Crazy But True

The stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. Apply this rule to men as well as to granite. Many there be whom the world casts outside of its circle, out of the circle of glamour, casts them out of its pleasures, recognizes them not as the one for whom they are looking, is not able to see through the disguise which is only apparent to one, the one whose duty is always just to remove the disguise, the mask that is seen to them only, removes it, makes bare to the world, discloses to them what they’re doing, proves to them in their folly, the pure gold that needs no refining, then with a gasp will the world take them into its arms, in unfeigned pleasure embrace them, then in the height of its glory the world proceeds to destroy them, making them think all the time, ‘tis them they always will worship, but the world in reality uses them just for a plaything, a toy for the moment novel, the next moment only plain rubbish, making them think, but in vain, that the world will forsake not, but as over the horizon another victim appeareth, another never yet tried, one who knows not the strength of his mettle, they forget all about the one with whom they were having their frolic, they have now no thought for him but off they go to the stranger, try their tricks upon him and forget all about the first one but he so lately accepted, accepted, amused and rejected, stands for a moment dazed but suddenly sees as a vision, at one time dim but now shining as clear as a cameo, brightness, the one who has stepped aside, the one in the days gone his helper, the one who showed him the world, who raised him out of the gutter, out of the gutter of gloom, the one who is patiently waiting with a gasp at his folly he turns and clasps her close to his bosom!

Written by Ida May Schaffer

December 1923

Age of 18