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

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 THE OPTIMIST ]W ant, which---- “ ‘That will do’, sai l the very angry teacher and turned to the next boy, whose handle was See Oh. ‘Most kind hearted guardian, as I was crank- ing my tin jinriksha, in order that I might take my daily lesson with you. I saw Chop Sucy walk- ing with his eyes on the ground I was very curious and thinking my most esteemed play- mate was afflicted with the heat, followed Him. fearing for his safety. I—’ “ ‘Tluit will do’,” stuttered the now very, very angry teacher. ‘What is your excuse?’ A third boy, who answered to Just Hung, replied, ‘Most respected upholder of learning, as I was trying to impart to my pig-tail a Chinese Pompadour. I glanced out the window and saw my most esteemed classmate Chop Suev, walking with his eyes on the ground, followed by my most es- teemer! classmate Sec Oh. who also had his eyes on the ground. Thinking both of them were batty, I followed them and—’ The teach- er again interrupted and demanded of a fourth boy named Pirn Pul. what his excuse was. ‘Most beloved teacher, as I was walking to school. 1 saw my esteemed playmate Chop Sucy, followed by my also most esteemed playhiatcs Sec Oh and Just Hung, walking with their eyes upon the ground. Thinking they were all off their base, I followed—' ’’ The Knglish teacher stopped reading and hur- riedly glanced thru the remaining seventy-nine pages. Her face became very red. That is a very good story, said she, only I hope the other stories have a little more variety than this one. However I will give the class a study period because of it. And she left the room. However Percy’s elation was short-lived. The teacher showed how pleased she was with his story by giving him a five on hir report card at the end of the month instead of a four. Farewell to you. ye chosen few. Ye blest of us who go; Ye who feel a tinge of joy And grief of parting know. A Farewell By D. Kraft The hope that time will write your names Upon the wall of fame. And that your good will ne’er be stained By aught of evil shame. We pray the powers of right to guide You all along the way. And give you peaceful happiness Unto the Judgment Day. 17

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Wl THE OPTIMIST C'mon quit chcr kiddcn.” Percy said impa- tiently, you're enough to make a home-sick chinaman shave off his pig-tail.” “I've struck an idea,” cried Reggy suddenly. Is it seriously hurt?” asked Percy in a voice which was far from anxious. Write a story on the subject of Not pre- pared, offered Reggy. ignoring the other's sar- casm, you know a lot on that subject, don't you? Percy’s face showed his disgust. “That's stale. he said, we hear that in class every day. and I don't like those Hoy Scout stories any- how.” This is different.” interrupted Reggy. “my plan for the story is this. Thereupon he out- lined the whole plan of the story to his friend. Percy’s face began to clear a little. But what about the teacher. he protested, what will she say to me-------- “She won’t say anything, for you will have written a story, and besides you'll have all your classmates looking up to you for doing it. The next day Percy arrived in school quite early. He excited much curiosity, because of a bundle that he carried under his arm. Percy waited until all the other pupils had handed in their stories. Then he walked up to the desk and handed the bundle to the teacher. What is this? she demanded. Percy winked at the rest of the pupils, and then replied, That’s my story. The teacher began to get suspicious. You sit down. she said to Percy, I think I will read this story to the rest of the class. Then she began to read. Once upon a time there was a large class of Japanese boys, who all studied under the same teacher. These hoys were very smart, but among them was one boy who was smarter than all the rest. Naturally he was regarded as the leader. His name was Chop Sucy. One day all the boys ’played hookey' and went to sec a Mah Jong Game. When they returned to school the next day. the angry teach- er asked Chop Sucy what his excuse was for being absent. The hoy replied. 'Most esteemed teacher, honorable sir. my excuse for being ab- sent is very brief. As I was walking to school. 1 met an ant. This ant excited my curiosity so much that I followed it. This ant met another ant. which in turn met another ant. which in turn met another ant. which in turn met another 16

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 £5 1 THE OPTIMIST 1 Thoughts of Graduation By I). Dorothy Gann How would you like to graduate. the teacher asked May, Oh! 1 get pretty things to wear on graduation day.” I don't have to go school; I'm free from that time on, 1 can have a lovely time and lots of fun, said John. “I, laughed Jane, gets lots of gifts, oh just a load of things! Books and lockets and candy and cake and flow’rs and several rings. It also means a lot to me 'cause I will make a speech. My subject is on freedom. said Lucille with a screech. 1 think it’s fine to graduate 'cause I am really done It took me more than five years before I finally won!” Oh Gee! I am so glad too, now I'll get a job. I'll make a dandy plumber,” cried the tall and laughing Rob. And I am glad to graduate, smiled pretty little Dot, Because I really know now, that I have learned a lot. Calf Love By Norma Ayres John’s mother was standing in the hall inspect- ing him carefully with eyes ready to detect any glaring deficiencies in his apparel. He was ready at last, after two hours’ strugg'c, to go to the masquerade that had been talked about ami looked forward to, for weeks. He had locked his liedroom door as he dressed, to keep out marauders ii the form of mothers or sisters who teased him and called him Sonny. (Sonny, of all things, when he was sixteen going on seventeen al- icady!) His preparations had been many, and varied. He had even gone so far as to cold cream his face with one of the said sisters' bcautifiers. All the time tho his thoughts had been straying to Betty, the belle of the younger set. John thought her the most beauteous creature who walked the earth. She was to l e there and he wanted to make the best kind of an impression on her. A.fter the tie over which he had pondered for ten minutes was finally arranged, he reluctantly opened his door to undergo the scrutiny of his mother's eyes. After several changes had been made, Mrs. Scott put a camclia in her son's lapel and sent him off with a motherly kiss. The minute he arrived at the house where the masquerade was being held he looked around for Tom, his best friend, an imp if there ever was one. However, he could find him nowhere. That was queer, since Tom had told him dis- tinctly that he would be there and bad said with a mischievous twinkle in his Irish blue eyes that he intended to have a pack of fun. At that piece of information John had felt a shiver run down his spine because many, many times he had been the unwitting butt of Tom's joke. Accordingly he walked carelessly, oh so care- lessly! in the general direction of Betty, whom he had spotted at once, hoping that he was not attracting any attention. He hated to be kidded, and if any of his friends were to recognize him, his life would be anything but peaceful for days to come. As he reached her side, the music started and John was able to get a dance with the adored one. The look in his eyes as he danced with her was unutterably silly, but lie thought it languish- ing and hoped she did too. He whispered sweet nothings in her ear; all about her beautiful blue eyes, and her hair, and how terrifically good looking she was. Betty looked up at him then with an undeniable twinkle in the eyes he had just been eulogizing. When the music stopjied, he steered her awk- wardly to a quiet corner and ensconced her in a big chair. Then he flew off for a glass of punch, which she had said in a husky whisper she wanted. Of course, he spilled a little on her gown and received a murderous look in return. He talked on and on in a never-ending stream about nothing at all for two straight dances. At last, unable to stand it any longer. Betty danced away with a swain who had been hovering near for some time. As John sat there alone he no- ticed dangling from her rather bony wrist a fan exactly like the one that Tom’s older sister, Louise, sported—supposed to be the only one of 18