Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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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.

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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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Horoscope of the Seniors NAME ALIAS APPEARANCE HOBBY DESTINY Class of 1914 Seniors Anxious Being Good World startlers Edla Johnson “Ed’ Pretty “Ginger” “Voodeville” singer O' rH Walter I arson “Nosey” Pleasant Motoring Who knows? Marian Rideout Marian Giggly (coined word) Basketball Athlete »- Albert Overstreet Tub” Ruffled “Ball Hoopcston jeweler X Mriam Rockwell Toodles” Worried Rural Economics Ask Percy X Neta Rollins “Juanita” Neat Week-end visits Kankakee S Herbert Swanson “Huh” Handsome Blushing Forester Carl Fagerburg “Collie” Classy Advice “Movies” H Florence Cruzen “Ginger” Cute Laughing A critic on “Art” Austin Sandstedt “Vine” Burlesque Loafing Grocer Ruth Lindgren “Ruth” Sweet Studying School “ma’m1 Signe Oleson “S.’gne” Calm Joking Business woman Dale McQuiston “Pink” Happy “Harvard!” Dancing master £ H s Floy Karr “Street” Disgusted Chemistry Gentleman of leisure Crester Hammerlund “Chet” Distinguished Hunting School teacher ss Maud Rotramel “Maudie” Amused “Digging” Spinster o u Prudence Rotramel “Prudie” Demure Being patient Nurse Ethel Wright Ethel Dignified Being a shark Person of intellect Einar Lindstrom Einar Serene Palying(?) piano Master of Music Mary Greenan Mary Sturdy Gossip A “Skinner” Eernest Martinson “Yens” Good-looking Baseball Lawyer Bess Bear Bess Plump Trains Village postmistress Bessie Greenan Bessie Rustic beauty Spatting” Cook Ruth Cade Ruth Curious Latin Culture Anna Erikcson Anna Quiet German Farm Helen Ludlow “Ruby” Enthused “Mac” Belle of U. of I. ui sC •