Mendota High School - Atodnem Yearbook (Mendota, IL)

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'hx ...,h I I was detained from meeting more of my class mates by the announcement that dinner wouldibe served in a very few minutes. When we were seated in the dining hall, which had been a new and very necessary addition to the school, I made it n1y first duty to become acquainted with those who were sitting next to me on either side. On my left sat Olive Johnson, whom I recog- nized at once. She informed me that she was doing exclusive dress making in New York. On my right sat Grace Keeler as small as ever, and who when I asked her questions as to her past life smilingly replied that she had settled here in Mendota, and was very much interested in the garage business. Directly across from me sat a very attractive young woman, whom I was unable to recognize at first, but on asking someone else who she was I found out that she was none other than Millie Phelps CBeattyJ the world famous star dancer and singer. She was 11ow playing leading role in one of the two greatest modern plays. At the close of the dinner we were happily surprised by toasts from some of the class members. Mayor Nauman was the first to speak and in talking, he told us briefly about his work as mayor of the now large city of Mendota. Another speaker was Dick Smith our old high school athletic champion. My howj proud we were of him then, and he was now making a big record at Harvard as coach of that team. Two girls arm in arm attracted my attention. I recognized them as Phyllis Moore, and Mabel Swope. I had noticed them before dinner sitting in the cor- ner of the gymnasium talking. Mabel was dressed in black, and she seemed to want to avoid the madden- 1ng crowd but as the evening wore on she brightened up considerably . Her husband had been very ill, but was now convalescent and insisted upon her attendance at the reunion. Phyllis who was jolly enough, but had a bored air, was a society leader in the great metropolis of Boston and one could probably not blame her for her not enjoying the informality here. We were just leaving the dining hall when one of the waiters rushed in and said that another one of the attendants had fainted in the kitchen. Robert McIntyre who was head of a large clinic in Rochester was summoned and with the aid of Josephine and Cecelia Miller, who were both Sisters of Mercy, the attendant was soon relieved. In the confusion I was jostled against Irvin Knauer. He had graduated from Notre Dame and was now claiming great success in the field of com- merce. Leroy Faber who was now famous for his record of globe circumnavigation, by airship, was there looking on indifferently. Mere things of earth no longer in- terested his soaring soul. 0. Twenty-nine 'Rik 1

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Just then a girl immaculately clean, with beautifully marcelled hair and highly manicured nails, turned disgustinglyunfroih- the crowd, and her very air seemed to suggest that she did not care to listen to the discussion of such things as foot ball and garages. Later I learned that she was none other than Ester McAvoy, and that she had started a beauty parlor on Michigan Avenue and had been rewarded for her excellent work by the patronage of the leading society women of Chicago. Most of the men had congregated in one corner of the room, which cer- tainly made it look like old times. There in the midst claiming the attention of all was Robert Sillars, with that all conquering smile that won't come off. He had acquired a great deal of dignity which sat, rather uncomfortably upon his shoulders, I thought, but it seemed tonight that he was trying to forget his great responsibility as President of the United States, for later I heard him say that he had cut and run. A figure near by was none other than Elmer Schaller, former Secretary of State, who had been quite conspicuous in the newspapers, but who had been asked to resign because of his radical ideas. This reunion was really exciting and I walked around the halls eager to find and recognize more faces. There on the main floor standing by the bubbling cup, as one might natur- ally expect were Margaret Vogler and Cecelia Ahern Htalking shop. Cecelia was taking life very easily, she was living in a flat over Erbes's Meat Market, and according to her still jolly disposition, the location seemed to suit her beau- tifully. Margaret, who had evidently become reconciled to country life, was living 011 a farm near La Moille. On hearing this I wondered who the man was that could persuade her to give up city life for the farm, but I was not kept long in doubt for a man soon come up and spoke to her, whom I recognized immediately as Gilbert Truckenbrod. While we were standing there talking Neva Billings and Hazel Montaven came up. Neva who had not changed greatly was a Red 'Cross nurse in Chicago, and one could almost imagine her soft touch as she moved among her patients. Hazel was much more dignified as her position as principal of schools in a large city in Ohio demanded. I could well remember how pleased she was the day she 1'eceived notice that she had passed the teacher's examination. It did not greatly surprise me to hear of the high place she had attained. We all went to the gymnasium and there in the corner were Charles Harris and Donald Cummings in a very hot discussion over some political question but I'm sure I couldi' not say who would win out for each was confident of his position and stuck persistently to his point. Charles who had succeeded Gillet as Speaker of the House, had been found so useful to his colleagues that he still filled that position. Donald since his term as Vice President had been minority leader of the senate. T lvenfy-eigh t

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W Q, 1 24, N Grace Angier had been teaching school in many places, and had become famous for her system of teaching high school pupils how to learn rapidly. Hilda Hoeger had become a librarian at Washington, and had shown great ability in that line. I I H I believed that I had seen every one now, but surely this was not all of our class. There were still some whom I knew belonged here and I wondered- and knew others wondered where they were. Just as those doubts were passing through my mind Elmer Schaller our old senior class president got up and the crowd became silent. He said that he would like to tell about what the absent members were doing and why they could not be present. First, dear class mates, I must make the painful announcement that Lester Heiman was run over by his Ford and killed while cranking it. Every one was manifesting grief when in walked Lester himself, bandaged but still alive. 'Twas a false report, he answered to the questions that were piled upon him. Others had sent regrets, Elmer went on to add- Florence Kuhrt could not attend because she was too busy auditing the books of Marshall Field 85 Co. Louis Stein and his devoted wife, who was formerly Miss Mabel Ehlers, are now leading a simple life-back on the farm. Lea Guilfoyle, is captain of the All Star American foot ball team. This team has become so famous that it is difficult to find another team good enough to play against, so Captain Guilfoyle is challenging the all star team of Mars to a game to be played on the planet Venus. a Velma Otterbach is a well known suffragette leader. It is rumored that a woman will run for President in 1932 and it is an established fact that Velma will no doubt be the woman to receive the honor. Wiley Dinsmore has reached the envied position of being President of the Agriculture College in Minnesota. He often speaks to the pupils, and gener- ally begins, When I was a boy, being of a quiet and studious nature, etc. Ella Bansau and Grace Miller were also unable to attend because of their work. Ella is teaching domestic science in Wisconsin and Grace is now design- ing the latest thing in a new gown' for the President 's wife. August Wilhelm: was happily married and living on a model farm, north of Mendota. He was too busy shipping prize cattle via the famous Nieman Air Line to all of the surrounding states. This system of transportation was un- der the personal supervision of our old classmate, Courtney Nieman. Alfred Jacob, another member of our class, also uses this line to transport the products of his up-to-date gum factory, located in the now thriving city of Meriden. Thirty