Katharine Gibbs School - Platen Yearbook (New York, NY)

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HOW THE LAST THIRD LIVES Only those chosen few who are blessed with names in the ABCD division of the alphabet can fail to feel the poignancy in the lot of those miserable wretches doomed to the dismal WXYZ's of life. What happy memories of child- hood has the A: what mournful ones the Z! Hers was the last slice of cake, the last prize to open, the last piece at the piano recital: she was the last to be weighed on Health Day. How patience-trying, how anti- climactical! There are fleeting moments of hope, almost of happiness, though. What a delicious feeling to sit on the last row in the classrooms of Katharine Gibbs - shoeless, yawn- ing unashamedly. But this is a tran- sient prestige: this too passes away. At a certain point in the tide of the term, the lower third are pounced upon. They are dragged ingloriously from their snug retreat to sit flush with Teacher's desk, prim, meek, and circumspect. So was it when my life began: So is it now I am a man. And so it will continue unless there comes along a man whose name is Aram. EDITH WALKER THOUGHTS ON A MONDAY NIGHT I think that I shall never see A subway with a seat for me, An elevator, large or small, That doesn't make my stomach fall, A test that hasn't one mistake, A pencil point that will not break, Thomas without my misplaced things, Keys and books and even rings, A A class without the Always Bight-er Who makes me wish a plague would blight 'er. A teacher here who does not yearn To wake in me the will to learn, A - oh, oh, I think I'd better stop! Reports just came, and here comes Pop! EILEEN HEALEY TEMPUS FUGIT If a man could live a thousand years, When half his life had passed, He might, by strict economy, A fortune have amassed. Then, having gained some common sense, After many years of strife, He could select the woman who Would make the perfect wife. But, as it is, man hasn't time Even to pay his debts: Hashly he Weds, and is resigned To the woman that he gets. ELEANOR MARQUARDT

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DIARY OF A GIBBS GIRL September 22 Fall Session starts. Such congestion in these once quiet halls! The noise and rush of these beginners simply appalls an old timer like me. Oh well, they'll learn. These books seem terribly queer. Looks as though they'll be heavy to carry. October 13 They are. In fact, life in general is very, very hard. Started taking our first speed tests today. Something is definitely wrong somewhere: things aren't going at all as I thought they would. October 20 Glad to report that difficulties are clearing up, and it looks as though I may be a stenographer yet. Ocotber 23 Oh horrors, they can't do this to me! Iust when everything is rosy, they catch me unawares and spring transcription on me. It's worse than love. I just don't coordinate. October 29 The boner of the year! Today Rene told Mrs. Graves to open a f1orist's box on her desk. Box was decidedly empty. There were plenty of red faces, especially Mary Lou Richards'! Thomas came to the rescue - doesn't he always? - with some pretty posies for Mrs. G. Wonder whom the empty box belonged to. November 16 We may say with conviction that a number of future WAACS, WAVES, and SPAHS were born this morning in 440 when Miss Margaret Bondfield spoke to us about the work the British women are doing in the war effort. I found her talk both enjoyable and enlightening. Her description of the rip- ping suits the British fitted their farm workers out in brought smiles to all faces. December 2 I should like to present a little brain child of Miss Doyle's. The title is Sandburg Did It: Why Can't I? The rain came on little dog feet Stayed all day, Then went away. December 16 Christmas party today. An extra-special, glittery tree CThomas was so proud of it he almost burstb, very good plum pudding, and, even better local 42