Auburn High School - Trojan / Oracle Yearbook (Auburn, IL)

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28 TIIE ORACLE —1923 to those friends to whose needs they seem best fitted. As a result of this announcement a wild scene took place amidst most frantic pleading and scrambling among her friends for this or that so long coveted glory; but she has tried to be just, as well as generous and impartial, and distribute wisely unto those who will make the best use of such gifts as she has in her power to bestow, the talents that have served her so faithfully these four years. These are her decisions, as at last definitely arrived at through very deliberate consideration. Owing to the flighty condition of her brain, and the unusual disturbance in its gray matter, she begs me to state for her inventory; but such things as she thinks she lias, she hereby gives into your possession, praying that you will accept them as a sacred trust from one who has gone before. Listen, then, one and all while I read the document, as duly drawn up and sworn to: We, the Class of 1923, in twenty-four individual and distinct parts, being about to pass out of this sphere of education, in full possession of a crammed mind, well-trained memory, and almost superhuman understanding, do make and publish this, our last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills or promises by us at any time heretofore made, or mayhap, careslessly spoken, one to the other, as the thoughtless wish of an idle hour. And first we do direct that our funeral services shall be conducted by our friends and well-wishers, our principal and his all-wise and ever-competent faculty, who have been our guardians for so long, only asking, as the last injunction of the dying, that the funeral be carried on with all the dignity and pomp that our worth, our merit, our attainments, and our position as Seniors of “grave and reverend mien, most certainly have deserved. As to such estate as it has pleased the Fates and our own strong hands and brains to win for us, we do dispose of the same as follows: Item:—We give and bequeath to our beloved faculty all the amazing knowledge and startling information that we have furnished them from time to time in our various examination papers. We know that much imparted to them in this way must have been entirely new to them, as well as to all teachers and students everywhere, and would throw much new light on many a hitherto familiar line of thought, throughout the whole world of science and learning, even outside the hall and walls of Auburn Township High School. We trust they will also feel at perfect liberty to make use of all such bits of wisdom and enlightenment for the education of the classes to come after us. This of course, is left entirely to their personal discretion. Item:—We give and bequeath to the A. T. II. S. as a whole, our school spirit, mainly our prowess in all athletics and oratory, which has resulted from our untiring effort to excell and the enthusiasm with which we always backed our men. This spirit is to become the possession of the school on condition that it shall ever be kept in constant use. Item :—We give and bequeath to the leading paper of our city, the Auburn Citizen, and to the talented editor thereof, all the events of our lives, past, present, and to come, with all the wonders, sensations, hair-breadth escapes, glorious attainments, and other deserved or undeserved notoriety and fame with which we may have been, or may hereafter be associated, trusting that they may furnish plenty of material for news items and brilliant editorials for ages yet to come, and serve as an inspiration for those younger students who so naturally look to us for examples. The following may seem but trifling bequests, but we hope they may be accepted, not as worthless things lavishly thrown away because we can no

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THE ORACLE —1923 27 breathlessly. I asked a nearby policeman what the trouble was, and he ex- claimed that the famous Arthur Sabine was going to read his latest poem from the steps of the Museum, and the people were gathering to hear him. However before tire reading of the poem came, I was again whisked away. This time I was landed before a great farm before which stood a gi'eat arch on which was engraved, “Hogsdale Swine Sanitarium, Charles Foster and Wife Proprietors.” The strange thing about it was that Charles Foster was written in very small letters while Wife was written in Capital letters. I then entered into the Sanitarium and 1 was just about to the main building when I heard a woman’s voice, which I recognized as Louise Van- Doren’s sav: ‘‘We women have been the slaves and serfs of men long enough, and we should say, as Patrick Henry said of old, ‘(live us Liberty, or give us Death,’ am I not right?” And then Charles’ little male voice answered. ‘‘Quite right, my love.” And then I knew why wife was spelled in capital letters. While I was still standing here a man whom 1 recognized as Howard Workman approached. He told me he was a nerve specialist of the Sanitarium and that as soon as he finished operating on Susy B, the prize piglet, he would take me to the vaudeville to see the world’s famous Tumblers and Acrobats, Gibson Evans. Lo, and behold! before the time arrived a change came over the spirit of my dreams, and I felt within my heart a strange, burning desire to see my old chums, Frances Stevens and Julia Maddox, till the Spirit of Prophecy, responding to my unspoken wish, conducted me to a bachelor girl apartment in a large foreign city where the two sat by a large fireplace, talking of the past. Frances, now a famous pianist, was calling forth sweet strains from her polished instrument, while Julia danced a jig in delightful time to the music, her figure swaying from side to side at the appeal of the fantastic air. Verily, was my heart stirred within me as I saw the vacant chair and noted their frequent anxious glances toward the doorway for the coming of their prophet- ess to complete the charmed circle. And verily, as I beheld this scene and marvelled thereat, thinking, ‘‘Aye, even so shall it straightway come to pass with each and all of us,” lo, the strains of music died away, the veil was drawn over mine eyes, shutting out from my vision the Things to Be, and I turned mine eyes back to the Things that Are, sure that as ‘‘coming events cast their shadows before,” only good- ness and truth and prosperity shall follow all the days that are to come to the fair and talented members of the Class of 1923. Class Eulogy—Junior Class Poem—Arthur Sabine The Class TL?ill—Henry ITlasterson Ladies and Gentlement, Board of Education, Principal, Teachers and Friends: Lpon behalf of my client, the Class of 1923, of Auburn Township High School, of the City of Auburn, State of Illinois, IT. S. A., I have called you to- gether upon this solemn and serious occasion, to listen to her last will and testament, and to receive from her dying hand the few gifts she has to bestow in her last moments. Cutting so rapidly loose from life, and finding so many things of such gigantic proportions to be attended to before the end should come upon her, realizing at the same time that she had no longer any time left to spend in cultivation of her own virtues, she did, collectively and individually, deem it best to distribute these virtues with her own hands

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TIIE ORACLE —1923 29 longer keep them, but as valuable assets to those who may receive them, and a continual reminder of the generosity of heart displayed in our free and full bstowal: 1st. To our class advisor, Miss Ehnbom, the profound admiration and ever-enduring friendship of the Class of 1923, in individual as well as collec- tive manifestation. 2nd. To Thornton Nuckolls, Austin Van Doren’s sagacity and dignity, may he use it to the same advantage. 3rd. To Ray Brooks, Keith Corned's extra credits in order that he will not have to worry about graduation. 4th. To Lawrence Cary, George Bradley’s good behavior and manliness, may it keep him out of mischief. 5th. To Charley Cooper, Julia Maddox’s ever enduring love. 6th. To Ralph E. Linder, William Wood’s ability as an Orator, may he make good use of it in the future. 7th. To Ada Masterson, Louise Van Doren’s gift of elocution. 8th. To Vincent O’Leary, Robert Lewis’ musical talent in order that he may entertain our survivors as pleasantly. 9th. To Mayme Harnley, Velma Meiklejohn’s coquetry, may she use it more discreetly than Velma lias. 10th. Joseph Johnson’s ability as an actor we gladly turn over to Jenks. Here’s hoping there’s some left for the rest of the Juniors. 11th. May Herron’s gift of prattle to Edna White. 12th. Carl Cline’s steadiness to Albert Hart, of course he does not need it, but he might. 13th. To Henrietta Linder, Marjorie McGlothlin’s Soprano, on condition that Henrietta doesn’t let it get rusty. 14th. To Herbert Masterson, Charles Foster’s swine raising ability. 15th. To Lucille Allen, Frences Steven’s Chatham airs. 16th. Arthur Sabine would like to leave his poetic ability to Shakes- peare but since Shakespeare’s dead he has condescended to bestow it upon Bill Bailey. 17th. Marcella Peter’s engagement ring to any under classman desiring to make her debut. First come first served. 18th. Charlie Johnson’s skill as a vender to Perry Lorton. 19th. To Wayne Harnley, Wayne Gibson’s cigarette holder. 20th. Ida Mae Murphy’s make-up to Virginia Corneil. 21st. Roscoe Evans’ bluff to anybody who needs it. Apply early and avoid the rush. 22nd. To Bob Hines, Jack Johnson’s methods of playing basketball. 23rd. Since Howard Workman has out-grown his pony he gladly leaves it to little “Steve” Allen. 24th. Mary Cline’s grace and charm to Helen Moon. 25th. Henry Masterson leaves his brother Herbie. ’Nuff said. 26th. Bessie Miller’s modesty to Mary Louise Cooper. Item :—The sub-joined list will be recognized as entailed estates, to which we do declare the Class of 1924 the real and rightful successors: 1st. Our seats in the Assembly may be taken by whomsoever is able to grab them first. May they endeavor to fill them as advantageously, as promptly, and as faithfully as we have done. 2nd. Our Senior dignity. May they uphold it forever, with all serious- ness and gravity, endeavoring to realize its vast importance, in spite of their natural light-mindedness and irresponsibility. 3rd. Any stubs of pencils, erasers or scraps of paper that we may inad-