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

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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

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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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 S5 I THE OPTIMIST its kind in Middletown. His eyes lighted up at the chance to tease Louise, who had never lost an opportunity to make fun of him. He got up then and dashed madly Juto the crowd to snatch the prize from his rivar4 TJii accomplished, he finished the dance with her, not neglecting to say how downcast he had been when she had been carried away from him. He raved on in a mad sort of way about how sweet and true he thought she was. He told her that she appealed to the best that was in him. that he was considering stopping swearing ami smok- ing. (This last was really very brave since he had smoked all of two cigarettes in his life and the habit was upon him I) In fact during the evening he managed to give himself away completely and was thankful that none of his chums had been neat to hear the things he had been saying. His heart almost stopped beating when he considered the awful things that would Ik said of him if they ever heard all he had said to Betty. He’d have to run away. That’d be all. Finally the word came around that at eleven o’clock everybody was to unmask. John sud- denly got cold feet. Suppose she was thinking that it was Fdgar, the new boy in town, who was rushing her! She would be sadly disillu- sioned then at eleven and consequently disagree- able until time to go home. He felt an almost uncontrollable desire to leave then and there; but lie stuck and at eleven o'clock—oh my I When the hour struck it happened that John and Betty were sitting with five or six others in one corner of the room. He was surreptitiously holding her hand which she allowed him to do with a demure glance. Then she pulled her hand away and raised it slowly, slowly to the mask. Be still, my heart!” said John to himself in the anticipatory joy of seeing her face. He pulled his mask off with a snap as the elastic caught around his car. never once taking his eyes from her. Why, why—what was happening? Good Heavens above, wasn’t that beautiful hair hers? For the fair curls seemed to be slightly awry and became more so as he watched. He glanced agonizcdly around the little circH: and saw the delighted eyes of the others. Ye Gods and Little Fishes! What could he do to save her from shame? Then before his tortured gaze the curls fell to the floor. The mask followed in its train and before him grinned Tom's impudent face. The next day his mother caught him in the front hall with his suitcase all packed, ready to leave home! May Temptations By Dorothy Kraft Oh, come with me, 'Tis the month of May. Come, let us up Away and away. All nature's free, You need not fear. Come, follow me, Can you hear, can you hear? On silv’ry leaf We’ll float down stream And when we’re tired. We’ll lie and dream In the arms of buttercup Yellow and green. We’ll race with the breeze O’er hill, o’er dale. I iugh as we kiss The daisies pale. And tumble the hair Of the maidens fair. We’ll hark to the music In the evening song Of robin redbreast As he flics along. We’ll dance with the moonbeams As pale they leap A vigil ’til morn. With the crickets keep. And all will be joy As we tarry there. Come, let us away From toil and care. 19