Fairfield High School - Crucible Yearbook (Fairfield, AL)

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- --- ■ I8» CII1ICIIILE PROPHECY Time: 1950 Place: Vienna Character: Roy McAllister My, I'm tired. That Ruhcnstein Concerto almost got me. It's a good thing the reception after my concert was called off. I’m afraid that I would have failed to show up. Just think, tonight nineteen years ago, I attended the Senior Dance. How I wish I were back in old Fbirficid—back with the old gang—Grace, Sarabcll, Fat, Ralph—not with them as they arc today—great lawyers, doctors, engineers and so on, but with them as they were then. Oh to be back in the old Fairfield— not the present town of two million—but as Fairfield was then with eleven thousand. Oh, we had a wonderful school that year. The depression may have hit us hard in many ways, but not in school spirit. But, as Mr. Cook said, we were an exceptional group of young men and women.” What faith Miss Lee and Mr. Cook had in us. telling us that if we failed in our life’s work, it would be our own faults that caused our failure. Mr. Cook predicted great things for us. That presents a good idea. Where is my Crucible ? Of course I have it way over here in Vienna, for, you see, I do get homesick. I get a lot of consolation from just looking at pictures of the old gang. Here’s the dedication—Dorothy Sellers wrote that. Even then Dot showed signs of being something in the literary world. There's the faculty. Shall I name them? Here are the Seniors—Juniors—Sophomores and Freshmen (poor creatures)—but here’s my soaring achievement—the prophecy. What hours of agony (for my mother) these two pages represent. But some of my prophecies were pretty good. I'll just name them over in alphabetical order to you— John Baker, an editor. (That was a good guess. He’s now the editor of the New York Times.) James Blomclcy, a lawyer. ('Silly of me. wasn’t it. What could James be but a real estate man?) Rolfc Brandt, a noted violinist. (Wrong again, Rol fe is now one of America’s most brilliant architects.) Archie Campbell, an electrical engineer. (O. K.) Donald Elwcll, an actor. (Sure enough. Donald turned out to be a Broadway favorite.) Elvin Gardner, also an electrical engineer. (I missed that one. Elvin turned out to be a commercial teacher.) Matt Gilbert, an aviator. (Bad! Matt became Donald’s partner on Broadway. He and Donald, and of course Wm. Porteous. now own the largest theatre in New York.) Ralph Hood, a noted violinist. (Could I have guessed wrong. No. Ralph just played a series of concerts here in Vienna. He’s the same old Ralph.) Terrell Hardman, a great commercial artist. (My I must have had an inner vision with some of these.) William Lewis, a lawyer. (Yes, and is he a famous one?) M. C. Lindsay, a chemist. (O. K. He’s now as famous as Doctor Talton.) William Porteous, a minister. (Another incorrect guess, as already stated he owns a large theatre in New York.) James Stuart, a mechanical engineer. (What a guess. He’s now a big preacher.) Oscar Threadgill, a baseball player. (A good guess.) Nelson Van Tol, a college professor. (Half right, half wrong. Nelson wrote a book with six endings, letting one choose the ending he likes. It won him international fame as an author.) Dan Waite, a hanker. (Of course.) Henry White, another mechanical engineer. (What made me get this one right?) Clyde Wilson, a doctor. (He’s now head of theT. C. I. Hospital.) Now the girls—of course there aren’t so many famous girls as there arc boys, but we can guess why. However some of the girls of our class have become very important, as you will see. Eloise Addington, a housewife, no occupation. ( Home economics comes in handy” now says Eloisc.) Eighteen

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I III f lllldIII I LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT We. the most highly educated, invincible, and unsurpassed Senior Class of Fairfield High School, being of miraculous mind and tested judgment, and knowing that our flaming career at Fairfield High School is approaching its zenith, do hereby make and announce this to be our last will and testament— M. C. Lindsay wills his ability to fall in love at first sight to Gordon Moon, as M. C. doesn't need it any more. William Lewis, his football pants and helmet to Clewis Trucks. James Stuart, his position as scrub on the football squad to the freshman who promises not to fall off the bench more than four times during the next four years. Nelson Van Tol, his army of female admirers to John Davis Brooks. Dan Waite did not use the merry-making bequeathed him by Charles Donald and Hugh Glasgow; so he passes it on to Herman Gauggel. Kmma Burnett, the office of president of the Literary Society” to Francis Byrd, provided she serves one semester as reporter, two semesters as vice-president, and one semester on program committee. Ralph Hood, his ability to argue with Doc to Billy Sanders. F.velvn Gilbert, her long tresses to Edna Mac Gale. Dorothy Sellers, her editorship of the annual to anyone who will put out a thousand page annual next year. Roy McAllister, his curly locks to George Bagiev, provided he curls them every morning. John Baker, his ability to break the girls’ hearts to Bennett Morgan. Henry White, his athletic tendencies to Bush Mumpower. Virginia DeArman, her modesty to Aleene Embry. Margaret Love, her quietness to Elizabeth Bentley. Inez Parrish, her typing ability to Roberta Karger. Mary Morris, her popularity to Miriam Sahlmann. Archie Cambell, his great physical strength to Marion Bagiev. Teresa Wilson, her ability to be quiet to Lucilc Robertson. Esther Jean Wypcr, her timidity to Margaret Cookson. Mable Weatherly, her school grades to anyone who can improve them. James Blomelcy, his capacity as Don Juan to Frank Reynolds. Wanda Mumpower. her social brilliance to a g een “shark of society. Annie Blakey, her summer school grades to anyone who needs them. Emma Jean Lindsey, her day-dreams to Florence Metz. Rolf Brandt, his ability to tune a violin to Richard Main. Violet Halfpenny, her heart-breaking ways and methods to Bernadine Ray. Mary Francis Gamble, her capacity for being jolly to her sister. Alma Gompers. her dignity to Louise Rutledge. Clyde Wilson, his knowledge of Chemistry to some dumb person who is crazy enough to take this knowledge. Terrell Hardman, his artistic ways to Frank Lively. Elvin Gardner, his graceful carriage to Frank LaRussa. Jane Pratt, her ability to smile for everyone to Jean Bruner. Evelyn Rutledge, her dreamy eyes to Katherine McCaddon. Sarabell Graham, her individuality to anyone who can acquire it. ('.race Wilson, her ability to make love to Lucy Taylor. Corinne Hayes, her knowledge of English grammar to anyone who is brave enough to accept it. Eloise Addington, her curly hair to Ann Moragne. Frances Moragne. her beauty to Frances Martin. Evelyn Benton, her math book with all the hard pages torn out to Virginia Nixon. Hazel Clements, her host of admirers of the opposite sex to Ruby Jernigan. Laura Jane Hicks, a slightly used lipstick to Janet Moore, provided she doesn’t use it more than four times a day. Matt Gilbert, his captainship of the F. H. S. team to anyone who is capable of having it. Don Elwell. his vocal chords as a souvenir to F. H. S. Oscar Thrcadgill, his laughing qualities to Thomas Gwillim. William Portcous. the Bill Tildcn of F. H. S.. leaves his ability to volley to Leroy Owen. Ellen Turner left school without leaving any traces of a will. Martha Elwell her strikng beauty to Cary Sanford. Dorothy Bradley, her dignity with Miss Lee. Lois Johnston, her pleasing personality to Marie Morrison. Virginia Logan, her silence to Clewis Trucks' future wife. Alice Green as a Girl Reserve, her membership to the best new candidate for the Y. W. C. A. In witness whereof we hereby sign our names this cold day in May. 1931. WITNESSES: BERTIE BAKER ATTORNEY AT LAW: RALPH HOOD ’31 Seventeen

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1st. I HE CltllCIIILES Evelyn Benton, another housewife. (Pretty good. But Evelyn floundered around in Hollywood for several years before she settled down.) Annie Blakey, a nurse. (Annie is now head nurse at T. C. I. Hospital and she certainly can make her patients do what she wants.) Dorothy Bradley, an aviatrix. (What else could she be with her reckless spirit?) Emma Burnette, a famous athlete. (When 1 prophesied this, I never dreamed that Emma would today he the world's tennis champion.) Hue! Clements, a stenographer. (Check.) Jennie DeArman. another stenographer. (Of course Hazel and Jennie were stenographers only temporarily.) Martha Elwell. a secretary. (Mark me up incorrect this time. Martha is now the editor of the Ladies' Home Journal.) Mary Frances Gamble, a housewife. (What could quiet, demure Mary Frances be but somebody's good wife?) Evelyn Gilbert, a modiste. (Enter Paris! Evelyn is quite the most successful modiste in Paris. I saw her there on my last tour. She’s as stunning as ever.) Sarabell Graham, a physical education teacher. (Imagine Sarabell attending teachers’ meetings. That was a pretty bad guess. Sarabell became a scintillating movie star, reigned supreme as queen of the studios for a while, then left her career and became Mrs.—oh well—) Alice Green, a school teacher. (Not so good, nor so bad. Alice now teaches music.) Violet Halfpenny, another school teacher. (Violet is now America’s most renowned baby specialist.) Corinnc Hayes, a dramatic art teacher. (Corinnc now has a large studio in New York City. Her opinions are sought by the world's foremost actors and actresses.) Laura Jane Hicks, a beauty expert. (Who else but Laura Jane is the noted French specialist, Madame l,al,auric.) . I«ois Johnston, a voice teacher. (Like Corinnc. Lois has a large studio in New York. She has trained some of opera's biggest stars.) Emma Jean Lindsey, a private secretary. (A correct guess ) Virginia Logan, a housewife. (Yes, Virginia's beauty and good disposition soon put her name in the engagement list.) Mary Morris, a famous author. (Mary of the good personality is now America's rage in the line of romantic literature. 1 hope her fame isn’t just one of short endurance.) Margaret Love, a school teacher. (Margaret now is Professor of French at Birmingham University.) Wanda Mumpower, a successful music teacher. (Wanda, in spite oi her classical inclinations, turned to jazz and became famous overnight.) Frances Moragnc. a private secretary. (Yes? Well, she was one—to a college professor. She soon became Mrs. College Professor.) Inez Parrish, a famous h'ues singer. (Although Inez's jazzy instincts dominated the first of her career, the Garbo influence has made her a great tragedienne.) Jane Pratt, an artist. (At painting, Jane’s a genius.) Evelyn Rutledge, a pianist. (Good! She now plays accompaniments for Kalph Hood on his concert tours.) Dorothy Sellers, a literary genius. (Today Dot's works are translated into every language.) Ellen Turner, a housewife. (The on!y possible guess! It’s true.) Teresa Wilson, a stenographer. (Yes, she was a stenographer. Now she is a housewife.) Grace Wilson, a physical education teacher. (Well. I hate to say it after what I said about Sarabell. but Grace is a physical education teacher. However, she lost her maiden name long ago.) Esther Jean Wvper. a stenographer. (Of course what I said about Teresa holds true for Esther Jean.) As you see, some of my prophecies came true. But class prophecies don’t mean anything in anybody's life. Well. I hope having read my Crucible will make me dream of old Fairfield of '31. Bov McAllister. Prophet '31. Nineteen