Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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20 HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL Elizabeth presented herself with a smiling countenance. She had accomplished her highest ambition, her life’s aim — “To be an old maid in New England.” A large circus sign next met my eyes, which announced that Ringling Brothers had a new treat for the public, in the form of the newest, most thrilling of all thrillers, Schneider’s miraculous pole vault. lie scaled the top of the highest tent pole. Exaggerated? Well, perhaps. I then witnessed a feminine baseball game. As the pitcher stepped into the box, a storm of applause arose. One mighty yell echoed through the heavens. I was so excited that 1 could not interpret the first lines, but it had a glorious finish — “Ilip! Hip! Hippensteel! Iloora!” Rae was receiving the reward for which she had worked so hard in her amateur games over by the Nickel Plate. And mine? A bleached blond sat alone in a severely plain room. Beside her lay a cat. which was softly purring “School Days,” and from the ceiling hung a bird cage. Oh. an old maid. Red-headed with rage, I leaped from my seat and fairly flew out of the school. My teeth were grating, my eyebrows blinking and I savagely muttered, “Well, I don’t care if I don’t!” HAZEL McNAY.

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 19 A thin, serious-faced woman was seen emerging from a parrot store. Mable was still looking for Polly. A festive scene then came. A maiden arrayed in dazzling white stood beside a man, who wore the “conventional black.” Many eyes were rivited upon them and before them towered a sober individual. One instant and then I recognized — Isa, the man-hater — a bride ! A tall, pale-faced man was dramatically delivering an address to the faculty of his alma mater. Dartmouth had graduated a second Daniel Web- ster, who responded to the name of Davis. Soon I looked upon a brilliantly illuminated sign, hanging before a large building, which read: “N. E. Funk — Daily Exhibits in Athletic Feats, Dema Timmons — Manager. ’ ’ Marguerite next fled past me, carrying a small hatchet under her arm. I realized that I was looking upon a Carrie Nation, the second, in all her glory. Blanche had followed her own advice, “We are going the same way, let’s go together.” And she and Dow were happily marching toward Wheeler. I then gazed upon the spacious stage of a large theatre. A deatli-like silence seemed to hover over the audience. Then I heard the boards of the stage floor creak, and Bess rushed in, the tragedy queen of the hour. A large building glided into view, the home of the Christian Scientists. In one window I saw Lena, with a thoughtful look on her fair face. Lena, a Christian Scientist! And her father was a doctor, O! Edna’s azure orbs peered at me over her typewriter. She still had the stenographic fever and she informed me that she even “typewrited in her slumbers. A school building next loomed up before me and I saw emerging from the same an array of fair pedagogues, armed with rulers and dunce-caps. A tall, statuesque brunette led them. Her hair was drawn tightly back, bringing into view her wonderfully developed forehead. One set of phal- anges flew up in the air and a sudden short-stop followed. Five schoolmarms halted for inspection — and I saw before me — Fern, Janet, Pearl, Dollie and Ellen. Then I heard the clank of chains and Gracia tripped past me with a burly convict at her side. 1 knew immediately that she was bound for the County Jail, for I read upon the brilliant star, which lodged on the lapel of her coat — “Deputy Sheriff.” I gasped with amazement. I next beheld the jungles of Africa with Harry Conan Doyle in their midst. He was wandering around loose, singing at the top of his voice. The air sounded rather familiar and as I listened more intently I recognized the mystical dali-da-da-da of the “Merry Widow Waltz.

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 21 Burden Bearers of Progress. DEM A TIMMONS. T HAS been said that as the age of our nation increases the social questions increase. One of the most important topics of our time is the care of the children who will in a few veal’s become the men and women of the land. But few people bother themselves with the thoughts of what will happen when the children are grown and occupy the places of their parents. It is very essential that both the old and the young people be impressed with the idea that soon the present generation will pass away and a new one will take its place. It is true that there are a few people who are thinking on the subject of preparing the children for the duties of later - life, but all people should be interested, favorable laws should be passed, and the idea of what the children have to do in the future should be constantly before us. In considering this subject, we must think of the different kinds of children — the poor, tenement class; the fortunate group, whose parents are neither rich nor poor; and the petted children of the rich. Each class has its own dangers to be guarded against. The majority of the children who are brought to the juvenile courts are children of wage-earning mothers, and the crimes, if I may say crimes, which they have committed, started with truancy. The mother can not see that her child goes to school. Young people have an inborn hatred of restraint, and it is natural that the school room should possess attractions inferior to those of out-door life. So we find children from the first step of truancy and running on the streets, falling into greater misdemeanors. I lie children whose parents are employed during the day are the ones who are most neg- lected in their bringing up. Think of those boys and girls whose mothers have gone to work before they awake! Think of the irksome responsibility placed upon them ! They must arise at a proper time, get their breakfasts and go to school. It is any wonder that many play truant in the morning and then just do not go in the afternoon? And the mother — what can she do? She is at work from morning until evening, easing the lives of more fortunate women, while her children are left with absolutely.no care. In some places efforts have been made to ameliorate these conditions. In Richmond. Va., there is a large tobacco factory where many women are employed, and in connection with this factory an extensive playground is main- tained. It is located in a pleasant situation, and to this place the mothers take their children when they go to work in the morning. Those of school age are taken to school at the proper time, while the younger ones are kept at the