Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR U)2 of curious people, also the judges, lawyers and other officials. Suddenly a hush fell upon the crowd, and looking closely, 1 saw a young fellow rise and address the court. Really, I was surprised at the speech which followed. He was defending a number of people in a case brought against a crowd of young people who frequently held dances in an out of town hall. He was doing exceptionally well, and had reached the height of his oratorical ability, when the tantalizing strains of a hurdy-gurdy playing “Too Much Mustard’’ were plainly heard in the court room. A sort of a spasm seemed to cross Pinkie’s face, and he swung into the dips and glides of the beautiful tango. With a look of horror, the judge ordered the case dropped until a new lawyer was procured, and so ended Dale’s first case. The next scene was a pleasant one, for it was located on the campus of one of the large universities. It disclosed a young teacher walking towards a large building, among many which dotted the campus. As she turned toward me I immediately saw that she was none other than the “star” of our class, Ethel Wright. Cn all sides I saw students pointing to her as the smartest and fairest teacher of the university. Before I had gazed at the following picture long I was mopping my brow vigorously and buying pop recklessly, in my imagination. Comiskey’s ball park lay before me, likekwise the perspiring and gasping multitude. Of course it is natural to see such a crowd and excitement at a big game, but this was enormous. I wondered, but it was unnecessary when the the team came upon the diamond amid the ch ers of the throng. Above all I heard the name of Overstreet and “Tub.’’ Then I knew what it meant. Tub Overstreet, star pitcher for P. H. S. team was to pitch for the Cubs. Needless to say, the Cubs won. Oh, such a change, and what relief from the heat and noise of Chicago. Such cool peacefulness and tranquility and such an air of quiet dignity. In the foreground was a charming country house. But who was this sitting on the porch reading so zealously a thick, dull-loking book? Naturally, no one but Miriam Rockwell would be interested in the subject of “Rural Economics,” and good reason, too, for Emory, alias Percy Jack-son, hailed from a farm near “Piper.” Upon looking at the sign at the cross roads I read “3 miles to Piper City,’’ and I was no longer mystified. Once more I was forced to fan myself and buy soft drinks in order to keep cool, for I was seeing Ringlin Brothers’ Circus. In most cases the side shows attract the crowds almost as much at the circus proper, and that day they were no exception to the rule. The first show I visited was the tall, thin man’s tent, and I could have shouted with joy when I saw it was Yens” Martinson who was the center of attraction. Always in our German IV. class “Yens” and Bess Bear were the best of chums, and so it was now. Bess was seated in state in a nearby tent and the barker was doing his best to make her fortune. The next view was almost the most amusing I was ever permitted to see. You’ve probably read of two spinsters maintaining a cat farm, but it's not often one gets to see such a sight. I always knew there was something very human about Maud and Prudence Rotramel and when I saw

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161 COMMENCEMENT NUMBER, 1914 Jlrnphrrti of the (Ehuu of 1U14 By Netta Rollins. “ Through the deep gulf of the chimney wide Wallows the Yule-log's roaring tide; The broad flame pennons droop and flap And belly and tug as a flag in the wind; Like a locust shrill the imprisoned sap, Hunted to death in its galleries blind; And swift little troops of silent sparks, Non• pausing, non' scattering away as in fear, Go threading the soot-forest's tangled darks Like herds of startled deer. ’Twas one night, when all had retired, that I sat before the blazing gate fire, and looking into its glowing embers, saw something that surprised me. It seemed as if each separate tongue of flame was picturing in itself the future of one of my former classmates; perhaps I should say playmates. These flames all came together in a confused mass, and it was with difficulty that I made out any of the pictures. Suddenly the idea came to me that the fairy, for one presides over every fireplace, was endeavoring to show me the whereabouts and occupations of my last year companions. 1 was about to speak and ask what it all meant, but the small person seeing my attention was attracted, stood forth and wrote in the bright flames with a black pencil, the following: “Take this or leave it, and ask no questions.” Meantime 1 was becoming more interested every minute, and was anxious for the pictures to separate, so that I could tell what it was ail about. Quicker than it takes to tell, the flames became clear and the first revelation was about to be made. Apparently my informer believed with starting with some of the celebrities of the class, for he gave me a glimpse of the every day life of Edla Johnson, the songstress of the class. It was the interior of a private car with the somewhat misleading name of “Kohl Car.” Its name did not suit its appearance, for it would have done credit to a Vanderbilt. The furnishings were exquisite and in one corner of it stood a “grand” piano. Edla’s accompanist, who resembled a certain broken-down musician who appeared in our class play, or “Nosey” I arson, was playing a lilting song for “Ed,” and she was singing as only Edla could. I believe I noticed the name of the piece, “Just A-wearyin' for You. .As she sang the last word, a handsome, dashing fellow in West Point uniform strode into the room and there was no mistaking the look of welcome he received from all present, excepting the musician. I gathered from the resulting conversation, that Edla had received an engagement with a Grand Opera company and was then on her way to join the company in New York. The following scene depicted was a court room, with its usual mob

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163 COMMENCEMENT NUMBER, 1914 I them caring for several dozen lost, strayed or stolen cats 1 thought they I had found their calling. I “New York, for a change,” I said as I read the advertisement of I a large vaudeville theater, which waa heralding the appearance I tango expert and rag time star. The newest and latest dances by the greatest dancer in America,” I read and immediately purchased a ticket, as many hundreds of others were doing. The program progressed and interest was increasing when the curtain went up on the la t act ’ Enter the most famous dancer and manipulator of the ivories amidst a roar of applause from the audience. Startled is not appropriate for it, wh m 1 glimpsed the glow surrounding the head of the young dancer. You must have guessed ere now, it was Florence Cruzen. In a private interview, she said she owed her success to Dale MeQuiston. Please do not be surprised at the coming revelation, for it was what all his friends in Paxton were expecting. Most of the readers probably attended the concert at the Swedish Lutheran church in the spring of 1914, and will recall what wonderful talent the members of the company possessed. Fired with ambition to become just such a great singer as one of these young men, Austin Sandstedt, one of our young Swedish friends, immediately set about to overcome the obstacles in the way of his immediate success. It was not long until he had organized a Glee Club and was touring the cities of the Middle West. The last I saw of him was in Clarence. 111., where he was giving a concert before a large and appreciative audi nee. They say “Vine” got his start in the choir of the Lutheran Church. Have you ever noticed what a cheerful sight it is to watch school children rush to school, where a pleasant and intelligent teacher is awaiting them? Anna Erickson was the teacher of the school I saw in the grate, and from the appearance of everyone there, her teaching must have been very successful. What! Could it be that Mary and Bessie Greenan had joined the ranks of the Militant Suffragettes? I guess it could, and from all indications they were as militant as Emmeline Pankhurst. Mary was really the most violent of all, and had led Bessie into it, just when Bess wanted to teach school. But nevertheless they appeared to like the strenuous life of a suffering “cat,” and had done much for the cause. Chet Hammerlund, when I was permitted to look into the future, I was already a prosperous lawyer and doing 1 usiness in his old home town. Ludlow. His specialty was in giving advice on every subject imaginable, even if he knew absolutely nothing about it. He always did tell you just how to do it, even when it came to telling Helen Ludlow how to pronounce potassium.” The interior of a moving picture company studio was a queer place to show me, but as my little friend had told me to ask no questions, 1 refrained from any comments whatsoever. I couldn't imagine how it could have any connection with the future of any of my classmates, but it did. They were playing “Helen of Troy,” and what was most singular to me. was that the name of the leading lady was Helen, not of Troy, but of Pax-