Santa Ana High School - Ariel Yearbook (Santa Ana, CA)

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, WJWIIIXQI fl f ny 'I X3 Qs. , ' yr. ,. ,,Z.,,:,f ,VV, X. A0 I, , ' Xi ,TI ,. 1 ?' I T I J, H, u.w,, V qjiz, vy 7Wf if X If 01 allalmafmm IZWV ff! 177 I 5 hearts were fuller than ever of hatred towards the soverign who dwelt in the valley of their desires. But the young King knew nothing of all this and so he continued bathing in the Golden River of Illusions, hunting through the magic Forest of Imagina- tion, and playing with the bright Maidens of Fancy, seldom giving a thought to what lay beyond the confines of the Beautiful Valley. One day, however, straying a little farther than usual in the Forest, of Imagination, he came to a part of it which was not so pleasant as the rest, a fiart which he had never seen before. Here the trees were dark and crooked and when the wind 'blew through them, the boughs made strange, wierd noises, like creatures in pain. I Terrified at the sounds, unlike any he had ever heard, the young King was about to make a hasty retreat when a hand laid lightly on his shoulder caused him to look back. And as he turned, he saw before him an old man clothed in flowing robes of white, who thus addressed him: My son, I have watched you for a long time and noted your life in the beautiful Valley of Unreality. I am Conscience and I have come to ask you if you do not think it is time that you saw Reality, which is as much a part of your domain as this. I do not know, faltered the young King, growing pale. Ny courtiers tell me that it is a very terrible place, and I am so happy here. Ah, my friend, you have yet to learn the distinction between happiness and mere selfish ease, said the old man gravely. But I can only advise you, for it is you alone who must decide. Take, however, this ring which is called Truth and we will see what it can do for you. Un some it has no effect, on others its power is illimitable. Ilut if one once receives it, he can never cast it away. Shall I give it to you ? The young King, by way of assent gave his hand to Conscience, who slip- ped the ring on his finger. Then with a solemn benediction the old man vanished, where, the King could not have told. After gazing at his finger on which shone a diamond brighter than any he had ever seen before, he made his way back to the palace, meditating upon the wonderful occurrence. Next morning as was his wont, he arose and bathed in the Golden River of Illusions, but it did not seem to refresh him as it had before. After dressing he went to walk in the Forest of Imagination, but it was dark and dreary, so he soon left it. He called for the Golden Fancies to come and charm away his sad- ness, but he could find them no where. The most terrible thing of all was, that everything at which he looked appeared like a shadow of its former self. The trees, the birds, the fiowers, the palace, and even the faces of his courtiers and servants seemed like vague and Twelve

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' ,, , e eeee 1 1,359 V , e . f fftjw f f. 1 'y! f4f ff ,X Q1 Q 'W 'f f' y'7,y,.m, ff f f ,,.'L,f 1 1, ,f,,', 4, pf ' J, , y, , ' if I A i 5 f V ' Y 4 44 f ffff X, .XQ4-.gffffff-ff! ffffm fffm. Avffwafff , 1 , The Kingdom of Shadows Uflfiaziziizg essay in tryout for Forensic Conicszij N the fair Valley of Unreality, through which winds the Golden River of Illusions, a monarch dwelt. who was much loved by all that knew him. Mind you, I say all who knew him, for his subjects who did not know and seldom saw their king hated him. And this was the reason. Although he lived in the fair Yalley of Unreality with a few of his chosen nobles the great majority of his subjects dwelt in the terrible Land of Reality which their soverign had never visited. Once indeed he had suggested to his courtiers that with them he should explore the land, but they had dissuaded him with eloquent speeches, telling him that he might meet with harm, and that as there was nothing there which required his attention, the hardships of the journey would be labor lost. So, as he was a very young king, he allowed himself to be persuaded to remain in tl1e Beautiful Valley, and to continue in the enjoyment of the number- less delights it constantly afforded. Each morning he arose early and went quietly down the marble staircase which led from his chamber into a garden filled with every delight of which the mind can conceive. llirds, with brilliant plumage and voices of incomparable sweetness, sang in the 'branches of trees laden with iiowers whose beauty and fragrance never was and never can be equalled. Stepping lightly over the velvety lawn sparkling with diamond dew-drops, the young king made his way to the Golden River of illusions which ran through the garden and after bathing in its limpid waters, he returned to the palace, re- freshed in mind and body. llaving regained his rooms, he attired himself with the help of his attend- ants, for the sports and various delights of the day. Often it was his custom to follow the chase through the magic Forest of Imagination during the bright morning hours, and in the afternoon beautiful maidens, called Golden Fancies, danced for him under the shadows lengthened on the lawn. But, just as the life of their soverign was one long dream of purest bliss, so were the lives of the people in the surrounding Land of Reality, one long nightmare of want and misery. The cold sharp winds of Envy and Hatred blew over the barren country, chilling their hearts and freezing their sympathies. Many of them died hourly for lack of the Bread of Hope. They hated their monarch because he lived in the realm which they so fervently desired but could never hope to attain, and because he paid no attention to their sufferings in the horrible country which they were condemned to inhabit. g Most of them had been once or twice on a pilgrimage to the Beautiful Val- ley and when they were finally compelled to return to their former abodes, their Eleven

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,Z-of Www 2y!i f ffffiff I K if fm f f ' f I l X Jiffy ff ff? fff ffg If 1144440 ffff Uffff ffffw f ffmw fffpjf 9, ,.. ,- ' ,, L Y 'YI 7 r' X ' 41, ,Q l ., ., 'CCCTXWXW 1' C ' f a- fl l If A X .hQvT,. if 'Mf g ,Q f fA f ff ..., e ig J, 4431.4 f empty visions. The diamond in the Ring of Truth burned him until the pain was almost unbearable. At the close of a day during which his sufferings had been more terrible than he had ever before even remotely imagined they could be, he sought his couch in the hope of obtaining some rest. But he soon found it impossible to close his eyes or let his senses sink into oblivion, for the Ring of Truth scorched and stung him like a living, coal. Finally, he arose and, going to the window of his chamber, looked out over the garden which had once seemed so beautiful to him. Now, in the moonlight, everything looked more vague and empty than it had during the day. i Suddenly a light leapt forth from the diamond on his finger and shone full upon the garden. To his horror as soon as its glow touched the Howers and trees, they became transparent like forms of fioating mist, and through them ap- peared faces worn by pain and hunger and scarred with hatred and evil. With a cry he covered his eyes with his hand to shut out the terrible sight. NVhen he looked again, all was as before. The light from the diamond had died down and only the moon's pale rays shone up on the shadowy garden. Filled with anguish, the King exclaimed: Ah, wretch that I am! I have deceived myself into believing that which is false to be true, while that which is terrible in its genuineness, I have totally disregarded. I have ruled over only a Kingdom of shadows. I must leave this Country of Lies and seek my people who are beckoning me from the terrible Land of Reality. So saying, he hurriedly dressed himself and taking the good Staff of Courage, made his way out of the palace and along the winding road which led to the grim Mountains of Disillusionment. VVhen he reached their mighty base of jagged rocks, he trembled and feared to go on. But he looked up at the clear stars which were shining on him as if in benediction, and grasping his good Staff of Courage, began slowly to mount the grim monsters. The rocks cut his feet and the brambles tore his hands, while all about him lay the bleaching bones of Shattered Ideals. Hut still he kept on, though his garments hung in tatters and from l1is hands and feet ran streams of blood. VVhen he reached the summit of the mountains and looked over into the bleak, cold Land of Reality, his heart nearly failed him.- However, when he had rested a few moments, he wearily began his descent and after long hours of jour- ney, reached his destination. He was bruised and bleeding from head to foot. As he gazed around on the desolate scene, he noted a small hermit's cottage not far off and went towards it in the hope of obtaining food and shelter. He knocked at the door which was almost immediately opened by an old man whom he recognized as Conscience. Come in, my son, said his ancient friend in accents of warm welcome, Thirteen