Hopewell High School - Kaleidoscope Yearbook (Hopewell, VA)

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—how had they done it all?—gumption, I suppose, they had it. I excused myself early; I just had to go. It was late so I took a taxi to town and guess who was driving? Floyd Gage; I asked him why, and he answered, “I’m still working my way through finishing school.” He let me off at the bank. I walked in to see if perhaps—yes, I was right: Accountant Flavious Brittle was busy over his books, while the bank president, Marshall Phillips, daily told Roland Gill that it was unwise to mortgage his town house to buy that farm in the country. I walked out slowly without even speaking, they were busy. Outside were posters and signs, the town election was to be held later in the summer. I inquired of the old man on the corner concerning town politics and he answered, “Women—bah! That Churchill woman will never beat Ruxton.” Could this be Peggy and Donald? It was I found soon after on seeing many more signs, “Vote for Peggy Churchill for Mayor, motto: ‘If the woman dominates in the house, why can’t she dominate just as well in the Town Hall’?” While on the other side was Donald’s motto: “My opinion is—”. I can’t remember that platform. I noticed the “Kurl- yoair” Beauty Parlor not far off. I went in and who should greet me but Dorothy Ackermann. She told me she was manager and that her able assistant, Myna Gaither, would wave my hair or, if I wanted a manicure, Frances Boaze was especially good. I told her I would take both (I needed them; time hasn’t done anything but age me). Before I left, Elizabeth Henry walked in. She told me she was married—had taught school for one year but found more pleasure in housekeeping. I asked about the old bunch. All she knew of was Dorothy Cobb, who was the proprietor of a dress shop—at present in Paris shopping and sightseeing,—said she heard Harold Hobson was teaching Trigonometry out west in one of the schools. I thanked her for the news and as I left she called back and said, “Oh, I forgot Julian (Budd y) Ruffin is Admiral of the battleship “Portocall” in San Diego. Goodness, “Tempus Fugit.” It was late, I must find a hotel if I want¬ ed to spend the night in this town; as I walked into the town’s largest hotel, who should come to greet me, but Hartwell Hildebrand. I exclaim¬ ed, “What are you doing here”? He explained that he and Charles Jenkins had bought the place and were trying to make a go of it by featuring nightly dances and floor-shows. I was delighted, in for a treat, especially when he told me that Amy Altman was the hostess, featuring Claiborne Burnett’s orchestra with Alberta Krausse and her rhythm girls as the main attraction. I met Blair Woody, girl about town, there that night, she gave me some valuable information, told me Virgie Bussart, Sarah Shelton, and Betty Smith were working in one of the town’s law offices— stenographers. She also told me that Louise Talbot was Robert Blount’s private secretary and was traveling around the country taking notes for his next book entitled, “If An Earthworm Wants to Squirm, You Can’t Stop It,” or “Come Out With the Rain,” his publisher, Edwin Collins, likes • • • Page 25 ... .

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H AVE you ever been to a fortune teller? To the mind reading horse? To a Crystal gazer? Some say there are no such things—fortune teller-fake. About the mind reading horse—I’ve never seen one; and the Crystals—I’ve seen lovely ones in chandeliers and I’ve gazed at them, but never the future did I see, but I’ve an imagination and in the midst of one of my day dreams I beheld a magnificent spectacle. I let the book fall to my lap and before me came the vision that I had so often thought of. It amazed me! Was it real? No, it must have been my sub¬ conscious mind going to work. The piano was playing a march—85 fellow classmates, solemn faces, shaking knees, happy hearts, young men and women marching to get their diplomas, but that vision faded, they were leaving, embracing their parents and loved ones. They were appreciative of all that had been done for them, but now they had to do for themselves. What would they do? Do you believe in visions? I had them that evening. A big school was before me, a large library well kept. The person who watched over these books and kept those students in check must have four eyes and six hands, about the latter I was wrong, for there I beheld librarian Myra Birchett—wearing glasses. As I wandered out of the room and down the hall I saw many old friends. Josephine Ameen teaching Psychology,— this new curriculum is amazing. Downstairs, Elton Lee in the chemistry laboratory, he looks like a good chemistry professor. I wonder if he still measures grams of sodium bicarbonate by the inches it takes up in a test tube. I slipped through the furnace room going to the Industrial Arts department and guess who was tending the furnace, (he didn’t graduate with us, but it’s only fair to mention him as I am mentioning all the oth¬ ers I see) J. Washington Percy Jackson, our janitor’s nephew. The In¬ dustrial Arts department was supervised by Carl Bogese and Rives Neb- lett. I wandered back up the steps, no more familiar faces, I walked out slowly, thoughtfully, so glad that some of my classmates were well sit¬ uated and happy. I walked down the street; everything was strange. I passed a lovely cottage with a neat fence around it. I stopped to admire its simplicity in this ever modernizing world when, to my amazement, one of my class¬ mates walked out of the door, washing in hand, I gapped could she be a wash-woman? Much to my delight I found out that it was the maid’s day off so Irene Dowdy had to do her own washing. She invited me in, said she was expecting some of her friends over that afternoon. I was delight¬ ed, old faces, old thoughts bring much new happiness. At four they came: Eva Davis, smartly clad woman, said she didn’t work, kept house for the family. Lois Lester, sweet as ever, worried because of the typing error she had made when the office boy smiled at her. Lillian Sodat, Mary Cibula, and Helen Alford came in, all registered nurses. I was curious Kaleidoscope . . . . Page 24

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the latter. It is thought that Dan Birchett is furnishing money to back the book, because of his interest in farming. “Plants his potatoes accord¬ ing to science,” said the old-fashioned farmer, Allen Leadbetter, who had just joined our table. He and the Mrs. are raising tobacco and not ac¬ cording to science, says he, “by cracky.” Before I left Helen Hood, Eliza¬ beth Cleere, Jane Storey, Henry Cromartie, Joseph Hedgepeth, and Mark Landa joined us. They showered me with news. I could hardly take it in, “What do you think of Shirley winning the Pulitzer Prize for her latest novel?” I assured them I thought it was grand, our Shirley Goldsmith making such a name for herself, but what about those whom I hadn t seen for so long? Helen and Elizabeth owned a tea room, very successful. Jane Storey told me she just hung around, but I soon found out she was a doctor’s assistant, the doctor being Dr. Sylvia Weston. I asked for news in the medicinal world. She in turn asked me if I had seen the article that Helen Janosik had written in the “Health Journal”; she was making quite a name for herself writing and lecturing on child care. Myrtle George was supervisor in the town hospital. Mary Virginia Jerrell was dietitian at the hospital. I asked about Edna Mae Padgett; after working as a clerk in a downtown store for a year, she married her boss; she’s still working, I was told. Henry, Joseph, and Mark were business men and shieks about town. Henry had his clothing store, while Joseph and Mark were partners in the hardware business. After retiring that night I could not sleep, my mind was so confused. I would go out the next day and try to find some more old friends. The next morning I meandered all over town. Those whom I had not seen and could not see I inquired about. They are all well and happy. George Djiovanidis was stooge for Eddie Cantor on his radio program. Reuben Fleshood and Melvin Sheets had good jobs in the plants, the for¬ mer being a foreman; Melvin was a chemist. Rosalyn Cox, Mary Joan Quicke, and Edith Bridges were north coun- selloring in some of the summer camps. I think they teach in the win¬ ter, music, school and elocution, respectively. Margaret Mariniak and Retha Phillips were stewardesses on one of the T. V. A. planes. William Perkinson was piloting his own plane over Washington for sightseers. Dorothy Cooper and Glady Hughes were nurses. Mary Jane Powers was switchboard operator at the hospital. Virginia Sadler and Douglas Tuggle conducted their own private kindergarten. Argyle Crump had her own radio program, that popular “Ditty and i , Dotty” series for children sponsored by the Rickman (Joe) Brewery. V Donna Mae Sanders was teaching Latin at Hopewell’ High School . 1 ° 1 Kaleidoscope . . . . Page 26