Middleburg High School - Carrier Yearbook (Middleburg, NC)

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Prophecy of the Ciass of 1926 Minnrencao HIGH SCHOOL IIFRE are some people who say emphatically that they do not believe in elves, and if you happen to be one of that most unfortunate class, listen to an experience of mine and then perhaps you will change your mind. One day at dusk, I was walking through a wooded lane on my way to the summer Cottage of some friends of mine whom I was visiting for a few days, and as I strolled along, loath to leave the cool shadowy path and quiet contentment of the wood, I was attracted by a rustling noise near my feetg and then, most certainly, a gentle but imperative pull at my shoe-lace. Now these were my prettiest oxfords and I had taken' great pains with these particular shoe laces to have them set just right, so I immediately became attentive to this particular tweak, think- ing that I had probably caught the lace on a brier or thorn. Looking down-could my eyes deceive me-what should I see but a little man scarcely six inches tall, gazing expectantly up into my face. Iconfess I was somewhat frightened at first and greatly astonished, but I thought he seemed to be trying to tell me something, so to be able to hear him at all I was compelled to lie flat upon the ground with my face close to the earth. His voice was squeaky like that of a mouse, and to tell the truth, he resembled a mouse, being scarcely larger, with his drab little Coat and Cap of mouse-gray. Finally, I understood that he had something very important to tell me, and holding out a small glass that looked like a minature telescope, he bade me look within. At first I was puzzled for the glass was so small that I could not get my sight focused at once, but soon I began to see prisms and segments of color falling into kaleidoscopic array, and grad- ually as I strained my eye-sight, the jumble of colors and figures began to take shape. The first picture that became clear was one quite unfamiliar to me as it seemed to be some sort of a wealthy gambling hall. I immediately guessed it to be Monte Carlo, and though I had often heard of this famous rendezvous where hundreds make and lose fortunes at the turn of the wheel, I had never actually seen it until now. Imagine my excitement and actual sorrow when I recognized my old schoolmate, my sweet little innocent schoolmate, Annie Carroll, caught in this whirl of temptation and avarice, bending over the famous roulette wheel, totally absorbed in the business of playing for high stakes and-winning! My sorrow and anxiety over seeing her in such a place was somewhat lessened when I beheld Bennett Jackson regarding her and her win- nings in an unmistakably husbandly way. As I slowly turned my little kaleidoscope I seemed to hear faint music and the familiar air of Yes, Sir, She's My Baby, and gradually an orchestra came into view with a wide expanse of polished ballroom Hoor in front. This was evidently the ballroom at the famous Casino at Moonte Carlo, and there, to my utter astonishment, I beheld on the glassy floor two more old friends, Ethel Sturges and Lewis Spain, giving an exhibition dance of the Charleston to a hundred or more appreciative spectators. The orchestra seemed to be one of the jazziest of jazz bands, and leading the others in all sorts of contortions of the body and born to this wild syncopation was none other than our old jazzy Elizabeth XVells. I understood now what my little elfin friend had planned. He was going to let me catch glimpses of all of my old schoolmates of ten years ago fIQ26, to be exactl as they were today, and since I had lost track of so many of them, I could hardly wait to turn my little kaleidoscope to find out what it had to show. I next seemed to see the entrance to a magnificent photoplay house, and emblazoned in letters a foot high, I read the old familiar names of Lelia Murphy and Hanks Frazier. I'Iow often I had 19

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Class History ily E1.17,1.m1TH XVELIAS N the fall of 1922, we entered upon our High School career, nineteen strong. As we walked up the stairs, that first morning, no one could have felt better and of more importance than we did. XVe were the most important beings in the school, in our eyes, hut sad to tell, it was not long hefore most of our egotism was knocked out of us in various and sundry ways by the Sophomore-s and the High School teachers. I,atin was our greatest burden, and most of our number fied from it as they would Hee from a lion, to the Agriculture and Home lleonomics Clourses. But with Miss Irwin struggling with all her might to beat something into our empty heads, we at last succeeded in reading a little. VVe also began Algebra this same year, and to our great astonishment we found that it was not so awful, after all, and most of us were able to conquer it, with Mr. Rogers to drill us in X, Y, Z's day after day. Thus, we struggled through our first year of Iligh School life. XVith one of our number having taken up house-keeping, eighteen strong, we greeted our new superintendent, Mr. Durham, in the fall of 1913. hiiss Riley tugged with us this year in Algebra. Everything moved along smoothly and we gained each day in our Sophomore importance. Soon, however, the end of the year came and we were once again set free. Our original class was now reduced to fifteen, but though we grew less in numbers, we grew greater in ideals and aspirations. Now as wise and lofty juniors, we began to feel that getting an education was a really serious affair. Miss Sadler ca111e to us that year to guide us in our lfnglish work. Mr. Dew came all the way from Florida to assist us in our study of Algebra, we also began French under Mr. l3lll'llIll l'llb leadership. Most of us succeeded in at least under- standing what it was about. This year all too soon passed away, and we were given the long suinmer months to contemplate tl1e serious business of becoming dignified Seniors, September, Ifjl-5, found us again plodding our way at the call of the bell to our beloyed sfhool building. At first school hardly seemed the same for we had lost lNiiss Irwin whom we all loved and admired. VVe must have lost all our knowledge of English during the summer, for although our present Ifnglish teacher struggled very hard, she was 11ot able to find any trace of English in our minds, N This year, more than ever, we have realized that it take: a great deal of perserverance and pluck to master Math. Our heads have been stuffed with rectangles, isosceles triangles, and circles within circles, until some of us are haunted at night with geometrical ghosts with triangle heads and all forms of beings with angles less than ninety degrees. The class of '16 has been a live, progressive one, stepping out into fields hitherto unknown in our school. XVe held the first graduating exercise in the seventh grade, and gave the first Junior-sSenior banquet. Vl'e have successfully entertained several times during the present year, proving that we are not only serious minded in our work, hut competent as social leaders as well. Most remarkahle of all, we have planted the Carrier -the first animal to be edited by the Middleburg lligh School. XVe are a versatile class-knowing our faults but filled with self- confidence to finally succeed. As we go forth, each his own way, let us ever be mindful of our motto: 'I'hey can who think they can. 18

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seen these same names emhlavoned across the front board of our Senior classroom-to see Miss Lake at recess for not having handed in geometry problems. But now it was all different, these same two names were seen everywhere in great electric lights, telling the world at large that these great cinema stars were playing opposite each other in Tiger Love. I was anxious to see at least a part of this wonderful picture but caught a glimpse of the fade out only. XVell, it was greatl In the vernacular of the streets, Banks certainly knew his onions. My next picture, as I frantically turned the little instrument, showed the busy, bustling ofhce of a big daily newspaper in New York, the Times, I think it was. There was the editor's chair, and seated here before a desk piled high with manuscripts of all kinds was our dear little Iilsie Ilunt, still pretty, still busy, and still very elhcient. -lust as I was wondering how she kept that way, the door opened and in rushed three beautiful children, all clamoring for nickels and caramels, and here was Elsie, with one hand on the telephone receiver and the other in her purse, attending to business and handing out nickels to her happy little brood. IVas it to he ever thus, I thought, would she never stop trying to do a little of everything in the world? As my vision passed from the busy ofhce out into the street I beheld a gorgeous array of coaches, horses and riders, a line of trumpeters, brass hand, clowns and caged animals coming down the middle of the street. Seated on the biggest elephant in the lot, with a sceptre as mighty as the Queen of Sheba's, and looking just as proud, rode Kat lylurphy. Heavens, thought I, what has happened? XVe had all thought of nothing else but that Kat would always occupy the chief mourners' bench in her preacher-husband's church. Hut this proved that you caln never tell. XVhat was the world coming to, any way? But I had not long to ruminate, for swiftly another scene took its place. My' picture this time was the interior of a select men's furnishing store, and over the door I read in big letters, Iky Solomon, IIaberdasher. VVhy should I he shown this place, I wondered, when suddenly I saw my old friend Frank Mitchell following a customer to the door, arguing and pleading, with many hand gestures, that the customer could have it for less if he would buy no other way. I saw the explanation at once-I7rank was learning just how it was done so that he could make a living on a rock if it ever became absolutely necessary. Then, I saw a beautiful colonial home surrounded by acres and acres of well-kept grounds. But whose home could this be? My vision became clearer, and I saw Leslie Iloyle standing on the veranda. Ile was surveying his huge estate with contentment in his eyes. I remembered quite a few others in that good old class of '26, so I turned hurriedly to catch a glimpse of them too. Iiverything seemed dark through the little lens and I was beginning to fear that perhaps this wonderful fairy tale was over, when I seemed to catch sight of something moving in the darkness. It was a little lighter now, and gradually I understood that I was seeing a picture of moonlight coming from behind sailing clouds and Hooding this darkness with silvery half-light. Iihe shimmering, shining, dancing spot in the background was a lake, or water of some kind, with moonbeams dancing upon it, and that silvery ribbon stretching on and on was a road, yes, certainly, a long, smooth, white road of crushed shell. And then I knew, for at no other place than Palm lieach, Florida, are there such beautiful shell roads, such wonderful silvery moon- light playing on the w atcr. I was excited and expectant and had not long to wait, for a big Rolls-Royce, long, graceful and luxurious in its appointments, came slowly down this ribbon of road. I could plainly see two couples in the car, much absorbed in their conversation, hut lost entirely to the beauties of this wondrous Florida scenery. The moonlight was throwing its magic spell, however, for the faces of the girls were rapt in enchantment as they listened to the words of those wonderful beings in white flanncls and panamas. XVho could they be-those two girls in light summer dresses and solt drooping hats? Ah, now I knew, they were the Puckett sisters-out with millionaires-no less! The picture was fading and entirely gone before I could 20