Clearwater High School - Aqua Clara Yearbook (Clearwater, FL)

Page 30 text:

made their money and settled down on this place. They had gotten tired of the monotonous farm life and had started the tea-room. They m rw had taken Mamie Ella into partnership with them, and I was glad to know they were making good. We were again in a famous opera house. ’Mid hand-clapping and much applause the curtain rose for the encore of a well known pianist. The great house was suddenly hushed by the entrance of the artist, whom I at once recognized as Marjorie Cordier, our pianist of High School days. She played to the hearts of her audience ; starting like a gentle brook the music swelled into a stream and finally a torrent of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring notes I believe I have ever heard. When she had finished her recital she received the applause of every hearer, and a call of “Encore !” rang throughout the house. However, the next number on the program was placed before us and as the curtain rose it disclosed the dazzling brilliance of the season’s most brilliant prima donna. That wonderful voice rose full and strong until it filled the whole room with its clearness, then slowly it grew softer and softer until it reminded me of a quiet breeze. When the last note had died away the great opera house broke into cheer after cheer for the great singer, and not until she stepped gracefully up to the front of the stage to receive the floral tributes and make her bow could I seem to realize fully that this great prima donna was Stanley. We were watching the construction of a great subway in the down- town section of New York. It had been in the papers for weeks, I heard a man next to us say, and the work was under the very competent control of Consulting Engineer W. A. Smith. I knew at once this must be my old chum and classmate, Wayne Smith, and was glad his dream of becoming a great engineer some day had come true. I heard the strains of a near-by orchestra, and being curious to know what was happening, I entered the room, a dancing studio, and there in all his dignity and tallness was Tom Branning, instructing his class in the latest steps, and teaching some would-be waltzers how to get the right swing. I had no trouble recognizing him, as he looked the same as in High School days. % The next one of the class to come before me was Ruth Jett, who held a position as head stenographer in a law office not far from the central part of a large American metropolis. On entering the office we could tell it was her bv her quick way and bearing, also that ever-present smile. We were away up on the Blue Ridge mountains, far from the noise of the citv. and had been noticing signs reading toward a famous sani- tarium. On arriving here to stay and look over the place, I read this over the entrance: “Mountain Breeze Sanitarium, Davis Graham, Managers.” Of course I knew at once it must be Annie and Zelwyn, and knew that thev would become famous. We had traveled many miles and were now down out of the moun- tains speeding across the desert to the more fertile ranges beyond, where we found an immense ranch consisting of rolling acres of fertile m rw mm®- Twenty-eight m

Page 29 text:

there was no joy in Cleveland, for Fussell, the star right fielder of Ne York, had knocked the cover off the ball. We next visited a famous art studio, where row after row of draw- ings and paintings were disclosed to our view. I wondered what a gallery of this kind would have to do with any of niv C. H. S. class- mates, and then the mystery was solved. I heard someone next to me say: “See, there is the drawing that won the first prize, done by the most famous artist in America. Her name was Bishop before she was married.” It was indeed a wonderful piece of art, and I was very proud to think that “Dot,” as she was known by her classmates, had won first prize. I next heard a feminine voice setting forth her idea of a certain bill which was before the Senate. On looking up I was forced to suppress a yell of delight when I saw standing before me addressing that great assemblage of men and women, none other than Eleanor Gage, and doing it just as if she was talking to the Senior class back in the old days. Eleanor always was interested in politics, and so I knew that bill would become a law. Why was everything so still in this building? I soon discovered the reason for it. We were entering a hospital ward. Walking down between the rows of beds on which lay those who were suffering from some disease or waiting to undergo an operation, or perhaps getting over the effects of one who should I see but Margaret Jacobs, whom I later discovered w s t e head nurse, and why, there were Louise Sweat and Marv PLmb. her very efficient assistants. Passing on through the ward, we entered the spacious operating room, where everything seemed very still and death-like. We heard an assistant to the head surgeon, who was bending over the patient on the operating table, say that there was one chance in a thousand for the man to live. “Tf it is possible,” he said, “Doctor Morton will save his life; he has done some wonderful things, you know.” We tip-toed out, not wanting to disturb them, but T heard later that Doc. Morton did pull him through, and T was proud of my old chum and classmate. It seemed next as if we were in a great department store where one could hear the rustle of skirts and the constant chatter of clerks and customers. Over in one corner a short, rather heavy-set man was talk- ing to several of the clerks as if he was manager of the establishment, probably giving them orders for the day’s work. He suddenly turned awav from the counter and walked toward us, and I was indeed glad to see Homer Rigsby. In another part of the store I found Mervvn Crowe and Gladys Kirk in charge of the millinery department of this great es- tablishment. I was indeed glad to know that they held such fine posi- tions. knowing that they were very capable back in High School days. The next scene before us was a famous tea-room, not far from one of our biggest cities, and outside, painted artistically, were these words: “The S Curve Tea-Room.” On entering I was very glad to see Cecile Warren and Mamie Ella in charge. It seemed Cecile had married a certain Junior boy she used to like pretty well, and they had

Page 31 text:

timbered land dotted with cattle. Sitting on the front porch of the ranch house were my old classmate, Jessie, and her husband, who was manager of the ranch. With them lived Lou Ella Easterlin and her husband also, who was a partner of Jessie’s husband. Of course, we can guess who they married. I lie Prince and I were by this time very tired and since we were near the end of our journey we decided to have something to eat and rest a few moments. Going into a community cafeteria conducted by the women of the town I was indeed glad to find Ruth and Geneva in charge, and knew I would get a good meal. Our journey was now ended and we were back again with the rest of the Prince’s court. Although I was very weary I knew I must listen to what the Prince had to say. “I have decided,” he said, to make you Prince of the Future, since I am going away on a long journey, perhaps never to return.” He advanced toward me, removed his crown spark- ling with jewels, and made as if to place it on my head. I became sud- denly dazed, blinked my eyes three times and came to with a start, to find Rudolph bending over me with a worried look on his otherwise sunny visage. Why,” I said, “Doctor Morton; thought you were in the hospital performing a serious operation,” and then I realized that it had all been a dream and discovered that the dive had not been carried out as T had expected, but that I had taken my plunge in shallow water, had been knocked senseless when I hit the bottom, and brought around by Rudolph. However, the dream had been a pleasant one, and the Seniors of C. H. S. seemed fresh in my memory once more. EZRA YOUNG ’21.