Bement High School - BIM Yearbook (Bement, IL)

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19 B E T O H I 24 is married and lives on a farm near Milmine. Wayne Bauman is in Chicago, at the head of a large lumber concern—owns it, I guess—as well as one in Seattle, Washington. Lelah Moreland acquired a ‘cool million’ when her husband died. She is living in Tampa now on a small plantation of her own, raising pet alligators for the winter touiists. Edna Shepherd is teaching in Boston. Ruchiel Murphy has a school of music in Richmond, Virginia, and with the aid of Ina Stuart is making a success.” Another brief silence followed, as he leaned out of the cab window to stare at the wheels of the engine as it lurched forward through the night. Once more he started to speak: “Amma Harrel has a position as salesmanager in a large department store—in New Orleans, I think. Someone told me just the other day, but I have forgotten now. Carlton Smith is president of Princeton, as everyone predicted he would be. Leo Hanna is president of the Citizens National Bank at Rochester, Minnesota, and is contemplating marriage to a rich young widow of that city.” Our ride together was now drawing to a close, and he was silent again as we rushed through the small village of Boody, Illinois, in the early morning at a speed of ninety miles an hour. I shuddered to think what it would mean to poor Parker if he should kill someone with his “steel pet,” a name he had given his engine. After a cold and nerve-racking run he brought the engine to a standstill, set the brakes and turned to me. “Hash, I will have to give up my job,” and he swooned. With the help of Joe I took him to his room, where he revived long enough to eat a scanty supper. Then he fell into a deep sleep. The following morning his spirits were higher, and he talked of going to New Mexico for his health. I then suggested Alamogordo, and told him of Dorothea Hicks who was running a dancing school there with the aid of the Monticello girl, Beatrice Levin. With a jump he boarded the engine and set it in rapid motion, shouting, “I’m off for New Mexico!” I stood watching him speeding out towards the land of eternal sun, until he was lost from sight. 1 turned my footsteps to the East once more, walking down the Wabash tracks. When about a mile out of town I saw an aeroplane in a nearby field. The plane held but one man, so I went over, and to my surprise found it was Jack Thompson. I repeated my experiences to him. He said he was just leaving for New York and wanted an extra passenger, so I was again flying towards my goal. We left almost immediately, and were three days making the trip, as we stopped several times along the way. When we reached New York he told me he was a broker and lawyer at odd times. I was making preparations to leave one day and he asked me what I was going to do, whereupon I told him I was leaving. He then made me the following proposition: “I will pay your expenses to Los Angeles if you will investigate some oil lands I have out there.” I accepted his offer readily. On the morning of July the Fourth, I reached Los Angeles, and the boys were surprised to see me walk in and demand my ten thousand dollars for making the hike in the time allotted. Without any questions, the chairman of the committee handed me a check for the full amount— and 1 awoke. Harshbarger. Page Twenty-eight

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H E r 0 ll I 24 19 I partook of a hasty breakfast and was soon rolling eastward, toward the rising sun, with Joe’s trainload of stock in my charge. For two and a half days we lumbered across the rolling prairie and finally reached our destination, where I speedily took leave of the stock train and turned towards the yards. I had not been walking more than ten minutes when 1 was arrested for vagrancy and sent to Ft. Leavenworth to work out my fine there on a prison road gang. The moment I was shoved through the door of the warden’s office my hopes soared skyward, for there at the desk sat Russell Seitz in all the dignity of a Chinese idol. Again my story was repeated and Seitz was glad to see me, for he was very lonesome there in Leavenworth. He told me “Rusty” Bodamer was the owner of thirty threshing machine outfits in Kansas, and a three-hundred-acre farm near Topeka. During my short visit 1 learned the Wall sisters were running a large poultry farm near Topeka. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him watching me very closely. Presently he spoke: “Well, son, how do you like being a prisoner?” “Fine,” 1 replied. “Yes, but you won’t win that wager sitting there. I am going to ship you East. Whereupon he arose and went into another room. He was gone for some time before he returned, and when he did this is what he said: “Parker is an engineer on the Wabash from Kansas City to Decatur.” He then handed me a letter and said: “Now, Hash, give this letter to Parker and tell him that I sent you.” He then turned and called a chauffeur, who drove a beautiful maroon-colored speedster up to the door, and gave him orders to connect with Forty-Four at Kansas City. This the driver did in a very short time. Parker was surprised when I handed him the letter, and so was I. He was so weak he could scarcely drive the engine. I did not notice the fireman with his dirty face until he called me by name. It was Joe Voightritter, the lvesdale boy. Once more I went over my story and from then on Parker did the talking. It was apparent that he was nervous and broken, and his speech was filled with pathos as he enumerated the following in short, jerky sentences: “Bernadine Tabaka, poor girl! married a good-for-nothing man, and he left her. She is at home with her folks now. Ralph Oiler is conducting an agricultural school near Lincoln, Nebraska. Mary Manny and Bernice Tabaka have a swell little cottage in a secluded village somewhere in the Swiss Alps. Here he refused to talk for several miles, smoking cigarettes furiously all the while. This was followed by another pause. Presently he went on, fists clenched: “Mary Kerns and Katherine Lash are living in Indianapolis, close to Hazel Hadden, who is a dressmaker there. Katherine Driskill went back to Tennessee to write stories of southern scenes.” this followed by another pause. I sat and watched him closely as he started to speak again. “Leona Arnold is living in Detroit, working at the Durant motor plant. Opal Durst, Vivian Hoyt, Nellie Burnett, Ruby Doren, and Ethel Dobson have a beauty parlor in Cleveland, and are making a fortune. Someone said they owned a fine home and five large sedans, a Cadillac, Pierce-Arrow, Emperor Special, Peerless, and an imported machine. “Ida Cannon is engaged to a young man from Boston Tech, fine fellow with plenty of money; he is also a writer of some ability. Hazel Dobson Page Twenty-seven

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R E T O H I 24 19 CLASS WILL We, the Class of ’24, realizing that our days are numbered, and being of sane mind and memory, do hereby make and publish this last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other wills by us made, to be executed immediately after our graduation. We, the Class of ’24, do will and bequeath to our dear Faculty our great gratitude and thankfulness for the service rendered throughout the years of our trials and troubles. We, the Class of ’24, do will and bequeath to the Junior class the honor of adopting the name that we are leaving behind us, providing they can prove themselves worthy of it. We, the Class of ’24, do will and bequeath to the Sophomore class our wonderful knowledge and ability to solve all problems as we have heretofore displayed in times of direst need. We, the Class of ’24, do will and bequeath to the little Freshies our good will, good luck, and our ability to bluff. We, the undersigned, feeling it our duty to good old B.T.H.S. to leave with those that are still to remain here, such qualities that have helped us to climb the steep hill of success. We hereby set forth in these few lines that which will be of everlasting helpfulness and value to those who are to follow in our footsteps. I, Don Matthews, do will and bequeath to Lew Wilkinson all my future dates with Marguerite Cannon. I, Lowell Bowen, do will and bequeath to Claude Walker my shy and winning ways. I, Ida Cannon, do will and bequeath to Ruth Taylor my unfailing success to slip out at night (with Brown). I, Hazel Dobson, do will and bequeath to Ruth Seitz my beautiful, long curly locks. I, Leona Arnold, do will and bequeath to Ruth Stoerger my unprepared lessons on account of late hours. I, Orval England, do will and bequeath to Dallas Hill my ever-flowing witty speeches. I, Dorothea Hicks, do will and bequeath to Mabel Shonkwilcr my little wedding ring. I, Jack Barnett, do will and bequeath to Armand Richard my slow and easy manner in which I always get around. I, Irene Gregory, do will and bequeath to Mary Henebry my perfectly good American History, slightly used. I, Bernice Tabaka, do will and bequeath to Irene Trent my book of “How to Become Slim.” I, Wayne Body, do will and bequeath to John Glynn my receipt for “Perfect Love-making.” Page Twenty-nine