Bexley High School - Bexleo Yearbook (Bexley, OH)

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.y.u.15 .. .. THE TO RCH .. little black knobs and dials. I see you sit- ting at a desk. People are taking orders from you. All about you are models of radio and wireless sets. See, as I drop your leaf it gives out sparks as it hits the ground, see how it jumps and quivers! It is trying to speak of the great things you will do some da . If-Ial looked dazed and drew his queer toga about him closer. The seer passed on with another leaf in his hand. Every one feared lest he should stop before him. The seer walked on and halted before Betty! Ah, he smiles! Palm trees, a tall dark man, the sea, a beautiful southern home, children, servants all about you, black ones. But only remem- ber this. See the happiness which is yours. You have twice as much as most. See how large your leaf is. The riches of life and of plenty! Huh, I was thinking, the man is not so dumb when he picked up another leaf and started straight for me! I sank into my remarkably comfortable garment which re- sembled a sheet and longed for seven league boots. Ah this time he laughs! A dusty road, a hot day, the land called Argentina, a swartly, lazy family, a woman, you, a piano stool. Ah you have the gift of salesmanship! Many, many a piano stool shall find its way into the families of Ar- gentina through you. See your leaf is cov- ered with dust that means many a weary journey. But persevere, you shall succeed, you shall succeed. Oh why, I inwardly groaned, did I ever mention the desire I once had to sell piano stools in Argentina! The fates had taken me seriously! But I was soon for- gotten for the seer was next approaching Winifred with slow and stately tread. Papers, papers. Ah you are clever! See the leaf is covered with little sayings, verses, jokes, all in your handwriting. I hear your songs being sung, I see your poems read. Thank the fates for your talent. It lies not in every one. Not so brilliant it seemed to me for any- one that ever knew Winnie could have told him that. This time he stopped next to me. I turned my head. It was Ruth NVilkins. I see children all about you, all looking toward you and to you for knowledge. They love and respect you and you hold sway Page Twenty-sim over them by your personality and kindness. They have no fear of you but are ready to do your every bidding. There are thousands and thousands of children about you. Some day you shall be at the head of an immense school. How well that suits Ruth, I thought. I can just see her teaching, and how her pupils will love and admire her! The droning tone of the seer interrupted my thoughts. Eldridge was the unhappy victim this time. Streets, streets, busy streets. A man walking, walking, retracing his steps many many times. See, your leaf is covered with tiny footprints to and fro. You are selling something, you are explaining. You are the advertising manager of a big newspaper. Many, many disappointments are in store for you but perseverence will pull you through in the end. Some day you will be famous. Poor El! If that is true how many, many pairs of shoes he is doomed to wear out. The seer stops for no one it seems. In a twinkling of the eye he has picked up three leaves and stands before Gertrude, Eleanor Vagnier and Gladys Baughman, all huddled in a group. I hear the click, click, click of type- writers. Your leaves are grown together. You shall all pursue the same course and some day shall all work in the same oiiice, expert secretaries. You are all happy and are among the fortunate women who support themselves. You shall be dependent upon no one. Fortunate indeed! I wondered if I with my piano stools would ever be as much so! The seer picked up two leaves bound to- gether by a slim thread. With these in his hands he walked up to Eleanor Hayes and Helen Manly who happened to be sitting next to each other. For both I see paint and brushes but each shall use them differently. All about you are immense canvases on a stage. They are covered with beautiful scenes, all the fruit of your work. You shall be much in demand and your stage settings will be fa- mous over the world. Many many curtains will rise to display your talent which will be greeted with bursts of applause. You, turning to Helen, are sitting at a table.

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i THE T-ORCII Mm I.-..-..-..-...-.1--.--1--. Class Prophecy 'I i gang H QISQ i I I I I I L A L L.....-e -g - - gt- -C It had been a busy, bustling day and as I sat down that evening to study I realized that it was going to be an awful effort to get through yesterday's, today's, and tomor- row's Virgil, ninety lines in all Qample pun- ishment for my negligencel. I opened my book, grit my teeth and started out. It was a passage where the hero of the book con- sulted an oracle or prophet on an island to see what the future held for him and if at last he should find a country where he might put an end to l1is wanderings. It was inter- esting and all went well for a while. I could fairly see the cold hollow cave of the seer with his flowing beard. I could almost hear his incantations. I had a vivid picture of him gently casting leaves upon the floor fan ancient method of telling the futurej where a slight breeze entering the door might play upon them and disarrange them slightly from their original position. Then the ancient patriarch looked upon them with his wise eye and to him each little disarrangement spoke volumes. But interesting as it was, much to my own disgust the print began to swim before my eyes. I got up and tried another chair, I even walked around the house but my efforts were in vain. My head nodded, I felt it sinking lower and lower- and the gentle breeze played over them softly, I translated 'Ano human hand touched them, the leaves tluttered, settled, and all was quiet. And then spoke the seer, bending over each leaf -My head hit the table, I remember that, then all was peace for a moment until there came to my tired mind a queer frenzied nightmare, due perhaps to fatigue, perhaps to the beefsteak and lemon pie that had tasted so good at dinner. Maybe a physcolo- gist could explain why there appeared be- fore my mindis eye a picture Qhow I wish I could paint itj similar to the pictures you sec of the interior of the Roman Forum where the ancient orators sat in rows upon rows. their togas swathed about them and 1 -L- e..e- -,,--- c- -..I pondered weighty questions. This was not the Forum but seemed more like a rocky cave with crude seats encircling a flat place in the extreme center. In each seat sat a bundled figure, each eye was turned to the old man in the center scattering leaves upon the floor. I looked casually upon the audience CI was in the first rowj and then I looked again more closely and then I positively stared in astonishment. Above the white toga on my right rose the sweet face of Alice Neal topped by a perfect marcel as usual! Next to her was Eldridge Hayes, his big brown eyes all attention on the man with the leaves, then came Elise, then Bee, then Bob, then Betty, then Brick! Oh heavenly days! It was only a dream but on my deatllbed I shall remember the sight of the Class of '26 all solemnly arranged in a big circle, eacll member in a Hopping, bundling toga, every eye on the elderly gentleman on the flat smooth floor of the big dark cave, who canted strange cants and cast leaves gently about as a calm breeze entered through an open- ing on the side. All was deadly quiet except for the rustling of the leaves on the breeze, that ceased, all was still, every mouth opened slightly, every breath was held, the seer bent over and then- Oh Class of '26, take heed, I must warn, I must warn, for each of you there is danger ahead. For each there is happiness, each is about to enter on his great adventure, some shall wander long, some shall reach their ends soon, so very very soon, but I shall see, I shall see-U All this in a sing song tone, stroking his beard and shaking his head! The shivers creep even now when I think about it for dream as it was, it is still so clear and realistic in my mind that to me it is not half so ridiculous as it may sound. But to pro- ceed, the seer bending over the quiet leaves, slowly lifted one from the group and ap- proaching Hal he spoke. Nothing but wires, wires, wires, and Page Twenty-fiz'af

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5.n.u. - THE TO R c H--A .. U About you are pictures, posters, sketches. You are busy putting the finishing touches on a beautiful girl, a magazine cover. You are happy in your work. See your leaf is covered with beautiful gay, laughing colors. This prophecy gave me happiness, too, for who would not rejoice in the good fortune of the sweet willing Eleanor and the gentle Helen. The crowd bent over eagerly. The seer was in front of Beatrice. This would be in- teresting. Filth, filth, shaky stairs, sad people, tired eyes, crowded tenements , he fairly moaned and then his face light up. A little' woman, a ray of sunshine. People crowding about. A sweet smile but a business-like manner. You shall accomplish much as God's messen- ger of mercy to Jew and Gentile alike. The tenements of many, many a dark city will learn to bless your name. How like Bee! How wonderful that her dream should be fulfilled and beyond her wildest expectations. And now what did the future hold for Elise? A stage, lights, listening crowds. Upon the stage a dark graceful woman going splendidly through the lines of a diflicult role. I see much happiness for you, fame and praise but all through hard, hard work. Things will not come to you easily, you must climb every step of the ladder of success and each step will cause you pain and ef- fort.', Oh well , I thought Nooky can work and will give everything she has. I can hardly wait to see her on the stage. But the sage was sadly shaking his head over Chester's leaf. You are lonely. I see you alone with one man servant, surrounded by luxury but without the companionship of anyone. You live by yourself in your bachelor quarters, satisfied with yourself and your lot. You do not know what you are missing for you have never loved nor ever will. But you are not the only one. Across the hall from you are two just like you except that in their solitude they live together and pursue their businesses together. They are Charles and Fred,', turning to them. I see instruments all about you. Long, odd shaped rods and thick glasses. You seem to be counting the stars of the heavens. One talks while the other writes. Many many books surround you while you work, each bearing your names. I cannot see whether you will be famous or not, but in your bachelor quarters you shall make many observations and shall quarrel much. How typical of Charlie and Freddie! They never did have much use for girls, but Chet! Imagine Chet a bachelor living alone! Strange things do happen. The seer seemed puzzled. He stopped be- fore Norma and peered long and intently at the leaf in his hand. Balls, big brown ones, small white ones, soft ones, hard ones, bats, baskets, nets, rackets. I see you at the head of big classes, you are counting, one, two, three. They bend, they sway, they jump. I see you again running about hitting the ball across the nets. There are great crowds about you cheering. Your ability in physical prowess shall get you far.', Norm always was a star athlete. Mention any game and she could play it. It seems she always will be so. The old man stooped over the remaining leaves. He picked them up. All seemed to be bound together in a sort of garland. He smiled and held them up. VVho owns these leaves shall all come to the same fate, marriage. After all, it is the best fate in store for anyone. Stand, my children, let us see who of the Class of ,26 shall enter holy wedlockf' Oh, the crowd that stood! Clyde, Cathryn, Alice, Marguerite, Esther, Jimmie, Caroline, Bob, Bill, Eppie, and many others all got up easily and stood smiling. I struggled to rise but something held me back. I kicked and squirmed but try as I would I couldn't budge. VVhat? An Piano stools in How cruel the again and tore frenzy. The next thing I knew I was shak- ing my head wildly over my Virgil book and tearing out page after page. Oh what a nightmare! Far worse than pink ele- phants or green snakes. If fatigue could make me see myself selling piano stools, or Charles and Freddie star gazing, I resolved to loaf all my life henceforth or swear off of beefsteak and lemon pie, whichever might be responsible. old maid? Never, never! Argentina and an old maid! fates could bc. I struggled at my entangling toga in a -FRANCES HOLTZMAN. Page Twenty-seven