Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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CLASS PROPHECY Fifteen years have passed since the memorable grraduation day, when the Class of 1925, my class, received their “tickets of leave” from hip:h school. The years have passed quickly and to me they have been prosperous ones. Dui ' ing: the fifteen years of Dis- trict Nursing:, I saved for the time when I could travel and take a vaca- tion. At last it came, and I am going: to tell you about the exciting trip around the country from which I have just returned. The first move in preparation was to find some means of locomotion. Do you remember years ago the universal car, the Ford? You see one even now oc- casionally. I read recently in the “Traveler” that a Shirley Hale of Row- ley sold these machines, first, second, and third hand. I decided to investigate and see if he had anything that would ap- peal to me. I took an electric car to Rowley. (By the way with the growth of Ipswich to a city, trolley cars had returned.) Without much trouble I found Mr. Hale but, to my dismay, not one of his machines fitted me or mv pocketbook. He agreeably offered to build one for me, however, while I waited. He disap- peai ' ed behind the garage and returned in an hour with a composite structure reared out of the bottom part of a Ford, a Franklin Engine, Pierce Arrow lights, and four wheels, of which no two were mates. He then proceeded to secure tires to fit the wheels and worked over the mechanism for a while. Again he went out and this time returned with a long tin bathtub which he and his helpers adjusted on the wheels. There were two seats, one in front of the tub and one at the rear. An umbrella, much dilapidated, was fixed over the driver’s seat while the other was exposed to the •wind, sun, and rain. It was completed after a while, and I drove home in it, showered by rocks which flew from the road because there were no mudguards and driving with a wheel which resembled that of a babv carriage. It kept its balance very well cons’dering, except that in going around corners it was very apt to slew a trifle, and going down steep hills it nearly turned end over end. It turned out to be musical in the bargain and em ' tted sounds resembling those ' of a whole iazz orchestra. I reached home safely, however, and somewhat pleased with my purchase, started to paint it with what- ever colors I had available. In the end anyone might have taken “Arabella,” as I christened it, for a rainbow, but then I didn’t worry because it went! After a week of preparation I started upon my journey. At the end of the day, my watch dog, “Chasam” and I found ourselves on the outskirts of Springfield, Mass. I entered the city and after looking around for a boarding house, I found a neat-looking one and ventured in. In the vestibule was a “No dogs allowed” sign; so I left my dog outside to guard “Ar abella” and went into the next room. To my surprise the boarding mistress who was no other than Mildred Pickard, came towaid me. I recognized her at once but it took her some time to remember who I was. (I had grown thin, you know.) We talked about old times until late at night, and the next morning I started on my way again promising to write to her. My mongrel Ford and watchdog be- haved nicely all day. I stopped at noon outside the city of Hartford at a res- taurant with the sign “Callahan’s Fa- mous Ipswich Fried Clams,” emblazoned in large, artistic letters on the win- dows. The sign made me homesick; so I -went in and ordered a meal of my home town product. I was promptly cured of my home-sickness when Jack Callahan advanced to serve me. I en- joyed that meal, for Jack was the same old scout in spite of the added cares which clam frying had developed upon him. “Arabella” refused to move when I got into New York State; so I had to walk to a garage to get gasoline. Philip Ew- ing greeted me with a greasy hand and took me back to “Arabella,” reposing by the roadside. He directed me to a lodging house for the night and two days of my vacation were gone. Starting from Albanv with Phil’s good wishes, I reached New York city about noon. Having a few minutes leisure time I stopped at a newsstand and not getting excitement enough from my experiences with “Arabella,” I pur- chased a current copy of the most hair raising variety of short-stories on sale. I had not read far in the copy when I discovered that Eddie Witham was the editor of the magazine and the writer of most of the stories. On further in- vestigation I learned that he was sup- porting a Ford coupe from the proceeds realized on the sale of his stories. 30

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loaded jitney breaks down, Beatrice Ricker has to walk home. I hope this package of Allen’s Foot-ease will prove useful.” Then I heard the old gypsy chuckle. “Ah, Isabelle Swasey, that old rascal. I hear she is class baby. But I’m sure she cannot fill the position without the help of some local coloring. Give her this large baby carriage (small one) and a rattle so she may make some noise. Da! Da!” “Bertha Savory alas! likes to watch something thrilling and exciting. Just let her see this hold-up.” (suspenders) “Give Angie Wile this book of Cross Word Puzzles and see if she can do them as fast as she can typewrite. “Mary Woleyko loves curls. Give her this (Farina) so she may see how it is done.” With this final suggestion the fortune- teller concluded. After paying the charge of five dollars which she demanded, I started home wishing the girls of 1925 a happy future and also wdshing that I had my money back. THOMAS DOYLE. GIFTS TO BOYS Seated one night at the radio, I was weary and sore distressed. For gifts for the boys of ’25 I was indeed hard pressed. Suddenly while in this fix I heard a voice say, “River Styx — Station H. A. D. E. S.” Then it continued slow but clear. And the following words came to my ear. “When underwear flies through the air And senior girls are shocked, G’ve Jackie a box with key attached So he may keep his locked. “Christopher is the class artist And possesses a gift immense. If no other subject presents itself. He may use this on the old back fence. (whitewash brush) “To Tommie Doyle I must confess And you, too, perforce must feel That he needs this injunction. Beware! ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’! (Framed motto) “You remember Ewing’s accounts were slightly mixed When he returned from town. This book may save him similar troubles If he’ll jot his expenditures down. (expense book) “At the rate poor Hale is going His tongue will never last. Give him some molasses candy So he won’t talk so fast. “Hayes is a hard proposition He is no joke you see. But this loving cup from Woolworth’s Will express your loyalty. “To your dear little sleeping beauty (Henley) You may give this comfortable bed So that when he becomes too drowsy He may rest his weary head. “Hills in cheer leading at ball-games Has filled his friends with elation. Give him a baton to cheer him on And show your appreciation. “Now you didn’t elect a class orator But you will all agree I am sure That this little soapbox suits Merson And that nothing will suit him more. “Passionate” Pasukonis Might possibly add to his fame By reading this little volume Entitled, “What is there in a Name?” “Phelan is class musician He plays just like a fairy. To him present this instrument To help him to get ‘Merry.’ ” (violin) Little girls wear dresses. Shaw says, “Boys do too.” To please him, then, present him with That dainty one of blue. To that poor little boy they call Eddie Give this candy he loves so well In return for all that was captured Just after the recess bell. So thanks to his voice from the River Styx Which got me out of this awful fix, I now had gifts for every one And my class-day part at last was done. I was, however, nearly dead So I heard hiln sign off, then went to bed. MARY MUNROE. 29

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The next day we were going through the city part of New York down Broad- way. The large show windows, buildings, and people drew my attention from driv- ing and I didn’t care if I did hold up traf- fic. I wanted to see all there was to see. Something happened! I stalled “Ara- bella” and stared. There in the most congested district stood Harry Merson (two feet taller) directing traffic. I kept on staring. The noise of drivers, ven- ders, horns, and whistles did not rouse me. Finally in exasperation he came over to me and began delivering an ora- tion and hurling uncomplimentary epi- thets at me and “Arabella.” My good natured response was to hold out my paw and saw, “Hullo, Harry. Don’t you remember me? Why you used to sit in the N. B. seat up in the Conversation Corner in Room 4.” “Why, you’re Bill, aren’t you?” He then anologized sweetly but we had to stop talking soon after because the crowd became so large and the commo- tion so great that “Arabella’s” life was endangered: so I drove on. “Arabella” the next day conducted me and my dog to Pennsylvania. Nothing happened in my travels over the state during the next few days until I reached Philadelphia. Here I put “Ara- bella” in a garage and .checked my dog and took a trolley car to the shopping district. Half ' a day I spent wandering around. In one store, a bookshop, I found Elsie Hull seated on a high stool reciting Burke’s Speech while she dusted the set on the shelf She came down off her perc and shook hands with me. She then told me she had never got over the effect of having to learn Burke’s Speech. After “Arabella” had recovered from her rest I again cranked her up and started for Cleveland, Ohio. The next dav found my dog harnessed to “Aba- hella” and me nushing it from behind in- to he state. She had not recovered very well from her nap. At Cleveland I went into a drug store for some medicine for my dog who was ouite ill from the heat and strain. Ber- tha Avory was the pharmacist who filled my prescription. She informed me that this was only o e of the stores in the United States which she owned and that she hpd just completed a new style com- pact for cosmetics. She gave me one as a souvenir and I started for Michigan. The next stop was at Detroit, the automobde city. I drove up one street and down another looking the city over, including factories and show rooms. One thing caught my eye “Shaw Motor Co., Robert Shaw, Pres.” I was curious; so I went in to look over the “Shaw” motors. A salesman showed me around while I questioned him about the owners of the shop. I went into the main office and there was the same “Bob” Shaw, a little grey-haired but vei ' y easily recog- nized. He knew me at once and offered me a “Shaw” with which to finish my trip, but abandon “Arabella” — Nevei ! Having no map nor direct route, we traveled the next two days through cities, stopping now and then to rest and eat, until I reached Chicago. Chicago! I was there before I real- ized the fact. One thing I was bent on seeing — the place where pigs were slaughtered and where leather was made. On the second day therefore of my stay in Chicago I went to visit these places. The leather factory was one owned by a T. Doyle. One room was filled with leather school bags and I saw one labeled “Modelled after one owned by Jack Callahan.” I decided I wanted to get a glance at this T. Doyle. It took a long while to gain an admission to the inner sanctuary of his office but I did at last and found him very ap- proachable considering his lofty position. He even invited me to go to the Opera that night with him. I did so but re- calling his propensity for taking things which did not belong to him I kept tight hold of my pocketbook and valuables. He might have reformed but I wasn’t going to take any chances. I didn’t stop again until I got to San Francisco, — that is I d’dn’t intend to., but the temptation was too much. I stayed a day or two in the large cities toward the west. At St. Louis I ran into a circus, — Barnum and Bailey, Ringling Bros., and as I had not seen a circus for fiKeen years I decided to go. I spent the night on the outskirts of the city on a bed of pines with my watchdog guarding my nronerty. The next afternoon found me in the Big Show of the circus. After the show I was insulted. Yes, insulted! They asked my permission to let them have my dog in the side show for a freak! And for ten dollars! Not for $1000 would I sell my dog in spite of his funny looks. I went into the side show to see the freaks and had a terrible time chasine; “Chasem” my. dog who had the habit 31