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“Mystery of Life”
by William Haywood
JAMES CUYLER stepped gingerly into the room and glanced about anxiously, though withal eagerly. He couldn’t have stayed away if he had wanted to. The joyous party of his friends was too strong a call to resist. He was anxious because they might recognize him and he felt rather old and unwanted at sixty-four and no longer the musical comedy favorite he used to be. But apparently no one had noticed his entrance, so he chose a seat at a table in the farthest corner and looked with sparkling eyes on the festivities.
There were many bright spots on the program, and the performers were all good, for this was a party which was attended by the best talent of the stage.
His heart skipped a beat then, for he met the eyes of the master-of-ceremonies, a young man he knew quite well, an up-and-coming youngster of fine ability. He was waving now and Jim Cuyler waved feebly in reply. His heart pounded like a trip-hammer. The Fellow was beckoning him, and turning, spoke something which Jim missed in a spatter of applause.
All eyes were directed his way, and his heart nearly choked him, it seemed. He rose unsteadily for the first time in a long, hard career. He cleared his throat. There came a call for a song. He shook his head weakly, but there was no refusing them. He walked to the platform, gazed out over the eager faces; many of them he knew and loved.
Silence came over the room. His soul and heart went into the song. Never before had they heard the words sung that way. “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life.” The notes, bell-like and sweet, sang through the room. The years fell away as a coat cast off. His voice rose in volume, and hung on one last, sweet tone.
There was a moment of quiet, a quick burst of spontaneous applause, – and then a gasp.
An old man on the platform had fallen. He lay couched in the arms of his comrades. His heart had gone out with the soaring notes of the song. James Cuyler was dead, a smile of joy on his lips.
“Hits and Bits”
by Francis W. Miller
And so the battle rages – Nagel vs. Noel.
Fred Nagel is anything but consistent in his arguments. In Oct. Items we find him defending his right to call a ticket “Official” by stating that the Constitution does not expressly forbid his doing so.
Yet, in the same issue, Fred announces his plan to oust Noel because of his “flagrant violations of the Constitution.” – It happens that Dr. Noel’s questionable activities are not specifically prohibited by the Constitution, either.
The Nov. issue of the Amaranth – another one of those papers which appear only when there is some political question to wrangle over – attempts to vindicate Dr. Noel. But, like the United Pioneer, it sets out to accomplish this by attacking Nagel and NAPA politicians in general.
It’s about time that Dr. Noel and Roy Erford woke up to the fact that the NAPA scare is just about worn out. We no longer tremble at its mention.
Why, Art Larson, did you hold back the Sept. issue of this paper, so that it was not distributed in the Sept. bundle?
RESOLVED: That UAPA editors or publishers should furnish the Mailing Bureau with sufficient copies of each issue of their respective journals to cover a complete membership mailing.
Since our amateur journals provide the field for literary and editorial expression, to unite our membership in its common interest – Amateur Journalism – it would seem that every editor or publisher who has the welfare of the United at heart, should readily support this resolution.
The present confusion and lack of entire representation of our more than 130 amateur periodicals (according to Haggerty’s Year Book) is obnoxious to the least member. The collector must meet quarterly disappointments to find some journal missing from his anticipated bundle. If he writes to the several editors for copies, the postage expense is prohibitive. New members soon lose interest in an organization which is forgetful of their welfare.
Receipt of the quarterly bundle quickens interest in the UAPA. Would not a 100% representation likewise stimulate a stronger United?
Some remedy must be forth-coming; for without progress toward a United in its basic principle – encouragement of amateur journalism – we face deterioration. The United must go forward.
– Tom Maynard
Edited by Francis W. Miller, Arlington, Mass.
Member U.A.P.A. and N.E.A.P.C.
Printed by Irwin O. Brandt, Greenville, Ohio.