Natick High School - Sassamon Yearbook (Natick, MA)

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12 THE SASSAMON Red and I then went around New York and ended up in the Grand Central Station, where we came upon Walter Macllvain. What are you doing here? I asked, noticing Walter's uniform. Why, he replied, I have a job bidding the people good-bye. Just then a big, burly policeman told us that we had been parking too long and if we did not move on he would have us arrested. I was surprised to find the cop was George Mordis. When he recognized us he said, in a joking way, I'll have to report you to the chief. Who might that be? I demanded. Basil Decker, he replied. I found out from George where headquarters was and went up to see Chief Decker. He had Joseph Whitman for an office boy. After shaking hands with Basil I asked him why he became a policeman. Well, he said, ever since I was in the Senior play I've wanted to wear a uniform like the one I had then. But why didn't you start in the ice business? I asked. I did for a time, he replied, wearily, but I found ice wasn't all it was cracked up to be. After leaving Basil we met Wendell Gibbs and Walter Reardon, who asked us to take dinner with them. Wen told us all about his success in business and said he and his partner, Walter, were making a fortune on hairpins. That evening Red wanted to make it pleasant for me during my stay, so decided to ask some of our old classmates over to the studio, for a little party. Among the guests were George Erikson, Harold Gibbons, Bill McManus, Leslie Raymond and Walter Warn. George Erikson, Bill McManus and Leslie Raymond were ball play- ers and were sluggers for the Yanks. They hit the ball so far the out-fielders had to be on horseback, Walter Warn said he was in the cigarette business, so I warned him not to smoke too much, lest he might stunt his growth. Harold Gibbons became an actor and at this time was on Keith's circuit, his stage name being Harold Teen. I asked him why he didn't play Romeo and he told me he learned his lesson about going up into the balcony after women when he worked in the Natick Theatre. I heard from Harold that Charles Brady was an Underwood Destroyer or typist in a newspaper office. We talked on various topics and finally discussed our own Senior class. I found out that Vincent Harriott was a tight-rope walker. Someone always had Vin on a string and now the Ringling Bros. had him on a wire. At length someone suggested going to the theatre. We found Henry Grady selling tickets, Edwin Mitchell, scene-shifter, and Alfred Ljunggren and Walter Lumbert, ushers. The first number on the bill was a juggling act, by George Graham. I suppose he got his training juggling dishes at McNeil's lunchroom. The feature of the show was the Terrible Trio, members of which were Richard Bates, piano, Rob- ert Amendola, violin, and Earl Hopf, soloist. Robert Gammons gave a

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BUYS' PROPI-IECY I will be frank with you, fellow-classmates, and will tell you I have been, as far back as I can remember, an addict to somnia. The sooner you recognize the fact, the better it will be for both of us. I am going to tell you of one of my experiences. One warm summer afternoon, as I was swinging in my hammock, gazing over the landscape, which was bathed in the radiance of the sun, I was just about to fall asleep when something like the reflection of the sun in a mirror attracted my attention. I arose and discovered that the light seemed to come from a. neighboring hill. As I had nothing to do, I decided to find out the cause of this disturbance. After I emerged from some dense bushes and reached the top of the hill, what should I find to be the light, but Redi' Kelly's flaming red hair. He was seated before an easel painting the beautiful land- scape. Beside him, on the ground, was my old friend, Vic Rogers, chewing a piece of grass. On Red's left was Joe Bianchi, whittl- ing a birch stick. Waal, said Vic, that's purty good, 'Red.' Yep, drawled Joe, could hardly do better'n 'at myself. At this moment Red noticed me and after shaking hands he started asking me about myself and the town of Melville, on the Hud- son, where I lived. I told him that most everyone out there was famous, except Henry Swenson, who was Mayor, and Frank Balzarini, who was Postmaster. Red then invited me up to his studio, in New York, for the week-end. I was charmed with this kind invitation and told him I was delighted to accept it. So I left the boys and started toward the center of the town. On my way I was surprised to meet Percy Morrill, who was a traveling salesman for the National Clothes- pin Company, and also Ted Dumas, who was now a singing teacher at the Melville High School. About two o'clock, the following afternoon, I reached Red's studio and Paul Fitz came to the door and ushered me in. Red was busy painting a picture of Billie Hopf, who was posing as Apollo. Immediately, however, he put away his paints and suggested that we go on a sightseeing tour, since I had never been in New York before. There was a large hotel opposite Red's studio, which was owned by Edward Bransfield. We went in and who should I see sweeping the floor, but Brendon Graham. Stopping at the hotel were many of my High School classmates. After talking with Arthur Moran I found he was selling Fuller brushes. Arthur told us that Walter Kelly was working in the New York Commercial Bank, as teller. His duty was to tell the people where to wipe their feet when they entered. In the same institution was Mahlon Bragdon, who was the Draft Clerk,-he opened and shut the windows.

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YEAR BOOK, 1926 13 reading, entitled, The Bending Scene, from She Stoops to Conquer. I noticed a man a few seats in front of us who looked quite famil- iar and yet I could not remember his name. I inquired and found him to be none other than Lyman Brown, who was the popular young Mayor. With him was a tall man with bushy whiskers, who they said was the owner of the theatre, and when he turned to speak to Mayor Brown I recognized him. He was an old friend and classmate of mine, Harold Carlson. The next morning as I was walking down Broadway I met Walter Ryan, dressed like a cowboy. I thought at first he was advertising a wild west show, but he told me he was working for that well-known Borax Co., driving the twenty-mule team. Before I left the studio Red told me to be sure and drop in to see Madame Lucy, on Fifth Avenue. But who is that? I asked. Never mind, just drop in and ask for Madame Lucy, and he gave me the address. When I arrived I found Harold Johnson in the outer office, writing down some orders. Is Madame Lucy in? I inquired. Yes, just a minute, please. Won't you sit down ? asked Harold, as he started for the door on which was printed, in large letters, Mad- ame Lucy, Designer of Gowns. Presently, Harold returned and said, Step right in. I entered the office expecting to find a tall, stately woman. As soon as I saw Madame Lucy I stood amazed, rubbed my eyes and blinked and still the person did not change. Finally, Madame Lucy said, Hello, 'Hank,' old top, charmed to see you. Hello, 'Jerry,' I fairly shouted, for it was no one else but Jerry Morrill. Jerry explained that he was Madame Lucy and just took that name to help business along. That evening I bade Red good-bye and thanked him for my pleasant trip to New York. When I got back home to Melville I met Carl Nelson. Poor man! He told me he was married. It was so tragic I had all I could do to keep back the tears. He advised me if I ever thought of marrying to wait until the second year, the first was always the hardest. I hired Ralph Morrill, who was Station Agent, Ticket Seller, Baggagemaster, Bell-hop, and Taxi-driver, to take me home. On my way I saw George Monaghan perched on the top of a telephone pole. He said he was working for the New England Tele- phone and Telegraph Company, as lineman, and I thought at the time he was well suited for the job, for if I remembered rightly, George al- way had a pretty good line. Last, but not least, I must tell you my present occupation. For the past ten years I have been manufacturing beds, but I intend to retire in the spring. Thus ends my story, for at this moment I awoke and found that it was all a dream.