Liberty High School - Lion Yearbook (Brentwood, CA)

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I-, YE LIBERTY School Prophecy. It was in the Fall of 1920. As I lay in a comfortable hammock, reading a letter from an old schoolmate, none other, in fact, than Olive Siple, now principal in one of the largest high schools in New York, I must have dropped off to sleep, but my schoolmates appeared so plainly before my eyes that it did not seem possible that I was only dreaming. My thoughts car- ried me from city to city, from street to street, and back again to my old home. First appeared a sweet girl graduate of '10: one whom every one knew by her bright eyes and merry laugh. Can you guess who? It was our jolly little star of the Commercial Room, Camille Sresovich. Not far away appeared another queen of the Commercial Room Calthough they sav two queens never could agreel, another '10 graduate, Margaret VVhite. Both were great musicians, both had begun their public career 'way back in 1910 in the days when Dr. Thomas of U. C. had made our High School a visit, if you remember. The girls seemed to be having a reunion, and, after a series of whispers in a distant corner with occasionally a familiar laugh, Margaret advanced and informed me of her approaching marriage to a tall, blonde young man-also a musician. After a tour of Europe, they were to return to begin their careers as operatic stars in the United States. Camille, modestly, said she hadn't found any one with whom she cared to entrust her heart, but she still had hopes for the future as she'wasn't so dreadfully old. Hearing another familiar laugh, I turned to see two faces which I remem- bered well-more graduates of 1910-Arthur Sheddrick and Ellis Howard-- chums of long ago. I beganto ask them about their life since 1910, but when both began to blush-I have a horror of seeing boys blush-I forebore to ask any more questions and took it for granted that there were some ladies in the question. Finally, the boys informed me that they were both farmers, having adjoining farms in Contra Costa. My attention was attracted by a familiar I-Iellof' Turning, with whom should I come face to face, but Minnie Shecldrick! Strangest of all. a tall, stately, dark-haired man with a black Vandyke Walked beside her. Seeing my surprise, Minnie enlightened me by introducing an old friend, De lYitt Richardson, whom I would never have known. Minnie said she had just come home from chaperoning a party of L. LI. H. S. Sophomores on a picnic. Of course, De XYitt had been one of this party, but he was not a resident of llrentvvood. He told me that he was pastor of a large church in San Fran- cisco. How changed from the athletic hero of old was De XYitt. XYinnie informed me that Esther Dainty. whom of course every one remembers. had become a missionary in China. Minnie said she enjoyed Esther's letters, for she was interested in missionary life herself, and, as she was also interested in art, in fact, she had planned a trip to China the following spring in order to visit Esther and to study the Chinese language and art. Minnie also said she had received a letter from Elaine Vvallace, who was head bookkeeper in a large New York firm, which position she had held for some years. Hearing footsteps, I turned and beheld another tall. dark nian, who

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YE LIBERTY The Commercial Class of 1910 Hardly a one but wil-1 hear again The name Commercial Class of Nineteen Ten A jolly good class, you know, are they: On work they spend their time, not play. Ellis, the leader of the class. Strives hard each test to pass: A smile he has for every one XVhen all his work is done. Arthur, noted for mischief and fun, The speedy dash had he to run. To gain the race he did his hest, In mem'ry shall his name forever rest. Camille, the sweet girl graduate, Is fashionable and up to date: A jollier girl cannot he found In Brentwood or anywhere around. Vllilliam is e'er exceedingly shy. Has a twinkle of mischief in his eye: He studies while the teacher is in, An athlete, he is hound to win. Uihile Claude had measles he took a rest And now to make up work does his best. He is our young Lochinvar, To find his equal you'll have to go far. Margaret, who has ne'er missed a day, VVorks hard and then is ready for play: Some day a bookkeeper she'll be, And then some fine work you'll see. And studious NYillie, how cute he seems, VVhen of the girls he like to dream. He has a smile for one and all, Wlietlter she be little or very tall. DeWitt is our real athlete, And in this county is hard to beat: He always smiles and never frets, Yet in his studies excellent he gets.

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YE LIBERTY IS seemed to know me and acted as if he wished to speak to me. Of course, although he had a familiar look, I refrained from speaking, and he passed on. Soon he returned with a young lady, whom I instantly recognized as Rose Miller, although she had grown very tall and wore her hair on top of her head in the latest style. Rose introduced the tall stranger as Morgan Schroder. Anxious to know all about his life since we had last met, I asked him what he was doing towards impressing the world with his greatness. He said he was a traveling ventriloquist and was going to give an exhibition in the Brentwood Theater, and cordially invited us to attend, which we did and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Rose said she was singing teacher in the Stockton Normal. In addition to this, she gave dancing lessons three nights out of the week. The old barn dance, popular when we attended High School together, had lately become popular after a decline of several years, and we can recall how well she did that at our High School dances. XYhile Rose, Morgan and I were still chatting, I saw a stout stranger rush up behind Morgan, and, grasping him by both shoulders, cry Hello, old man. At once we recognized this cyclone as our good-natured friend, Frank Bonnickson. To our surprise, after this outbreak Frank informed us that he, also, had become a minister. Some new islands had lately been discovered in the Pacific Ocean, and Frank said he was going out there to convert and to try to educate the heathen. This was no easy thing to do, but we felt sure that Frank would progress so rapidly that he would soon establish high schools and colleges in these islands. A short time after this I heard some one singing. Looking, I saw a girl partly hidden by an admiring group gathered around her. Coming nearer, I recognized this songster as Myra Pearce. Myra afterwards, when we had a pri- vate chat, told me that she had been on the stage for some time, but said she would soon leave for a home of her own with a gentleman of her own choosing. She furthermore said that Esther Murphy was traveling in Europe, after which she was to study the German language at Berlin. Later, she was to study Hindustani in the Far East. Feeling a sidecomb slip out of my hair, I raised my hand to replace it and was surprised when I came in contact with some one's hand. A thought rushed to my mind and, turning, I looked into a pair of familiar eyes, those of Ray Shafer. After Ray had reveled in his old sport of pulling out hair- pins, he told me that he was captain of the steamer Liverpool and made regular trips between Liverpool and New York. He was now on a short leave of absence, having come home to be married. Shortly after leaving Ray, I met some one whom I immediately recog- nized as Justin Dyche. justin was still the stately, dignified student of old. To my surprise he actually smiled, and after a hearty handshake he told me that he was principal of the new Liberty Union High School in Brentwood. Brentwood having become a flourishing city. From Justin I learned that james Barkley was manager of the new Brentwood Chutes. James had given orders that all former Brentwoodians who might come back to the old town should be admitted free of charge. So