Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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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-

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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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PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR 164 ton. The manager of the Universal Film Company was excitedly telling Ihc on-lookers that she was his best character, with the exception of his new leading man. .Inst then he entered, I mean Carl Fritz Fagerburg did. It really wasn’t such an unexpected event, for you remember they did so well in the class play, and Carl wrote on the “movies” for his Commencement thesis. Huth Lindgren? Oh, you remember, one of the best spellers, “punctuators,” etc., in our English IV. class. She simply flew to the top once she was started and as 1 saw her, was private secretary to Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, and undoubtedly one of the most cherished members of the Wilson retinue. , Who would think that Signe Oleson would take to “cutting up” so much as I saw her doing at Normal? She was really the talk of Normal; the wittiest, cleverest co-ed there. She went ostensibly to learn how to teach school like Mr. Messenger, our principal, but in reality she attended picture shows until she knew every “movie” actor by name, and was familiar with all the latest ragtime. But such is life in a large city, so Signe thought. Our one-time brilliant chemistry student, one Floyd Karr by name, had just completed the concoction of a very important drug, which he guaranteed would positively prevent fainting. He had every reason to know it would work all the charms he said it would, for he had had personal experience, and it had proved very effective. He sold it on the condition that money would be refunded if it failed. And thus one more of our friends has succeeded. , Marian Rideout a librarian? Impossible, when she liked to talk so well. Yet there is quite a little ouportunity to hear all the news and discuss Sewing Circle gossip in a library. She needed very little study for the work, for she simply lived in the Paxton Public Library, as I knew her. What wonderful music this was, which I was hearing. Who was tne great master playing? I read on the ticket presented to me that it was a large pipe-organ recital, at which a Swedish virtuoso was to preside. Now you know as well as I do that Einar (Lindstrom was one of the best musicians in our High School days, and this recital didn't disappoint me or anyone else present. An author’s home on the banks of the Hudson. What a wonderful place to picture scenes and to think out dark and villianous plots. And there on the shady lawn was the author herself writing as if her life depended upon it. This was a common occurrence with Ruth Cade, and that is the very reason she always did everything so well. A wedding on the program last of all, but not least. Who that saw that wedding will ever forget the handsome, although somewhat timid groom? But the bride, I could not see her face in the dim fire light, and I was left to guess whom among “Hub” Swanson’s many friends was the lucky one. Just then, as the last picture passed before my eyes, the fire flickered, and went out, and so ended the prophecy of the class of 1914.