Annie Wright School - Shield Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

Page 28 text:

26 H Y A K Mrs. C. : Then it is a very simple matter. By the modern electrical horoscope machine, on which I have made some important improve- ments, a complete horoscope can be produced almost instaneously. You see, I punch the day, month and year on separate cards, put each card into a separate compartment, connect up the machine, and presto ! here is Lydia’s horoscope. Mrs. G. : Successful inventor, wins fortune, famous musician. Well, what do you think of that! Little Lydia! Mrs. C. : The last that 1 heard of her, she was trying to make a sort of spun-glass veil for motorists; that must be the successful invention that made her fortune. Mrs. G. : And now she’s a famous violinist! She must be touring Europe, I suppose; I haven’t heard of her in this country. How I wish I could see her ! Mrs. C. : That is quite possible, by means of my art. Look behind you at that plain, ordinary-looking mirror. Now watch. (Places tripod before mirror, and sets upon it a censer, which she lights; she scatters a powder over the flame, causing its color to change.) I summon up the visible presence of Lydia Lowell. (Apparition in mirror.) Mrs. G.: Oh! how perfectly wonderful! (Figure vanishes.) That was Lydia, certainly, and did you notice that fine old viorin ? Some fam- ous Stradivarius, I dare say, that cost her thousands of dollars. It’s well she made a fortune. Mrs. C. : Have you the names of all the class in your birthday book? We might call them all up in turn. Mrs. G. : Oh, do! I think I have every one. I have just looked up Harriet Andrews. (Business of horoscope casting as before.) Mrs. C. : So Harriet is famous also, it seems. Mrs. G. : A famous actress, a great tragedian! Oh, let’s see her in the mirror! (Business of mirror as before. Apparition costumed as Lady Macbeth.) Mrs. C. : Let me see that horoscope again. She is to receive honors from crowned heads, did you notice! Mrs. G. : Think of it! Well, let’s find out about Edith Eaton. (Business of horoscope.) Mrs. C.: Many years of study, in this country and in foreign lands; then she becomes an eminent educator, the head of some great institu- tion. I suppose that means that she is president of some women’s college. Mrs. G.: Well, let’s have a look at her. (Business of mirror. Ap- parition in academic robes.) Mrs. C. : Doesn’t she look distinguished? I’m proud to have known her, aren’t you?

Page 27 text:

H Y A K 25 possible? I am so glad to see you. Mrs. C. : And I am sure I couldn’t wish for a greater pleasure than to see an old classmate of mine again. Do sit down and we wdll have one long chat over olden times. It does seem so good to see you again. How did your plans pan out? Don’t you remember how you talked of home-life on a poultry farm? Now tell me all about yourself, won’t you. Mrs. G. : Well, you know I always had a streak of giddiness in me, and you may remember that I often expressed my desire, jokingly, to travel with a circus, although I w T as quite sincere when speaking of my farm. It so happened that a circus came out to South Tacoma, soon after I left school, and I w T as persuaded by one of the performers, whose acquaintance I chanced to make, to join their merry crowd. My parents were broken-hearted over it, but I was right in my element. I made a grand success, so they say, as ballet dancer and tight rope walker, until I met Mr. Guggenheimer, which was quite a romance. Of course, he didn’t like to have me in such a public life, and finally he persuaded me to give it up and retire to farm life with him. So I am now happily located on a poultry farm near Steilacoom and as contented as possible. You must come to see me some time. But how does it happen that you have turned out to be such a genius? Mrs. C. : It would be one long story if I should tell you all, Mary dear, but in short, immediately after leaving school I went abroad for several years, and during my travels I met a Mr. Chesterfield, a wealthy Englishman, whom I married soon after my return to America. We lived happily for four years, but he became dissatisfied with me, because after I became enthusiastic over astrology, I did not care to go out with him as much as I had been doing. Alter a good deal of unpleasantness we decided to separate, so I took up the profession of astrology, with which I am more than delighted, and am making such a success of it. I now have a large class under me. Mrs. G.: Iam so glad to hear of your being so successful and hope you continue so. Mrs. C. : Thank you. But tell me, do you ever hear from any of the girls who were in our class at the Sem.? Mrs. G.: I haven’t heard directly from any one of them in year To tell the truth, it was about one of them that I came to consult you this afternoon ; Lydia Low T ell, she was such a dear friend of mine, you know. Mrs. C. : Do you remember when her birthday comes and just how old she is? Mrs. G. : Just one minute. I brought my old birthday book along Now let me see; yes, here it is. She was born August 31, ’91.

Page 29 text:

HYAK 27 Mrs. G. : Yes, indeed. And now here is Ruth’s date (Business of horoscope.) Mrs. C. : Well, there doesn’t seem to be much about Ruth Foss ex- cept that she is married, and quite wealthy. We’ll try the mirror. (Business of mirror. Apparition in motor costume, aeroplane in back- ground, bearing name “Lester.”) Mrs. G. : So she has gone in for flying machines. Well, she cer- tainly looked as if she was enjoying herself. Now, what about Jessie Hatch? (Business of horoscope.) Mrs. C. : Jessie is married, and wealthy, and devoted to charity; has founded some sort of charitable institution. (Business of mirror. Apparition with group of little children in uniform.) Mrs. G. : The institution seems to be a children’s home. Isn’t that splendid! Let’s see about Catherine Hill. (Business of horoscope.) Mrs. C. : She seems to have had a pretty hard time. Slip ' s been married, and left a widow with a family to support, and has opened some sort of a shop for a living for them. (Business of mirror. Appar- ition in white jacket and apron, with razor poised. The top of a long chair showing.) Mrs. G. : Well, hurrah for Catherine! I’m proud of her, and wish her all success. I wonder what sort of time Ethel Levin is having. (Business of horoscope.) Mrs. C. : She makes politics her career, and has attained some high position, a sort of commanding or controlling position. (Business of mirror. Apparition standing behind pulpit-like desk, holding gavel.) Mrs. G. : She must have gone to some equal franchise state, for she seems to be speaker of one of the houses of the legislature. That would just suit Ethel. I don’t believe Lorraine has gone in for politics. (Business of horoscope.) Mrs. C. : No, hers is a musical career, light opera or musical comedy, I should think. (Business of mirror. Apparition in showy street garb, in background theatrical poster, on which are distinctly visible “500 Nights in New York,’ “Bean Van Noyes,” “Mile. Lorraine de la Page.” Mrs. G. : What was that at the bottom of the poster about a song- hit? Mrs. C. : “Love song in waltz time,” I make it; “The Dickie Bird.” Mrs. G. : So Loraine is a prima donna ! And what is Sadie? I know that she went abroad to study music, and I heard that she returned to this country for a vacation, after several years’ study, and that an Italian count followed her, and was very devoted. (Business of horo- scope.) Mrs. C. : Apparently she has become a noted pianist, giving con