Coquille High School - Laurel Yearbook (Coquille, OR)

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CLASS PROPHECY • • Despite the lavish furnishings, my bachelor apartment seemed lonesome and dreary. All my business associates, who were more fortunate, at least in one respect, than I, had left for their winter quarters in Florida for a short vacation.' Sitting before the open grate, I carelessly glanced over my evening paper and laid it aside, and taking up my diary, I recorded the events of another tedious day. Giving up the thoughts of business for the more prosy dreaming of my past, I mechanically picked up the diary and began to turn back the pages and read little sketches of my adventures. The stubborn leaves were running under my thumb, and by chance they stopped at an insertion which aroused me and I read on: “August 1, 1930. Today I left my office in San Francisco for a two-months’ tour in quest of adventure. On board the “Yukon Limited,” I am starting north caring little where the opportunity of adventure makes its appearance. The train rolls on and so ends another day. “August 2, 1930. I woke early and the train was still speeding northward. I was leisurely enjoying my breakfast and conversing with the other tourists, when I was startled by the cry of “Coquille, Coquille.” Here was my destination, though I had not known it when I started. Leaving my breakfast and the train, I found myself in a beautiful little city, proudly overlooking a green valley and blossoming with prosperity. After viewing the city for some hours, I started through the business district. There were few familiar signs, but one bore the name “-----:---- -------------, Tailors and Dressmakers.” The name drew me and I stepped in. I had not seen a dozen familiar faces all day,yet I was not surprised to find my old classmate, Mary Levar, directing the children’s department. To find her in a tailoring establishment was not surprising, although I cannot see why she still clung to Coquille. I gleaned from my chat with Mary that George Akers and Clara Moser were also inhabitants of Coquille. I found George in the office of the Pacific Lumber Co., in his old familiar voice commanding a camp boss to “get a hustle onto himself and hit for the tall and uncut.”—Clara was seated at her desk gently reprimanding an unruly pupil, when I walked into the office of City Superintendent of Schools. Here I had a pleasant chat over the old times of the graduating class of Sixteen.—Having found three of my classmates I determined to find the other eight if possible. “August 15, 1930. Today, I arrived in Chicago. I had given up hope of finding the other schoolmates of Sixteen.— Went to Grand Opera and looking over the program, I espied the name of Mme. Hufford. This sound-

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THE SONG OF HIGHASCHOOLA. • • In the pretty Coquille Valley Stood a school house small, but greedy. Caught the children as they passed it. Pulled them in and tried to teach them. Sent them forth when came vacation To take rest from arduous labor. For eight years this was repeated, Till the earth and all that’s in it Was well learned by these young children. But to please their pleading parents— Not to learn more, for they couldn’t— Back the children came to High School In the green and gold September; Met a man whose nose was lengthy, Long and slim with glasses on it, Had to tell him of their record. Small they felt before his presence, But he sent them into High School With its Algebra and English, And its strange barbaric actions. There they worked and flunked and conquered To escape the stigma “Freshmen.” But at last they reached the Soph class; Then their heads began their growing, Growing larger, swelling daily As they passed with flying colors To the lofty rank of Juniors. Through that year they prospered greatly With the Senior goal before them. When they reached the Senior section Proud they were and very worthy. Now they leave the school forever But they leave their fame behind them; Long the school will tell the stories Of their actions quite unequalled, For this tale that I have told you Is the story of the Seniors— Of the Class of Nineteen Sixteen.

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ed familiar, and I was not a little surprised to see and recognize in Mme. Hufford my classmate, Elizabeth. She had become a great singer and star in Grand Opera. “August 16, 1930. Was scanning over the morning paper and was startled when I saw the name of Keith Leslie, renowned American tourist who was staying at the Metropolitan House. I visited him and we chatted pleasantly when he suggested a banquet in honor of the meeting. I agreed and was somewhat awed when he told me that our friend, Edwin Lund, was a great favorite in society. Keith’s words were true for at the banquet Edwin was introduced to the company and delightfully responded to a toast. He was so changed that I scarcely knew him; tall graceful, and winning in all his ways. “August 30, 1930. Today I arrived in Washington, D. C. Was greatly interested in the splendor of the Capital City and no less interested in the large military pageant parade of women which was being reviewed by the President. As they approached the executive mansion, I easily recognized in the commander of the pageant Olive Howey-------------of the Class of Sixteen. I read in the papers of her wide and impressive views on militaristic movements for women. “Sept. 5, 1930. Today I passed through Brooklyn and while there, listened to an extensive oration by Hon. Julian Leslie, my former schoolmate. The magazines were full of the works and arguments of Mr. Leslie on the subject of “Reciprocal Evolution” which he had originated. “Sept. 6, 1930. Hearing that Mr. Whot’en, Edison’s successor in the field of electricity, resided in Orange, N. J., I retraced my steps to the plant of the great wizard in hopes of finding an old schoolmate. True to my guess, I found her in a quiet little home enjoying life fully in her own quaint way. “Sept. 15, 1930. Boston. Here I found a great deal of excitement. The papers were filled with the daring exploits of Count Harlocker, who hrd lately returned from a trip to Mars. Chancing to be with the crowd, I glimpsed the Count and astonishment overcame me for I recognized Hugh Harlocker, the former stellar planet of the class that graduated from Coquille High School in Nineteen Hundred Sixteen.-- And thus ends my quest for my old classmates and having found them all, I will return to New York.” The dying embers on the grate protested my negligence and I replenished them, and once more I found joy in my luxurious surroundings. Keith; “I thought ‘pious’ was some kind of a disease.”