Glens Falls High School - Red and Black Yearbook (Glens Falls, NY)

Page 26 text:

THE RED and BLACK 24 Again I see a stage and this time Hitting about it, gracefully attired inashort white skirted affair, I see Monsieur Cashion, famous toe dancer of the Russian Ballet. Monsieur Cashion's love for fancy dress was first manifested in l920, when, as 'C-ratiano,' attired in a dazzling costume of blue and gold, he wooed the fair Nerissa. This time I seem to see before me, a broad expanse of fields, and in the dis- tance a small farmhouse. The dawn is just breaking over the pastoral scene, dis- closing to my view an industrious figure clad in blue overalls busily engaged in digging apples. Ah! now I see that this prosperous farmer is indeed Mr. Bloomfield Russell. Although it is now barely four o'clock in the morning, he has already been at work over an hour. lGood work, Russell, say well Next there floats before my sight the vision of an-extremely pretentious building. At the entrance I perceive a sign reading 'Mn Merritt Braydon-Famous Spiritualistic Mediumf And now, I am entering his seance chamber. It is hung with dark, somber draperies and an air of mystery pervades the place. In a mas- sive chair I see Braydon himself, attired in a red and blue bathrobe, with a Turkish towel artistically wound around his head, gazing fixedly into what seems to be anin- verted goldfish bowlfpresumably a crystal. But this vision is not yet ended. The door of the seance chamber opens, and in steps an extremely prosperous looking young man.fIt is Cordon Partridge. 'Well, Braydon,' he sings out, 'I sold 250 ouija boards to-day. Not so bad, eh?' Braydon smiles and rubs his hands. 'Cood work, partner,' he answers, 'there's sure one born every minute, eh, Red? This scene gradually fades from view, and another takes its place. I see this time before my eyes a poor tenement district swarming with rather foreign looking people. A woman attracts my eye-a woman with a kindly benevolent expression- and on looking closer, I can make out Miss Harriet Smith, missionary to foreign lands lwhitehalll. This angel of mercy is busily engaged in handing out copies of 'Hamlet' to the starving population. This vision over, there arises before my eyes a stately ancestral castle, home of Count Meout and his wife, formerly Miss Mary Wilson. On entering the castle, I am struck forcibly by the bareness of the place and the thought comes to me that the furniture has been sold to pay the taxes. Though sad, 'tis true. For al- though Mary's husband is a Count, alas! he has nothing to count. S S S S I What a change! I now seem to be standing before a long counter, while be- hind it stands Mr. Arthur Cowdery, bartender, passing out liquid refreshment to thirsty souls. Ah! now the scene grows clearer. Oh, pardon me, my mistake.

Page 25 text:

23 g THE. RED and BLACK You know, I've often wondered what they keep in that safe, and with all my wis- dom, I've never been able to find out. Obediently the snake crawled away, and I heard its marble coils clattering down the stairs. I sat down on the pedestal beside her. Are you really very wise? I asked eagerly. I suppose I amf, she replied modestly. Can you tell me anything I want to know? I queried breathlessly. Anything,', she smiled. I am not reputed to be a prophetess, yet I have some secret knowledge of the future. Then tell me, oh tell me, what there is in the future for the Senior Class, I begged. Without further delay, she obligingly began: The first one that comes to my mind is Robert O'Connor. I see him as cheer leader for the Old Ladies' I-Iome, attired in a gay sweater of deep purple with crepe trimmings, the class colors. Next I see Margaret Ramsey thrilling a vast audience in the Metropolitan opera house with her wonderful voice, while Madam I-Iomer stands at the stage door grinding her teeth in envy. The scene changes and I see walking down Glen street, Thelma Thomas, the proud parent of angelic twins named Aeneas and Dido. In spite of any effect their names might have on them, the children get along splendidly together. And now I seem to be outside a large theatre while overhead twinkle a thousand electric lights, tracing the following words, 'Miss june Lovely' in 'The Bootlegger Loves I-Ier Still? lMiss Lovely, it will be remembered, was Miss Edith Clarl-1.1 Again the scene changes and I find myself in a somber study. The walls are lined with deep books on philosophy and theology. But who is this person whom I see seated at the desk busily writing? It is none other than Miss Estelle Dear- styne engaged in her favorite pursuit of writing deep, melancholy essays on higher thought. This time I seem to be in a prison-and I see a familiar face. Ah! it is Miss Helen Williams. No, she is not one of the convicts. She is lecturing to them on the inspiring subject4'The Importance of Being on Timef '6 And now I see before me a small hamlet, consisting of four houses, a church and a store. There is but one person visible in this lonely landscape. He is at- tired in a white suit Cthat is, it was oncel, and carries over his shoulder a long handled brush. Behold, the person is indeed Mr. Gordon Barnum, the street cleaner of West Ft. Ann.

Page 27 text:

25 THE RED and BLACK Instead of a bartender I now perceive that Mr. Cowdery is the chauffeur of a soda water fountain. ' Next, I see a dark cave, hidden in the wilds of Prospect Mountain. In keeping with the scene, I see an extremely wild figure with long hair and beard, clad in a tattered gown. How sad! My eyes grow dim as I gaze. Poor Ralph Wells, disappointed in love, has become a hermit, and has foresworn all society. The next person appearing before me is Miss Gertrude Morrison, who has had great success as saleswoman for horsehair corn poppers. Miss Morrison carries her wares in a handsome concrete suitcase. . Next there floats before me a vision of the Sheriff with a warrant for the arrest of-Miss Kathryn Eddy. It seems that Miss Eddy, as editor of 'Snappy Stories,' has exceedingly annoyed the board of censors, who have therefore issued the aforesaid warrant. How touching is this next scene! I see two small children being shamefully maltreated by their French governess, Miss Genevieve Bazinet. I gather that Miss Bazinet, her nerves worn to a frazzle with the futility of trying to instil any appreciation of Racine's 'Esther' into the minds of her charges, is taking it out on them. Poor dears! How I pity them! A What a strange foreign scene now presents i self! Nearby I see a sign post on which I read the words, 'Czecho-Slovakiaf In the midst of this interesting landscape appears an inn. On entering the door I see as a barmaid her who was Miss Mildred Fosbrook and her Czecho-Slovakian husband, selling vodka. At a table fnearbyj are seated two familiar figures, whom on closer inspection I discover to be Mr. John McKernon, now member of the President's Cabinet, and Mr. Loyal Gibbs, president of the oil trust. The two friends, I understand, are spending an extensive vacation in the aforesaid country on account of the continued dryness of the U. S. Too bad, John, that there's nothing in the way of liquid refreshment in the President's cabinet. Out of the scene gradually unfolding before me I hear a voice. 'Yes, Mr. Vanderbilt, table this way, sir. Special today, stuffed bees' knees on toast, sir, Yes, sirg very good, sir., Ih the haze before me, I now see a figure. Mr. Ralph Smith is now none other than head waiter at the Waldorf. The G. F. H. S. may well be proud to claim this majestic figure as a product of her halls of learning. And now before me I see a magnificent apartment, which is but a background for a still more magnificent woman, who is fbe prepared for a shockj Miss Ruth Bennett, successor to Theda Bara. As I gaze, I hear her say in a languid voice. 'Marie, you may tell Mr. DeMille I will positively consider nothing under Sl0,000 a week., Miss Margaret Crosby now comes before me as a country school teacher. Miss Crosby is at present employed in the important pastime of reading 'Advice