Eleanor McMain High School - Echoes Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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'W 1-V . Y COTTON! Cotton! It is the life and breath of our Southland, and, therefore, we should be more aware of it as it surrounds our everyday lives. In order to make everyone cotton-conscious the business Amen of the South have banded together to educate the public on the subject of cotton. As a part of the program McMain was indeed privileged, one day this spring, to listen to a talk given by Miss Alice Beasley, the red-headed Maid of Cotton. Clad in a very becoming blue and white dress and an enchanting wide-brimmed white hat-both of cotton-Miss Beasley made a very charming picture as she told us- The aim of the campaign is to make everyone cotton-conscious- conscious of the many and various uses and advantages of cotton. In her brief but interesting chat Miss Beasley discussed the Memphis Cotton Carnival, which is the culmi- nation of this program and urged us The Cotton Maid Mary E. Knight, '41 all to be there through the week of parades, fireworks, flowershows, and balls climaxed on Saturday night by a spectacular parade after the ar- rival of King Cotton on a gaily-be- decked river barge. Visitors from far and near throng the streets to pay homage to Southland's king- Cotton. At the close of the program we approached her to obtain a closer look at her sheer cotton stockings and to discuss the Cotton Carnival. In the course of our conversation charming Miss Beasley, or Alice, as she asked us to call her, told us of her tour. For about 15,000 miles she has been exploiting cotton, the lifeblood of our com-munities, awak- ening the Deep South to the fact that her welfare is inseparably con- cerned with the welfare of her main product. Starting from Nashville and continuing from there to Miami, Tampa, St. Augustine, and Jackson- ville to Mobile, taking a plane to Houston which was forced down along the way, she finally reached New Orleans. Although this was not her first visit to our fair city, she still found much she had never seen. Some day, she said with a definite air, I'm going to live in New Orleans and really become acquainted with the whole city. There's so much to see, and every time I'm here it's for such a short time I never have any opportunity to explore. We will all be looking forward to the time when New Orleans will be again honored with the presence of the blue-eyed cotton sponsor. Indeed, after such an inspiring talk by the attractive exponent of charm we of McMain are now fully aware not only of the necessity of the ad- vancement of cotton but also of its desirability as a clothing fabric to en- hance our personal appearance. Pluma Darling jane Whiteside, '41 Early one October morn In a world of hate and strife, A little darling babe was born. 'Twas a flower brought to life. Her eyes were of a heavenly hue, Her hair like a sheaf of goldf And in those eyes of deepest blue A tale of love was told. She filled our lives with hope and light, Her laughter made us gay. She stood for everything that's right ln her loving baby way. But even God knew all these things In his Eingdom of the sky, And now she, with the angels, sings, Never again to die. It Happened Etta Mae Palmisano, '41 It did not happen on a moonlit night- Nor on a midnight still,' It did not happen in starry light- Nor by a freaking mill. It happened amid a lot of noise- With lots of people aboutf It happened so sweetly, quietly- I wanted to .ring and shout! What happened to me was just this- And here's just how it goes: He seemed so nite and gentle, that I thought he might propose. He's hind and good, I like him lots- He's swept me off my feet. He happened on me suddenly:- just when our eyes did meet. Thirty-six E-C-H-O-E-S

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pacing Jenny Bell Gex-mann, '41 A Four Year Summary Shirley Vaeth, '41 just four years ago I entered McMain, The days seemed so long, my dreams were in vain, I dreaded my gym class, my algebra, too, And especially on Mondays I always felt blue. And then about my sophomore year I developed some friendships, which I still hold dear, The days became shorter, though I still took gym And happy the time when report cards rolled in,' The drawing class, which was always a treat, Rated next to English, which can't be beat. In my junior year a counselor gay- To help guide our girls on the only right way And now, if I may, I add-gym was still there And the same funny suits that we all have to wear. Then after three years had passed A Senior B, I became at last,' An honor during this term I obtained I was now a member of the Staff of Mc- Main. And-now-a graduate--a dream com- plete, With harder battles yet to defeat,' A term of pleasures, work, and fun, With another path on life begun,- Our Carnival Ball was one main event, And then our first meeting-so happily spent, Next was the Baby Party-so very proud were we To welcome the Freshies, our followers to be,' Now we draw nearer and nearer to Iune, It seems as though four years have passed too soon. More pleasures await us, honor day for one, And then the luncheon, which is noted for fun,- And finally the end-our graduation night, The diplomas near make our hearts light. The prom with its music, its dancing so SW E-C-H-O-E-S May be the last time to see our friends on life's pathway. And, now as I leave I just want to say I'll always look back on my high school days, 'And forever the ideals of Eleanor Mc- Main Within my heart will always remain. My Brother ,And I Betty Goldstein, '44 One night when the stars above were high, My brother and I set off for the sky, A queer little man invited us there, He waved his wand, and we were off through the air. We glided over housetops and over the trees Swifter and swifter we went through the breeze. Some people tell about clouds, but they lie, Clouds are just spider webs hung in the sky. After passing the stars we came to the moon, And here's where both of us started to swoon. The queer little man pointed his wand to the ground, We landed. and strange little people crowded 'round. Three strange children hummed a foolish tune, How queer it was to be on the moon,' Then we discovered what people say is quite true, The moon is of cheese, we can guarantee you. I wondered how the moon would taste, I took a small piece but I did it in haste, As I was about to taste the cheese, All of a sudden I had to sneeze. The people came angrily towards my brother and me. lVe looked at each other and wanted to flee. And now I knew that we were doomed For I had broken the sacred moon. Next that I knew we were floating through space, Of the moon, and the people there was nary a trace. Because of stupid, stupid I My brother and I surely would die. My back hit the groundf everything changed, Someone was loudly calling my name. I told what had happened, then wanted to weep, For they laughed and said I had been fast asleep. But I can assure you, and you, and you, That all I've said is all quite true. 'Cause we have been all through the sky, Yes, we have, my brother and I. Flowers Carol Ruth Barnett, '41 Every color, every hue, Filled with crystal diamond dew, Quenched with showers of April rain, Fragrant flowers bud again. Buttercups and daffodils, In the valleys, on the hills, Morning glories, daisies, too, Greet the sun when skies are blue. Lilies, sweetpeas, roses fair, Lady slippers everywhere, Dainty little dandilions. jasmine and wisteria vines. The artist's brush could not excel The scene where little flowers dwell. Were it not' for rain and sun, Nature's work could not be done. A Messenger of Spring Muriel Bonie, '41 A red bird lives near our house Who's as scarlet as scarlet can be And he sings and warbles the livelong day In the top of our willow tree. From whence he came I do not know Nor how he happened by, But chirping loud, his little song Seems clearly to reply, Awake ,yon sleepy, weary soul, Desert thy wintry bed. Forget thy troubles and thy toils: Behold the dawn so red. The grass is green. The flowers bloom. All nature seems to sing. Awake, thou dullest of mortal beings,' Know ye not 'tis spring? Thirty-five

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i. i 1 Q I X 1 I 3 .fr 1 -vu.-v -oo.. r ' J, A Festival of Pan-Americana NTAKE one cowboy chorus, one group of southern belles, numer- ous Latin-American beauties, blend together with appropriate -music and dances, season with a lovely queen and her maids, and you have the for- mula for one of the loveliest pageants ever presented by McMain High School. The McMain Spring Festival this year added its contribution to the Good Neighbor Policy of the Unit- ed States by choosing Pan-American- ism as its theme. Queen Columbia ruled, and the representatives of the various nations of the Western Hem- isphere came to pledge their friend- ship. Patricia Callahan was a beau- tiful and gracious sovereign, and her six charming maids were Kathryn Nelson, Margery Mendes, Gayle Bal- dinger, Virginia Rush, Rachel Fort- na, and Frances Guidry. The first half of the program was devoted to the United States and was called We're All Americans. Three dances typical of this country were performed-a gay country dance, a military tap dance, and an old-fashioned barn dance that was greatly appreciated by the audience. A tribute to the famous American cowboy was made by a group singing well-known Western songs, such as: Wagon Wheels, Saddle Your Blues to a Wild Mustang, and sev- Daphne Roy, '42 eral others, ending with the peren- nial favorite, Home on the Range. For the c-oncluding numbers of this part of the program the Glee Club sang We're All Americans, and, while six soldiers fMcMainians in uniform, of coursej performed a drill, rendered There's Something About a Soldier. The navy had its turn as a group of sailors swabbed decks with the Glee Club cheering them on to the tune of I Saw the Sea. The act ended with a thrilling tri- bute to the American flag called You're a Grand Old Flag, sung by the Glee Club with members of the Junior Red Cross, the soldiers and sailors acting as color guard. Between the acts the songbird of McMain, Etta Mae Palmisano, sang Estrellita in her usual delightful IY12.l'1Tl6l'. The second act opened with the stage darkened and bare but for a large American fiag in the back- ground with spotlights thrown upon it, and waving as bravely as though it were flying in the wind from the top of the highest flagpole. Stand- ing before the effectively lighted and displayed fiag, America sent her messengers to extend an invitation to all the nations of the Western hem- isphere. Each representative 'made her entrance to music identified with her country, and was announced by a commentator. Several performed dances native to their land-among them a Mexican. hat dance, a Cuban rhumba, a dance of the Dominican Republic-and the whole group joined in the Latin-American conga. In the midst of the gaiety of this dance, a symbolic note was intro- duced by the appearance of the three demons: Famine, War, Pestilence, and their followers. The Western nations were subdued for a while by these forces, but the spirit of Pan- Americanism was strong enough to overcome them, then the entrance of America brought new hope to the countries, and their representatives arose to sing, gladly and thankfully, God Bless America. This tribute to international co- operation was made possible by in- traschool cooperation among teach- ers and students. Special credit goes to the art, speech, and gym teachers for their excellent direction of the program. Laurels also are due Mr. Kirst and the orchestra, whose, fine musical accompaniment helped to carry out the theme. Time- ly in its relation to national policy and entertaining in itself, this pro- gram with its gay music, lightheart- ed dances, and the optimistic hope of its theme served as a fitting wel- come to spring. To You Iennie Bell Germann, '41 Days are long and hours years As I wait and dream of you. I long to hold you rlose. Alas, Your home is in the blue. Some time in long Eternity 1'll meet you once again- And whisper tenderly, At last- I did not wait in vain. Dim ples Muriel Bonie, 41 A dimple here- And a dimple there Those dimples, you just love to wear! Whene'er you laugh Or even speak, They dance across Your rosy cheek. E - C - H - O - E - S Thirty-seven