South Side High School - Optimist Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

Page 16 text:

1»€?l THE OPTIMIST “God, dear God,” the blue lips were whis- pering, “I’m not so very hungry. I’m not asking for something to eat, and I know I’ll never walk, but let me have just this, just this once. Oh, God, weren’t you ever young your- self, and didn't you ever want to see the trees and skies and hear the birds a chirpin’, and smell the flowers an—an it’s awful hard to be just a Shut In.” The pleading voice fell into muffled silence. Out in the green country! Who’s been there? Then you know the joy and glorious gladness of it all. Great wide stretches of green hills, and there the dip of a shady val- ley, lighted perhaps by the silver gleam of a little brook. The soft sweeps and whirls of scented wind that wraps your face and tugs at your hair. I wo little bunches of brown fur sat teeter- ing and tantcring on a limb of a tree that swayed and swayed in the green country. Mr. and Mrs. Fuzzy-Tips were tremendously ex- cited, and they chittcrcd and chattered, and in his great agitation Mr. Fuzzy-Tip most fell to the ground below. This was the reason for all the excitement: The Evening Breeze had just brought to Mr. Fuzzy-Tip a letter from the Master declaring that a Shut-In was to visit the Green Country. Mr. Fuzzy and his wife were to be host and hostess. All this was the cause of excitement in the Fuzzy-Tip home—third floor, the Oak Leaf Apartments. “Dear me, Fuzzy, dear,” said Madame Fuzzy-Tip, all of a quiver, “what a predica- ment I’m in. A visitor this afternoon and the spring cleaning not done yet. And the acorns to can. Well, we’ll have to make the best of it, that’s all,” and she stopped for breath. “Great nuts and little oak trees, what’s that,” and in her fright Mrs. Fuzzy-Tip dropped her comb. “What is that?” “That”—was the glad cry of Shut-In. Shut- In who now was in the Green Country. There he was right beneath the Fuzzy-Tip’s home, sprawling in the cool shade of the great oaks, the soft green grass clutched in his little hot hands, the sweet, moist earth between his bare toes. “Don’t be frightened, dear Mr. Fuzzy- wuzzy,” he called with another glad cry, “it’s only me, little Shut-In, the Master sent inc to se the Green Country.” “You’re very welcome, dear,” said Madame, “won’t you have some lunch? You certainly must behungry or thirsty after your long trip.” So there, under the cool shade of the oaks Shut-In ate his lunch of acorn cakes covered with honey gathered by the fairies from the dew cups of the rose and lily and drank long drinks of honeysuckle wine, and as he ate and drank Shut-In lost his crooked shape. He grew tinier and tinier—so tiny that Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel seemed like giants to him. And wonders of wonders, bright gauzy wings, all the colors of the rainbow, floated out from his shoulders. With a glad shout Shut-In (but shut in no longer) leaped into the air and was off to explore Green Country, the place where the Little Folks live. He flew for many, many miles to Flower Land, which lay spread out beneath him in great splashes of color—the gay music of the love bells floated up to his eager ears and drew him by invisible hands to the center of a fairy ling. Day had changed to night, the great round moon was coming up from the cast. The black lake nearby sighed softly in harmony with the glad notes of the Woodland Orchestra as the gaily dressed troop of fairies danced in the moon’s golden path that stretched across the bare space of soft forest floor. Suddenly, Shut-In found himself one of the mystic hand and light as air, he danced, joyfully, glorious- ly free, swaying in the moonlight that turns men’s veins to madness, drinking in the stir- ring beauty of colors, sights and sounds and still lie danced on and on, one of the fairy throng dancing till a smooth circle was worn on the forest carpet, dancing till the slender beams of the dawn came stealing into the woods. Continued on Page 78.

Page 15 text:

Wl THE OPTIMIST 1 Well, now go to it, said Mr. Osteena and do it and do it right, said he to Frances who had come in. 0 yes, 1 expect I shall, said the Earl with a sigh. 1 always do, said Frances in a snappy tone. Thank you muttered she. Not at all, said Mr. Osteena. I have en- joyed my help which has been short and sweet so far. Here 1 will end my chapter. Chapter IV.—A Hard Life. Well, Frances, said R. Bernard Nolan, I am going to ask a frend of mine to be on the per- sonal department. 0 yes please do said Frances with a dainty blow at her nose. So Bernard disserppeard into the madding crowd and presently return- ed with a middle aged boy called Lord Leo. Franees turned a dull yellow. Lord Leo she said in a faint voice how did you come to be here? 1 am going to be on the Optomist, so there. I don’t care said huffy Frances. I’m your boss. Nothing could be nicer I’m sure struck in Lord Leo. Doubtless it will be charming said he, wanting peace. And I hope you will en- joy yourself. You have been looking rather pail of late and he left the room casting a glance behind. Chapter V.—An Agonizing Call. Just then another girl came into Room 103 and cried out Frances why have you turned against me. Why am I not on the personal de- partment. But 1 didn’t want you Esther responded Frances. Well you mite if you had me said Esther. I think not replied Frances. This is agony, cried Esther clutching hold of a desk. My life will be sour grapes and ashes if I am not on the personal board. Be brave whispered Frances in a sepulkral tone. 1 will put you on the school news bord. Well half a loaf is better than no bread at all responded Esther in a gloomy voice. Just then the Earl of Chestcrsham returned with a very brisk lady called Lady Gay Helena who said in a rather tart voice So this is the school news editor. Yes and you are the literary editor said Esther tarter still. Chestcrsham was wiping the foaming dew from his forehead but Mr. Osteena came in and said some rather witty things to enliven the party. Then they oozed forth into the hall- way. Chapter VI.—How it ended. Then the young editors had a most ex- krushiating time. They asked Lord Frank and Lady Helen who promised to make them a darling Optomist cover when ready. And there were a lot of other people too all peevish. Frances one day said to the Earl of Kolo- din what do you want to do on the Optomist. I don’t care said he. At this ackwiesense Frances fainted. Mr. Osteena pored water on her and she revived. Well said R. Bernard we shall make you chairman of a fecturc bord. I want some ladies to help me said the Earl of Kolodin I am parishial to ladies I suppose it is my nature. So he had to sickly ladies to help him. Then there were some more editors and all got exsited and Mr. Ostecnt dashed madly around and after a long while they got an Op- tomist. Shut In By Helen A. Young. IT was a cold, bleak, room and a tiny little face pressed close to the cold window- meagre looking room at that. A room pane, looked the most pinched of all. The that looked as if it had never had a good meal, face belonged to a poor, pitiful little body that much less ever seen one. The whole atmos- was as crooked and as twisted as the knarled phere seemed to have a pinched look, and the branch of a tree. 13

Page 17 text:

W[ THE OPTIMIST An Unwilling Heroine By Alfred Zusi. YOU really ought to drop him,” said Alice. “Everyone but yourself knows he is not your friend.” “But Gil is a good friend,” protested Jim. “I’ve known him for two years.” “He doesn’t show it,” replied Alice. “He has worked against you in both the class elec- tions and the football team.” “Oh, that was fair rivalry.” “It was decidedly unfair on his part,” re- turned the young lady. ‘‘He used every means possible to defeat you. I don’t think you should associate with him. He’s a sneak.” “Well, I guess I’m old enough to pick my own friends,” retorted Jim, who was rather touchy on this point, because it had been brought up before. “Alright,” snapped Alice, “choose for your- self.” And with a hurried “Goodnight,” she ran up the steps and into the house. Jim Clarke gazed after her resentfully. The quarrel had originated over Gilbert Van Duyne, who was declared by many of Jim’s acquaintances to be injuring Jim as much as possible under the guise of friendship. In his loyalty Jim defended Gil, and still believed him a firm friend. And now he had quarreled with Alice and the next day she would leave for a tour of the Southwest by automobile, ac- companied by her father! Suddenly he made his way back to the col- lege, from which he was to graduate in a few days. After graduation Jim returned to his home in New York where he prepared for a visit at the home of Jack Chase, a college chum of his, who lived on a large farm in southern Kansas. About a week after his graduation, he was safely ensconsed in the home of his friend. A few days passed pleasantly in hunting and fishing, for the farm was situated in a rather undeveloped region, and natural condi- tions prevailed. Frequently on these trips they came upon actors of a moving-picture company, which was established for the time in the nearest town and was operating in that section. One afternoon the two chums were return- ing from a fishing trip to a pond in the neigh- borhood. They had taken a path thru the woods that led to the road from the pond, and were just about to emerge from the woods when they saw a strange drama being enacted before them. An automobile stood by the side of the road, and bound to its side were a man and a young lady of about twenty. A cloth gag had been placed in the mouth of each, and they were unable to utter a sound. A masked ruffian with a heavy beard was busily engaged in searching the baggage, which had been lashed to the side of the car, and was ex- tracting the valuable articles. Jim sprang forward impulsively, but Jack, looking around, had observed a camera click- ing merrily in the hands of the operator. Be- fore Jack could call out, Jim had reached the car, and taking the masked one by surprise, had borne him to the ground. Jack could not help but smile. Here was his friend rescuing the heroine of a movie “thriller.” The humor of the situation strik- ing him, he hung back to watch the struggle, which was progressing favorably for the sup- posed defender of the law, as he was a power- ful athlete. But now a new figure appeared upon the scene. Deserting his camera, the oper- ator rushed to the fray, and dealt Jim a heavy blow with a short club he had picked up. The tide of battle turned under this onslaught, and Jim was being roughly handled, when Jack, roused to action by the uncalled-for assault on the part of the camera man, effectively brought into play the heavy butt of his steel fishing rod. The two strangers were unpleasantly surprised by this new element in the contest, and took flight, seeking refuge in the woods. Alice Payne and her father, for these were Continued on Page 82. 15