James Hopper

Name: The Night School
Author: James Hopper

The Night School (1914)

Summary

“The Night School”, published in 1914, is a work by James Hopper. It explores elements such as Dorman, beat and drum.

Quotes from The Night School (James Hopper)

James Hopper, The Night School (1914)

“ I knew now what had been ailing my life.
"Here is Keating," said Dorman. "Watch him; he is always funny."
To the stairs came a hunchback boy. He toiled up with much labor, but did not know that he toiled, for his eyes were ahead, far, amid vapory visions; beneath his cap his hair was like a wreath of gold.
"He wrote verse, and he starved," said Dorman. "I have his book in the library; it is funny."
The poet boy toiled up uncertainly. He zigzagged a bit from side to side; the cries of the women teachers eddied over him; he slowed up the line and disordered the march; his eyes were far. ”

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Source: Wikisource

James Hopper, The Night School (1914)

“ A drum began to beat, and the little ones marched into school. The many little feet stamped the ground together; the lines flowed forward. They coiled, straightened, rose, and slid like ribbons into the yawning portals. The drum, beat; the little feet tramped, tramped, tramped, along halls, up flights of stairs; the whole building trembled to the tremendous unison of their light, firm tread ”

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Source: Wikisource

James Hopper, The Night School (1914)

“ The stairs shook, the frail building trembled, the night was rhythmic with the soft beat of their feet. The drum beat, they passed, and still the vastness to the south palpitated obscurely with unnumbered reserves. Above the basic rumor the cries of the women were sharp.
"It is our class coming now—our own class," said a voice within the room.
I turned toward it. Dorman was at the window next to mine. Seated in his rich, red arm-chair, he was looking as I looked, his brow against the pane.
"How our class? How our class?" I said peevishly.
"It is our class; you see if it is not our class." ”

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Source: Wikisource

James Hopper, The Night School (1914)

“ When it had ceased with a last rattle of clapper, a drum began to beat. Feet marched to the beat, many of them, light feet, marching a little shufflingly. I could hear their passing from crunched gravel to a resonance of hollow wood; they united in a rhythmic murmur, above which, like gulls eddying over the sea, sharp cries of command hovered, female cries, of women. ”

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Source: Wikisource

James Hopper, The Night School (1914)

“ Up the other stairs, which we could not see, I guessed that the girls were passing, and I knew that among them was a frail, blue-eyed girl—ah, how well I remembered her!
"But," I said, "all those you tell me of have died."
From his window Dorman said:
"I have noticed that. All those that pass here have died." He added after a moment: "And all those with whom we went to school pass here. The class is almost complete."
And still they passed, and still Dorman told them off. Some had been poor, some had been rich; some had been comic, and some tragic; but all had died. ”

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Source: Wikisource

James Hopper, The Night School (1914)

“ The drum stopped beating; there was a silence. I left my window and, going up to Dorman, placed a friendly hand upon his shoulder. And he was dead—dead there in his rich, red arm-chair, his brow still upon the cold pane.
I think I shall stay here always, and stand at the window at night, till out of the vague region to the south I see a boy come running—a last late boy come running to join his dear comrades. ”

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Source: Wikisource

James Hopper, The Night School (1914)

“ A length of it was still on the stairs, but the yard behind was already empty.
"It is the end," I said.
"Yes," he answered. "They have all passed now; our class is always the last."
"But wait," I said, "here comes another boy, I think."
"Are you sure?" said Dorman. "I have not missed any one."
"Yes, yes, I am sure."
From the vague somberness to the south a dim form was flitting toward us. It neared. It was a boy, running very fast, his books under his arm, his cap in hand.
"But who is that boy? Who is that boy?" Dorman murmured. ”

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Source: Wikisource

James Hopper, The Night School (1914)

“ His hand was still on my arm, his eyes were on my eyes.
"You have a wife, children?" he asked.
"I have had a wife; I have no wife," I answered. "I have had children; I have no children."
"I have never had either wife or children," he said. ”

James Hopper

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Quotes from The Night School (James Hopper)

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