New Haven High School - Elm Tree Yearbook (New Haven, CT)

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E Hrnphrrg nf tht 0112155 nf 1931 As I was deeply engrossed in a copy of Doctor Bernard Wolfe's Life of President Hoover , I was informed that a telegram, which had arrived for me. was being held at the desk. Doctor VVolfe, as the youngest man ever to sit in the presi- dent's chair at Columbia University, had been recognized by Doctor Luther Weigle, editor of the New York Times, as one of the foremost literary critics of the day. Doctor Wolfe's latest book was based upon a diary presented to him by Herbert Hoover, Jr., as a testimonial to the latter's friendship. I sent for the telegram, which, as I hoped, was from an old high school friend of mine, Captain M. Allen Pond, U. S. N., who had spent a number of years on submarines after graduating from Annapolis. The message was more than pleas- ing. Through the efforts of United States Senator Dorsey and Representative Alice Gunnip, the youngest lady ever granted a seat in either house, I had been ap- pointed Ambassador to France. I was to leave New York in the morningg hence I set out to bid farewell to some of 1ny friends. After making reservations with McGuire's Steamship Agency, I called on Douglass Yerxa, junior partner of the firm of Y erxa and Son, installers of tele- vision sets. This company had been so successful in the eight years since television had been proved a practical means of communication in 1934 that the profits had been counted in the millions. As Doug had no other engagements for the evening, we set out for a downtown theatre, where George Nichols and Sam Sachs had been playing to capacity crowds for over six months. Our surprises at the theatre were many. Old and young alike cursed to them- selves because Doug and I lingered at the ticket window for two minutes, renewing friendships with B. Bamford, who was manipulating the automatic change ma- chine. Once inside the theatre, we were politely requested to refrain from discussing aloud the merits of the flowing hair of the orchestra conductor, Sanford Green. After the performance, we obtained stage passes from the manager, none other than our old friend, Bud King, and we then traveled backstage to congratulate the actors. As we were discussing the plot of the play, which was one of Professor Kaufman's latest dramatic sensations, in walked Fred Ritter, ,Toe Weiner, Mush Dreisen, and Vin V etrone, all members of the New York Giants football team. Ritter announced that he had just returned from a trip to New Haven, where he had met many old friends. In order to be able to eat and talk without interrup- tion, Doug, Fred, and I set out for Jimmy Curran's famous dive . Yes, said Fred, after we had been seated, Nate Fitch finally graduated from Hillhouse last spring and is now preparing for Yale at a prep school in northern Connecticut. I understand that he finally graduated because Milt Erickson and Professor Guerrieri were tired of seeing him around. But, what about some of the girls ? I asked him, remembering his weakness. VV ell, he replied, do you remember Eunice Voos? She's annexed the name of Todd now and has been working in the interests of charity since her marriage. And Frances Farnham is secretary of the Y. VV. C. A., while Minnie Meadows is the physical director. . 27

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The joyous event of the year arrived- Happy Days ! An extremely enter- taining and talented group of performers, under the musical direction of Sanford Green, played before capacity houses for two nights, providing a rollicking good time for all. 'li ' The puck-chasers of the hockey team, after a victorious season. were unfor- tunately defeated by Commercial in the district title race, mainly because of the ab- sence of Captain Harry Thompson and Ben Bamford. Presently the class became aware of two other athletic teams which made re- markable showings, the track and swimming squads. At the start of the season, the former won the state interscholastic track meet by an overwhelming score, Cap- tain Read, Harry Heermans, and Norm Brown starring. Not to be outshone, the blue and white mermen, including Captain Bob Burke, Frank and Fletch Ferguson, Nat Batter, and Bill Oleson, easily captured the state title for the second consecu- tive year. Luther Weigle, Bud King, and their staffs received congratulations when The Senfinrl won second prize in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association competition. VVhen the balmy southern breezes promised warmth, the class, with mingled feelings, contentedly ceased the furious pace of the last few months. Letting the sunshine temporarily dissolve the ominous shadows of college boards, we scattered for the Easter vacation-and rest. The proverbial spring fever was our alibi. Finally two long-awaited events came along-Class Day and Graduation. Joe Weiner's committee arranged an excellent program for Class Day, what with his- tories, hilarious prophecies, and everything that goes with them. And then-ah, and then-Graduation arrived, with George Feldman, Dorothy Rosenstock, Joe Levy, and Betty Cornwall delivering the orations. Needless to say, most of us re- ceived diplomas and marched oil happily, triumphantly, towards-who knows? 'fl if s ' 26

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Ewftflfl TREE Bl Let's go to my house for the rest of the evening, said Doug. It's to be our last night together for many a month, and we have so nmch to discuss. Besides, I want you to meet Mrs. Yerxaf' This last statement was indeed a surprise to me. After considerable question- ing, I learned that Mrs. Yerxa was really the former Barbara Schreiber. As we stepped to the curb. a taxi came to an abrupt stop in front of us, nearly throwing us to the pavement. As soon as the driver had been given his directions through the phone, we began to guess at the nationality and merits of this driver from his picture and driving abilities. I thought there was only one driver in the world, said Ritter, who could drive through trafhc like this and miss pedestrans and cars by such narrow margins. Who is that? I asked. Bob Lee, he replied, as we missed another man by an inch. just then we heard the driver mutter, All right, Grant, I may have missed you that time, but I'1l get you coming back. As we remembered this expression as an old favorite of Bob's, we realized that it was really he who was driving us through heavy traffic. He apologized aloud for missing that last pedestrian, whom he claimed was Sherman Grant. He sold me a three buck pair of shoes for 354.98 yesterday, and at that they were too small for me. After a quiet evening with the Yerxa family, I set out for the Carrigan Hotel, where I slept soundly after receiving the attentions of the proprietor. Frank Carri- gan. My only interruption to this sleep was a dream in which the clothing store of Stein, Goldstein, and Feinstein was burned to the ground, the insurance had run out after their last fire. While I was eating breakfast in the hotel dining room, I noticed a large man staring at me. Because of the blank expression on his face, I knew that he could be no other than a New York detective sergeant. When I had finished my meal, I walked to his table and demanded the reason for his constant watch over me. VVell, he replied in a dead monotone, I'm Sergeant VVilliam I-Iolloran from the Identification Bureau. This is my partner, Detective Degnan. He thinks he has seen you some place before, and, as he is a wizard at remembering faces, I guess you'll have to come to headquarters. No amount of explaining could convince them that they had really seen me at the New Haven High School 5 hence I was taken before Magistrate Melnick, who immediately recognized me and sent me off to catch the Gold liner before it left. I had two quiet nights aboard ship. Then came a furious sea. After hours of agony, I was removed to the ship's hospital, where I was treated by Doctor Flynn, ship's surgeon, who had as his head nurse Barbara Morgan, now Mrs. Flynn. I learned from Doctor Flynn that joe Bill had just been decorated by the King of England for an old English drawing which he had duplicated to the king's liking. Many times during the trip I sat for hours with the doctor, talking about our old school days. It was with great reluctance that I left the ship at Cherbourg, a full day late as a result of the storm. The only possible means by which I could arrive at the consulate in time to fulfill orders was to travel by airg accordingly, I made reservations on the next air 28