Newport News High School - Anchor Yearbook (Newport News, VA)

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THE BEACON 29 Miss Jones had vanished from the school. But who was that blooming young teacher sitting over there where Miss Jones used to sit? Why it is Ruth Scott. She is teaching the “United States History” in Miss Jones’ place. This picture faded away and another took its place. I was looking into one of the big- gest libraries in the country. In one corner I saw a group of very shy young ladies pouring over a book. When they finished I looked to see what had kept them so intensely ab- sorbed. I saw it was a book on “How to Carry on Lively Conversations.” I looked to see who its autnor was and found it to be edited by two of my class mates, Margaret Mahone and Marjorie Langslow. I picked up another book and was surprised to see it was written by another of my class mate, Esther Nathanson. I im- mediately looked at the title and saw it was, “How to Pronounce Words Distinctly.” Why our class had given three of the greatest authorities to the world. This picture quickly faded, giving place to a scene in one of the world ' s greatest carnivals. Being much inter- ested in these, I decided I would look into a few of the shows. The one that seemed to attract my attention the most, was “The Four Wonders of the World.” I was told that the four wonders were the tallest couple in the world, the pigmy, and a woman that never smiled. As I entered the tent I was aston- ished to recognize the tallest cou- ple as Elizabeth Pitchett and Julius Fennigsohn. Passing on I perceived the pigmy to be Howard Tall. Then I went and stood before the woman that never smiled and behold! She is Flor- ence Mirmelstein. I did not quite comprehend how those strange wonders came to pass. When I knew Elizabeth and Julius they were very small. Upon inquiring I found that they had taken some patent medicine prescribed by Dr. Fayette Cline. I never thought that Fay would ever be a patent medicine doctor. This pic- ture vanished and gave way to the twinkling lights of another. I was hurriedly walking up Broad- way in New York. Standing on a soap box at the corner was a wo- man proclaiming at the top of her voice “Woman’s Rights.” I was very much amused at the many gestures that she was using, and when she faced me I saw that she was my old class mate, Ann Christiansen. Then I remembered the way Ann use to throw her hands around when she re- cited in English. At last she had found real use for her gestures. But stop! Who was the meek little man standing by her box holdin g her papers? Well, I declare, it is Tucker Scott! He had achieved an ambition for carrying the latest suffragette pamphlets around with one of the most renowned speakers. As I passed on down the street a very attractive sign caught my attention. Itwas MISSES ESSIE BOOKER and VIOLETTA WILSON HAIR DRESSING PARLOR I collected my wits and tried to remember where I had heard those names before. Oh, yes, they were two of my old class mates. Very much dazed with the old acquaintances I happened to see, I almost forgot where I was. Just then someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Lady, would you mind giving a few pennies to help give the poor children a Christmas Dinner?!” I immediately saw that she was a Salvation Army Girl, but where had I ever seen those sparkling brown eyes and that cheer- ful smile before? But before I had

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The hot sultry day would soon be over, Phoebus and his fiery steeds were slowly sinking to rest, a cooling breeze was playing gently through the bushes and gladdening the hearts of our weary caravan. All the day long we had been travel- ing through the barren wastes of the desert and we were glad to see before us a village, where we might find rest and shelter for the night. As we neared the village we were told by our guide that there was a strange and mysterious woman visit- ing the town at that time, who astounded many people by her strange and wonderful deeds. Being very much interested in such people. I decided I would visit her and see what she could tell me. On entering the room I was much dazzled by the many ornaments upon the wall. In the center of the room reclining on a couch was this beauti- ful woman. In her hand she held a crystal maze in which she was gaz- ing; from this she read strange pic- tures of the future. Being much in- terested in the future of my class mates, I asked that she tell me some of her strange prophecies. After look- ing at me for a while, she wiped the crystal and started talking in a weird voice. The interior of an auditorium crowded with eager young faces pic- tured itself. On the stage was a very large man who was conducting what seemed to be an ass embly in a High School. The auditorium looked very familiar and then listening to the speaker I recognized him to be none other than my old class mate Winifred Topping. He had succeeded Mr. Alex- ander as principal of my “Alma mater.” After realizing this was the same old school, I looked to see if there was anyone I knew. Why even

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30 THE BEACON time to speak, she called me by name and with that I knew she was my most beloved friend and class mate, Helen Florv. She told me she had been in the work for some time and was quite enthusiastic about it. After giving her a few coins I again re- sumed my journey. The next place I went was into one of the largest jew- eler’s stores in New York. Again I was surprised to see that the store was conducted by my two class mates Irving Massell and Nathan Levy. While we were talking of old sciiov,. days a very charming young lady come in with a very handsome young man by her side. I was unable at first to think where I had seen this young lady before, but when she spoke I knew she was none other than Helen Wills. She told me that she was singing at the Metropolitan Opera House, and then she whispered in my ear that she was gong to be married to a very noted baritone, the next day. While pondering on the happiness of this scene, it passed away and another began to form. I perceived the famous hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nestling in one of its most beautiful valleys was a little country church. The place looked so inviting I went in. Over in the corner of the chapel was a group of fifteen or twenty children. They seemed very much interested in their teacher, who was successful- ly explaining the Sunday School les- son. When she faced me my heart filled with joy to see she was none other than the charming little maid of the class of 1919 — Doris Mottley. From the Sunday School services I went into the church services. The pastor came out and with a very dig- nified voice announced his text. Mercy! I thought to myself, who is this man? Why to be sure he is my class mate Raymond Piland. I did not make myself known to either one, but after church, when I saw them crawl into the “one-horse shay” I could only laugh to myself, thinking of old school days. Would you ever have thought Doris would have been a preacher’s wife? Her time is spent in organizing missionary societies and Sunday School classes. Once again the scene changed. I am transported to one of the great hospitals of the State. Everything moves noiselessly as if by magic, and I am told that this is due in a great part to the skillfull management of the head nurse, who is our beloved class mate, Anna Cameron. Passing through one of the wards during my visit there, I see a woman bending over a cot, on which a dying patient is lying. I am wonderfully attracted by the skill with which she soothes the dying man ' s agony. Stepping a little closer I recognize in the noble face of this woman, our dear friend and class mate, Evelyn Nicholson. Upon seeing some of my class mates, I am curious to know the head doctor of the hospital. He, I am told, is none other than one of my class mates, Ed- ward Huffman. When I was informed of this I wondered to myself how many patients he had prescribed to, as the result of being slapped on the back by him when he was in his Senior year. Next, the future of Francis Barham was depicted for me. She is one of the leading fashion models of France. This is many years after the war and France is once more leading the world in Fashinos, with Ma ' selle Bar- ham at the head. Unlike the former picture the one now in view is that of a Kindergarten. The room is filled with eager little people, each bent on doing something to win the good graces of the teacher. From the perfect order of the room and the fact that every pupil seems