Washington High School - Brainonian Yearbook (Brainerd, MN)

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Vid . :” ie — tr a Ge S Brainonian S meal Alice, Hulda and I returned to our seats. Alice had evaded my questions about her own success until now. Then she started in. “First after graduation I attended a School of Music in St. Louis. After completing my course in Harmony and Technic I accepted an offer as accom- panist for a noted tenor, Chalowski. After my first year I was offered the chance to try out for concert playing. I made good. That was two years ago and the past two years I have travelled over the U. S. and I spent six months in Europe.” “Wonderful, Alice, I think our class was an ex- ception—everyone I have heard of has made good.” “Yes, an exceptional class,” Alice replied. “But, tell me, have you ever been back to Brain- rd since our last reunion?” “Oh, yes, I was back just three months ago, and Joe, you’d never know the little city we left.” Alice starting in this manner told me a story that made me feel the thrill of being in the city. Three days passed and on the evening of the third day the brakemen rushed in to announce—“A large wreck on the main line near Winona. Train will “lay over” for two days until wreckage is entirely cleared. Train leaves in forty minutes for points in Northern Minnesota. Connections may be made in Brainerd for midnight “flyer” to Chicago. Instead of developing the usual lump in my throat as such an announcement would have necessitated— I looked at the “gleaming face of Alice and then to Hulda. Six eager hands grabbed luggage and the three of us left the coach. We arrived in Brainerd at 9:52. The theatre crowds had just been released and traffic was some- what congested. The three of us left the spacious Union station and as we passed throvgh the clanging steel doors we took the aspect of “The Three Mus- keteers” starting out to explore “our London.” A taxi, a large “Packard” sedan drove up and the two women got in. I put my head in tell the chauffer our destination and my eyes met the same sparkling eyes of Irving Quinlen. “Irv” had always cherished a tendency to drive the “lovely ladies” around—yes, even in the Ford coupe and now he was still carrying on. “To the best hotel, Irv.” The Packard stepped off like a miniature meteor and we were soon in the thickest traffic. On the corner of Sixth and Laurel Streets we were stopped by a familiar looking fellow. He turned his hand “Go.” As we darted through the intersection we found that it was a familiar figure—Henry John- son. “Irv” drove up and stopped in front of an immense new hotel—Hotel Nyquist—Society met: here; while Mary Garden on her “farewell tour” had stopped for several days in the “thousand dollar suite.” As we followed the porter through the shining doors and into the main lobby our minds as well as our eyes were entranced. This hotel in our home-town. This city—“‘ours.” Going up to the desk we were met not only by the clerk but by Merle Congdon. He was in charge of absolutely the largest radio broadcasting station in the northwest operating in the town of the hotel. Merle took us to Ellen’s suite where we met Ellen Nyquist and Mardelle Eschman, the joint owners. Mardelle told us that Flora Montgomery had mar- ried the year after we graduated. Irene Willson was stopping at the hotel—living on the income from her book—‘“Little Aids to Dan Cupid.” This book proved to be very popular with the girls of the B. H..S. Ellen Finney, Freia Terava and Ruth Anderson had started out as nurses in Minneapolis but now they were all married. Theresa Emilson had taken up Dramatic Art and she was now directing plays. Her forthcoming Brainerd production was, “Can She Sew,” a comedy of married life. Bernice Reid had taken up Missionary Work in the Far East. She was the “guiding light” of a noted surgeon in Muskoria and rumor has it she will soon resign her position in the “U. W. House” in favor of a position in the house of this surgeon. Ellen crossed the room and picked up a leather bound volume of “Essays”—by Lyle Northrop. Then she told of some of the very clever ways Lyle had taken in contrasting the “so-called” flapper of ’22 and ’23 with the “swift little girl” of “1938.” “You know, I suppose,” Ellen said, “that Jennie Hanson has entered the movies. She has now taken Katherine McDonald’s place as the “American Beau- ty.” “Yes, I saw her in Seattle in ‘A Breath of Spain.’ dances a wonderful shawl dance. Quite different from the demure Jennie of 1923. Page Twenty-nine

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—————$——a ——— —— ——— Class Prophecy - In 1938 By The “Victoria” was making her way calmly over the blue-green waters as the noon-day sun fell upon her deck. It had been three days since I had turned my back on “God’s country”—as Jack London would say—and now I gazed out on the very unchangeable sea. I had left—“The Reindeer King’’—Hjalmer John- son, on the large tier of docks at Nome. He had gone into Alaska for experience in his new idea of “Animal Life.” Hjalmer found the northern deer so interesting that he invested his money in a herd. Today, when one visits Nome—the great spot of Alaska—he is shown the reindeer feeding and graz- ing on the half-frozen thickets. These reindeer are Hjalmer Johnson’s—“The Builder of Northern Alas- ka.” Bill Van Alstine had entered Alaska with H‘almer. He had crossed the bay and entered Siber:a, where he established his claim as “new ruler” and now 80,000 people in the Province of Alstine, are under the suprior guidance of William, the Powerful. My eyes, following a strange bird, fell upon the captain of the “Vic”—whom I had not seen before— and instead of looking out again to the Water I ad- vanced hurriedly to meet the Captain—Carl Ander- son.—We talked for a while and then he led me to the newly equipped wireless room. Lloyd Lewis got up to shake hands with me. Lloyd was experiment- ing with new wireless and radio equipment for the government. The same “business like” Lloyd. Lloyd told me that Harry Sundquist, his chemistry partner, had followed Miss Laipple’s profession and was also in the employ of the government. Just now he was stationed at the government laboratory at Baxter—and he was termed the “God-send-to-the- farmer.” He told me also that Marguerite Peterson had established herself in New Jersey as the presi- dent of “Americanization” work in the states. Olga Nelson, Hazel Westphal and Helen Erickson were under Marguerite. Olga had charge of Ver- mont, Hazel, New York and Helen, Pennsylvania. Carl had seen Mabel Johnson and Betty Peterson on the Keith Vaudeville Circuit in San Francisco. They were in a clever act with two trick ty ewriters Eastern Page Twenty-eight Joe Dunn which, at the close of the act, proved to be minia- ture pianos. A real “head-liner.” Lucille McCloskey was now owner of the circuit; she was the widow of J. Roger Keith and Carl whis- pered her income was enormous. The six remaining days the three of us had “real” times and when we docked at Seattle we had ex- changed promises to meet at the next “Class of ’23” reunion. My trip from the coast to Chicago was one of the “things to be remembered” in my book of travels. On the Limited I met Alice G. Johnson and from there on the trip was filled with many surprises. Hulda Erickson was traveling with Alice as a companion. She had invested her money in stocks and bonds and was now retired, having a wonderful time travelling. Alice, Hulda and I had breakfast together in the diner. She ordered the famous “Evice” ham, wheat cakes and coffee. To me it brought back memories of “Child’s” in Minneapolis after seeing Fred Stone back in 1923. To Alice it was an entirely different proposition and to her it brought back the days in Brainerd High School. “You know Evelyn Halvorson and Alice Hukari co-operated and they started a ranch in eastern Mon- tana. This famous “Evice” ham is theirs,” she said. I was astounded and in fun, I asked, “What’s the big joke about the cakes and coffee?” Alice smiled as she said, “Well, Jennie Nelson the year after she graduated found a formula for this wonderful pancake flour. Her ‘ad’ is the one with the long, thin, black face lighted by flashing: eyes and her little invitation of ‘I’m heah, too, honey.’ ” More surprised, I said, “Proceed, Alice, who makes the coffee?” Isla Borden and Adele Congdon are the owners of the large coffee manufacturing plant in Michigan. Adele is stationed in Brazil, and with her clever manner, she has the natives waiting on her right and left. Isla has the selling part of the ‘game.’ They have been very successful.” I ate in silence—these surprises had been a little too much for my “standard of thought.” After our

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S “Gregory Mraz told me,” Mardelle interrupted, “that he has Jennie billed for next week at the “Cameo.” You know Greg succeeded Finkelstein and Ruben and today he controlls all the first-class theatres in Minnesota.” Ellen picked up another volume, this a volume of Virginia Howe’s poems. Virginia was the Edgar Guest of our age. Her most famous poem, “The Lament of the Boy, Seventeen,” starts out with the tris familiar lines— “What care I how fair she be, If she be not fair to me?” “Estella Wolhart is Superintendent of Schools at Staples. So you see, woman has taken her place, Joe. Yes, and man is advancing: in his help for humanity, too; Ted Olson is in China breaking: down the Caste system. With the great help of a girl from the ‘Class of ’24’ he’s succeeding, too. You probably know whom I mean. “Polly Gordon has a large poultry farm ton mils out of the city and she drives in every morning: in her Cadillac Suburban.” “What time does that train leave for Chicago, Ellen? Alice asked. “About 12:30, I think, so let’s go for a ride. Then we'll come back and have lunch before you leave.” After riding for a while down Oak street we passed new church modeled after a famous European pre-war cathedral. Mardella then told us that it was the church where the Rev. Carl J epson presided. Carl, a minister! The thought seemed impossible. “But he is converting and holding as many people spell-bound as ‘Billy’ Sunday did in h's great ‘sweep.’ ” On Seventh Street South we passed a quaint look- ing Japanese Candy Shop. , Katie Que Famous Home Made Candies The atmosphere of the quaint shop compelled us to stop and I entered. Several girls rushed up to me but were called back by a small woman, supposedly the proprietor. Alice Swanson advanced and spoke to me. I never had been so surprised but as yet I did not know the many surprises that I was to undergo. Then Alice told me the whole story. She had such a demand for her home-made candies that she opened a shop. Some heroine’s name must. be se- Page Thirty Brainonian S lected to carry on the reputation. She knew Kath- erine Quinlen was working in San Francisco’s China- town doing wonders among the poor. She has done more to wipe out the treacherous “drug habit” than anyone known. That was the name “Katie Que.” Thus another besides Marguerite and Ted had en- tered the “helping others” ranks and I was still to find another. We drove by the new High School—a wonderful three million dollar building. Marble floors, wonder- ful class-rooms—nothing was lacking. Today the school held the state basketball championship, many football and baseball honors. The best stenograph- ers in the state were taking courses in Brainerd High. We went back to the hotel, had lunch and left the “new-born” city—Brainerd. After arriving in Chicago I left Alice and Hulda and went to the Black Stone. At the hotel I was to meet “Bill” Graham, the worthy little senior presi- dent. He hadn’t changed his title at all—he was still president. The Honorable President of the United Condensed Milk Company. I waited an hour; at last Bill came rushing in as though the “tardy bell” had rung and he had to make the Senior room door. We talked for hours, it must have been hours, for the guests were assembling for dinner. “D id you hear about Anne McGivern?” “No,” I answered. “Well, three years after Anne graduated she traveled to Europe and finding the Latin quarter in Paris so interesting she established herself in a small store. Her business increased and the students were crazy about her. Last year “Winnie” Sullivan went over to go in with Anne. Anne is really the “Mrs. M. A. Billings” of the Parisian students and she’s doing rushing business.” “But do you ever hear anything about Loneta Hayes?” “Yes, Loneta gave up her promising musical career to marry the owner of a Florida resort.” Bill went on: “And have you heard about Blanche Kimbrel]? You know we thought Blanche was the best natured girl in the class. By her personality and hard work today she is chairman of the Board of Education in California.”