Malden High School - Maldonian Yearbook (Malden, MA)

Page 30 text:

CLASS BOOK OF 1 92 0 A MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL “Be at my office at eight,” he answered, “and I promise that it will be worth your while.” Before I could thank him, he hurried away, leaving me behind, filled with hope. The next day, promptly at eight, I was at the professor’s office, there to await impatiently the coming of my friend. In a few moments he arrived, and after greeting me warmly, sat down at his desk and prepared to assist me in my difficulty. “As you see, I have been working for the last fifteen years on a machine which I have been trying to perfect, which will allow me to see into the fu¬ ture.” This astounding statement left me speechless, for I saw at once how the professor intended to help me out of my trouble. Then he went on to tell me that my case was one which would show the efficiency of his machine. He asked whether I could bring a mental picture of my classmates into my mind’s eye. I answered in the affirmative, which seemed to please him immensely. He took me by the arm and led me into a room which he called his “seance room.” He placed me in front of a gigantic machine, fitted up with numberless wires and electrical devices. A tripod supporting a huge crystal ball was centered in the heart of the machine. Directly in front of it appeared a pair of finely-mounted lenses. Leading from the sides of the machine were a pair of wired tubes resembling telephone receivers. Finally everything was ready, and all lights were turned out. The doctor pressed a button and a soft, purring sound from the machine, with a sudden illumination of the crystal ball resulted. I waited eagerly for my final instructions. The professor turned to me and said, “You may bring your comrades whom you wish to visualize into your mind, either singly or collectively. The success of this depends on your ability to concentrate your mind on the subject into whose future you wish to gaze, and to exclude all other things therefrom.” With these final words he adjusted the ear-pieces, and asked me to focus the lenses on a tiny point in the center of the crystal ball, where I noticed the date 1930. A final switch was turned and I felt a slight shock pass through my body. The receivers buzzed and the entire machine seemed to become imbued with life. My mind struggled for composure and finally my will won. I concen¬ trated on Joseph Krohn, and soon action seemed to be taking place in the crystal ball. Things became clearer and clearer. Buildings flashed before my startled vision, then a city came into sight, and finally the picture became Page Twenty-six

Page 29 text:

CECILIA E. SIDEN Perhaps a doubt as to the truth of the statements here given may enter your minds. Having forseen this possibility and being a staunch believer in the saying, “Forwarned is Forarmed,” I have had the facts sworn to by a Justice of the Peace. This step has been taken to relieve any doubts arising from the weirdness and uncanniness of some of the incidents related. Up to the time of the occurence of these incidents, such things as spiritualism, the occult and kindred subjects had very little, if any, interest for me. It was known among my friends that spirits would receive but harsh treatment in my hands. Indeed, I am much surprised at the abrubt change which has taken place in me, and which has changed me from a scoffer at the occult to one of its most enthusiastic supporters. And all because I have been chosen prophetess of my class! Being of an easy gomg disposition, I accepted the commission and dismissed it from my mind. Days passed and I was suddenly brought to myself with a start when 1 heard one of my editors mention the prophecy in a casual way. I fled panic sticken and started to bemoan my cruel fate at having been made the victim of a plot; all of which brought me back where I was in the first place—nowhere! In this state of mind I wandered from my room in an aimless manner, until I was suddenly brought to my senses by a “Hello, Sis! Haven’t seen you for ages! How’ve you been?” Professor Low, for so my interrogator proved to be, occupied the chair of Psychology at one of the leading colleges. He was a close friend of the family and spent many evenings in pleasant argument with me over spiritual phenomena. He asked me why I looked so downcast, and I told him my predicament. I finally turned to him in an appealing manner and said, “Professor, can you think of any possible way out of my dilemma?” Page Twenty-five

Page 31 text:

CLASS BOOK OF 192 0A MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL constant. The Orpheum Theatre came into focus, and presently the stage was before me. There on the boards dancing away was Krohn. He had originated a dance which had won his fame and fortune. Girls flocked from far and near to watch his performance. His gracefulness was giving enjoy¬ ment to the pleasure-loving public. But alas, that was not all. I must needs mention that Joe was married and the proud father of twins which swelled his heart with joy and filled his ears with clamor. It’s a sure sign of inheri¬ tance, the babies can kick as well as their father. While still on Washington Street, I noticed a good-natured crowd watching a man of great height who was displaying placards, advertising a new machine for bookkeeping which would save time and hand labor. I brought the man nearer to me, and there was Max Rawson. As usual. Max had a grin on his face from ear to ear and made funny remarks which con¬ vulsed the crowd. I dismissed the vision and passed on. With a whirring of scenery the Boston Opera House was now shown to me. Long lines of people were waiting to get to the ticket seller’s window, and I wondered what the great attraction could be. On looking at the bill¬ board, I found that Marian Decker, the celebrated prima donna, and Leona Berman, the distinguished violinist, were to perform the next week. A few years before this, we had the pleasure of hearing Marian and Leona perform. The scene changed and I beheld tall church spires and wonderful struc¬ tures flashing by me. Finally peace came in the ball and my vision centered on an immense crowd of people who seemed to be absorbed in listening to a speaker who gesticulated wildly, and called in imploring tones to “grant women the vote.” I noticed his features closely, and almost passed away when I found that it was Francis Murphy, who scarcely ever said “Boo!” in school, and whose very existence some doubted, was now upholding the cause of downtrodden women, and making himself heard in this strenuous fashion! I sighed and closed my eyes upon it all and gradually the scene faded away. I opened my eyes again, and soon I was travelling at a quick pace, stop¬ ping never. The outlandish noises in my ears continued until I came to a small city, when immediately the agitation in the ball ceased and my eyes were soon centered on a rambling building. Gardens containing the most beautiful flowers could be seen, and rural quiet brooded over all. On a wide porch sat several old ladies, who seemed to be enjoying these, their last days, in peace and contentment. The front of the building bore the name which seemed to me rather queer, “The Cage (Gage) of Peace.” The words were soon ex- Page Twenty-seven