Liberty High School - Lion Yearbook (Brentwood, CA)

Page 17 text:

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

Page 16 text:

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

Page 18 text:

I6 YE LIBERTY to the Chutes we went. During the evening we met james himself, who was glad to see us and showed us the latest aeroplane amusement. .lames said he had met Marguerite Geddes a few minutes before, strolling around with an elderly gentleman. Roused by curiosity, l asked -laines who the gentleman was ton account of his age I knew he couldn't be a suitorl. I was told that he was a rich uncle who was going to take Marguerite around the world in his yacht and after this they were to live in England. Later in the evening we met Marguerite herself. She told us her plans for the trip and shyly said she hoped that all the good-looking young English noblemen weren't married yet. Marguerite had recently received a letter from Claude, who was Superin- tendent of Schools in a prominent county in South Dakota. Next I asked james if he knew the whereabouts of any of the other L. Ii. H. S. students, and this is the information I received. He had recently heard from Charles, who was mining for diamonds in South Africa. Charles had marveled so much at the beauty of the African princesses that James was thinking seriously of the African beauties himself and had almost made up his mind to go to Africa and make Charles a visit. Arthur Murphy was running a large livery stable and garage in Brentwood. Ruth Pem- berton was cashier in a Sacramento bank at present, but she had hinted at resigning on account of an approaching marriage. She didn't say whose. fRuth always was a shy girl.j joe was a rising young lawyer falthough he hadn't risen yety in Denver. joe had grown considerably taller and before he left California he had won a prominent case in Martinez, thereby winning the esteem of all Contra Costa County. VVe parted with james that night, and who should we meet in the morn- ing but Edith Cakebread! She was accompanied by a tall, red-haired young man of pleasing appearance. She introduced him as a friend, but what did that blush I saw flash across her face mean? Fellow graduates, I leave it to you to guess. Edith had been touring the United States and Canada along with Emelie Grueninger and several other friends. In her quiet way, Edith told the news of several of the old crowd. Emelie had been married for some years and was at present living happily in a pretty cottage at the foot of Mt. Diablo. Harold Collis, VVilliam Murphy and Judson Swift were run- ning a dairy near Brentwood and to all appearances were prosperous. Byron Swift and Richard VVallace were owners of a large aeroplane factory. XVe learned that Edith often went aeroplaningg Edith always was a high-flyer. Shortly after I parted from Edith I ran into an old acquaintance who was rushing along the street at a great rate of speed. Yes, it was Albert Swift. He stopped, and we talked about old times. He said he was working in a piano house and was even then on his way to four different places to tune pianos. It was one of the greatest surprises of my life to learn that Albert was1i't married yet. He said he had met several girls at different houses where he had tuned pianos, but, although they smiled sweetly at him when he came in, their smiles faded before he had finished tuning the piano. Cheer up, Albert, better days are coming! Knowing that tuning pianos was a sweet task, I did not detain Albert long, and so I continued my journey up