Bridgeport Central High School - Criterion Yearbook (Bridgeport, CT)

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THE CRITERION My attention was presently drawn to a stout, rosy-cheekeci man, who was promenading the walk. Ile was carry- ing a very conspicuous article, a large pair of opera-glasses. Ed. chirped There goes Sammy and to be certain, it was Sam Lefkowitz, for who else could have such a rosy complexion? My curiosity concerning the opera glasses was satisfied when Ed. told me that Sam was a reporter on the Theatre Review , a local weekly, his descriptions of Musical Comedies, witnessed from the upper Gallery, being very elaborate. Another mem- ber of the paper's staff was Margarite Davidson, her Gigg,e Department' being the cause of many sm'iles and prominent dimples, false-teeth being sometimes affected. Of the advertisers of this periodical, Edythe O'Hara was the most generous. XVanted, A Husbandl' was the brief opening sentence of Edythe's Ad., followed by three full columns of requirements, describing just what he must and must not be. From all appearances, such a creature never was, for three years of continued advertising had not produced a single reply, or proposal. Noisily up the street came a large auto truck, filled with concrete blocks and bags of cement. I read in large letters inscribed on the side: XYILLIAM KOSENA iv CG., Concrete-Stucco N Plaster Supplies. Build a Little Bungalow ofthe famous Kosena Tiles. I afterwards learned that one of Bill's first contracts, after going into business, was to ship a large supply of concrete blocks and tiles to Alliance, Ohio, where a beautiful home was con- structed of them for our former school- masters, Mr. and Klrs. L. B. Mathias. They were now retired from school teaching, and received daily, interest- ing accounts of their former pupils' success in the Business XVorld. Riding in a Creagh Runabout seemed to bring on a hungry feeling, so Ed. suggested that we manger , I needed no coaxing, and after Ed. had safely stored the buzz-car in a near-by garage, we set out in search of a restau- rant. XYe had not walked far when we approached a very cozy looking dwel- ling, an overhead sign reading: The just-Like-llome Dinery Concluding that such a place would satisfy our wants, we entered, and took seats at a table just inside the door. XYhile figuring out a dinner, according to the menu card, we were interrupted by a shuffle of skirts and French-heels, then a white aproned damsel approached the table we were occupying. Only one glance was necessary to prove that the wearer of this 'fChild,s-liken paraphernalia was Helen Quinlivan. Ilaze1', told us that three former B. H. S. girls were her partners, Agnes Jacobs, Laura Labre- cque and Sadie Silverman, and that on every XVednesday evening, they enter- tained their many customers with a 'fCabaret Shown, Sadie playing the piano, Laura singing popular Parisian airs, and Agnes assisting with comi- cal recitations. Not saying how she helped, I suppose Helen kept account of the money. IYhen I asked her if she and her partners intended to continue in this line of business, she laughed and gave Twenty-six

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THE CRITERION W'ithout the slightest hint or warning I suddenly found myself standing on a crowded thoroughfare, pushed and jostled in a dozen different directions by a hurrying mass of busy people. Partly dazed and only slightly con- scious of my movements, I looked about me, but all seemed strange and entirely unfamiliar. I know that the best thing I could do while in such a predicament would be to inquire of a policeman as to my whereabouts. Surely there must be one of these generally, unplentiful beings within close reach, for only recently had forty-three of Bridgeport's Hhuskysi' donned the '4Blue Jacket , of latest Spring fashion and set out on their ap- pointed beats , if for no other reason, to make our streets more attractive. Wiishing to escape the crowd and hoping for something to appear that might prove familiar to my perplexed eyes, I set out to cross the street, but I had scarcely left the curb, when I was saluted by a succession of honks from an approaching auto. I drew back to allow the impatient vehicle to pass, when who should the driver and sole occupant of this large car prove to be but I'Dutch',, better known at Old B. H. S. as Ed. Creagh. My -quest for something familiar was thus brought to an adrupt ending. In his old metaphodical way, Ed. asked me to test the upholstered seats for their comfort and f'just-rightnessu, and I, in my familiar I'm wise man- ner, carefully and comfortably seated myself on the soft cushions. Vkfe were soon speeding along the concrete pave- ment. N In times past, Ed. could tell the make of any auto that might come into Twenty-five view, from a Locomobile Landoletu down to a one-cylinder Liberty Brushw, so, naturally, I was anxious to know what his choice had been when purchasing an automobile for himself. Surely he had used good judgment, for his car was perfect in every detail. NVhen I finally put the question to him, I was quite surprised to be informed that it was a f'Creagh RO21ClSt6I'H-1926 Model, he having gone into that grow- ing industry. the construction of auto- mobiles. The Creagh Roadster seemed possible enough, but the IQ26- seemingly, I was following in the foot- prints of Old Rip. One of the special features of mech- anism connected with the car was a very elaborate speed-ometer. XYithout doubt, it was the product of some brilliant inventor's laboratory. Upon closer scrutiny, one might read: The Allen Speedometern the trade-mark being a zig-Zag stroke of lightning. XVillard Allen, at last, had found a suitable means for representing that extraordinary momentum that existed in all parts of his ever-hustling person. W'e soon approached a busy cross'- ing, and were halted by a Traffic Cop, or rather Copess, for it was a female. Ed. asked if I recognized the Qfficer of the Law, but not until a second glance did I recognize our former dashing blonde, Nellie Alling. Directly opposite her, in the midst of passing trolleys. speeding automobiles, bicycles and carts were her two robust assistants. Maud Seamans and Lillian Ryan. XYhile we were thus halted a car greatly resembling the one we were occupying, drove up near by. The two occupants of the car were Loretta Harrington and Phoebe Coles, now Ladies of Leisure.

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THE CRITERION me to understand that their present undertaking was simply an experiment. The object of the four partners was to get an insight into the mysteries of before settling bungalows, to cooking and serving, down in suburban cater to life-partners. Vkfhen we were paying for our de- lightful repast, we met the other mem- bers of the partnership of Bachelor Girls, and began to compliment them on their good serving and cozy dining- room, but our conversation soon turned to H. S. grads. and their where- abouts. They related that Fred Owens called around occasionally when in town on business, being manager of one of the largest Lumber and XYood Supply Companies in the East. Some- times he was accompanied by his for- mer stenographer, afterwards his house-keeper, Mrs. Tilly Johnson Owens. Once in a while, the just-Like-Home Dinery would have for its honored guests. three stenographers who were employed by prominent local business concerns. This trio had received their instructions in their valuable art at B. H. S. and were: Edith Lingard, Fanny Pious and Margurite Dell. Another means of telling of the present doings and locations of some 'I3's. was a business Directory, which was lying on the cashier's desk, pub- lished semi-annually by the XYeiss- Vlfishengrad Information Bureau. Helen VVeiss and-Rose Vlfishengrad al- ways were good at such work, particu- larly Current Events. This Agency was patronized by many of the agents' former school-mates and as we glanced through the different sections, we noticed some very interesting ads. Twenty-seven On one of the introductory pages wasthe following in large print: THE MAPLES' latest novel by that noted Authoress, Bessie O'Neil fat all Book Storesjs Apparently, Bessie O'Neil had be- come famous as a writer of modern fiction and true-to-nature tales and descriptions. Further on in the directory, we found this: Misses Hoey and llammil Latest Spring Millinery in all of the Seasons' most approved' shapes and sizes. At last, Ruth Hoey had gone into the Hatter's Business. Back in B. H. S. days, many often wondered at the number of hats Ruth had, for she seemed to wear a different one every second day. Edith Hammilis being her partner was not wholly surprising, for as seat mates, they were almost in- separable. In the Musical Section of the edition, a conspicuous ad. proved that Ethel Seamans had found good use for her talent, for we read: Piano Lessons, by the Famous Instructor Mlle. Ethel Seamans, 35 per hour. After promising that we would call again when in the neighborhood, we left the restaurant, and headed down street. At a news-stand Ed. stopped to purchase a paper, and while he was doing so. I viewed the many maga- zines on display. On one of the covers was a picture by Harrison Fisher of a pretty country girl. There