Milford High School - Oak Lily and Ivy Yearbook (Milford, MA)

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20 THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. future held for myself and my classmates. Some of the replies were surprising, some were disheartening, and some the logical conclusion of present tendencies. However, I will give them to you without fear or favor exactly as the prophetic forms appeared and as the oracle delivered its verdict to me. Because of my interest in what the future held in store for my classmate, Bradley Ford, I first propounded his name. Out of the void came the answer: “The man to the moment is born. As President of the Purity League, your friend fulfills his destiny.” It rather looks as though congratulations were in order for Bradley. Without interruption came question and answer, and I learned that the future was indeed rosy for many of us. The Muse Terpsichore will smile upon Clifton Jeffery, and having popularized the “Dance of Bacchus” with his partner Ruth Demerse, he will retire as instructor of the “Yankeeland Ballet.” Helen Staples and Eve lyn Saunders are shortly to embark on a career as solicitors for a home for aged “finale hoppers.” This profession of mercy will be inspired by the desire to see Henry Barbadoro comfortably settled for life among congenial companions. The Oracle then described to me various apparitions which took shape at my announcement of each name. “A book is slowly forming out of the misty atmosphere and with increas¬ ing rapidity the title and author’s name become discernible. ‘An Examination into the Tendencies and Characteristics of the Reds’ by Catherine Battles.” “Walter Wall will edit a new form of dictionary much employed by the com¬ ing generation entitled ‘The Flapper’s Interpretation of the English Language.’ ” “In the dense, matted jungles of a little South American republic, surrounded by dark, fierce-looking native revolutionists stands the new Liberator. Nothing but his fair hair and nonchalant smile, as he harangues these enthusiastic patriots, will identify him as the once harmless George Feeley.” Such astounding answers did I receive that in my eagerness to know the future I read to the Oracle my complete list, and reply on reply came back in rapid succession. “Behind a barred ticket window in a large railway terminal the ‘Ask-Me Man’ with a cigarette between his lips answers a dozen questions in a dozen dif¬ ferent languages without missing a puff. Between questions he finds time to ad¬ mire an attractively gowned w T oman who is easily recognized as a leading Fifth Avenue designer. Imagine their mutual astonishment when they recognize each other as Mabel Anderson and Edward Lord. “Catherine Carroll acting as campaign manager for the far-famed bright light in political life, Margaret Condon, leaves politics for a career on the stage where she acquires great success as a farcical interpreter of Burke’s Speech. “In a disreputabe dive far below the surface of the street in a certain section of Greenwich Village, New York’s Bohemia, sits a man with long unkempt hair, drinking red lemonade, with an expression of abstract indifference on his un¬ shaven face. The reason for his intellectual degradation is that while at Yale College he received but an average of 99 and 9-10 per cent, while his ambition was to attain that impossible mark of the perfect scholar, 100. That man is Nicholas Mastroianni. Great credit must be accorded him, however, for the future an¬ nounces that he will emerge from his disgrace to become a Doctor of Philosophy at Yale. Leonard King and Irving Rosenfeld, logically following out their present tendencies, are evangelist and orator respectively. King’s stentorian tones have many times thrilled the sixth period English Class during the past year, and many have predicted a bright future in oratory for him. Hindu philosophy with its insistence upon hours of silent self-examination

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THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. 19 for the benefit of the Athletic Association. Both of these affairs gave much pleasure to the school and likewise realized a substantial sum. In May the annual Senior Hop took place in the Town Hall, and was a splendid social success. In March we organized a dramatic society, composed of all of the members of the Senior class, known as the “Milford High School Dramatic Society.” This club produced the play “A Lion Among Ladies” in the High School Assem¬ bly Hall which was an artistic and financial success. Miss Ruby F. Sutherland, teacher of Oratory in the High School was in charge of this production, and it is to her that we extend our most; heartfelt appreciation for the very valuable assistance which she has rendered. The receipts of this production and the pro¬ ceeds of the May Hop have been donated to the school for the purpose of adding a third plate to the Bronze Honor Roll, commemorating the students of the School who served in the World War. But all of these social activities are of secondary importance, however, when we realize the scholastic benefits we have received from our four years of effort. To-night as we stand here, with the future spreading before us on the horizon, can we feel anything but confident that we shall meet success in life as we have in our Alma Mater? What training can have a deeper or a greater in¬ fluence on our lives than that which we have received during the last four years? The loyalty and class spirit, the lifelong friendships that we have formed will always be a source of inspiration and assistance to us in future trials. Let us pause a moment in our parting to express a due appreciation to our instructors who have labored so consistently and earnestly for this triumph of to-night—graduation. In after years let us always strive to bring credit not only to our teachers and our class, but to our Alma Mater. Let us always remember our inspiring motto—“Virtue Alone Ennobles.” Walter Wall, ’22. CLASS PROPHECY. A prophecy, says the dictionary, is a prediction of something to take place in the future, especially a prediction by divine inspiration. That the dictionary is absolutely correct in this definition I realized after many days of fruitless invocation had failed to supply me with the necessary supernatural knowledge to visualize the future of my classmates. In chagrin at my failure, the thought of the ease with which the famous oracles of ancient times answered the most difficult of questions, flashed through my mind. If only I plight speak with them and implore aid in the name of my brotherhood in the Omnipotent Order of Oracles! As a drowning man clutches at a straw, I grasped this last idea in the presumptive hope that necessity would surmount the impossible, and enable me to fulfill my official duties for the class of 1922. The possibilities of telepathy, the oui ja board, and automatic writing were in turn exhausted, and it was in desperation that I conceived the project of broad¬ casting my appeal by radio. Therefore, that very night from the powerful send¬ ing station at the Bellingham Navy Yard, my plaintive, despairing voice passed through the ether in the slim, slim chance that it would be heard and answered. And yet, truthfully has it been said that miracles never cease, for in mingled fear and ecstasy, I heard, like the swelling of the whistling wind, a voice respond, “Ask and I wall answer”—and I asked. It was the Delphic Oracle speaking and joyfully realizing that my troubles were over, I grasped my list of names and a pencil and inquired as to what the

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THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. 21 will retain its interest for the American people for many years, through the en¬ thusiasm of its many disciples and devotees. Among them will be remembered Grace Broughey and Donna Adams.” It does not require much energy to re¬ member how Grace used to sit a whole period without talking to Miss Kirby. Therefore it is only natural that she should carry through that philosophy of the dreamer to a higher degree of perfection. At this point the oracle became quite friendly. Realizing that I was en¬ tirely incompetent to compete with it in any manner, it disregarded all profession¬ al jealousy and the answers lost the abruptness that was their characteristic here¬ tofore. After a friendly chat during which I received many points on the business, the oracle continued: ‘The play’s the thing!’ Never will this quotation be so convincingly dem¬ onstrated as by Elizabeth Erickson’s dramas which will surpass all but those of Shakespeare. The High School edition of these plays, edited by Clara Cade, will win deserving recognition among educators.” Finding that three of my classmates would find recognition in advancing the English of the times, I asked the Oracle if any of the others would be so fortu¬ nate. The reply was as follows: “Lloyd Dillon and Viola Nelson will incorporate as a firm and together will deliver delirious derelicts from the clutches of English professors by their voluminous writings on ‘Milton’s Poems, Explained.’ ” I insisted upon know¬ ing what the Oracle meant by “incorporate as a firm,” but received no satisfaction from that source. It can bet but taken literally, for Dillon doesn’t approve of bobbed hair. With all the sordidness of life it is always refreshing to encounter those whose lives are pledged to rendering mankind’s struggle for existence less stern. Quot¬ ing the Oracle, Alice Hardiman and Grace Moran will train for nursesi and find their reward in the smiles and good wishes of those restored to health by their kindly care.” The Oracle then went on to relate how in the year 1944 a new magazine will be originated called I he Century.” It will be printed only once every hundred years but will contain all literary works of value for the century previous. The first editor of this magnificent volume will be Leslie Calkin, our distinguished editor in-chief of our own annual booklet, “The Oak, Lily and Ivy.” Not only are we conspicuous in having a male member of our class represented in this marvel of the ages but one of the opposite sex also takes a distinctive part. The title of her essay will be “The Fancies of a Flirtatious Flapper,” written by that eminent member of our class, Annie Anderson. The Oracle once more went on to say: “Adherence to an ideal brings its own reward. One of your classmates who has original ideas on education and who realizes that preparation for life requires something more than parrot-like command of worn book-knowledge, will soon prove his theories. As headmaster of an exclusive prep school, Edward Werber will send hundreds of boys out into the world equipped with the requisites of success.” The Delphic Oracle then, realizing that I was taking life too easy as a prophet, spoke a few Greek words that came over the radio phone in a white mist which when inhaled put me slowly to sleep. I slept soundly and but for the Oracle’s tremendous voice sounding over the radio phone an hour later, I should have slept forever. During my sleep the Oracle exercised his prohpetic influence over me and I dreamed of the future of some of my classmates. I shall describe them to you as the ghost-like forms appeared before me. First, I saw a crowded circus tent. The vast audience held their breath in suspense while a fairy-like figure appeared at the utmost top of the big tent. Slowly she started on her perilous journey down that steel wire strung at an angle