Avoca Central School - Avocan Yearbook (Avoca, NY)

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20 THE AVOCAN CLASS PROPI-IECY It was a dark and dreary evening and as I sat before the fire the pouring rain sounded as sheets of iron falling on the wooden structure in which I dwelt. Before me the brightly burning Fire formed a sharp contrast with the uncheerful- ness of the room. Amid this weird atmosphere I felt myself growing old and naturally I began to think of the Class of 1925. Pleasant memories were brought back to' my mind and I wondered if the future would also bring to me the same sort of memories of their lives that I had experienced in the past. In my pondering I raised my head and the flames disclosed to me the interior of a small theater. On the stage stood Rodney O. Newman, President of the Class of 1925, whose hair was grey with worry, orating on 'The Care of Chicksf This scene suddenly changed to a small ranch in Missouri where I found Rodney again living alone-alone! I could not possibly believe that and while I was pondering another scene came to my view. I found Belle Rose Reynolds the proprietor of a Beauty Parlor. On account of her position I hardly recognized her. She was not the Belle Rose of old but rather a modern flapper of 1950. In the chair sat Ruth French. who was being pleasantly entertained by the hair- dresser. Presently her husband, fperhaps you have guessed it alreadyl Vernon E. Wightman, came in surrounded by three children. So this was the effect the play played on their future lives! I next beheld Raymond A. Ackley sitting in a large office as vice-president of Sears, Roebuck and Company. He worked up to this position because he had taken so much interest in the firm ever since he had received such excellent service during his high school days. Then appeared another scene that showed Leah Jones as a movie actress working in a studio. I did not think this of Leah but suddenly I found that she was playing the part of a fussy old maid. Playing as her nephew was Ralph D. French. I knew he always tried to be popular with the girls but I never thought he would advance so far as to head a movie career. The next scene showed that Mildred Barnes, together with her husband CI dare not tell his name but permit me to say that he is a Soph'omore in High School this yearj were sole proprietors of an orphan asylum housing two hundred and fifty children. It was surprising to see with what fondness Mildred oversaw these children-almost as if they were her own, but of course they weren'tl Mary Shults was revealed as a keeper of a great number of floral gardens. She kept these for the purpose of presenting flowers to her many fellow friends. This was hardly in keeping with Mary's Senior days. Quickly this scene faded and I beheld Ruth Sager quietly settled in Atlanta. I-Iowever. every Saturday night she rendered a vocal solo to a small audience gathered in the town hall. With a small salary she lived comfortably. having been deserted by her husband. I suddenly began to grow cold and I realized that the flames had died down. Interested in what I had already discovered I hoped I might learn more about some of my school friends and accordingly I heaped more wood on the coals. The flames that sprung up corresponded with my hopes and'many strange scenes were placed before me.

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THE AVOCAN 19 VALEDICTORY Tonight the class of 1925 stand at the conclusion of one cycle in our ex- istence and the beginning of another. Perhaps you who are far out on the sea of life may regard graduation from school as a minor incident in comparison with the vital things which are to follow, but to us it is a milepost that marks a dehnite stage of the journey through life. i This walk of life has been compared to many things, but as I was musing today, it occured to me that it is like an artist playing complicated and sweet music. He must keep time and read the notes correctly, and to do this he must be ever alert and watchful. There is a page of life written for us, and the extent to which we keep in tune with our fellow men will determine whether we are a help or hindrance on this stage called life. So far the music has been sweet and simple, and we have played with eager hands and joyful hearts, but tonight we turn over a sheet, and lol a page of life in the world of action lies fresh and clean and untouched before us. VVonderful visions, ambitous plans, and limitless possibilities rise before us as we contemplate this new page of our existence. VVe go forth armed with knowledge,-and not merely that sort of knowledge which begins and ends with the accumulation of facts and information. The training we have has given us these, but more than that, it has developed in us the faculty of thinking and reasoning for ourselves, of applying the facts and principles to the problem at hand. VVe have achieved our goal at last! XVe are graduates! The happy years We have spent together in work and play are ended. Yet, the influence of these delightful years will remain with us forever: we shall carry it away with us no matter where the diverse paths of life may lead us, or how far the varying winds of fate may scatter us. The memory of these school years will be a bond which will ever draw us together in thought. As we have shared each other's joys and sorrows in the past, so shall we always share them, and the success of any one of us will bring happiness to us all. Tonight, in this last school exercise, we are gathered here to wish one another the very best of fortune and all the happiness that life can offer. And with mingled feelings of sadness at the breaking of cherished ties and joy in anticipation of the great things that lie before us. we speak a fond farewell to our dear school, our beloved teachers, and each other. -Ruth French.

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THE AVOCAN 21 First, behind a small counter stood Adair Stannarius, shouting, 'Fish, for sale.' I never thought that of our old time brilliant junior president! Next I beheld Hazel Olmstead as the sole proprietor of a garage which dealt in the 'Chryslers' exclusively. There appeared a large convent and in its interior I recognized Frances Carroll. Having been disappointed in some love affair of her high school days Frances had become a nun! Out in the XVest Lyman Shults was pictured as a cowboy of great and wonderful bravery. XVith Lyman I also noticed Lawrence XVessels. He was engaged in break- ing all specimens of nmle life. - 'lfhere appeared before me a dainty lady of society envied and flattered by all. the queen of every ball-lirnestine Pierce. Milo Sick was a professor of languages in a high school in the middle W'est. XVe know he is grateful for all the knowledge given him in Caesar by the :Xvoca High School. As a private secretary of a broker I found Mildred Bloy. Ifver since her high school days Mildred had shown a strange liking for business men. Next I saw a banker, riding in his aeroplane, counting out his money, wear- ing diamonds. His name? Ah yes, Daniel Cragg. As a ticket seller for the Avoca merry-go-round Laura Smalt had acquired the name of a vamp.', I saw Lydia Hees as a detective employed by the New York police force to discover illegal engagements and marriages. It was revealed that I-Iarriet Milford, after having traveled extensively, had created a new religion in a foreign country. On a sign in one of the largest cities I read A Second Melba-greatest opera singer of the day--Myrtle Towner! I found Francis Loop engaged as a physical training teacher in a large high school. I-Ie was employed especially to give instructions to exercise the muscles of the face. I was now eager to learn my own fate and glanced anxiously at the flames. As soon as my eyes rested on them they suddenly died down and the fire went out and so I was left uncertain of my future. --Velda Ackley. 1'-I tw d, ...wg ,, . ' -aw W 'von - vfk .1 . .1 6' 4-T f Mi r' 5-fs fix ni wr . id' xiii-'il -- .via 1359 it 'Je Wifi: ' I -, l I . - 1-' Q'-1 'fri 42 . if: .... . Q.