Newspapers / Bennett College Student Newspaper / Feb. 22, 1955, edition 1 / Page 3
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Febru n-y 22, 1955 THE BENNETT BANNER Page Three Could This Be Reality? It was a dark rainy night and i stead. I was given icy and almost weren't Mr. Hill and Dr. Wilson as Eve trudged along the dimly lit street, she began to think about the weird circumstances that had necessitated her hasty departure from Briarwood School that morn ing. “The day began like any other day. I was awakened by the jang ling of mv alarm clock at the usual time, and got out of bed in my usual sluggish way and auto matically went through the motions of preparing to go to school. hostile stares by the students in at all, they were aliens too! Could the room. this be reality? Is the earth being As I sat down at my desk and taken over by invaders from an- looked around the classroom, I other world? These frightening got the same feeling that I had ; thoughts and the shock of this new gotten on the bus: the feeling that I discovery were too much for my there was something strange and , overwrought nerves and I felt my incomprehensible near me. Sud denly. I realized what it was! An electric current of fear coursed through by body as I became aware of the fact that the children In the room with me are not children at T was still half-asleep as I walk- | all, but alien creatures who have assumed the identity of my stu dents. It was as though a veil had ed down the stairs with my eyes glazed and my eye lids dropping Then, suddenly, I got dizzy, and T wasn’t walking anymore, I was floating: floating down, down, down into a deep dark abyss. I grabbed the banister and held on until I regained my equibilibrium. And then I was again descending the .stairs. I was becoming more wide awake as I sniffed the morn ing smells in the air: steaming coffee and other breakfast smells mingled with the fresh sweet air of early morning. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I glanced at the stately old grandfather’s clock which stood in the hall of the boarding house in \Vhich I lived. It’s almost eight- fifteen and I’m due at school in fifteen minutes. I have just enough time to gulp a cup of coffee and then I’ll have to run. Principal Hill permits no tardiness at Briarwood. I was just in time to catch the eight-twenty bus which contained its usual quota of assorted passen gers: little boys and girls who made the same faces and screeched at each other as they did on other “Tnorniiigs, liie small qulei, looking rtian who was hiding behind his paper as he did every day at this time, and the fashionable (but gos sipy) secretaries and stenographers who were also regular passengers. As I stood (all seats were taken) looking at this ill-sorted bunch, I became aware of the fact that though this is the same bus I ride every morning and these are the same people, there is something about them that is both strange and frightening. I can’t quite fig ure it out. Well, no matter, I real ly don’t have time to because I get off at this corner. self sinking slowly into the ob livion of unconsciousness. When I awoke, I was lying on the bed in the school clinic. I could hear the sound of voices, distant and yet, near. I couldn’t under stand all that they were saying but I caught the words “done away with.” I didn’t wait to hear more been lifted enabling me to see ' but bolted from the bed and jump- Ihese aliens as they really were, I ed through the open window and horrible creatures in human guise. ! on to the ground two or three feet Oniy The Styles Change As I pulled the trigger the noise the devil was he anyway? He talked My first impulse was to run and to keep running until I was out of the reach of these strange and terrible beings. But my nobler in stinct told me that it was my duty to rid mankind of them. With much effort, I composed myself and in a pseudo-normal manner, pretend ed to be cold and closed all the windows in the room, and while closing the one nearest the eas heater, I turned the gas on with the toe of my shoe, hoping that I would be seen doing so. After a reasonable length of time, five minutes at the most. I again said that I was cold and left the room to get my coat which was hanging in the hall. As soon as I left the room, (closing the door carefully behind me), I raced dojyn the hall to the principal’s office and breath lessly told hini of my bizarre ex perience. He said “there, there Miss Russell, you just sit there and rest, you have had a harrow ing ordeal. I’H get you a glass of water,” and with this, he left the room. I sat down weakly, relieved to know that the inhuman beings I had just left were being swiftly asphyxiated in the now gas-filled room. below. Then I ran until, completely exhausted, I collapsed near a de serted building at the edge of the city. I was awakened by the falling of i-ain on my face. And now, as I trudge along the dark streets of this god-forsaken town. I wonder what has brought me to this wretched state. The crumpled newspaper at my feet bears the headline “Mad Woman Sought for the Murder of Twenty Students.” How dare they accuse me of mur der. I was only doing my duty as I saw it, ju«t as I did last year in Springfield. I swore then that 1 would kill everyone of those hor rible creatures whenever I found them. What’s that 1 hear? A car. and men dressed in white. And they’re coming this way. I’ll run. I’ll es cape from them again. I’ve got to get away. I’ve got to get awav! o Worn-Out Words To some people, everything they like is either good or swell; every thing they dislike is either bad or awful. Though such words are good. After a few minutes had elapsed, ^ jjjey can get awful tired and tiring! Mr. Hill returned with the water, and behind him came Dr. Wilson the school physician. But thej^ [he Greeks Had a Word For It So many Greek words and roots | following. I entered the room quietly, and appear in English words that one I 1- ^ baseball game Make a list of at least fifteen ad jectives that express approval. Then make a similar list to express disap proval. (Examples: aromatic, color- ! ful, mellifluous, noisome, cacopho- ! nous, bitter, delicious, murky) I Choose one word from each of I your lists to describe accurately expected to be greeted in the us ual way. with good morning and a few half-hearted inquiries as to the state of my health. But in- FOCUSING TOMU The Tomu Club was organized to give individual instruction to girls interested in learning th" operating techniques of audio visual aid equipment. The name of this club was derived from the first letter of each of the last four words of Tomu’s motto: “That Others Might Understand.” The club’s sphere encircles a wider territory than that of class room procedure. Its members are called upon daily to various class es, and on many occasions, the should recognize a few of them. For each Greek word below, sev eral English descendants are given. Use a good dictionary. Try to find English cousins for each family. 1. gamos, marriage: bigamy, mo nogamy, polygamy 2. genos, race: gene, genesis, ge nealogy, endogenous 3. derma, skin: epidermis, pachy derm, dermatology 4. grapho, write: autograph, gra phic, telegram, anagram, dia gram 5. logos, a saying: analogue, dia logue, catalogue, logic, mono logue, zoology, theology ff For a Child If I could grow and not be old, entire Bennett family receives the If I could wald and not be cold, educational and leisurely benefits ^ If I could sing for a length of of this group. At present, the i time girls are planning to visit a down- | Or write poems that would alway? town theatre in order to observe j rhyme the operation of more powerful I If everyone I could please 2. a book 3. an acquaintance 4. a dancing party 5. a singer’s voice 6. a lecture 7. an apple 8. the weather . 9. a necktie 10. a child movie projectors. On January 26, Tomu sponsor ed the Mid-Week Vesper program featuring the Ten Commandments for 1955. The executive cabinet comprises Margaret McCormick, president; Ruby Thomas, vice-president; Charlotte Brown, secretary; and Juliette Walker, treasurer. A Tree Has the Will To Live Vera Kernodle The courage of a mighty lion, The faith of a hundred bees; The hope of a high and strong mountain, A prayer to ask of thee. Blest be the tree of these Who hath the will to live. When the mighty storms are raging. When the snows and rains are strong; When the ice has clothed it deeply. When everything has gone wrong. Blest be the tree for standing And keeping the will to live. Then I’m sure I’d be at ease. If I could study and never tire. If I could knit by the fire. And take exams without a fear Instead of always shedding a tear, j it has hard times from end to end. If everyone I could please | Blest be the tree of determination Then I’m sure I would always be | For having the will to live It never gives up to hard battles. It never gives way until the end; It does not grieve because of trials. sounded like an atom bomb, instead of a miniature presentation of it. It was just a small bullet though, smaller even than those in kid’s holster sets. It had done its duty easily—more easily than I had even thought it would. Almost too easily, as if the devil had had a hand in the swiftness of its charge. It was all over so quickly. Tony sprawled ou. and blood running into the gut ter that fast! Glad I didn't have to clean it up though. 1 felt kind of funny walking off and leaving him, with his eyes staring up into the sky, looking up at God, so to speak. Well, that was one place he'd never be found. That was one place I'd nevsr be found either, come to think of it. Still, Heaven should open its gates to me for getting rid of Tony. And I had a right to do it, the way he had treated me. I had to get out of that alley though. It seemed as if I could smell blood and death already. I could feel the sweat drops hitting my ribs one by one, like ice water; t began to get panicky then and started to run. I couldn’t see and the dark was choking the life out of me. Everywhere I looked I could see red. Suddenly, I stopped, my entire body a throbbing heart that I couldn’t control. I saw the faint glow of a light coming from some where. I jumped back into the shadows and stood tautly there un til I realized that it was only the light from the street playing hide and seek with the alley. In my re lief, I remembered I still carried the gun in my hand. I slipped it into my pants pocket and telt it slither into place. Then I tried to swallow and stop my heart, and went out into the street. It was empty, except for one man leaning against the lamppost, his hat on the back of his head, enjoying a ciga rette. He looked like a cross be tween an undertaker and a hang man except that he was too ■luave, too much of a nonchalant. He didn’t even look around when I came out, so I started on down the street the other way. ‘So you killed him, huh.” I whipped around and stared at him. The cold sweat was making its course again. He was still staring straight ahead and it was begin ning to think my conscience had come on the scene. “Didn’t think you’d have the nerve to do it, old chap, but I see you made it. Tony was rather ter rible, I’ll admit, even worse than you.” “What,” jumped out of my mouth as I gaped at him. Who was he? I had never seen him before. And besides, how could he know I had killed Tony. He hadn’t been there. I couldn't think of anything but killing him too and I began to draw out my gun. He was still looking straight in front of him and I could shoot him in the back of the head easily. “Don’t bother,” he said indiffer ently, “you can make it with one dead man. And besides 1 won’t die anyway so don’t waste good bul lets”. ‘Who in Gcd’s name are you,” I whispered in panic. “Well,” he laughed dryly. “In Gcd’s name I'm Lucifer. But I couldn’t stand it, so when I became my own boss I changed it to Satan. I rather think it has more class. You know, more zip.” Then he turned and looked at me. I was trembling so violently that I was swaying. I wanted to leave! walk! run! just get away somehow! but I couldn’t move. English, but it was a cross between British and American Knglish with some French, German, Russian, and Chineses accents all mixed up to gether. He was sitting beside me and it made me shiver all over to think of his touching me. ■‘Who the devil are you” I said again. “That's it!” He laughed jovially. “That’s it. I'm the devil.” His face crinkled in mirth and liis little black moustache seemed to bristle with glee. I didn’t know what he was talking about, but all 1 could say was: “But the devil wears a red suit.” “I say old chap,” he replied. “Who do you think I am anyway. Little Orphan Annie or somebody. Styles have changed. I don’t wear red anymore. I wear whatever man wears.” Then he added: “But, how do you feel now. It’s time for us to be getting back you know.” “Back, back where. I don’t have anywhere to go. I’m a free man now. I choose my own hours.” “Well, yes. In a way you’re free. Free of Tony anyway. At least tem porarily. But do you think you’re not beholden to anybody? After all you’re just a man, old chap.” I began to get angry then. “Well see here, whoever wou are . . .” “The devil, thank you.” “All right but anyway see here! You’re only a man yourself. You can’t tell me what to do. What do you think I got rid of Tony for, just to have you treat me in the same way. I’ve had enough of your crazy talk, devil, and I’m going home. You can go to the police if you wish to, but they’ll never be lieve you as crazy as you’re talking now.” ' “Why my, good fellow.” he. said in his hearty way. “I don't deal with the police, I deal with God. I'll go to him if you wish. But I heardly thin he’ll take you now, unless he's changed considerably.” And he chuckled to himself. 1 didn’t know what to do. 1 felt like I was burning up, but I could still feel the cold sweat all over me. I looked up and down the street i for help, but not a soul was in sight. |I could hear the stillness broken I only by the devil, or whoever he was, whistling! “There’s no hiding place down here.” I heard someone panting and realized it was me. Then I bounded to my feet and tried to run. I had to get away from him. He was staring at me—■ staring through me, with all his cool indifference. My insides were busy tying Boy Scout knots and my head was beating in 4/4 time. “To hell with you!” I tore from my throat. “To Hell with both of us,” he said calmly, and caught me by the wrist. As we turned to go I saw a red tail slash out from under his black coat. Barbara R. Brown at ease. Winter Leadership Conference Convenes The Mid-Winter Student Leader ship Conference will convene on February 20 and continue through February 22. All meetings will be held in the Student Lounge, Stu dent Union Building from 7-8 p. m. The theme, “Continued Growth Through Responsible Participa tion, will be divided into the fol lowing sub-topics: “Emphasis on the Problems and Techniques of Leadership,” “Emphasis on Parti- ‘‘Sit down fellow,” he said, you (.jpation,” and Emphasis on Fi- d n’t seem to be feeling so well.” Budgeting.” He took me by the arm, over j - ■ to the curb where I sat down and | 'ried to think. He had sounded like A city house is unlikely to be j And may it forever stand and give he was crazy. Yet he talked about struck by lightning more than once Muriel W. Darrell To man a sense of the four! me and Tony as If he knew us. Who in one thousand years.
Bennett College Student Newspaper
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Feb. 22, 1955, edition 1
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