Banning High School - San Gorgonian Yearbook (Banning, CA)

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6 Senior Prophecy ID GR OE Ig 12 2H! M. W. ’24 It was a hot, sultry August night in the year of 1935. As I had been away from my native soil for a number of years, I was lone- some for my schoolmates of ’23. I had heard of a crystal globe which knew all things and so determined to try it out. “What do you wish to see, my good friend?’ asked the Arab who owned the wonderful globe. “IT want to see the present life of my classmates of 1923.” I watched the crystal globe for some time and finally was re- warded by a faint glimmer of light—a red light—which afterwards took the shape of my old friend, Grant Wood, as he sat resting by the fireside. Soon I distinguished sitting by his side a pretty lady, whom I knew to be Alberta Brandt. I had read of their marriage in a California paper several years ago. Mr. Wood was now a very prosperous business man in San Francisco, and, before her marriage, Mrs. Wood had taken a business course and had been private secre- tary to Henry Ford. The scene gradually faded and soon the beautiful colors of the globe melted into the brilliant footlights of a huge state which seemed like fairyland. Suddenly a dainty figure drifted in attired in a gown of many colors. She began to dance and by the fairy move- ments I recognized Elsie Houda. Miss Houda, I remembered, had made her debut in Paris many years ago. I watched this scene with delight and regretted when it faded. The next scene was one entirely different from the other two. I recognized a court room. Court was in session. As I glanced at the judge, stern and dignified at his high desk, whom did I see but the Hon. Frederick Wing. He had studied law diligently at Stanford and was now Supreme Judge of the U. S. Court. I looked with envy on his success in life, for he had become very noted. This scene faded and I saw a photographer’s studio in Holly- wood. The photographer happened to be none other than Delemar Mahaffey, who had made his name famous in California as the chief photographer of movie actresses. I had heard that he had recently married Theda Bara and was enjoying his home life in California. Again the scene changed entirely from the one preceding. It was a small store of groceries and dry goods. Leaning over the counter was a tall woman of about thirty years of age. From her simple dress and the large valise which she had opened before her on the counter, displaying a wonderful line of silk hosiery, I thought she must be a traveling sales-woman. She looked very familiar, and [Page Thirteen]

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“Tiny” Bigley leaves his art of queening to Roger Johnson; and his cute walk to “Eddie” White. Hazel Laughlin offers the recipe for curling ber hair to Ger- trude Smith. Elden Brown gives his picture to—(?)—guess who!! Also his little book in which he keeps his chemistry assignments to “Babe” Hendricks. He leaves to Dr. Pope all the broken test tubes to glue together—(if he can find them). “Red” Wood leaves the FRONT seat of his Flivver and the use of the steering wheel to George Guild. Hlsie Houda transmits a complete course in “The Art of Make- Up” to certain girls of the Freshmen and Sophomore classes. She leaves to Georgina Titchener her ability to charm the “out-of-town” boys. “Bob” Mackey donates his position as “persecuting” attorney to “Tex” Oliver. (Spread your stuff, Tex). “Beetle’ Wing bequeaths his ability to “aggravate” Miss Rud- kin to “Sonny” Reeves. “Bert” Brandt leaves to “Tommy” Gilman her much-used hair pins and hair nets. She leaves her presidency of the Girls’ League to “Winnie” Wood. “Dutchie’ Hemmerling bestows to “Cannibal” Barrett his som- brero. He leaves his “horse laugh” to “Dickey” Bramkamp. Emil Szuggas bequeaths his dramatic and cinderpath ability to “Fat” Laughlin. “Butch” Phillips leaves her “giggle” to Mildred Rymal, and her “length” to Alphamay Blackburn. This is our last will and testament. Signed: H. Grant Wood, President. Alberta Brand t, Secretary. [Page Twelve]

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when she turned I recognized my old friend, Hazel Laughlin. I wondered if her name was still Laughlin. This scene faded into one more brilliant. It was an opera house of much splendor, and on the stage stood a solitary figure, draped in a rose colored gown. LHyvidently she was practising, from the peculiar movements of her mouth and the empty house. I looked closer and saw it was Rena White, who, I supposed, had blossomed out into a second Homer. The next scene was of the ocean, and on a huge rock, far from land, sat a fisherman, patiently waiting for a bite. He was very tanned, but I soon knew by his baby-blue eyes, Robert Mackey. Next, I saw a large, smooth floor, fenced off into several pen- like inclosures. By the punching bags and iron balls, I thought this must be a room for the instruction of prize-fighters. Dancing to and fro with a heavy iron rod in one hand and an iron ball in the other, I saw two very large men, about the same size, training for a bout. They looked familiar and soon I recognized Charles Bigley and Emil Szuggas. They were just the same as in B. U. H. 5. days, except, of course, they had more muscle. The next was one I recognized at once, for seated in front of a small group of children was my old friend, Elden Brown. I re- membered his long, tedious course in teachers’ training and he had finally secured a position as kindergarten teacher, From the pleas- ant smile on his face, he seemed to be doing very well, indeed. Then I saw Los Angeles, the Plaza, and a multitude of people. High above all others, standing on a soap box, stood Ernest Hem- merling, “giving it’ to the mayor of that city because he had ordered him out of town recently, for some minor crime, I suppose. I feared for my old friend and was glad when the scene changed. 3ut the next made me almost as nervous. The sky was clear and high above the eagle an airplane soared. But suddenly the plane gave a twirl and then a nose dive. I almost screamed for fright, for I knew it must be one of my old friends. So it was. As the plane alighted in a valley a small, spry man crawled out and I knew at once my dear friend, Charles Ketcham, The Arab told me that the next would be the last and probably the best of all. I knew at once the rocky hills of India, where I was at that time. Soon, from behind a bend in the road, a man and woman came riding towards me, each on a donkey. I soon knew Blanche and Pud, still together, as in “days of old, when pirates bold,” etc. They were missionaries, riding alone on the plains of India. Determined to see them, I paid the Arab well and quickly made plans to do so. [Page Fourteen]