Edgar High School - Edgar Echo Yearbook (Edgar, WI)

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F Im C LASS PROPHEC Y Dear Mike: In regard to the reunion of the class of 1944 ---- For the fifth time that afternoon, a piece of crumpled paper found its way into the waste basket. I, a daily columnist for the New York Times, could not write an ordinary letter to an old classmate. It was just Mike Niewolny. Major Mike now, but then it had been ever since his series of rapid promotions after taking his officer's training course in 1945. Every one knew Major Mike. He was a swell fellow, so they said. I couldn't remember, I hadn't seen him since 1944. That was ten years ago. My typewriter and I were both sweating frantically in my stateroom aboard the S.S. Katherine Umnus, so named because of the courageous deeds done for our men in the Navy by Navy Nurse, Katherine Umnus, during the United States' seventh years at war. She died for her country and being one of my classmates, I take pride in mentioning her here. I had been working all afternoon, trying to write a letter to Mike. I don't know why it seemed so difficult. I could do the job in three minutes split time now and make it good, too. But finally giving up, I went out on deck for a breath of fresh air. And then it happened--the thing that started the ball rolling! A beautiful young lady walked past with a springing step that rung a bell in my weary brain. Somewhere, way back yonder, I could see that face surrounded by a mass of wavy black hair. Then the light popped and I ran after her calling, Margaret, Margaret, as I ran. She stopped and turned around with a look that froze me. For a moment we stared at each other. She didnft know me and my disappointment was keen. Then a light swept over her countenance and we spent the rest of the afternoon talking over old time. It seemed she was a model at Saks' Fifth Avenue in New York and was now on her armual vacation. That evening we were lounging on the deck when a masculine voice rose from out of the darkness. Mind if we join you, ladies? It was an oddly familiar voice. I turned to look and found two tall young men hovering over us. One was Carol Patefield, the other Fuzzy Wetterau. They said they had found our names on the list of passengers. Carol explained that he was the ship's captain and Fuzzy was its druggist. They made all their trips together and were enjoying life immensely. When I expressed my surprise in finding them there, Fuzzy said I'd be even more surprised in a few minutes. We all went below where there was music and dancing. What I saw down there was so shocking and unexpected that I stood with my mouth wide open and stared. The orches tra was playing a haunting melody and a very sweet voice was singing it, but it was the orchestra leader, Ray Socha, and the vocalist, Dorothy Feltz, that surprised me so! The boys were very pleased with their little joke and before letting either Margaret or I re- cover, they led us over to a table surrounded by admiring girls, and by some pure co- incidence I recognized one of them. It was Katy Schoeder, an old friend of whom I had lost track way back in 1948. She told me that when she heard of the ship's being named after our beloved Toodie and of the positions which Carol, Fuzzy, Ray, and Dottie held, she also applied for a job. She could get nothing but table waitress so she took it. We pushed our way through the throng of girls and found that Major Mike and friend john Warosh were the ones who were causing all the attraction and strange to say, - discovered that it wasn't Warosh's good looks that caused the excitement but that the pretty waitresses were all clamoring for the lavish tips that Mike had a habit of handing out. Tubbs, who had expanded to an enormous size since I had last seen him, was quietly smoking an expensive cigar and taking it all in. He was glad to see us of course, and a radiant smile that all but hid the two green slants which he used for eyes, broke out on his face as Carol told of all john had accomplished. He was president of the Pauly and Pauly Cheese Company which had branched all over the United States and like some greedy sea animal with its long tentacles, was feeling its way into the foreign countries as well. The rolling of drums and great applause made us all turn our heads in the direction' of the spotlight. The big yellow beam swept across the glimmering floor ana came to rest upon a very handsome couple. The music began in the slow mood of a tango and the dancers moved silently forward. Their graceful movements were receiving breathless

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TALKS about men smart about Leonard with her mouth silly little fast whenever he can quietly low drawley intelligently too freely in a streak never enough crazy like a teacher about babes loose timidly 'FAVORITE SONG Army Air Corps Lazy jealous Born to Lose Cuckoo Waltz anything jivy Five Foot Two Beer Barrel Polka Rock 'n Rye Polka She Don't Wanna' Strip Polka Baby Me I'll Be Around- journey to a Star Meadow Lark Waltz Yours I Want My Mama Notre Dame March Wild, Wild Women Easy to Dance With In the Mood AMBITION drummer with Harry teacher raise a big family W AVES Ag. teacher old maid to be 6! 2l! Major in the Army prize-fighter electrician bum opera star orchestra vocalist butcher bachelor housewife auctioneer Lt. in the A.N.C. big shot bombardier stenographer James

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Oh's and Ah,s from the delighted audience. As they neared our side of the room and I recognized the faces of Mable Artus and Duaine Uekert, I all but swooned in the nearest chair I could find. This was going a little too far! When the dance was finished, Carol and I went back on deck where he cautioned me to steady myself while he related the rest of the story of the class of 1944. He said that there would be a wedding aboard the ship on the marrow and wanted me to know before hand so I could come prepared. Vivian Michalski, the noted woman C.P.A. and Kenneth Klaped, the famous lawyer were to join hands in the ceremony of Holy Matrimony. Violegene Lepak, the designer of the clothes Margaret modeled, was to be Maid of Honor while Merlin Paul, the great scientist was to be Kenny's best man. We stopped at a small island in the West Indies the day after the wedding. The boys explained that the stop was made on every trip and the passengers were free to go ashore and have a good time if they wished to do so. When all I could see was a tiny fishing village, I asked where they went to have their good time. Carol laughingly replied that he didn't know where the rest went but if we cared to come along he'd show us how he spent his day. A station wagon awaited us when we hit shore and fifteen happy Edgarians climbed in. Margaret solemly expressed the desire to know where we were going but was answered only with sly grins and knowing nods. We traveled for about five miles, then turned up a long winding lane and stopped in front of a spreading one-story house. The livelier of the group whooped out of the bus and dragged a laughing Chuck from the house. I met her on the verandah. Having been prepared for almost anything, I wasn,t even surprised when she told me that she owned every acre of land within sight, nor was I surprised when Bob Novitzke strolled around the corner of the house. Chuck explained that he was the overseer of her sugar plantation. Seeing that we had practically the whole Senior Class present, I took roll-call and found that Sylvia and Mike Cyzan were missing. Every one was excited and talking like chattering blue jays but I managed to find out that Mike was the pilot of a large plane and that Sylvia was stewardess on the same plane. They were working for United Air Lines and could not manage to be present for our little gathering. 1 Lorraine Eberhardy was also absent. I certainly wish that she could have joined us. She probably would have gone back to England and told her friends that we all had a ajolly good time, as Englishmen will say But then, I don't blame her for not com- ing. A little cottage in Dover is so much more peaceful than an apartment in New York or a plantation in the West Indies. I'll be in England sometime in july so I'll tell her a,1l about it then. Here's hoping she doesn't let the children get the meas1es'till after I rn gone. Phyins