Euclid Shore High School - Shore Log Yearbook (Euclid, OH)

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Class Prophecy VVAS seated in my studio, they call them atelier in Paris, putting the finishing touches on a canvas which I had just about completed. My thoughts were running in two different channels. I was thinking of the painting and whether it would win the prize at the Paris Salon and whether I should have a rich elaborate frame or a plain simple one. As for the other strain of musing, the painting might again account for it, in fact it did. I was thinking of days gone by, my school days, twenty years past. The subject of my picture was an old gray haired man sitting before an old-fashioned hre- place recalling the days of his youth. I called the painting lVIemories. Recently I often caught myself brooding deeply over things which I knew, if indulged in too much, would make me morbid and dull. Such was the case now and it was with difliculty that I aroused myself when my servant announced that a lady was waiting in the vestibule and wished to come in and speak to me about a portrait. I looked at the card and on it was written eIVIrs. Van- dergould, New York. Ah,', I exclaimed to myself, a lady from my native land, how delightful. Show her in, Lucienf, A moment later I was standing face to face with a woman about thirty-live years of age, but still retaining much of her girlish beauty. Her hair was a wonderful burnished gold, and bobbed, for all the women have their hair bobbed now, young and old. In this well dressed and elegant personage that stood before me I recalled someone I used to know, but who that someone was I could not say just then. I was somewhat startled when she spoke. Why, hello Al, you keep a grand looking place here, don't you? What! don't you remember me?,' At the sound of her voice I knew instantly who she was and I replied eagerly, Hello, yourself, Loretta Dowd, you came just in time. I was going to pack up and take a trip to the U. S. A. again to see the family and also any one else I used to know. By the way, Loretta, you don't look so poorf' Indeed her rich dress and aristocratic air told of wealth. She replied: Well, no. I have money enough to last me I guess. You know when IVIr. Vandergould died he left something like two million for me but of course I had to give a good share of it to the Soviet. Great Scott. Retta, you didn't marry Mr. Vandergould of New York City! I-Ie,s dead you say and you a widow, I exclaimed astonished. Yes,H she nodded and continued, Since the Socialist Revolution he worried himself to death. You know how the Communists preyed on the wealthy. Al, New York today is simply overrun with those terrible Russian Guards. Gf course Paris is full of them too, but New York, well you see we are not used to it over there. Itls the same all over the world I suppose since the Bolsheviks came into power. Don,t I know it though, I replied sadly. The Russians have invaded the world of art as well as politics. It takes all I can do to keep my position. Let me see, you came here to interview me about a portrait didn't you? Xvell I am at your service. Why yes, I did offer that as an excuse to see you. I saw your name on numerous pictures at the Louvre and the Salon and I felt that being here I couldnlt lose this opportunity of coming to visit you. Being here though I think I shall have you do me in oilf' Now, 'Retta, since youlre here and will be coming here for some time. because it will take quite a number of sittings, you know, let's talk of old times and forget the present. I was to have my wish gratified at last. Surely I.oretta would know something about the home folks and the old Shore crowd. I continued: When did you see or hear about jim last? He just seemed to drop right out of my horizon or else I dropped from his when I came to Paris. You realize, Loretta. that I have never returned home since I came here twenty years agof, 21

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,CX ,Aa f' gflx lfamt f 1 . ,H f- Q f -I 4. ff fi ' If ,ff xl fy' lx ' K5 i 5 lfgzj WM at U-fr' N X2 4 TV X ,- Prophetic Pictures CCont.j Listen to her, would youf' said VVilliam, do you know, Harry, she is considered one of the most talented pianists of the day. Don't make me laugh, said Mabel with her characteristic Hippancy. and don't forget the concert. I'll have the tickets for you tomorrow. she added as she started off toward the dining hall. You bet we won't, said Harry, I guess you and l had better be going, George. They exchanged goodnights and Harry and George passed out into the well lighted street. On the corner of Dillie and Euclid Avenue was fl K r Sulzerfs popular moving picture theatre. They , were both arrested by the alluring signs displayed 4, - in front. il Z A A Humph-This is one on me, said George, jj 5, reading the sign aloud. Donald Rogers, starring j Tonightf, Film directed by Ralph Knuthu ,f I guess it's your turn to do the explaining, Harry. Nothing simpler. Ralph and Donald are both R in Hollywood at present working on a new film. f Ralph likes his work very much and is achieving 'xiflrl' a wide reputation in film land. Donald is en- amoured with his Work and more than once been called the second Charlie Chaplinf' Wi IIID? P i lllll lllllll Ilan :'.::::-.ss 31 'Tl-IIIEQ-ll ll PM This has been a day of surprises for all of us soliloquized George, as they moved on. On parting for the night Harry said, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to wake up in the morning and find it all a dream. HA good night's rest will help toward making your dream seem real. So long.', So long. Hardly had Harry breakfiasted the next morn- ing when a letter was handed him. He opened it eagerly. It was from VVilhelmina Daus, the mayor, and requested Harry's presence at her palatial home on Friday. The affair was to be a class reunion. Telegrams had been sent to Ralph and Donald. On Friday the class of,22 assembled with their greatest friend, Miss Burgess. It was an event that none ever forgot. Harry, of course. had been asked to make the toast and he sug- gested that after this there ought to be a reunion every year. His suggestion met with unanimous favor. VVilhelmina Daus. Celia Camine. 20

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It must seem long to you, Al, she answered. Things in America have changed so since the Soviet Revolution that you would be disappointed if you did go back. I havenft seen or heard a thing of Jim, Irene, Eva or any of the others with whom we graduated. I'll tell you what I'll do, Al, in order to find them and see what they're doing. I,et's see, there will be a week between sittings for my portrait, won't there? Yes, I replied, wondering what her plan might be. I have money enough to inHuence the Soviet at Moscow. I will Hy over there tomorrow morning in my Sky-rocket because it will be best to talk to the agent in person. I will have it broad-casted by wireless that I want to know the where-abouts of James Howard, Irene Waters, Eva Smith, Irving Stras- bourger, and Ralph Pfeiffer. The International Guard is scattered all over the world and it will be but a few hours before I have my information. It will be worth the price. donft you think? I,ll say so. Surprising I did not think ofit before. I have wanted to hear about the gang so much. When you know where they are you can easily visit them and have a good talk. Would that I could go with you. But I shall soon start on a portrait of Morewineski, the Soviet chief and I cannot let that go by. I shall ask you to come for your first sitting next week at this time. I-Iere's hoping you will be successful in your effortsf, That's all right with me, Al, next week it shall be. I'll start my search immediately. Goodbye. She closed the door and was gone. From that day until she came for her hrst sitting, I was so impatient and restless that I could not put my mind on my work. The day arrived and Loretta walked in with a triumphant look on her face. I never was so happy in all my life. I told her to relate her experiences at once. Oh Al, she began. I had more success than I hoped for. I got all their addresses in one day and would you believe me AI didn't have to go out of Moscow for .lim I-Iowardf' What, I exclaimed, Jim in Moscow! What is he doing at the world's capitaliu Oh, he is very successful. For one thing he's a favorite, yes, an intimate friend of the Soviet leader. Morewineski and he conducts the Opera Inter- nationale and also the Ballet Commune. If anyone has struck it rich he surely has. I asked him whether he was going back to the U. S. or stay at the capital and he said he was going home for a year or so and then return to Moscow. Is he married? I asked. No, he says that women are too independent these days and he cannot bother about a wife, since his whole heart is absorbed in his work. I think, Loretta, that you have done a good week's work. Anything else you know? I guess not. I attended the Opera and Ballet and it surely was good. Jim is a genius with the baton. Thus Loretta and I talked away while we decided what pose she would take and I made the first preliminary sketches. Soon it was time for her to go again. This time she was to be absent only four days. I' knew little if anything ofher plans or where she was going next and all I could do was kill time until she came once more. The day came. It was Thursday, and she arrived punctually with the same radiant smile on her countenance. Whom did you see now?,' I asked expectantly. You'd never guess. she laughed as she said it. Monday I took a trip to the old U. S. A. Nothing happened much on the way over except that I had to land at Bermuda at one o'clock in the afternoon to hx my rudder on the tail of the Rocket. I arrived at Denver, Colorado, at four in the afternoon. What were you doing in Denver, I,d like to know? I asked since I knew nothing of her plans. The following narrative followed and completes one more incident in our quest for knowledge of our friends, the Seniors of 1922. 22