East High School - Orient Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

Page 21 text:

i r.8:r:ictc4c 3»£fr: c ?iH- H I had decided to go, in my search, from Rochester straight to Mexico, because I thought that some of my classmates, who never could keep out of a row, might be in- terested in the revolution there. At the Barber ami Bridle hangars I took the Mexico City Air Line Express. Immediately our light ten-passenger bi-plane rose above the lower stratum of clouds and fanned along steadily through the cold, still, upper air. After some time I turned to the operator, who was muffled in furs, and asked him the make of his wonderful!) steady machine. It’s a Potter, No. 2, he said, ‘made by the celebrated inventor, Craig Potter.” '1'hen I knew that the aviator was George Seitz, for no one else could have made his voice heard so plainly above the roar of the propellers. Since his engines were droning steadily, George proceeded to tell me about some of the other members of our class. He said that Julius Baldwin, “the Painless Dentist,” had been much in the public eye since lie had made a set of diamond teeth for Katherine Van De Carr, the Grand Opera prima donna. Helen Zimmerman, it seems had gone as a missionary to the Soudan. Edna Sterling had married a min- ister and, probably on account of her several children, was very much interested in Bible School work. Isabel Stewart was earning fabulous sums sis an artists’ model in Paris. William Bell, Leonard Henderson, Whvland Sprong, D’Orville Doty, (a married man), and Joseph “Home-run Lisson were playing in the National League, and— Just at this point the machine began to pitch and toss unsteadily, blasts of hot air shot up from beneath us,—there was evidently some unusual atmospheric disturbance. Clutching the arms of mv seat, I asked apprehensively, “What’s the matter, George?” “Oh, nothing serious,” he answered, “probably John Challicc is somewhere around beneath. We immediately started downward in a long descending curve and alighted on a level meadow near the City of Mexico. The first person 1 saw on the street was John Challicc, standing on a soap-box and making a speech to a crowd of three or four barefooted Mexicans. I saw that his political training in the Roman State had been useful to him. The booming of cannon was heard continually. Down the street dashed a regi- ment of cavalry with Maxiano Greenhouse, leader of the Revolutionists, at its head. He was flourishing a sword and exhorting his men with his usual persuasive eloquence “Down with dictator Gosnell. the Murphy of Mexico! Let the people rule! etc., etc. In the wake of the armv came “Hoolie Thompson, offering free tango lessons to all who would support the revolutionists, since they had declared themselves in favor of giving women the vote. By this time Verne Edgcumbe, general of the dictator’s forces, and the revolu- tionists were engaging in a hot fight. A carriage dashed past, containing refugees who were anxious to get out of the city. Among them I recognized Antoinette Douglas, wife of the President of Costa Rica. Verona Stiefel, Gladys Fearv, Marion Levis and Mildred Wagner, wives of diplomats. Abe Richardson, a book collector, who had been searching for some old Spanish documents, was hurrying to get his books out of a ware-house on the firing line. Elliott Smith and Vincent Wallace were trying to barricade the windows of their phonograph store. Helen Halpert, Hazel I homas and Lillian Hackctt were hastily fleeing from their sumptuous offices in the building of the American Beauty Co. St.” Osgood Pitcher, Sol Lefkowitz and Roy Burleigh, successful prospectors, known as the richest men in Mexico, had just ridden into town from their ranch and were preparing to take an active parr in the fray. Elsa Bayer, Bertha Pagels, Ade- o {'■ iixn rn-i-::n:i:ixn:H-i:ixici84H--:c4Ci li:i:Lnxwxixn 19

Page 20 text:

■iri 'I n I r ;ia ■ i'. 7: were gathered F.lmira Mosman, Jessica Rockwood. M. Louise Lewis, Ruth McCarthy and A. Louise Lewis, in prison garb, but undaunted. Upon arriving in New York I went immediately to the Grand Central Station to take the train for Rochester. 1 recalled something familiar in the stentorian voice of the train-announcer, as he bawled out my train, and at last placed him as Harold Walters, one of my old classmates. Hastening to the magazine stand to procure something to read on the train. I saw, at a glance, that June '14 was well represented in current literature. The Outlook, which was at the time violently in favor of Howard Rowley for President, was edited by Edwin Scott Roscoe. Although the name of the Editor of the Ladies’ Home Journal was unfamiliar to me, 1 saw on the staff the names of Irwin Cole, who wrote all the poetry for the magazine, anti Joseph Swcclcy. editor of its best-read department, “How I Knew When the Right Man Came, Advice to Girls.” The “Better Babies” page was written by one whom I had known as Jean MacAlpine, and was headed by a photograph of the proud mother and her twelve sturdy children. I picked up the Saturday Evening Post, but laid it down in disgust when I saw that, since Gould Hatch had become editor, the paper contained nothing but love stories. In the New York Journal the cartoon, drawn by John Bornkessel, called forth a reminiscent smile. New York's largest German paper, I found, was edited by Lena Prussin of our class. Russel Fishbaugh, however, who hail recently published a complete edition of his poems, was the one who had attained the most lasting place in the realm of literature. When I reached Rochester I hastened to Alexander Street, in hopes of obtaining news of my old friends. I was not disappointed for, in front of the school, where “Louis the Greek’s cart had been accustomed to stand was a large “Hot Dog wagon. Is there,—can there be something familiar about the proprietor’s husky form? Yes. it must be.—it is. Hank Hays! With a lightening deduction, like that of Henry Rogers, the modern Sherlock Holmes, I inferred that the “Shrimp” must be near at hand. As if to prove my conclusions. I). Marks sauntered up just then on his way to Convention hall where Dean Quinbv and Emily Otto were to give an exhibi- tion of the Ma.xi.xe, Furiana and other old-fashioned dances. With him was a group of boys among whom I recognized, John Arthur Jennings, Sarah” Grunau, fudge Harmon. Howard Minchin, and rosv John Ballard. Having obtained for Post- graduates and Hold-overs admission into all school activities, thev had decided to remain in East High indefinitely, in order to perfect their famous system of High School graft, the best in the United States. On entering the familiar building I found that not a few of my classmates had attained the honor of being teachers there. Allen Williams was head of the Latin Department. Harold Keogh of the English Department. Chester Brooks of the History Department, Larelda Barth of the German, and Helen Voelckel of the Chemistry Florence Clark was librarian. Desiring to obtain all possible information. I invested in a paper whose title was familiar to me, “Rochester Women’s Interests,” edited by Miss Florence Wolff In this I read of the contest between Helen Harvey and May Gauss, members of out- class, who were running for “Mayoress of Rochester, the one on the Prohibitionist the other on the Socialist ticket. I also saw that Katherine Emerson was Speaker f the House of Representatives, and that Ethel Heift, Laura Belle Price and Fthel French were distinguished and often-quoted members. The law firm of fosi-ph Schlcyer and Alexander Douglas was strongly recommended for all cases such divorce, desertion, alimony, etc. III! :is ; o ’ o il ? 18

Page 22 text:

- te £iefc«a s 8 8fefr3 trS 3 g sieteK4- HS 3ictci »c c»c:iCt9 efrSfr3ia ca:icicicicfc Gfr3 5KH0icfCi0K oc40 0 :KC c :i:i :!Ci:47 laidc Cray and Esther Crane, excited globe-trotters, were securing places on balconies from which to watch the battle. In short “all was bustle and excitement! Suddenly, with a great clatter of hoofs, the rebel cavalry in three divisions led by Jrving Lusink, Lester Carmen and Chester Forkel. came down three converging streets into the plaza and charged some government buildings there. Robert Shafer and Harry Wootton returned the fire smartly from two large brass cannon, while Frederick Hewitt’s division of the Gosnellistas boldly formed around the front of the fortifications to protect the flag. But their attempt was unsuccessful for Homer Waite, at the risk of his life, stepped forward and shattered the shaft with a rifle shot. At the rear of the combatants the fearless red-cross nurses, Mary Virginia Martin and her assistants, Marion Ament, Olive Puleston and Martha Rowland peacefully went about their errands of mercy. Above the roar of the cannon and the hiss of shrapnell, the voice of Maxiano rose, urging on the revolutionists, and, in the confines of the government buildings, the oratory of dial lice, though somewhat hoarser, had not ceased. There was deaf- ening din and confusion everywhere. In short it was just like a Senior Class-meet- ing of June 1914! Slowly my eyes withdrew their fascinated gaze from the gleaming heart of the crystal. Gradually I became aware of objects round about, of the sunlight on the crumbling walls, of the lime-trees swaying in the breeze. Then my consciousness returned and 1 realized my unparalled experience. “Quick, I shouted to the blink- ing Hindoo, “give me pen and parchment.” And now I am just finishing perhaps the strangest and most extraordinary document in the history of mankind. Sally Calkins Wood, April 10, 1934, Bangok, India. 3n JWemortam Sima J anbler