Titusville High School - Optimist Yearbook (Titusville, PA)

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L Lmlw IE.-E.5. wi ter a building on the window of which was stenciled Paul Kerr, Police Magistrate. ' Before descending I had noted the fact that there was a circus in town, and, turning my binoculars on the huge tents, I had seen a banner, L, Resnikoif and I. Obermanf' Immediately I had de- cided to attend the circus. After my visit to the circus lot I felt well repaid, ,for I met many of my former classmates. One of the most interesting and surprising meetings was that with our class orator, Dick Crouch who was a speeler for the big show. Inside the large tent I was ushered to my seat by a most grotesque clown, whose make-up, however, was insufficient to cover up the well-known features of Alvin Venus Vifagstaff. He seated me besides the poets, Grace Coles and Marian Keefer, who had come to the circus to view human nature, unadulterated and unconiined. S Taking note of mv surroundings, I saw, directly in front of me, the former Miss Evelyn Kingsley. She told me of a con- troversy she was having with the mistress of the other side of the double house in which she resided. The other party to the dis- nute had been Lillian Brierly, of High School days, wedded now. Their cause for friction was that each maintained that her hus- band was the best-looking man in the block. At this moment my attention turned to the arena, one daring lady bare-back rider in particular holding my interest, as she ap- peared familiar to me. Afterward I was informed that it was Bessie Lundberg. once a star basketball player of T. I-I. S. Then, noticing that all heads were tilted upward, I looked up and saw a human butterfly in the person of Peg Radack, who had tired of being an artistys model and joined the circus. Another interest- ing attraction was the living statue representing the Spirit of IQ22.,, The spirit, I afterward was informed, was impersonated by Neva Browne, who had ioined the shows after giving up her movie career, as the leading lady in Ben Turpen's comedies. , The whirl of excitement abating for a few moments I took the opportunity to glance about me. A short distance away I noted a number of teachers among whom I recognized Lucile-Foggan, Mable Kerr, Florence Cramm, Lillian Anderson, Hilda Kerr and Margareti Swanson. Then I wondered who were the two .well attired young ladies surrounded by so many young men. Yes, they were Mildred McIntyre and Dorothy Francis, Titusville Society Belles. Startled by the sound of a familiar voice calling Buy a whistle or balloon for the kiddies, I quickly turned my head to catch sight of John Dame. I-Ie was too busy with his work to recognize me, however, and turned away in disgust when three ladies with a dozen or so small children attempted to get a reduction in price by purchasing his wares in numbers. The ladies who had at- tempted to cut rates, I learned upon closer observation, were Mil- dred DuPlanti, Laura Kellogg and Alice Iacobson, matrons in an orphans' home recently established in the city, and the children were inmates of the institution. 4 DM 31 HM ' suns

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I- nw 6.5.5. wa g CLASS PROPHECY Believing, with Lincoln, that in preparation, lies the secret of success, and having resolved to put forth my best efforts in an endeavor to make a success of my assignment as prophetess of the class of '22, T. H. S., recently I spent an evening' in diligent perusal of the prophecies of Mother Shipton, whose strange and remarkable forecast thrilled the people of the world 400 years ago, she it was who predicted that in the air men shall be seen, floating in space where none hath been, that around the world thoughts shall fly in the twinkling of an eye. After a thorough digest of the work of this wonderful prophetess, I proceeded to write, desir- ing to state at the beginning, however, that I hope some of my forecasts do not come true, for if they do, most of my classmates are doomed to not very lofty positions in life. The time of which I am writing is the year 1936. I return to my old home in Titusville, via Schiewe Air Line, riding in a newly invented polyplane, the brain-child of Lowell Schiewe. The plane is named Mary, fReynoldsj after his charming wife. My cross-country trip through the air was of less than on hour's duration, but in this short time a number of incidents of in- terest transpired. At one time I was called on the radio-phone, with which the plane was equipped. Wright and Fritts, radio magnates and owners of a far-flung system of radio telephony, were calling to inform me that I had forgotten to pay 'my regular monthly toll. During our conversation the talk became muddled with that of two other parties, who proved to be 'Glen Reed and Nelson Burns, two well-to-do agriculturists, who were disputing over the boundary between their farms. Gne of the wonderful features of the air-craft in which I was being transported was that it could remain stationary in mid-air, and several times during the journey we stopped to view the earth below, made easily perceptible with the aid of field glasses. Once my gaze rested upon a man pursuing a butterfly. The man was Frederick VVagner, an eminent entomologist and so intent was he upon capturing the butterfly that he did not see a landscape artist directly in his patch. Their collision resulted. in a grand conglomeration of bugs, paint, canvass and man. I was surprised to see the scientist and artist shake hands after the. accident, but as I more closely scrutinized the face of the artist, I recognized Jack Johnstone. ' At another stage of the trip I noticed a speeding automobile being pursued by a motor cop. The scene was the Drake Me- morial Mighway, leading from Titusville to Pleasantville. The pilot of the car was VVilliam Renfrew and the officer, Raymond Myers, both of whom I recognized when the policeman caught up with the car and ordered the driver to halt. I followed them with my field glasses, and as our plane neared its destination, the public landing in the center of the city, I noticed officer and motorist en- ou-30M

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D vwE.S.5.w Again turning my attention to the rings, into which had just entered a group of lions, I was frightened at the manner in which the lion-tamer, with a wicked whip in his hand, was ordering his charges about. Although the lion-tamer was disguised with long, black moustache and strange clothing, I pierced his camouflage and discovered Lloyd Preston in this role of Great L-ioninski, for such he was hailed on the banners without. The lion act concluded the big show and I passed from the main tent to a side-show advertised ,as the Dare-devil Twins, Art Brady and Max Oberman, who thrilled onlookers with hair- raising stunts on motorcycles. Following my visit to this tent I started to wend my way from the grounds, stopping, however, to purchase some appetizing candy at a concession. The candy was delicious and on each piece was molded the initials C. 81 E. stand- ing for Cohen and Engstrom, the famous candy-makers of 47 Maiden Lane, New York City. Wfhile engrossed in thoughts of my old schoolmates, I was approached by a handsome young gentleman who spoke my name. Not immediately did I recognize Clarence johnson, publicity agent for the show. I-Ie told me that Resnikoff' and Oberman were en- joying a very successful season, and also mentioned the fact that while they were in town all their grocery supplies were being pur- chased from the Robert Miller Wholesale Grocery I-Iouse. I was invitd to inspect Mr. QI'ohnson's office, a little model on wheels in which one of the things to take my eye was a photo of that won- derful New York American pitcher, No-hit, No-run Moffatt. I also learned from the publicity agent that Albin Carlson was act- ing as advance man forthe circus. On Sunday, the day following my visit to the circus, I attend- ed divine services in one of the city churches, of which the Rev. David Hasbrouck was rector. Before and after the services I had the opportunity of speaking to a number of former school com- panions, among which was Dr. Alfred Johnson, who had succeeded his father as one of Titusville's leading physicians and surgeons. Mary Peebles and Martha Dickinson recently returned from the Orient where they were engaged in teaching at the Univrsity of Peking. Margaret Moulin and Marian Wallen, beauty specialists, who had an office in the Commercial bank building. Florence Ropp and Muriel Kerr commercial instructors in the Titusville High School. The choir leader was the minister's wife, the for- mer Miss Dorothy Hanks. Now, classmates and highly valued friends no more about you, but a few words to you. You readily see that my purpose has been not to treat you seriously in this prophecy of mine, rather to make some sport of your little peculiarities. Air castles are fragile, easily shattered and repaired so if I have dealt too harshly with any one of you forgive me and remember that noone feels more keenly than I, how apropos, is the advice in the lines: There's so much good in the worst of us, And so much bad in the best of us, That it ill becomes any of us To talk about the rest of us. ROSE BRADY. M32