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

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fi.. - . 1' -fd-5-2-sw, , 1 --- A .ntl-JfL:EE:2:24:L- 4 ,- gal XS N.-, vvdefaafgfli I ijwtsgzgw -e2--1Qs::- ,,,, f- 's I 1-.rug-., - wiarstlrw yd! 3 '3--.5--1 -.' I e:-tnyg -j W:-,lvl - .t h ,-G --1. 4. Y, - ': 'Q ..E,yv,.. E A gm! xl 'gig : 3: mqMu H I Am f U.lQn it ,.,1u rt, I 5 mu, . :a,n'.-:.-,Qt E in A u.l:lll 1 fgw I-4- rg .- ll . X-Z! . M7525 2 Z i'i '::'ff'IIgQ' ' ' ' 5 - i-- --..:.s, ' VAL I do not deal in costumes, he said. I deal only in dis- guises. I was, for the moment, unable to grasp the point of differ- ence, but I asked to be shown Whatever he had. What would you wish to be? he inquired, wiping his spec- tacles Carefully and banishing them to his dark pocket. I don't know. What have you to offer? Welll, he paused and looked around, I can disguise you as a merchant, a doctor, a teacher, a policeman, or-an actorwor as almost anyone you wish to be, he concluded. By this time my curiosity was thoroughly aroused and I wanted a demonstration of his ability. I think I'd like to be an actor, I said. He frowned. That is rather difficult and I don't like to do it. Wouldn't you rather be a policeman? But I was determined. Well, he said reluctantly, lf you insist. I assured him I did, and he set to work. First, he said, you must get into the proper mood. You should read books on the Theatre. I have some here. I-Ie pulled a few books out of a drawer. Among them I could see a biography of Sarah Bernhardt and a copy of Nove Divadlof' It is very important, he went on, to believe you are an actor, to think and live as an actor. If you really want to con- vince yourself you should make the rounds of the theatrical agents each morning. You should drink beer at the Theatre Gardens and discuss with a patronizing air the performance of the star of the National Theatre and how much better you would do it if you had the part. You should stand in the rain, waiting on the bare possibility that you may be able to pur- chase a ticket in the third balcony to see him perform. Ah, he sighed and blew his nose savagely. Is that all there is to the disguise? I ventured to ask after he had mastered his sudden and surprising emotion. I-Ie pulled himself up. No. After you are in the right rnood, you will go to the shop of Pau Hlovek, the tailor, and get the right clothes. All actors used to gather in his shop and gossip and- he paused. Then in a firmer voice he concluded, Then I guarantee that you and all the others will think that you have always been an actor. He seemed to fall into a reverie and I did not disturb him. I took this opportunity to look around. There was not much to see. A heterogeneous collection of furniture was scattered about the small room. On a rack by the window were a number of mustaches. They, in common with the whole shop, had a de- jected appearance. The place and its proprietor seemed to me to be fantastic, unworldly. I wondered what had given him the idea for the business. What could I Smetana have once been? Surely he had not always been hidden away in this shop. I gazed idly at a few photographs upon the wall, photo- 14

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qllffif 'Ft- Lt ' 7' iw ' 2 7:i?!'..... .f Krxil- . 'I ,Mis 122' I VAL DISGUISES It was a little shop tucked away in a secluded section of old Prague. It was so small and weatherbeaten as to be hardly noticeable among the other small, weatherbeaten shops and houses that fromed the cobbled square. I would surely have passed it by had not the curious information on the small sign above the door attracted my attention. I. Smetanaf' it said, Dealer in Disguises Conceal your personality in one of my creations. I stepped up closer and attempted to peer through the window pane. All that I saw there was a wig or two, resembling nothing so much as a bird s nest I was greatly tempted to step inside and investigate this curious place of business, but at the top of the short flight of steps that led into the inner darkness of the shop, I hesitated What ex cuse could I possibly give for entering and not purchasing any thing? But extreme curiosity led me on, and I stepped into the gloomy interior. As I entered, I was assailed by a powerful cloud of tobacco smoke. While I stood there coughing, a cheery voice accosted me and a figure seemed to materialize from the shadows My eyes were becoming accustomed to the light, or rather lack of it, and as I replied to his greeting, I studied the man before me The proprietor was a man of medium height and age and of extreme thinness. His voice seemed strangely unfitted to him for it was a cheery voice of a man who might be described as fat and jolly. I idly wondered if he had not developed this tone of voice to conceal the sadness of his face and eyes eyes that were mild and blue but despairing. His mustache looked as if it had been many a day since it had felt the touch of a ministering hand. In answer to his inquiries, I said that I was going to a mas querade ball and was in need of a costume. I-Ie laid down his pipe and fumbled in the pocket of his rusty trousers for so long a time that I half expected him to produce a costume from that region. But all he took out was a pair of spectacles and bal ancing them precariously on his nose, he favored me with a glance of mild reproof.

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Wm tm .l A A: the ship as if it were a cork. The ocean continually washed the deck. Huge cracks appeared in the hulk. At nine the captain commanded all to the 'life-boats. The ship had to be abandoned. The sea had proved itself too power- ful an adversary. Ten found the lifeboats, perilously riding the waves. The lowering had been accomplished without much difficulty. Five of the crew were in each boat. The wireless operator had sig- nalled for help and already three steamers were rapidly approaching. At two A.M. the first steamer hove into sight. lt was a mat- ter of a few minutes before all the people were picked up. The captain sent them to the dining room in order to check the list. At the first count it was discovered that all were present or accounted for but one. A second re-check revealed that a cer- tain Iohn, last name illegible, was missing. HERMAN RosEN Y A W N I N G A yawn is something likely to occur to anybody, and like a concussion of the brain or a broken garter strap, it is usual for it to happen at the most inopportune moments. The proper control of a yawn is therefore a matter deserving some attention. In the privacy of the home, the worst hazard of yawning is the possible dislocation of the jaw, but at a social function it may prove more disastrous. Every effort, therefore, should be made to reduce the possibilities of a yawn to the minimum. If it is not more than a young and little yawn, it may sometimes be checked by the gritting of the teeth, and while holding the breath, counting slowly up to ten. If it turns out to be a big yawn, this process may prove dis- astrous. The yawn thwarted in its natural behavior will trickle out through the eyes, nose and roots of the hair and the yawner will break out into a cold perspiration which will betray him at once to every experienced eye. Maybe it is best to let the yawn take its natural course and cover it up as best may be. This may be done by placing one or more hands before the yawn as gracefully as possible. If both hands are occupied, as in dealing cards, the situation becomes more difficult. Possibly the best thing to do is to turn the yawn into a loud and hearty laugh. Amid the questioning glances that follow this hilarious out- burst, it is considered good taste to think up an adequate reason for this unexpected merriment. This may prove difficult but not quite so difficult as to explain a plain, unvarnished yawn to a suspicious group of friends or relatives. RALPH SCOPPA 1 9