Ensley High School - Jacket Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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“Stand back! Stand back!’ voice rose above the tumult. I recognized it as that of Ellis Walker. An interesting feature of the carnival was the headliner as advertised on the canvass out front. All that remained of the beautiful voice of Louis Bo tin could be distinguished above the din. Ladies and gentlemen: Kindly give me your attention for a moment. It is the custom of all shows traveling under canvas to give an after performance, formerly known as a concert. For Ibis performance Ibis afternoon we have secured the services of Mademoiselle Aileene (iullaborn. the high wire queen, who, after •standing for eighty-seven seconds on her eyebrows, will dash through space into the receptacle containing aqua pura. It’s a dime, ladies and gentlemen. Only III cents!” Looking down into the tank. I saw six beautiful mermaids, whom I recognized as Merle Swann, Lila Coker, Pauline Crim. Libel Flint, Nellis Gibbs and C»ji Kennedy. Eliza Ellis was seen just outside the door, selling popcorn, peanuts, etc. Another kernel was shelled. A large book opened before me. Looking at the head of the page. I saw that it was .ole Discoveries and Inventions. I began to read. “North Pole Discovered and Ice Scoop Invented. This signal honor goes to Dr. Francis Cook. Dr. Cook also learned that there is a steel projection on the North pole. A scoop has been invented by him that will dish up arctic ice and deposit it on the scorching farm of Bomaine Scott in Florida. Mr. Cook and Mr. Scott have formed a partnership in the new Aurora Borealis Ice Company. Associated with them is the renowned engineer of the failed States, Mr. Edmund Ilillckc. who is chief grease wiper of the scoop: while Willis Merchant carries the only screw driver of the company. Alphaeus Peke is manager of Plant No. L This companx has started delivery by air. In their employ as aviators or aviatrix tricks ses”— are Will Snap. Max Bosenfeld. Nellie Nelson, Dolly Puckett. Lucile Turner, l.ovie Thaxton and John Horne. The pages of the book were turned. Amelia Jackson was a noted North American novelist. Among her best sellers were ‘Lovers’ Conquest.’ ‘The Success of the Old Park Bench,’ and other works of a historical nature. Lou. alias Liniment. Sloan has for a number of years contributed Advice to Girls, succeeding Annie Laurie. As I broke the next hull, the scene shifted. Louis Turner and Bertram Keller were the dignified owners of a pawnshop. They were the most wealthy and prosperous members of the class. Two of the chewing gum stenographers, in the employ of the Three Balls Pawn Company, were Ruby McLeod and Bose Page. If you have tears. I will rush to bring a bucket! I relate the next incident of horror in my official capacity, and not because of my personal personality. Doris Madcr married a painless dentist: Ruth Baker a cook; and Florence Turner a jeweler. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Another nut was opened. An almanac of the universe fell into my hands. The list of authors as given 2!)

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The ( lass of Twenty HHYINC to school the other morning, trying to concentrate m mind on the future of the class of nineteen twenty, I stumbled on a peanut and broke my journey. Anger coursed through my chest. Causing my Adam's apple to move up and down like the bobbin on a sowing machine. In a spirit of revenge. I crushed one of the peanuts against the pavement. To my amazement a dim. translucent sign outlined itself on the sidewalk: Life is just one nut after another. I marveled at the philosophy of the nut. and as I reasoned there came to my mind the realization that there could he no better place for the future revelations of the success and failure of the members of our class than in the confines of a nut. Another peanut was rolled from the hag and opened. I seated myself on the edge of tin concrete and looked onto a magic screen. Members of the class of ‘HO were tin principal actors in a sketch of Washing Ion, I lie Nation's capital. Claud Smithson had the distinguished honor of being Secretary of the Hod Carriers' I'nion. Haymond Hurlberl was a well known and popular ehaull'eui from Alabama, while Mildred Clark. I.ucile Leacock and Mildred Clitic were in the Senate as janitresses. When war or any other tragedy occurred tlu-y swept instead of wept. I.ucile Jordan and Dolly Scholl were the most prominent figures • m Pennsylvania Avenue. Note, please. I said lucre the most prominent figures on that famous street. I don’t want you to think I said they hud the most prom incut figures, of course they were the most prominent figures. They were traffic cops.” Ha die I Bell was engaged to a man by the name of Hope. When the Hell-Hope wedding was “pulled,” there certainly was some ringing. Charles Cannon, our ambitious classmate, was in business on one of our most prominent corners. He was the proprietor of a vegetable earl. It was a horseless cart. Charles pushed his business. Every morning the passers by could hear him shout, “Here’s whar you gets your roastin' cars . » cents an ear! Here, too! Here, too! came from the other corner, where lfrcd Nagel. Charles competitor, sat by his earl. Louis Sims was a short story writer. Some one asked him what was the hardest thing in the short story game. The hardest thing I have to do is sell them,” replied Louis. Arvel Logan had become famous in railroad circles. Any afternoon his voice could be heard at the L. N. station making the following announcement: “Mr. Willie Lenderman will punch your ticket. Step forward, please! Bessemer! Lineville! .uni! Needsmore! B-o-a-r-d-d-d-d! Don't forget your packages and umbrellas. I picked up another peanut and ern.-hed it between mV fingers. A street carnival loomed up amid the profusion of bright lights and characteristic noises. (iracefully poised on the toes of one foot on a loaping steed was Ruby Baird, giving an occasional Whoop, whoopec-ee! Now she goes sailing through the hoop, but great heavens, she fell!

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on the title page included: Mildred Albert. Thelma Hates. Bessie Cillctt and Orilln Whatley. This almanac gave the population of many out-of-the-way places as Mars. Jupiter and Easley High School. A section of the book that showed the greatest originality was one which was devoted to telephone numbers of boys in Ensley. This department was edited by Annabel Cary and Evelyn Tuggle. I also saw listed in the book the record of Catherine Buck, who bad become famous as the director of Fred Almgren's School of Athletics. Margaret Kcynolds was shown as the supervisor of the tiddle-de-winks department, while Edith Lyle and Edna Davis were heads of the departments of bowling and tennis. Elmer Abele was the life guard at the immense pool, which in spots was ankle deep. I opened another. The following sign Hashed on the screen: “We bury others why not you?” I knew that Haul Crum was succeeding at his chosen work. Earl MrBee and Fred Kelly were shown as scientific farmers in Honolulu. Honald Edwards. Halph Cox ami Earl Franklin were seen as patentees of a combination brown shoe polish and hair dye. This concoction worked very effectively also as fly poison. Fred Weaver was chief advertising man of this “.'I in I the 2d, while Vernon !.utz was head salesman for said tonic. (iertrude Holmes had become famous as a musical director of an orchestra composed of graphophones. appearing in person, at which time she would give her famous solo on a bass drum. Arabic Clayton played the negro in the piny. “Sweeping the Host rum. ' In the cast, listed as instrument winders were Vallie Bell. Beryl (ilaze, Irene Love. Ellen Lowery. Vera Story. Bulb Savage. Bess Young. Valeria Hanchey and Pauline Eiliean. I reached in the bag for another nut. The supply was exhausted. Tears rushed to my eyes, for the phenomenal profits of peanut profiteers prevented a personal prophecy—a popular phantom. Lokkna Norton, Profit (uiut toss). :io