Theodore Roosevelt High School - Saga Yearbook (Bronx, NY)

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GHOST Madam, I-you-really, this is not the way to treat a ghost. CAROL Now don't tell me you are really a ghost. GHOST At times I have almost been a ghost. But I am something much worse. I am a poet, a poet by choice, a ghost only from necessity. CAROL And What is a ghost-poet doing in a strange house eating someone else's dinner? But Where did you get that moth- eaten uniform? GHOST It isn't moth-eaten. CAROL Yes, it is. fShe sticks hcl' jinger in a hole in his sleevaj What sort of poetry do you write? POET fentlznsiasticallyj My poetry is full of the music of my people. In it is the odor of sun-drenched pine needles and of the mushrooms in the woods. In it is all the romance and the color and the warmth of my country. CAROL That sounds good. Does it pay? POET Not Very Well. So far I am the only person who thinks my poetry is great. But let me introduce myself. Cl I e clicks his heels and bowstj My name is Peter. Two days ago While on a Walking tour, I found this castle with a cellar door unfastened, and I climbed in, for it was a rainy night. I slept in the attic overnight and when I Woke up in the morning I found the house full of servants. Now, what could I do? How could I get out un- seen? So when I saw this uniform I remembered the ghost story and decided to get out that way. But I got lost and I blundered into the dining room. When the lady screamed I ran into the next room and knocked over a table. I intended to go out this Window, but I was hungry and then you caught me. Q The host and the other guests entenj CLEMENT I-lal so you've laid the ghost, Carol? What do you mean by this, you thief? PETER I am not a thief. I am merely a poet. CAROL Wait! This is my friend, Peter, the Poet from Prague. CLEMENT If he's your friend, then, of course, it's all right, but I still-- SAMUELS Carol, Where did you meet him? CAROL Never mind, father. CLEMENT fto Peterj Won't you join us? PETER I thank you. You are very kind. CLEMENT fspeaking softlyj Are you interested in him? CAROL Yes, I am, strangely enough. CThey seat themselves at the tablej CLEMENT I am sorry that our dinner has not progressed more smoothly but I am sure the young man is most Welcome. fHe casts a kindly glance upon Petenj Since none of you have earned the reward I spoke of, and since you, Carol, have no need of it, I propose to give it to our ghostly poet. ll

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CIC nl ln n S I , f , L at f- EI V i POVLOFF No, they believe in the fairy tale of government by the people. SAMUELS Cangrilyj What do you mean, fairy tale? Let me tell you- CLEMENT Please, ladies and gentlemen. You have all been wondering, no doubt, why I have invited you here. Fifteen years ago each of you helped me in some way and I determined to reward you all, but I have since found that none of you de- serve to be rewarded. Nevertheless, I am going to give it to the one who is a trifle more deserving than the others, if there is such a person. You, Povloff, gave me the philosophy by which I triumphed in later life. But you acquired it from Machia- velli and, therefore, you deserve no credit for any effort on your part, Povloff. POVLOFF But without my eloquence you would not have been so readily convinced. CLEMENT Cignor-ing himj You, Samuels, sold me a piece of land at a very low price which later became the foundation of my present fortune. But you sold it to me only because you believed it to be worthless. CAROL Qsarcasticallyj Father, how cleverl CLEMENT Amelia, you showed me the joys of love, but only to serve your own selfish ends. There is the case, my would- be friends. Carol, who do you think should receive the reward? SAMUELS Now, Carrie, you know I wouldn't do such a thing. CAROL Well, Cspeaking in a very disinterested mannerj I can't say that anyone should have it. AMELIA fscreamingj The ghost, there, at the door! CLEMENT There's no one there. AMELIA Yes, yes, there was. QA crash of stage seems to confirm her words. The men rush out to make a search.j Don't let's stay here. l'm afraid. I..et's go out. CAs they leave, a figure cautiously creeps into the room. lt is a ghost. He is dressed in a Hussar uniform with red pants, a blue jacket, and cape. A noose is around his neck. Ile is headed for the window but is arrested by the sight of the food on the table. He seats himself in Clements chair and begins to eat. Carol, coming into the room, stops in astonishment. But for once the haunter is more startled than the hauntedj GHOST Qrecovering jirstj Go-go away. UI e 'waves his arms menacingly, forgetful of the chicken leg in his handy CAROL Are you the ghost? I've never seen one before. QShe comes farther into the 7'0UIl1t.J GHOST fretreating toward the zoindowj I Warn you. Go on your way. CHis voice is hollow and hoarse.j CAROL Have you a cold? That's what you get for running around in draughty castles. 10

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UKQQSAA 0' W v Q' A1 'if' 9 'f --Wg O! 4 Q '90 ,Me MOSS: mg r. PM I P :ri L' --2. AMELIA Iosephl How can you? CLEMENT I-Ie deserves it if only for the laugh I got, seeing you tear down the stairs as if a regiment of ghosts was after you. Besides, he has a likable face, and probably will have more use for the money than any of you would have. Therefore, Peter, I give you five thousand pounds and the deed to this castle so that you can play ghost whenever you please. PETER Five thousand poundsl CAROL Oh, Peter, you can publish your mushroom-scented poems now. POVLOFF It you gave it to me- SAMUELS You would be a capitalist and could use your oratory in after-dinner speeches. PETER Oh, Miss Carol, you have brought me this good for- tune. Will you allow me to show you my country? Will you come as my guest? CAROL You bet I will. I'll even let you quote your poetry to me. RITA HOLZ ON Tl-IE BRIDGE Theres romance in bridges. I, too, discovered this, one foggy, inclement day in November when I viewed the waters of the Hudson from the George Washington Bridge. I was quite alone, for on such days few visitors walk over the bridge. The many automobiles whizzing by were not dis- turbing, for they moved so quickly that one was unconsciously aware of the pleasing sounds coming from precise coordination. Perhaps as they hurriedly moved along, the drivers noticed a girl leaning against the railing, staring fixedly at all the magnificence about her. The stately majesty of the mountains vied with the sublimity of this steel structure called bridge. Insurgent waters rolled and tossed beneath, and the sky above was dim and night was coming on winged feet. The distant fog horns sounded exactly as I had imagined they would. I saw tug boats, steamers, and ferries pass by. It was really dark now and lights of the bridge had long since been lit. The mountains were gray and the sky dark, the river alive with boats and sounds, and I heard noisy cars pass me by. Reality had come apace. EDNA MCCLATCI-IEY 12