Nokomis High School - Old Nokomis Yearbook (Nokomis, IL)

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laughed and said that lli ‘ airman was a woman and that sin had lieen employed there for thm years teaching mrii and women how to 11 v. I expressed my desire to meet the Bird Woman and soon had an opportunity. As she raised the huge goggles from her eyes. I found that she was no other jierson than Leota Whitmore. That night she told me of many of her experiences in teach itig people to fly- “By the way she asked, “Do you know the man who was with me in the machine 'his afternoon? lie is one of my new pupils and that was his second trip up . I confessed that I did not know him and she said “Yes you do. that was Claude Darrough - At hearing this I could not help expressing my surprise. After leaving Banjoul, we in due time reached Columbus. Ohio. One night I attended irand Opera and heard Lyla Cmpleby sing. The next day I called on her and she told me about many interesting things in her profession. I'pon leaving Columbus, we sold the ear and took the train for Washington. I . C- One day while in the Congressional Library I was engaged in conversation with a librarian, a brilliant, intelligent appearing young woman. She said she was from the state of Illinois, so I asked her from what part- She answered ”l‘m from Montgomery County. from a little town called Xokomis . “Oraciotis ! 1 ex claimed. There I had all that time b-een talking with Le'a Ernst. During our talk over old times, I asked if she knew what hail become of Lein McKenna. ‘‘Haven't you heard about her ? was the reply- “Her Irish dream is being fulfilled and sli :s teaching voice culture in Dublin . While at the library. Ixda gave me a book, the latest out. written hv Kitty Kent. She said Kitty Kent was only I lie author's pen name but she was not at liberty to tell her real name- While on my way to Florida from Washington. I read the new book. “Hearts of Americans”, and was so delighted with it that 1 longed to know the author personally. When we reached Balm Beach, we decided to remain through the winter. One day as I strolled along the l each. 1 saw on the sand before me. a beautiful leather purse. A well dressed woman walked along a short distance in front of me. Quickening inv pace. I overtook her and asked if tin purse In-longed to her- She said that it did and thanked me kindly for returning it. •Inst as I was turning to leave her. she exclaimed “Amy ! 1 was greatly surprised at hearing my name but soon recognized my former cla?s male. Freda Tammeii. After this happy meeting we spent many hours together- One day rs we bath I in the surf. I looked about me but could nowhere see Freda. Soon, however. I saw that she had ventured too far from the short and was being borne swiftly out to sea. I call 'd for help and one of the life saving crew heard my ca’I and soon rescued Freda. Site was unconscious and as our efforts to revive her were in vain, we rushed her to a nearby hospital. Here, as we were both surprised to learn, the head physician was Dominicus llovcy- When Freda was able to leave, we had a talk with bi n and at parting I laughingly said “So you have lived up to

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realization Hint la was Ora I . Weber. After we had talked with Ora and learned how he became an automobile manufacturer and had invented many new devices for his car. he told us some news which was of great interest to me- He said that Jacob Haller had become a noted electrician and had discovered a method by which he could extract unlimited quantities of electricity from the air- He had just secured a patent on his machine, which was sun to make him wealthy and greatly beneficial to all mankind. We next decided to run down to Xokomis and visit old time friends there. The first evening after our arrival. I picked up the Free Press-Gazette and the following large black headlines greeted my eyes: •‘.Miss Imogene Hess, a former resident of this city to wed Raymond II. Palmer, son of New York multimillionaire . On reading the article I learned that Imogene had for the past live years been in the employ of the Patlie Motion Picture I’o. and had just set the movie world afire as Mary Mar in The Beggar Woman with Ivan Mo .tikin the noted Russian actor-As school was not yet in session I could not visit N- H. S. but inquired about the faculty for tin coming winter and learned that Mildred Schutt would teach mathematics. I also learned that she had taught in Xokomis High School for six winters and was making a great success at her work. I was told that Snavilla Halbert had married an Oconee farmer and had settled peacefully down to spend the remainder of her life tending roses, chickens and all the other products of a farm. While in Xokomis I wished to purchase a new hat. so I walked into a neat, up-to-date establishment and to my surprise found the sales lady to be Leah Kieslar. We talked over old times and I found that Leah owned the millinery store and she seemed very enthusiastic about her work- As I wished to know the whereabouts of more of my class mates, I inquired about Leo Smith and learned that while he was attending school at Champaign. he met the girl for him and after he had completed his course in scientific farming, he IsMight land near Hecatur and he and his wife had decided that with their combined efforts it would soon be the best farm in the state of Illinois. At last we took our leave of Xokomis and started one morning on our journey. About three o'clock of that day we reached ltantoul- There on the aviation field a large crowd was assembled and we were told that an airplane would fly in a few minutes, so we entered the field to watch the performance. A tall slender person dressed in aerial uniform took the front seat, while another person similarly clad occupied the rear seat. Soon they rose slowly from the ground and glided up into the sky. When the machine had reached a height of about lotto feet it circled around several times and then Iwgan a series of maneuvers such as I had never before witnessed. They dropped straight down, then rose again, looped the loop, dived, circled around and came down to earth. ••Who is this wonderful air pilot? I inquired of a man standing near me”. That's the Bird Woman he answered-•'That eems 'ike a queer name for an airman 1 said. He

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your old nickname of ‘hoc and now von an a real doctor”. As spring was approaching. I left Palm Beach and went to Sf. Augustine, to stay for a while- One day, while a the IN nice do Leon Hotel. 1 heard that Kitty Kent was staying at that same place. I also found that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between the hours of 2:.‘I0 and 4:00 she received callers, so I took advantage of my first opportunity to meet tin author of the book which had so charmed me.. I was ushered into a large drawing room and the Lady Kitty Kent arose as I entered. One glance was enough to solve the mystery- My famous author was Vinita Louise Miller. I had by this time been absent from my western home for so long, that it seemed the ranch was calling me to return- As I bade Vinita goodbye. I fell in my heart, so I spoke it aloud. •Will wonders never cease ? No New Fangled No Premiums Ideas of Saving. on New Business. No Short Cuts to Wealth. Just the Old-Fashioned Way of spending less than you make and putting the balance aside at interest under National Bank Protection. NOKOMIS NATIONAL BANK Member Federal Reserve System.