Chicora College for Women - Nods and Becks Yearbook (Columbia, SC)

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(Tlass jpropfyecy HERE is a story in Scandinavian mythology of Igdrasyl, the tree of life. Its roots are in Hela, the realm of death; and its branches extend throughout the universe. Watering its roots from the sacred well are three Fates—the Past, the Present and the Future. Its boughs are histories of nations; its leaves are biographies of lives. It was of this tree that I dreamed one night. I thought I sat under its spreading branches and listened to the rustling of the leaves as they were swayed by gentle breezes. Suddenly a great blast shook the tree to its very roots, and the leaves began to fall around me. One brown, withered leaf dropped upon a book which 1 was holding, and out of curiosity T idly turned it over. At length my attention was attracted by a mark so indistinct that I could not decipher it. Thinking that perhaps the lines would be clearer on a fresh green leaf, I picked up one and found that on it were traced a name and a few words, telling something of the future of the person mentioned. Straightway I thought of my classmates, and, after a long and tedious search, 1 found seventeen green leaves containing their names. On the first were the words “Margaret W harton, “Greensboro, “Society ’ and “Ophelia.” For a time I sat bewildered, but the truth gradually dawned upon me. Margaret, after a few seasons as Greensboro’s society belle, is to play the role of “Ophelia in Shakespeare’s great tragedy, Hamlet. And indeed a perfect “Ophelia she shall be, with her lovely golden locks and sweet, melodious voice. I was so much interested in this that I carefully and laboriously examined the other sixteen leaves, and after much arduous thought I reached the following conclusions as to their meaning: Helen Brackett at present expects to live with her parents at Clemson College (for several years at least), but so the Fates have not decreed. Very soon she is to go to Arizona to visit relatives. There she shall live the care-free life of the Western girls. Finally she shall fall in love with a cowboy; the wedding day shall be set and all things shall be ready. But here again the Fates are against her. In an attempt to rescue a child, her lover shall be killed. Helen can never recover from this blow, and the rest of her life shall be spent in a convent. Cora Jordan’s plans for the future shall be materialized, for, although she may not express her desires, we know that it is the dream of her life to marry and “live happy ever after.”

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 ear, believing, in spite of minors to the contrary, that said left ear really does exist, although it hath never been seen by any responsible witness. Twelfth: The worthy dignity of our class, represented in the sole person of H. Brackett, we do store away with our caps and gowns, to be sold in connection with them for the reasonable sum of $10.00. All aspiring Juniors will please pur- chase at once! Thirteenth: The subdued tones issuing forth form Miss Patterson’s class- room at various and sundry, times between 9 A. M. and 2 P. M. we do bequeath and devise unto Miss Stevens, to be presented to said Miss Stevens on the day she leaves the P. C. walls forever. Fourteenth: The infantile voice of M. J. Reid we do give and bequeath unto Idella Mayes, who was bereaved of her own rather early in life. Fifteenth: The eye trouble of some of our members we do leave and bequeath unto E. Nuttall, as a substitute for said E. NuttalPs usual Monday morning in- firmary ailments. Sixteenth: I nto the “fathers who have heretofore called up their “daughters” and have been unwise enough to give the Medical (Allege telephone number, we do leave and bequeath all the 'phone permissions of the year, with the injunction that they use said permissions with more happy results next year. Seventeenth : The sarcastic expressions attributed to L. Blakeney we do leave and bequeath unto the faculty to add to their already worthy collection. Eighteenth: The scholarly gleam of M. McKinnon’s expansive forehead we do bequeath and devise unto Miss Gordon as a worthy addition to the “brow of greatness'’ already adorning the aforesaid Miss Gordon. Nineteenth: The Senior gown of L. J. Harris we do bequeath and devise unto M. Miller, upon condition that said gown have five two-inch tucks taken just above the hem, with more to be added whenever the diminishing stature of aforesaid M. Miller shall make it necessary. Twentieth: The unusual ear for metre lately discovered in Sue McKeown's list of accomplishments we do give and bequeath unto Rena Harrell, who bids fair to rival Milton, if conscious greatness be one of the marks of genius. Twenty-first: The incessant giggling of L. Flournoy we do bequeath and devise unto Orelia Howard, who seems in need of such recreation occasionally. Twenty-second: Samples of the natural coloring of M. Wharton we do give, bequeath and devise unto Miss Lily W. Long, to be handed out to any desiring such adornment by said Dean at the first chapel exercises of next year, thereby preventing any unexpected discarding of powder and paint. Tn Witness Whereof, this will has been drawn by me with the full consent of the .Class of 1910. LOUISE BLAKENEY. • i i

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 Louise Lutterloli lias been preparing for her life-work since she entered college, and for years to come she shall make an efficient music teacher. Our graduate in voice shall star in one of the leading grand opera companies of America, and the theatres in all parts of the country shall be crowded when posters announce that Mademoiselle Torrence is to sing. Tn 1915 Sue McKcown shall go to South America and take up her work in a mission school. Sue shall have many strange adventures in her new home, and in a few years she shall publish a very entertaining novel, A Brazilian Maid. This being a true story of a part of the writer’s life, shall tell of the fortunes , or rather the misfortunes, of a South American man who woos a girl from the United States. Florence Jamison shall, as the years roll by, endear herself to the youth of Charlotte. Her name shall become the proverbial standard of excellence for the modern teacher. Anna Meta Buchanan shall enter a Philadelphia hospital and become a very capable trained nurse. As she moves in and out among the sick, her gentle touch and kindly word shall soothe pains and revive sinking spirits. In a few years, when posters and handbills are extensively advertising meetings to discuss the question Shall Women Vote?” the most sought after speaker shall be the distinguished L. J. Harris, renowned for her eloquence and effectiveness. Ida Moore Alexander shall return to P. C. and accept a position as teacher of music. She shall take the place of Miss Stevens, who is to open an “Ideal Training School for Dignified Young Ladies.” Martha and Louise Flournoy shall in the future, as in the past, follow parallel paths and continually vie with each other in the pursuit of learning. Their greed for knowledge shall neither wax nor wane, and when they reach middle life they shall give to the public a valuable book entitled Salires and How to Write Them. it seems that Cupid has been at work among the members of our class. But, although May Julia Reid's heart has been pierced by his darts several times during her school days, it was never fatally wounded, and she shall continue to live in “single blessedness.” After reading this unexpected prediction, I was lost for a few moments in thoughts of the future. Presently T turned to the leaves in my hand. The next one.was Iva Bennett’s, and on it were the words: “Under the blossoming cherry trees, In the far oft isle of Sun-Rise Land, The little black-eyed Japanese Cling to the skirts and caress the hand Of a winsome maid of old P. CVs, W ho heeded the words of her King’s command. In the years to come Louise Parks shall entertain her suitors (and they shall be many) with entrancing music. At length one youth’s heart shall be captivated ■ 27