Agnes Irwin School - Last Strand Yearbook (Rosemont, PA)

Page 30 text:

f Etlflss i nsirlmw D II, 1907 Seven years ago seven little girls assembled in the fourth story front of 2027 DeLancey Place. We were Eleanor Arnett, iA1va Sergeant, Elizabeth Graham, Kate Jayne, Mary Mirkil, Mary Henderson, and myself. We were sure that it was the turning point of our young careers, that first day at the A. I. S. We were timid little things QI have to tell you, as you would never guess it by seeing us nowj, and we felt very strange as we took our places at the long benches in Miss Lewis's room. We had no desks that year, and so we neatly QPJ arranged our possessions in cubby-holes along the wall Qrats' nests we called themj, and proudly inscribed D II on our books and papers. Once started, we got along swimmingly. Gradually we lost our fear of Miss Sophy fexcept when she came to call our rolllj and gradually we became accustomed to school ways. I regret to say that we had an irresistible inclination towards the fire escape, a sweet, yet forbidden spot where we ventured whenever we felt particularly divilish. There was a great deal of snow that winter. just outside our windows was a convenient ledge, on which the ice collected in most tempting clumps. Many a time at recess when an AI passed by, a grimy, unseen paw would push a miniature avalanche down on the dignified senior's crown of puffs and switches. The latter part of the winter we memorized Gray's Elegy, which we proudly recited to Miss Sophy. Our exquisite intonation and enunciation would have done credit to coffee-grindersg Miss Sophy must have been enchanted by our declaiming powers. 26

Page 29 text:

Hana Ggarp Zffllaltbuur- Hun 1814 DeL1111Cey Pl,, Philadelphia Born February 5, 1895 Entered school October, 1908. Her air, her manners, all who saw, admired. The proper study of mankind is man. QEIi5ahztb Qlustis Lgarhlep- Zim 1928 Pine s1.,lPhi111de1phia Born September 23, 1895 Entered school October, 19093 Member Athletic Association, 1909-11. Alack! There lies more peril in thine eyes than twenty of their swords. As good be out of the world as out of fashion. 25

Page 31 text:

We finished the year with a history debate, in which we all managed to disgrace ourselves by chance slang phrases fand worsej which would slip in and mar the effect of our eloquence. I particularly remember one unfortunate remark, but as it is a personal matter, we will let it pass. D I, 1908 The next year, Marian Grant, Eugenia Ketterlinus, Harriet Marshall, Helene Martin, Anne Meirs, Virginia Roberts, Alice Thompson, Frances Tyson, Anna Walthour, Mary Scull, Elinor Bean, Eleanore Bispham, Dorothy Deacon, Emma Dorr, Roberta Downing, Rachel Fitler, Josephine Foster, and Olivia Gazzam joined us. Then we moved down a floor. Our new quarters commanded a fine view of the back alley. This treat afforded unending amusement to those who were fortunate enough to obtain desks near the window. An interesting ragman or tune- ful organ-grinder always seemed to be going by, and a most attractive parrot Cwith its even more attractive ownerj lived just the other side of the way. All these nice things helped us rest and relax our poor little brains, so worn and racked with over Q ?j study. We were beginning to feel very grown-up, too. Most of us had discarded our starchy gingham dresses fexcept on warm daysj and had donned real cloth suits, whose ample skirts now reached below the knee. In spite of these signs of increasing age, we developed a great fondness for the banisters and the fascinating exercise that they afforded. Astride their shiny surface CI blush to confess itj many a small D I made a hasty descent of the three long flights. Once, in the middle of that exciting ride, Miss McIntosh stepped unexpectedly into view. The culprit thus caught in the act made a record dash to the front door. Q The culprit's name I have particularly refrained from mentioningj C 1909 Anna Brinton, Edith Baily, Elizabeth English, Charlotte Fahnestock, Ethel Hastings, Dorothea Oberteuffer. Katherine Tenney, Ada Wetherill, Elizabeth Yardley, Hilda Tunis, Emilie Kennedy, and Maria de Kosenko came the next year. Then part of us were promoted to the big house, as we called 2011. We felt that we were now on the home stretch of our school lives. We took up algebra also, which gave us a feeling of great importance, and we attained for the first time a real Latin reading book, wherein we perused the Twelve Labors of Hercules. Don't you all remember them, girls, and the illustrations we made along the margin? Fancy hair-dressing came in that year with a vengeance, and we endeavored to do our locks tout-a-fait a la mode. We purchased filigree barrettes at the IO-Cent store, and pinned large bows on the rear, which, flapping cheerfully in the breeze, made us look rather like young storks learning to Hy. At the end of the year, we had a fine debate about our old friend, Julius Cxsar. Doubtless that good gentle- man would have learned many new things about himself if he had been able to attend. O worthy Caesar! we humbly ask your pardon for the prevarications which we shamelessly invented to help our respective sides 27