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

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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

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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 OPTIMIS Ming Sing By Bertha Knobloch Ming Sing from the balcony of her father's house, watched dusk gather in the west, and hide the sky in its great dark cloak. The street lamps blinked like the eyes of night birds just awakening. As it grew darker, narrow open doors flung slanted yellow rays upon the pavement stones. The dim streets of Chinatown and the narrow alleyways were full of mystery and fascination for pretty Ming Sing. In her dainty jacket and yellow silk trousers she was like a daffa- dil in the dusk. She sighed faintly, a little for loneliness; a little for the wonder of this mysterious world she lived in. Then suddenly she w a s aware that she was l cing watched. Slowly she turned her head toward the nearby balcony and met the «yes of a man, a young man. When their eyes met he smiled. Something stirred in Ming Sing's heart. She liad never before been gazed upon by so strange a man. Her lips parted, words would not come—she flushed and turned her head away. “Be not afraid, gentle one. he said softly. We are neighbors and my father owns the store of antiques Iteneath us. You arc the daughter of the honorable Hop Sing are you not? She knew that she should be silent, but after a moment's hesitation she spoke, with down- cast eyes. Yes. I am Ming Sing, daughter of Hop Sing. He came to the edge of the balcony and said, So, little flower, you arc Ming Sing and I am Hai Lee. Ming Sing raised her eyes—eyes of a dark wondrous beauty. A smile played about her lips. She forgot to be shy and soon they be- came friends. They were both lonely; and soon m the odorous dusk, while mingled sounds fro the streets came up to them, he told her of his life. His father, being rich, had sent him to col- lege where he had progressed rapidly. All dur- ing his tale she had listened eagerly and he had enjoyed watching her. It is wonderful, she sighed when he had finished. Thus for many nights they sat, enjoying each other’s c o m p a n y, lovers from the first meeting and yet no such w o r d s ever passeri between them. They spoke only of life, of school, o f Chinatown. Then one evening as they were sitting on the dimly lighted bal- cony. the stars twink- ling aliovc. he said. Ming Sing, you find me not unpleasant to look upon? I have asked my father to ask your most esteemed father for your hand. Hai Lee leaned across the balcony and slowly took the hand of Ming Sing into his. She raised her eyes, shining with happi- ness. Was it possi- ble? It was not a dream? Hai Lee wanted her. Ming Sing for his wife. Yes Hai Lee. she replied, if my reverend father permits it.” Something seemed to whisper to Ming Sing. Oh it could never be for had not her father al- ready promised her to the wealthy I-cc Lung. Ug! She hated that fat Lee Lung—but what could she do. Her father was in debt and to none other than Lee Lung. This she told to Hai Lee who told her not to worry. He would 20