1969 School Magazine

Sflherever we go we are pursued, whatever we uy to think the last reserves of privacy in our minds ate invaded. We ate things, we react as we ate told when we ate told, and we spend our lives in a frantic quest after things we have nevet really needed. Somewhere in sleek carpeted offices we are meticulously, dispassionately observed and analysed. Our desires and reactions have been recorded to the last tremor. The best psy- chologists work with the most competent and inventive commercial artists, publicity writers and purchasable composers to produce one over- whelming assault on us as audience; an assault planned as carefully as a military campaign, its object being the subtle infiltration and total in- vasion of ourselves a silent bloodless coup. \ilfle see something beautiful and desirable a world ure long to enter; a world where physical beauty of surroundings releases in ourselves a response of longing. It is a wodd where hurnan beings are always beautiful, houses luxurious, clothes perfect and hairstyles impeccable. And the gentle voice whispers y€s, you can be like this, we know this is what you want. Sile can help you. It is so simple, all we want is your money. Come too be hrppy this is you. The coup is c'omplete; we have not even noticed our flae being pulled down, but we no longet belong to ourselves. S7e have become the voice. So now that our very selves have become a conglomeration of ideal images from the external world, each glittering image associated with a product; nour that our very ideals, in the depths of our minds, can be changed for us without our rcalization now, where do we go? Is there still time? Can anything change? Or have we lost the selves that we called souls? _ C. GREAVES 1VB)

"R'oNNIE'ro*rro

(vD)

'HANN.N R* --E* *** *ff"y Every d^y ure spoke to him. His hair was black and shiny with grease. Once a week he bathed, leaving his skin a dark, olive colour. Usually, however, big dirty patches covered his skin, and his clothes \r/ere stained and covered with rips. He was quite lean but unusually strong for his small stature. Chewing gum seemed to be his favourite occupation, as would sit in the dim sunlight and chew his precious bundle for hours. He used to shove his hands into his pockets when he saw a neighbouring "toughie" slouching near us. He talked in broken English, but when ex- cited he would burst into Italian. He had a charming personality and would enthrall us for hours, telling about his wicked ancestors or his latest misdeeds. \X/hen he laughed, his whole body quivered. His eyes shone like stars, his face lit up, his lips spread in a wide grin stretching frorn ear to ear. Sometimes when he was quiet, his big, brown eyes would be solemn, his chin cupped in his hands and he would stare at the sky, as if trying to discover why the stars were in the sky. After tFrree weeks we left, leaving behind us, the young child, who had entertained us bv his nature alone. Some- times bright and sunny, sometimes thoughtful, he was a lovable Italian boy. - BELINDA COSSINS (rIIC)

!-a S4*rauanrd--

Page Forty-Five