Gaston High School - Aurora Yearbook (Gaston, IN)

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Class Prophecy 'I' was one of those still, balmy days of summer in southern Italy. I had just come out on the balcony of the pala- tial home of my uncle and had lain down in the hammock for my afternoon' siesta. The air was scented with perfume of myriads of blossoms, the bees hummegl drowsily, and everywhere was an atmos- phere of peacefulness. But within me was such a longing for something, I knew not what. On every hand was wealth and luxury, visits to the great museums and historical places, but they didn't satisfy me. Finally, in the street below I heard a newsboy calling his papers and announc- ing the departure of a. large aeroplane the next day for the United States. Then I knew what it was -I wanted to be back in the United States to see my old friends, especially the old class of '25. I had kept in touch with them and knew exactly what each one was doing, but thinking of them and knowing how many leagues of water separated us, I cried bitterly. All at once a small. fairylike creature stood by me and said, I am the good geniig I have seen your longing, come with me. I took hold of his hand and we were at once in the good old United States. VVe went down a well-kept, country road until we came to a large, spacious country home. VVhen we came nearer, who should come out of the door but George Kirtlev with little George and Irene right at his heels! George was the only one of the class that lived on the farm. He had gone to Purdue to study electrical engineering, but he had always been a lover of the farm and it was hard for him to tear himself away, so instead he studied agriculture and was now put- ting his modern methods into practice. He surely was making a success, with his pretty wife, Irene, and those two bounc- ing children. From here the genii took me to Boston, out into the factory district. We went into a building and found it was a large, airy hospital. One of the nurses came up to us, and I recognized my old friend, Pearl Brown, as smiling and happy as ever and very becoming in her white cap and apron. I asked her if she had found her handsome millionaire yet. She said that she hadn't, but that her husband, Dr. Stewart, suited her just as well. He was head physician at the hospital, and the two of them together were devoting their lives for these people. - We next came to an Indian village which, although modern to some extent, reminded one of the primitive villages of long ago. There seemed to be an air of excitement in the village. We came to where they were having court and there on a raised platform, or throne, sat no other than Dorothy Helms, the youngest member of our class, and seeming not much older now than she was then. She had come as a missionary to this place, and the natives had regarded her as sort of a god, and her will was law in every- thing. A young Indian man had been caught in the act of stealing, which was considered a very grave crime by them. and he had been brought to Dorothy to decide whether he should bc punished or not. I knew her decision before she gave it, for she had never been known to hurt a flea. She gave her opinion in such a way that it changed their hatred into love and a desire to help their brother, and the sad proceedings were changed into a gala affair. I would have liked to have watched the affair longer, but I had to hasten on. The next scene was in Denver, Colorado.

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Class History HE night was dark and cold. Three men sat around the camp-fire. One of them said, Lyle, tell us a story. So he began: Just such a night as this makes me think of the winter I gradu- ated. 'Twas awfully cold that winter- twenty below, somctimes..I remember several things about the class, but perhaps I'd better commence at the beginning. You know we started in '21 and, like all freshmen, had a lot to learn. Twlenty- eight of those who had passed in the eighth grade started. I guess we acted rather green for a few days, but we soon learned what we were expected to do, and acted accordingly. We didn't do much that year except work algebra, con- jugate Latin, and receive our daily lecture from Mr. Maxam on the theme of 'puppy love.' We boys felt rather out of place because the girls preferred the senior boys, but I guess we got over that. Oh, yes, I must not forget to tell about our initiation. It was at the home of Faye Ferguson. They sure treated us rough. I never shall forget how angry some of the class were. VVe declared then and there wetd give the freshmen the same kind of a dose the next year. But alas! the next year old G. H. S. was closed. The school building had been condemned for several years, and the State refused to allow school to be held until it was remodeled. Because of this the class was scattered far and near. Many of them never did get back. Some went to Summitville, to Eaton, to Muncie, and to Royerton. We liked the other schools well enough, but, oh, how glad we were to get back to dear old G. H. S. in '23l ,E M., A My, but how the class had shrunk dur- ing the yearl Only fourteen out of the twenty-eight returned. The school cer- tainly seemed different. Although the new part wasn't finished, it seemed quite an improvement. VVe selected Luther Burkett president, and Dorothy VVeaver secretary. We had several parties during the year. The first was at Burkett's, and the seniors entertained us once at a bob-sled party. The big event of the year was the Junior-Senior reception. VVe certainly entertained them royally. I guess they enjoyed themselves. The new addition of the school build- ing was finished by Christmas. At the beginning of the second semester we moved into the new assembly. We were the first junior class to use this assembly. In '24, when we came back to school, our class had grown still smaller. There were just a dozen of of us left. We se- lected Dorothy Weaver president, and George Kirtley treasurer. Our class col- ors were green and white. We were sure busy that year. We published the'second edition of the Aurora, the first f6r thir- teen years. We had quite a time getting the ads. VVe also gave two plays and the girls sold popcorn and candy at the bas- ketball games that year to get money. We had several parties during the year and, of course, there was the Junior- Senior reception and the Alumni banquet. We were there bright and early com- mencement night. You should have seen how proud we were when we received ourdiplomasl We had carried our ban- ner of Green and White over the topf' R. D. and P. B.

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There I saw Lyle Brown, the owner of the largest drug store in the west. He was also president of the druggists' union, and his advice was sought in many weighty matters. He was still unmarried, but there were rumors. He told me that Allen Turner was also in the city and that I would see him without looking for him. Sure enough, I hadn't gone but about a block down the street until some- one came hurrying up, asking permission to show me the sights of the city. It was Allen. He was a guide in the city, and often took parties of tourists through the mountains. Every tourist in Denver was at some time or other visited by him. VVe next came to Topeka, Kansas. On the outskirts of the town was a little white cottage, and on the porch, rocking and sewing, sat Cleo Miller and Iva' Mc- Creery. Whoever would have thought they would have lived to be old maids! Cleo was forever lamenting this fact, and it almost tried even Iva's patience in her attempts to console her. Our next landing place was New York. While walking up Fifth Avenue, a family came out of a magnificent home who looked as if they were going on a long journey. Among them was Ruth Driscoll, leading a' small girl by the hand. She was a governess in this wealthy family to their two children, and they were just start- ing on a trip to Europe, taking her with them. The next scene was quite different from any of the others. We arrived in Palm Beach, Florida, and there was Dora May, on the go all the time in one continuous round of pleasure. She had really become quite pretty, and she certainly had plenty of admirers of her ready wit as well as her beauty. From here we went farther north along the coast and came to a small, deserted cabin. It had formerly belonged to Fred and Mary, but they had gone to the wilds of Africa to preach and hadn't been heard of since. Fred always was that wayg Mary was enough company for him. Last, but not least, was dear old Gas- ton. How the town had grown! But the place that interested me most was the large community house, of which Verna Pittenger was matron. She had fallen heir to a. large fortune, and this institu- tion was the result. She was just as un- selfish and good-natured as ever, giving her time as well as her money to help someone. After this, by some mysterious charm, we were back in Italy again, the genii vanished, and I awoke to find my aunt and uncle laughing at me because of my queer actions. My uncle said that he had to go to the United States the next day on important business, a.nd if I could get ready I might go with him. I certainly wasn't very long in gather- ing things together, for I would arrive in the United States in time for the an- nual reunion of the class of '25, D. G. W. l3gE 35E'