Clinton High School - Clintonia Yearbook (Clinton, IL)

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G. 1b. 5. Hlumnt IHomc Endowed by the Class of 1919 Situated at Downey Park, Clinton, Illinois—Time. 1950 CAST OF CHARACTERS Marecce Miller, Matron Fay Lane, Cook. Louise Davis, Home Seamstress. Beatrice Fisher, Member. Cecil Yilcs, Maid for the Week. W illiam Draper, Visitor. Bennie Sessions, Semi-Invalid. Veta Todd, Visitor. , Wilfred Brown, Member. Helen Phillips, Visitor Clyde Bowers, Member. Ruth Phares, Visitor. Scene: The living room of the Home. Comfortable chairs and tables placed around room. Doors at each side. Piano. Flowers. (Enter W ilfred Brown, carrying step-ladder. Marecce follows with placard. W ilfred places step-ladder at center-back of stage and ascends it. Mareece hands him the placard to hang upL Mareece. Now, Bill, do put that up straight. You know, you’re so careless with things. You know’ we have to have things light around here. Wilircd: Well, wasn’t I ahvays careful? Say, it was good of that class of 1919 to endow’ this institution. Never thought such a bunch of irresponsible do-littlcs would turn out that well. !, for one, am mighty glad they did! Mareece: So am I! If they hadn’t, I don’t know where 1 would be! Do hurry up, Bill, Uncle Ben’s coming in! Bennie (Coming in, assisted by Cecil): Not through yet? if visitors should come this afternoon, we want everything nice. There, Cecil, lay my knitting bag on that chair. Oh, dear me, Pm so tired. (Sits down). (lixit Wilfred witli ladder. Doorbell rings. Cecil, grumb-hng, goes and opens the door. Louise enters). Cecil: Oh, Louise, did you get my thread? Louise: Yes, 1 guess 1 did not forget anything this time. Guess who 1 saw’ shopping this afternoon I do declare that Helen Williams buys more new house fixtures than anybody I ever saw. I just found her in Irwin Clark's Gas and Electric office when 1 stopped to pay the bill. She was looking at the chandeliers and picked out one know'n as the ‘Honk” design. Cecil (Taking letter out of Louise’s bag): Here’s a letter for Clyde Bowers. I’ll bet it’s from Gail Richey. You know, Gail w’as one of those girls who always undertakes everything. Now 1 have to go call him. I’m just run to death all the time. (Starts toward door). Marecce: Well, if you hadn't strained that warbling voice of yours when you took Galli-Curci’s place, you might be up in the K” Theater yet. (Exit Cecil. Wilfred enters, sits down and reads paper. Clyde comes in and reads his letter). Louise (Going over to Bennie): Yes, 1 saw' that old maid school teacher, Helen Phillips, up town. You know she always knows all the news. She said that Helen Benson had finally succeeded in attaining her highest ambition, that of getting out of Clinton. She has taken up her abode in a little farm house up cast of Craig. Bennie: You remember her old chum. Esther Jones? I heard the other day that she was down in the Fiji Islands doing research work. She is trying to find out if the whale really swallowed Jonah. Clyde (Looking up from letter): Gail says here she saw' Dale Griffin and he has grown a brilliant crimson mustache I suppose he must have aw'fully rich soil out there on Salt creek. (Door bell rings. Cecil comes in and opens door. Ruth enters, shakes hands and greets everyone). Ruth: My, how you folks have changed! I just had to run in and see you, for it seems such a long time since we were together. 1 feel almost like a “Freshie” today. Don’t you remember what a time wre had when we were “Frcshics” in high school? Those picnics and wiener roasts! It’s been so long ago. Louise: Oh, yes, Ruth, how we have changed! Well, I suppose it is because we arc all so old now’. But I remember when we had that wiener roast and brought a tin can up North Jackson avenue as an announcer of our coming home. The Avc-nueists certainly knew we were coming. We “Frcshics” thought we had the time of our green lives. Cecil: 1 should say we did! And how scared we were of our teachers! Didn’t the other classes laugh when we came into high school? Mareece: Yes, when we got into Senior English instead of Freshman Latin. We laughed just as much a year or two later. (Goes over by window). Here comes Dr. Wm. Draper, the celebrated physician. They say he is to receive the Nobel prize this year for discovering a new way to paralyze a teacher’s brain when a student cannot recite. Get ready, Uncle Ben. You ought to feel honored to have such a famous man visit you. Bennie: Oh, I’m ready. 1 always think of him as Bill and how I used to love to hear him sing. Let’s have him sing something for us this afternoon for old times’ sake. Louise: Let’s do. And, Ruth, you must sing something, too. You’re such a great prima donna now that maybe you can entertain us here without your manager knowing it. Folks, just remeber when Ruth and Bill sang in those good old days! Ruth: If it will make you happier to hear me, I will sing one of my songs for you if Bill will also sing. (Door bell rings). Cecil (Opening door): Come in, Dr. Draper. Bill: Say, when I come here, I’m just plain old Bill. Hello, boys! Hello, everybody! When I left my office this afternoon, I met old John Scott and his wife. She used to be Nell Wilson, you know’, that pretty girl wrc had with us during our Senior year. He said they lived out near Wapclla. They must be rich; he has a swell Ford. WiKred: John will never have any other kind of an automobile no matter w’hat happens. But look at this. Big headlines. “Arrested for Gaining Husband’s Affections Through Public Flirtation! He was a Soldier in the U. S. A.; She, Formerly Miss Rcba Hoyt.” Clyde: Ha! ha! That's just like Reba. Say, look on the back of that paper.Thcre’s a notice of an explosion in Charles Kern’s taffy factory. Cause unknown. He manufactures more talfy than anyone else this side of Haw’aii. Mareece (Big noise outside): Oh, goodness there's Glenn Leggett out again! He’s “crazy as a bed-bug!.” Someone go get him’ back in before he tears something up! (Starts toward door), i’m about crazy myself with being matron here. Bill, have you given Uncle Bennie her medicine yet? Bill No. I didn’t expect to sec so many here this afternoon. It takes me back to High School days again. (Turns to Bennie and hands her a bottle of medicine). I guess, Bennie, you w'il not be so silly about getting local color for your novels any more, will you? Bennie: I reckon not. I certainly got one tumble w'hcn I fell off that rock with a big bear right after me. Those old Arkansas rocks are pretty sharp. I have to write all my novels now inside and make them domestic affairs, instead of Indians and wild animals. I thought 1 heard a crowd veiling a while ago. I don’t hear very well any more. Is there a baseball game PAGE TWENTY

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the use of the phrases “Yea, buck” and “Hcadwork’ now held hy Carl Lowe. We give Harold Wilson the powder puff and wrist watch now owned by William Draper. We give to Raymond Luttrell the mustache now worn by “Sears” Griffin. And now, Juniors, before “passing beyond,” we wish to bestow upon you this can which we have cared for during the past four years. It makes very good coffee at a picnic or wiener roast. The class of 1918 have kept it through their four years having used it when they were Freshmen at their first wiener roast. We give it to you with this one request—that you take good care of it, do nothing to mar its brilliant lustre. Next year when you must resign your position as custodians of this precious can, hand it on to the next class that they too may appreciate our interst in “Old C. H. S.” Junior IResponse (Mabel Brown) In behalf of the Juniors I wish to thank Mr. Sharkey for those brilliant words of counsel he has just uttered. It certainly is not to be wondered at that lie is so ready to give advice, when we consider how many doses he has been given this semester. There are some instances that I think need to be recalled at this particular time. Seniors, you are to be commended for the relay of kindergarten teachers you arc turning out, among whom are Harry Ford, Charles Kern, Howard Lane and your president, Bill Brown, all of whom have had such extensive experience in this particular line of work. It seems that in every class of people we find the monotype whose mind runs only in one direction, and such is the sad state of Bill Sharkey, whose pet hobby is to go chasing a 12:32 car up the track after it passes the Hartsock home. It surely is deplorable that your athletics should end with Bill’s nocturnal track-meets—and it is to be regretted more than ever that your president finds the greenness on the north side and freshmen wiener roasts so much more attractive than the football field! Yes, it is sad, but not nearly so touching as the thought that consumption exists in our school and that certain death for your fresh air advocate, Bill Sharkey, can be heard in that notorious cough of his that always bespeaks Sir Oracle, as “When I ope my mouth, let every dog bark.” Another thing for which you need commendation is your success in having so many gentlemen in your class that apparently have such a fondness for chocolates that the latter sometimes disappear very mysteriously! It must be nice to have such cultivated tastes. But what could be more startling than those “bobs” that appeared on Senior heads one morning? Oh, my! Had Mrs. Vernon Castle seen those heads she would have turned grass-green with envy arid quit stageg-life forever! Yes, it was almost as startling as Gail Richey’s recitation in English, when she gave the sentence, “The cow, he has beautiful eyes.” I believe it would be very proper at this time to remind you that we can never forget the wonderful way in which you supervised Room 8. It was almost as well done as the keeping of the cloak rooms! But, longer to be remembered is your distinctive sociability as manifested this year, especially during the noon assembly, at which time Charles Kern felt obliged to entertain his nearb companions with stunts that most likely originated at the last Freshman girl’s kid party. Heaven forbid that there should ever be a ccmetry near this school building, for those echoing footsteps of Mary Ellen, Gail and Maude would never leave a minute’s peace for the dead. And now to Mr. Sharkey and his followers I would like to say that your four years of actions must speak louder than your ten minute charge and the reason Juniors are leaders is not bc-cuse of, but in spite of, the examples you have set for us during your high school career. But I assure you that as you leave us now, we feel just as did the old darky when he wrote the epitaph of his wdfe, “GloryHallelujah! She is gone!” PAGE NINETEEN

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in progress? 1 thought I heard them yelling, “Go it, Red, ol' hoy!” Louise: Yes, I saw the boys going out to the diamond as ( came homc.That’s Red Lane’s son. He is just like his father, one of the biggest ball players in the history of Clinton High School. bill: Well, how do you like your new matron? She seems to be as lively as ever. I’.runic: Oh, she's as good for a matron as a toe-dancing chorus girl would be. Ruth, what do you sec outside? Ruth: Look, it’s so funny! There is little Mary Ellen fish- ing in the fountain with a pinhook. She must have inherited that trait from her mother. She was a great Fisher” in the old days, you remember. t Enter Beatrice. Marcccc following). Wilfred: Here’s Beatrice. She’s up at last. Come on. Beachy, and play for Ruth and Bill to sing. Beatrice : Why, hello, Ruth! Hello, Bill! Is it really you? (Shakes hands). Yes, I’ll play if you will only sing. [ Goes over to piano and sits down). I have wanted to hear you two sing again. (Opens music). Song: Ruth. Song: Bill. (Everyone claps and cails, “Encore! Encore!”) Cecil: Oh. don’t you remember that song we used to sing so much when we were Seniors? Let’s see, it went something like this. “Hoc, hoe, hoe your row,” or nearly that. Docs anyone remember it? Beatrice: I do. (Plays opening bars). Louise (Gets up and assumes a Golxc-likc attitude): Already, please. (Waves a knitting needle for time). (All sing, “Hoe, hoc, hoe your row!”) Bennie: My! Those old times! I’ll never forget that Junior-Senior reception. Those Juniors must have thought we Seniors never had anything to cat, the way they fed us. We certainly gave the Seniors a big time the year before with our “baby show.” Clyde: Remember that reception we gave Mr. Walters when he left? And how we wound Mr. Edmunds up in that game? We had some high old times while we were in High Shcool. (Someone outside calls, “Fresh Vegetables! Fresh Vegetables!”) Marecce (Calls through door)- Fay. Fay, go and get some tresh vegetables for supper from Harry! (Turns around) That i« Harry Ford, our vegetable man. He has a truck farm out near Kenney. Wilfred: Here come two ladies up the street. It is Helen Phillips and a tall, slim lady. She’s the minister’s wife. She was Veta Todd. They were married shortly after we were graduated. (Door bell rings. Cecil opens door. Enter Helen Phillips and Veta Todd). Helen: I met Veta down town and she was on her way up here for something; I thought I would come. too. I want to tell you I received a letter from Ruth Griffin today. She says she loves her work so much and is receiving a salary as high as any “movie” star. She is as well known as Marguerite Clark nowadays. Veta' I’m so glad to see so many of you here. I haven't seen some of you for so long. You’ll be glad to know that Twila Shinneman has not forgotten us, even though she is so far away. She’s out in Africa, now, as a missionary to the Hottentots. Wilfred: Have you people read the alumni notes in the last Clintonia? Leone Wampler is now Dean of Women at Yassar College. She has been teaching for a good many years. Rill: We are certainly scattered far and wide since we left the old High. I must leave now, for I have a number of calls to make yet this afternoon. I’m glad to have met so many of you ncrc. Good-bye. (Exit Bill). Ruth: Well, if you had told me Bill Draper would evei be so famous, I should have laughed at you. Look at Clyde there ile ought to be in Bill’s place instead of being here. But if he hadn’t caught such a cold from leaving the windows open too long while he was head draftsman in the Chicago National Bank, he might have been chief janitor there now. (Everyone laughs). Clyde: That’s no worse than some others I might men lion. There is “Tubby” Lowe down at the Illinois cafe. He's been there as head batterman for all these years while 1 am able to stay here in peace. (Exit Clyde angrily). Cecil (Who has been standing by the table, looking through memory-book): Doesn’t this remind you of our Junior picnic? Here’s that picture of John Scott and Glenn Leggett on that billboard out east of town. I can still remember how we sang coming in on the hayrack that night. Wilfred: We had our share of good times when we went to old C. H. S. I can’t believe they have as good a time up there now. Scientific research has done so much for modern schools. (Noise outside .Fay drops a knife before she enters). There comes the cook! I’ll bet she wants something done. You folks make me a general handy man around here. I have a big notion to go back to the sea. Bennie: Yes, Bill, that must have been an awful calamity to you when you were shipwrecked in the Panama Canal. (Enter Fay with a pan of potatoes and several knives.) Fay.: I want these potatoes peeled for supper. Bill, that’s a good job for you. Louise can help you, or Cecil, or Beatrice. Beatrice: Not me. I helped last time. Cecil' When I’m maid I don’t have to peel the potatoes. 'Phis is my week as maid and I’m worked so hard that I have scarcely time to breathe. Louise: Come on Bill. I’ll help you. (Takes pan from Fay and gives Wilfred a knife). Beatrice mustn’t soil her hands) They wili not look nice to play the piano and she wants to make one more Edison record before she dies. Helen: That reminds me. Bernice Davis, who became a great violinist, married her manager Iasi week and they’re going to Maroa on their honeymoon. Fay: Well, don’t be all day peeling those potatoes or you won’t get any supper. (Exit Fay). Beatrice: Fay makes such a fuss over cooking. 1 suppose it’s because she was Domestic Science teacher in the High school for fifteen years. Its too bad she lost her husband but we are lucky to have her choose to come here and cook for us. Helen: Oh, yes, you can’t guess who was in town today! Just guess! I’ll have to tell you. Oma Hartsock. She says that she and Bill have just celebrated their silver anniversary. You know she was the first one married out of the Senior class. Louise: Ha! Ha! I heard Helen Williams telling Irwin Clark today that Lucille Hartsock is travelling with Hagcnbcck and Wallace’s show’ as the living skeleton. Marecce: Well, her old pal. Ara Jenkins, is living out on Vinegar Hill. Her husband struck a vinegar well out there and they have made a nice fortune. Veta: (Rises and starts towards door.) I must be going home and fix supper myself. (Reaches door, then comes back.) Oh, I forgot! I have some tickets for a lecture to be given tomorrow night. 1 brought them up here for I knew some of you would like to go. The lecturer is Miss Aldora Stone and her subject is on Baseball for Women”. Mr. Edmunds always PAGE TWENTY-ONE