Momence High School - Monesse Yearbook (Momence, IL)

Page 13 text:

Tresbmen Prophecy. I was sitting one evening in my bach¬ elor apartments in St. Louis, I say lonely because just at that particular moment my useless past, my desolate present, and the possible more desolate future seemed to be manifesting itself on this particular evening. As usual my financial condition was not all that a man of my temperament could desire, and more than that, I was then out of a job, and had no very flattering prospects to land one. Did you ever have a feeling that something was going to happen? Well, tUen, if you did, you had the same feeling I had on this peculiar evening, and when the bell rang, I opened the door and saw a messenger boy holding out a tel¬ egram to me. I was not at all startled to find that the one rich uncle, which I possessed in all the world, had died, leaving me an immense fortune, if cer¬ tain conditions were fulfilled. I then realized myself a second Brewster with a million to spend in order to gain a million more. It occurred to me how easy it was going to be to spend a mil¬ lion and to accomplish this I was going to start this very evening. I threw a few necessaries into my traveling bag, loci ' ed my doors, stated my intentions to be gone indefinitely, and betook myself to the railway sta¬ tion, without any clear idea, of what my destination would be. Isn’t it queer that at this particular time that wor4, Momence, should come to my mind? I bought a ticket to Chicago, with a thirty days stop over at Mo¬ mence. I boarded a C. E. I. train and was soon on my way. It was about Id o’clock when 1 left St. Louis, the next morning the train rolled across the Kankakee river bridge and I real¬ ized myself in Momence. My two main motives for coming to this town were first to visit the scenes of my childhood and second and most important was that it gave me an opportunity to spend money in Momence. T emerged from the train, walked down the street, ex¬ pecting to see familiar faces and famil¬ iar scenes. Instead there were paved streets, and street cars, and only six o’clock in the morning, but all business was astir. I walked to the corner of Range and Front Streets, where used to be the old Central House, where was now standing a new eighteen story building, and I saw labeled on it “Biel feldt House.” I entered and asked to see the keeper. Soon Elmer arrived and we had a long talk. He told me to go up and visit the High School. I walked up the much changed city streets and saw to my surprise, that in all the years the old school house was the same as ever. I walked up the same old steps. I went into the assem¬ bly room, and imagine my surprise to see sitting in the same old squeaky chair, Joe Fingerhut, the principal, in Mr. Robbins’ place. Well, I sat right down and we had a good old style talk. He told me to look over the room and see if I recognized any of the faces. I saw Basil Deardurff still in the Fresh¬ man class. I then went into the office and found Melby seated there. He told me to go into the classes and see if I could find any one I knew. T enter¬ ed the Algebra 1 class, whom should I see but Vivian Edwards taking that subject and more surprise came when 1 saw (Jerald Manzer teaching it. I then went into the Latin class, there I saw Edith Ward holding forth. T entered English I class, and saw Fay Ault as instructor. I also recognized Viola Dufrain as a member of the class- 1 went back to town to get a shave. I entered the barber shop, which had been owned by Harold Hanson, and found my old pal, Babe Conant, the

Page 12 text:

Tresfyman Class Motto: - “Strive Ever to Improve Yours.” Colors:— Ivory and Old Gold. Flower : —Goldenrod. Class Officers. President—Rupert Conant. Vice-President—Elmer Bielfeldt. Secretary—Clara Dixon. Treasurer Glenn Clark. Author—Ralph Beaver. Class Roll. Fay Ault. Ralph Beaver. Ruth Bennett. Elmer Bielfeldt. Leora Bishop. Edith Bradley. Florence Bright. Lyle Brown. Leo Bukowski. Alta Carse. William Clapsadle. Ethel Clark. Glenn Clark. Rupert Conant. Harold Cromwell. Basil Deardruff. Clara Dixon. Viola Dufrain. Susie Dunn. Harold Wickes. Vivian Edwards. Harding Fedde. Joseph Fingerhut. Gladys Jackson. Irene Lunt. Gerald Manzer. Fred Melby. Paul Nelson. Bertha Niehaus. Anna Phillips. Florence Pittman. Martha Searles. Ruby Shaffer. Richard Smith. Dorothy Styles. Hazel Taylor. Earl Violet. Edith Ward. “A penny for your thots”- Lucy Brown .

Page 14 text:

barber. In old times he used to spend some of his spare moments, and some that were not spare, here, so when Mr. Hanson decided to retire he willed his property to him. I guess he had learn¬ ed the business fairly well. Then I sat down to think it over. Here was a chance to spend some mon¬ ey, and that was what I was looking for. First of all I handed the Presi¬ dent of the Board of Education, who by the way,, was Richard Smith, a check for fifty thousand plunks. While this spirit of generosity was upon me, 1 decided to purchase a canful of oil for the old squeaky chair in the assem¬ bly room. I had been very generous with my money while in Momence, so I decided to go to Chicago, the following morn¬ ing. I went down to Clark Street the evening after, and was walking along when two bandits seized me, took my money and hit me upon the head with a club. As I fell over I saw Glen Clark and Harding Fedde. The next time I awoke I was in a hospital with a nurse in the room. I raised my head to see her, and saw my old friend, Clara Dixon. I then fell into another relapse and could never find out anything about the remainder of the famous Freshman class, of which 1 was a faithful member. But I am sure they turned out alright. Ralph Beaver. (A Synopsis of the Class Play the “ Fresh - ies ” intend to stage when they become Sen¬ iors. The Scene. Modest Hamlet, shady dell, Blacksmith shop and village well. Rustic background, buckwheat crop. Painted on a canvas drop. The Characters. City villain, dark and mean, Pretty Jane, the village queen. Honest Jack, whom she prefers, And some mossbacked villagers. % The Plot. Pretty Jane is lured away By an artifice one day. Spurns the villain, nought avails, Villain binds her to the rails. The Climax. Jack has saved her, out of breath, Drags her from the jaws of death. Villain gets a husky biff, Tumbles down the cardboard cliff. The Finale. To the village they go back, Pretty Jane and Honest Jack. “ Bless ye children 99 says her pop, Let the big green curtain drop.