Catholic Central High School - Banner Yearbook (Fort Madison, IA)

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EDGAR A. GUEST LITERARY CLUB When the members of the Sophomore Class met early in the school year to organize a literary club, it was decided to name the organization after some noted writer. Several names were suggested, such as Shakespeare, Longfellow, Whittier and Edgar A. Guest. As Edgar A. Guest had aroused the interest of a large number in the class, he was chosen as the patron and accordingly the society was named, The Edgar A. Guest Literary Club. It is the purpose of the club to become acquainted with works of literature, to foster Dramatic Art and to contribute both morally and financially toward all school affairs, especially The Banner, the school annual. At Christmas time this club contributed toward the joint entertainment of the four literary clubs by presenting a pleasing playlet before the assem- bled school in the auditorium on Wednesday, December 21st, I927. Their benefit affairs have likewise been very successful. Soon after the club's organization, the president wrote to Edgar A. Guest, in- forming him of their choice of him as their patron, and requested him to write something about his life and works, and favor them with a photograph. After some time spent in anxious waiting, an answer came together with an auto- graphed picture and a booklet telling of his life and work. A portion of his let- ter was as follows: Please convey my best wishes to all the members of the Literary Club of the Catholic Central High School, and extend to them my sincerest appreciation of the honor they have conferred upon me in selecting me as their patron. Edgar A. Guest should inspire every member of the club with a desire to emulate him in his gospel of cheerfulness, his reverence for God and the Home, and in his love for work. To a friend who recently asked Mr. Guest, Where do you get the inspiration for your work? he said: In my work, of course. You never heard of a loafer being inspired. Some one has said that inspiration is nine-tenths perspiration. It's about true. For a good many years I work- ed away on the Detroit Free Press, conducting a daily column headed 'Break- fast Table Chatf I think I did good work. I at least did the best I knew how. But outside of a comparatively limited circle, I was unknown. But I was happy. I had three things necessary to happiness-Home, God and Work. In speaking of religion, Mr. Guest said: Religion has been the great- est single influence in my life. Without my religion, I should have made enemies where I have gathered friends, I should have gone down where I have climbed up, I should have been sordid where I have found joy in being sentimentalg I should have been shunned ewhere I have been welcomed, and although I might have made money and saved some portion of it, I am sure I should have done many things which would have been to me a shame and a regret. With- out my religion, I should have suffered a loss in self-respect and in the es- teem of others. I am convinced that religion is necessary to worthwhile achievement. The football player with a religion is a better player than the boy without one. The business man with a real, live, earnest religion is a better business man than the scoffing non-believer. All the great men of nearly all ages have had a religion. -DOROTHY FISHER, 30' FORTY-TWO

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OFFICERS President ------, ..-- D orothy Fisher Vice-President --.- ------ N Iary Vonderhaar Secretary ....... .--. H clen Guenther Treasurer .--.--- .-.-- N Iartha Heitz FORTY-ONE

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J OAN'S PUNISHMENT Breaking a habit, is usually difficult, and often requires an impressive punishment. Although everyone has his and her peculiar habits, some good, others bad, Ioan knew that some day one of her habits would get her into serious trouble. And this habit was throwing notes in class. It was Monday afternoon and Joan always disliked this particular day of the weekg for classes seemed to dug, and lessons seemed more difficult than during the rest of the week. She sat fumbling with her fountain pen wondering what she could do to entertain herself. She noticed two girls in another part of the room throwing paper wads, and so she decided to throw a note to one of her neighbors. She gave the piece of paper a good fling, but instead of alighting on the girl's desk, it landed in the middle of the floor. Sister had been walking down the aisle and she stopped just in front of the paper wad. Joan held her breath and almost made another resolution never to throw another paperqwad note. The girl for whom the note was intended, suddenly dropped her pencil. Sister looked down to the floor and discovered the note. The young lady who threw this note please risef' were the words that rang sharply and clearly 011 the hushed class-room air. Ioan rose, but very slowly. Please remam after class tonight, was the next command. That night when classes had been dismissed, her teacher said: joan, I shall detain you a little while tonight to try to help you break the habit of talk- ing and throwing notes in school. I have to leave the room for a few minutes, but you can study until I return. NVhen her teacher had gone, Joan laid her head on her desk and after a few minutes, was sound asleep. Suddenly she woke up, the room was filled with darkness and it seemed very late. In a few moments Joan was able to make out the different objects such as the bookcases, the blackboards, and the desks. She wondered whether Sister had forgotten about her, for she knew she would never have left her there on purpose. She decided to turn on the light. and then try to get out. She started to walk over to the switch to turn on the light when a book fell out of the book- case, Notes on Death. My'! what a queer title thought Joan, I never noticed it beforeg it seems queer that notes should be there. It reminds me of the' reason for which I had to stayin after class. She was just about to go on, when she saw one of the bookcases opening out. Joan had read in detective stories about secret: fireplaces and passageways. and this made her fear that she might be in some great danger. VVhen the door was wide open, on the book- case that served as a door, a white figure stepped out: I am the ghost of bad habits, it said. Follow me. Ioan was led down a flight of stairs, behind the bookcase, and into a small room in the corner of whichnwas a pile of notes in Joan's own handwriting. These represent so many hours of useless energy exclaimed the ghost, raising FORTY-THREE