Central High School - Almanac Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

Page 51 text:

a room, beautiful in all its appointments, appears, the home of the Honorable Clarence Brown, and by his side is a face too little changed not to be easily recognized as a person once known as Bessie Cannan. In direct contrast to the last two scenes, is the next. A lady, surrounded by every luxury that wealth can afford, sits quietly thinking, now and then humming the mournful refrain, O for a man, my kingdom for a man. Long I try to place her, and at last the name flashes across my memory, Helen Ayers. The next shows only a large office door on which is engraved, Miss Tiernan, composeriof compositions in which the essential parts are the beginning and the end. By the appearance it is evident that she has succeeded, for it is a well remembered fact, that she, of all the members of that famous class, was the only one who could see the brightness of her future before her. But see, a tall church-spire begins to appear, then the outlines of a beautiful church. Carriage after carriage ap- proaches, and the first one stops, a bride alights, and I see, can it be true? Bessie Norris, the companion of my school days. Just as this fades from sight, another takes its place, showing a large white wagon with pyramid upon pyramid of bottles of every shape and size piled high, while on the white sides of the wagon is printed in flaring letters, Use Logan's Hair Tonic, Best on Earth. Following closely is a photographerts room, with two young ladies bending over a newly developed plate, suddenly one of them, of a poeti- cal turn of mind, after having viewed the plate earnestly, repeats, I photograph with joyous zeal, And then implore my filmy prize, In rosy darkness to reveal Its charming secrets to my eyes, And then, Oh, joy desired and dear, The film responds, as I irnplore- I see the pictured face appear, V And wonder, whom I meant it for? As the door closes, I read, The Misses Whittlesey, Photog- raphers. Gradually the outlines of a theatre appear, then

Page 50 text:

a literary calling. Yes, long and diligently has he worked, but so far unsuccessfully. A messenger boy enters bearing a letter for Mr. Will Worrell, from the largest publishing house in New York. Slowly he takes it, dreading to break the seal, lest it tell of one more work returned. Nervously he tears it open, and reads- ln recognition of your great literary ability, we send the enclosed check, and wish to say that for the future we will gladly accept all productions from your pen. Signed, W. Braun. Gradually the paper becomes a dim outline, then the room fades rapidly away, leaving in its place a kitchen scene with dishes galore piled up on the table, and the whole room in utter confusion. In the midst, .enveloped in a large kitchen apron, with sleeves rolled to his elbows, stands a person with the most wretched expression on his countenance, for had his wife not told him that very morning, that those dishes would stand there till doom's day before she would touch them? Slowly he sets about the dreadful task, murmuring something about new women and clubs, and the last remark of Mr. Cotter before the scene faded away, was, if a man only knew, he would steer clear of all matrimonial alliances. The next shows one of the happiest groups of girls. Upon the door-plate is inscribed Bachelor Girls' Quarters. On gazing within, the room is found to be a truly bachelor apartment, where every girl's taste is satisiied. Around a small nickle gas burner is Carrie Chambers, intently watching a boiling mass, which, from the smell, must be material for fudges, while Arabella Lipscombe, Lillian Fisher and Alice Chaffee beguile the hour with pleasant stories. In a distant corner of the room, curled up among innumerable cushions of every description, with a beautiful Angora cat sleeping peacefully by her side, is May Reed busily engaged in reading the latest novel, and on a rug before the grate are Miss Ruth Ellis and Mamie Tait, with large toasting forks in their hands, and beside them, a box of marshmallows from their bachelor friends across the way. This happy scene is all too fleeting. Then

Page 52 text:

the stage with its scenery, and the actors growing into life- like size. Hamlet is presented. PI see the Hamlet of the occasion all in black, walking slowly and reading. Then, as Polonius addresses him with, What do you read, my Lord?,' I hear the answer, Words, words, words. Surely I have heard that voice before, yes, even the face seems familiar and, as he turns to the audience, I recognize Eoline Hand. A scene of a well illed courthouse is next, and a lawyer with features so closely resembling those of Florence Keil- holtz that there can be no possibility of error, is defending a man for stealing an horse. This appears to be her first case. Three witnesses have sworn that they saw the man commit the deed, but with a scornful laugh and an air of conidence, our lawyer replies, My case is already won, you can only produce three witnesses who say they saw the deed, while I can produce three hundred who can swear they never saw the man steal that horse. The next scene brings before my astonished gaze a body of United States Senators. Anxiously I watch the faces, but there is no Well known form, none. Yes, the last one seen, is the familiar face of Walter Prentice. Another scene is brought to view, soon recognized as that of the Repre- sentatives. Fortune kindly lends her aid, and I have no difficulty in making out four former members of the class of ninety-nine. In the Chairman of the Ways and Means Com- mittee is Maurice Griffin, while occupying seats near by are Jay Thorp and Clarence Hade. Just then the Speaker of the House appears, and I behold Albert Payne. As the shadows of these very wise men fade from sight, the inte- rior of a dancing hall appears. I hear the sweet strains of music and see the graceful dancers just learning the May- pole dance, while in the learned instructors I see Katharine Tracy and Helen Dougherty. But, hark, the familiar strains of the Star Spangled Banner are heard, then up a long and Wide street appears a regiment. With a sun-burned but