Susquehanna University - Lanthorn Yearbook (Selinsgrove, PA)

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Senior 0ropl)ecp ON E evening I was sitting ' in my den feeling sad and lonely and wonder- ing what to do. Suddenly a bright idea struck me. I had always been very fond of astronomy and frequently visited the observatory of an old friend. To-night I would go there and beg permission to gaze through the great telescope and perhaps I would discover something new in the vast field of the heavens. 1 was in a mood for adventure and set out at once. The walk proved a long and drearv one. and when I arrived at the observatorv 1 felt both tired and sleepy. I accordingly sat down in a great chair before the telescope and made myself comfortable. Just what happened next I do not know. I remem- ber that I was thinking of my classmates and wondering where we would be ten years hence. 1 must have been sleepy for my mind began to wander ami went back to astronomy. I thought of the planets, eight in number. Then I thought of my class again. Yes, there were eight of us. Once more the planets came uppermost in my mind and 1 determined to have a look at them so I adjusted the telescope and peered through. 1 saw nothing at first save blackness. Then suddenly 1 saw a number of lights and soon great buildings began to appear. What I saw was an immense city. The most prominent thing in this great city seemed to be an enormous church which covered nearly a block. I saw people crowding in at the doors. Then a corner of the roof was lifted so that 1 could see inside. The audience was eagerly awaiting the appearance of the pastor. When the pastor appeared I saw that he was none other than my classmate. K. L. Lubold. 1 was so mys- tified by all this that 1 turned away and when 1 looked hack again there was nothing left save blackness. 1 looked a long time in silence then there appeared a glimmer of light in the distance. An immense desert stretched before me. Then a dense forest strangely resembling an African jungle. Next there appeared a large group of buildings which I discovered to belong to a very prosperous mission. Soon 1 saw a group oi several hundred native Africans seated on the ground. They were being addressed by the head missionary. To my great surprise 1 discoi ered him to be my classmate, J. B. Rupley. The light of the sun upon the deserl sand was so bright that 1 was dazzled and when 1 was able to see again the w in ile scene w as gi »ne. -

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we have been guided these four years by the motto, Knowledge is Power, the time has come when we must give that knowledge opportunity to act before there can be any power manifested. And now as we reflect upon the words of the poet in the following poem entitled. At Graduation, let us go forth ready to stand the test of the world. Out there is the world, and here are you; Above are the skies serene and blue. There ' s never a cloud nor sign of one — There ' s only hope in the rising sun. And your eyes see but the good and the fair In the dreamy — so dreamy — world out there. The call of its voice is sweet and strong; Each bush sends a thrill of hopeful song. The trees are abloom with fragrant flowers There ' s beauty and peace in the summer hours. And the days are forever ripe and rare In the dreamy — so dreamy — world out there. Hut, O, trusting heart, how soon will be — J he change in the morn your eyes will see. The blue of the sky will change to gray, The trees will release their blossoms gay — ■ Your soul will be tried with sorrow and care In the dreamy — so dreamy- — world out there. Then this be your prayer as forth you go; That strength may be yours to meet each foe : That courage may give its hand to thee : That purpose and truth your friends may be : That whatever cross you may have to bear, You may stand the test of the world out there. 27

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However, in a moment ' s time another scene appeared before me. It was a magnificent home in a splendid city. Automobile after automobile rolled up in front of the house and deposited its occupants. They hastened into the lighted and decorated house. Within they were received by a charming and beautiful hostess whom I recognized as our little Maria. Beside her stood her husband, a tall, dark-haired man with a frank countenance. I was so overcome at seeing our dear little Maria again that the tears filled my eyes and when I had brushed them away there was nothing to see but darkness. Soon, however, there stretched before me ward after ward of a great hos- pital. Then came the operating room. I soon discovered that a renowned sur- geon was to be there that day to perform several critical operations. When he appeared, to my great surprise, I beheld my classmate. Jake Rayman. The scene faded quickly and I beheld darkness once more. Then the campus of a great girls ' college came into view. The girls, decked in gay costumes, were rapidly assembling from all directions. It was May-day and exercises were to be held on the campus. In the midst of the gay throng stood a tall, imposing woman who seemed to be the center of attrac- tion. It was my dear old classmate, Helen Fisher, now the extremelv popular president of this great girls ' college. There next appeared something very familiar. It was the campus of S. U. All the old buildings were there but there were manv, many others. Evidentlv S. L . had grown to immense proportions. There soon appeared a great pro- cession in caps and gowns and I knew that it must be commencement day. They entered the great hall where the commencement exercises were to be held. The president arose and I recognized in him my classmate, J. B. Kniseley. He in- troduced as the speaker of the occasion a professor from one of the great west- ern universities, who proved to be my classmate. Newton Kerstetter. There appeared vet one more scene. Within a little red school-house sit- uated on a hill. I saw a bunch of boisterous children and seated upon the plat- form was the irate school-marm with an unruly urchin turned over her knee and a paddle raised high in the air. The face of the school-marm bore a strik- ing resemblance to one that I have often seen in the mirror. I had now had a glimpse of my classmates but I longed to see more of them and to talk with them. Suddenly I felt chilly and stirred in my chair. I arose and looked around me. 1 could not realize at first, where I was or what had happened to me. Then I remembered what I had seen and hurriedly went back to the telescope and peered through. But I saw nothing this time but the vast dome of the skies. Whether I had been dozing or not when I saw those ■grange sights I do not know. Hut this I know that although 1 have visited that observatorv again and again I have never seen anything similar to the sights that I saw that night. 29