Charlotte High School - Witan Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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T H K W T T A N USEFUL Marie hummed softly to herself as she bustled around her kitchen. Two stops wore required between the stove and the table and two more between the table and the wall cupboard in the corner, and, although this might seem cluttered to some people, Marie was perfectly satisfied. She had enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life, so she never bothered her tiny, white head about anything con- cerning financial difficulties. She was so quiet and reserved that no one was aware of her existence, so only her geraniums knew how loving she was. A whole window-sill covered with pots of pink and white geraniums graced the front window. They peeped engagingly from behind the soft, tie-back curtains, out into the snowy street, upon which the sun cast a sparkle. Passers-by sometimes noticed the beautiful geraniums, but they never thought of the care that had been put into them. Marie cried pitifully when one tiny plant wilted and died, but when a new hud appeared she did a fancy waltz about the room, stopping occasionally to kiss the baby blossom. Never was a person so devoted to any small child as Marie was to these geraniums. Mr. Winks stood clapping his hands together to keep them warm and, as a lady passed who had bought a lunch BEAUTY from him once before, he courteously tipped his fur bonnet, showing his snowy locks. He was short of sta- ture, red and roughened of face from winter exposure, with plenty of wrinkles around his eyes and a smile hovering near his bearded lips. Every morning at 9:00 o'clock, Mr. Winks walked briskly down Row Street, pausing only when he came to the white cottage with the geraniums in the window. After living in a dingy apartment house with no visible vegetation, his soul feasted on their beauty. This morning, as he paused, Marie appeared in (he window with a water- ing pot and proceeded to quench the everlasting thirst of the plants. Be- ing unaware of a watcher, she unself- consciously chattered to the flowers, stooping to touch tenderly a small bud here or there. Mr. Winks was fascinated by the beauty of Marie bending over the flowers, for she was delicate and pink and white, as were the flowers. As he openly admired, something caused Marie to glance up. Strangely, she was not at all startled, but, as he gallantly tipped his hat, she smiled. Mr. Winks immediately was on his way with an animated feeling of warmth around his heart, Marie was so excited that her white hair fairly crackled. She wondered who the fine old gentleman was and 24

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 THE W IT A N We, the class of June 1931 of Char- lotte High School, Lake Avenue, Roch- ester, New York, being practically conscious and temporarily of sound mind, do hereby execute our last Will and Testament. FIRST—To Miss Doehler, to take Charles Schaad’s place, we leave Bruce Mergences services for parking her car. In the event that the above-mentioned Bruce Berg- ener does not stay for another R2G2 Course, this duty will he transferred to Earl Freckleton. SECOND—To the next Glee Club, we leave page 120 in the singing book. THIRD—To Miss Goff, we leave big- ger and better Beards. FOURTH—For the coming “Gigolos,” we have created a trust fund by placing in the bank at compound interest the sum of five cents, the income of which is to be used to buy new records for the noon dancing hour. FIFTH—To Miss Cashman, we leave gaudier and more complicated li- brary permits. SIXTH—To the next senior Candy Committee, we leave a monopoly on the sale of Chocolate Milky Ways. As Personal Bequests, we leave: 1. To Mr. West, the key to the city for his watch chain. 2. To Mr. Whitney, a box of electric light bulbs for the girls’ locker room. 3. To Jerry Bishop, Nedra Tozier’s winning way with the boys. 4. To Miss Whelehan, a class who can fully appreciate her. ’ . To Charles Richardson, Spencer Bishop’s crowning glory. G. To Carolyn Carroll, Josephine Flemish's maidenly reserve. 7. To Violet Rentschler, Esther Fergusons ability to blush at just the proper moment. s. To Joe Stendarso, a six months’ subscription to the Democrat and Chronicle, so he won't have to rend Miss Sharer’s. 9. To Miss Miner, one-half dozen divans to accommodate the wait- ing line outside her door. 10. To Mr. Bird, an adding machine for the heir to the Bird millions. 11. To Ruth I'unnett, Katherine Tray hern’s brilliant conversa- tional ability. 12. To Miss Sharer, a class with none of “the rest of them kills in it. Lastly, the the Freshman class, we leave our exceptional class spirit and splendid sense of cooperation. Witnesses: Alma D. Hubbcll, George Gray, Pres. Testator. Dorothy Rubier, Sec. 23

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T H E where he lived. All day and far into the night she thought about him and early the next morning she hovered near her geraniums, glancing up and down the street. She was finally re- warded by the appearance of‘ Mr. Winks around the corner, and she busied herself pushing the earth closer to the stems of the plants, which was not at all necessary. When he paused in the street as before, she glanced up and smiled, while he tipped his hat. This went on each morning for some time and finally Marie decided she would sweep her tiny porch about 9:00 o’clock. When Mr. Winks arrived, instead of seeing her in (he window, there she was right on the porch. Holding his hat in his hand, he ven- tured: A fine, cold mornin’, isn't it?” Marie agreed by vigorously nodding her head, and said. W I T A N “It certainly is; 1 guess this cold snap is about over.” Mr. Winks then began nodding his white thatch of hair, and again ventured, “Quite fond of flowers, eh ?” “Yes, indeed! You are too, aren t you?” Um Hm, ’specially geraniums. How do you get yours to grow so nice?” “Just by loving ’em, I guess. Wouldn't you like to come in and see ’em? It's warm inside, too.” Marie had really longed for companionship without knowing it. They went in together and as they chatted merrily over the tea Marie brewed a few minutes later, the ger- aniums looked on and smiled com- placently. Illinor Raymond, 32. AN EXPERIENCE DURING MY BASEBALL CAREER It was on the third of April that Joe McCarthy sent me my contract for $85,000 a year. Seeing that Joe was the highest bidder, I thus be- longed to him. I was one of the greatest hitters of the league by breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record. As for my fielding ability, 1 was not credited with an error in my whole career. Every team in the league was seeking me, but only in vain, because the Yankees outbid them. During the season 1 stole more than Ty Cobb, hit more home runs than Babe Ruth, fielded better than Frankie Frisch, and was looked at as the one-man, super-human baseball team. Our team had not lost a game and was twenty games ahead of the team holding the second position. All the papers were decorated with my pic- tures, and movie contracts were con- stantly coming in; even a multi-mil- lionaire wished to adopt me as his son. It was on a dark night, while going on a stroll, that I finally became con- scious of seeing three men following me. They reminded me of gangsters, probably hired to bump me off; so I started on a faster pace, only to find them pursuing me also at a faster pace. Not wanting to start an argu- ment, I started to run, only to tiip over some darn thing, and fall. Not able to get up right away, they all pounced on me. Seeing the first bruiser coming towards me, 1 threw out a left hook aril crossed over with a crashing right hand that fairly knocked him senseless. Before I had a chance to defend my- self against another bully, I was the victim of a black-jack, and only saw black. It must have been about four days or so (I don’t remember plainly; I am not expected to know) that 1 found myself in what appeared to me to be an old abandoned shack. 1 tried to get up and stretch my weary limbs, only to find myself bound, hand and