, I can do that ,xamplefi At this mention of her cause of woe the piteous liittle sobs began afresh. Say, if youill stop crying, 111 do it for you? No response. He wan- dered discolnsolately t0 the window, and apparently drew assurance from con- templation of the wintry landscape. Then he caught sight of the pond, frozen over and dotted with skaters. An inspiration loomed up on the ho- rizon and swiftly approached within his grasp. He clutched at it frantically and it was his. The enormous m-agnamimity of what he was about to do almost choked him, and then resolutely and in one breathi he spoke: IISay, if youill stop crying 111 do that ,xamsple for you 31f, ani-super- human condescensioni-Jtlill let yer g0 skating with melii The tremendous sacrifice was effectual. They went. E. 0- She sat on the steps at eventide Enjoying the balmy air; He came and asked, IIMay I sit by your side? She gave him a vacant stair.

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WHITEANDGOLD H The Mystery of the Overturned Bed Late one afternoon I was walking in a little village on the outskirts of San Diego, when 1 was greeted by an old acquaintance, Will Ashton. I no- ticed that his face wore a worried expression and so I immediately asked him what the matterwas. Its this way, he answered. HWhich way W said looking first one way and then another; but he was in no mood for pleasamtry and continued: Well, you see, old Mr. Wanren died the other day and I agreed to make the whim? I see, I replied. Ashton is a mighty nice sort of a fellow, but his temperament is the highly nervous type that closely verges upon the super- stltious. II have finished it, but PM have to keep it in my room until tomorrow and I domlt hanker after staying along all night with a coffin for company. Suppose the old gentleman's ghost should feel worried for fear he wouldn't fit comfortably and should come poking around to investigate. It doesnlt make me feel hospitable to think of entertaining him. I laughed and offered to spend the night with him. Ashton has a room over a drug store on- the main street of the village. Across the hall roomed William Forbs, the druggistls clerk. As my friend and I entered the hall on our way to his apartment, Forbes laughingly accost- ed him with the remark, tlI say, Ashton, all you need is a headstone and a dose of poison and youlll be fully prepared to enter the hanks of the clear departed? But Will slammed the door of his room and his neighbor clattered down- stairs. Willis room was large and comfortably furnished; the 10ng black object of sinister aspect was placed as far as possible from the bed. which stood in one corner of the room. The evening passed quickly for we had much of mutual interest to talk of, but at eleven thirty we went to bed for we were both unusually tired, and were soon sound asleep. I do not know how long we had slept, when, horrified by a nightmare of ghosts, my friend threw himself heavily upon me, and with an unearthly squeak the bed sprung skyward! We awoke to find ourselves in two confused heaps on the floor and our bed closed up like a j asck-knife. Simultaneously we accused each other of playing a practical joke upon the other fellow. Then we both professed innomoe and threatened at times to emphasize our asser- tions with blows, so earnest did we become, but all to no purpose. Then Will lit the lamp and we carefully searched every corner of the room and thor- oughly examined the erratic bed, but not the slightest cause for the disaster could we discover. uIt must have been Warrenls ghost, W315 my final verdict. But this idea did not please Ashton and he started a theory of his own. I think it was an earthquake; it must have been an earthquake, nothing else could come in without unlocking the door or breaking a window. Except a ghost? humorously I reminded him, but he was too puzzled to see anything funny in the occurrence.

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WHITEANDGOLD 13 Notes from a Lecture on llHygiene for Young Teachers lFrom Room 3m Donlt' meekly take things as they are, And try to make them do, But turn the whole thing upside down Until it pleases you; And donlt attempt to try to please The other people too. The schoolhouse will not suit at all, So tear the old wreck down, And build it on a modern plan, ' 1 i f; A model for the town. i: Don't try to make it cheap and plain, But do the thing up brown. Have hardwood floors all fixed just so, And polished nice and slick So no microbes or measly germs Can find a place to stick; For when they see no cracks or dust They run to get out quick. Assign each pupil as he comes Ten cubic feet of air, And change it very frequently 2 For germs may linger there. Dornlt let the big boys yawn, for fear They get more than their share. Donlt have a stove about the place . Nor let a grate be lit, But put a furnace in and if The people have a lit, . - , And school trustees object-don't let ., . , q .. That bother you ant. , ' - - l The blackboards must be changed about And all the windows too; The walls must all be plastered fresh And painted green or blue; The doors should open in or out 4 4 To let the pupils thfrough!