Ottumwa High School - Argus Yearbook (Ottumwa, IA)

Page 30 text:

5i3ropi)ccp of the Class of 1908. EFORE the fire in a cozy library, a middle-aged man sat, smoking and gazing absently at a picture, which hung over the fire-place. His reverie was interrupted by the arrival of his daughter, who coming to his side, let her eyes follow the gaze of her father. They rested upon a 1908 class picture that had been presented to him by that class on their graduation. It was my first class that graduated from the O. H. S” That was twelve years ago, was it not father?” Yes it was twelve years ago and this afternoon it has all been brought so vividly to me. I met Charles McClelland and upon bringing up the subject, he told me of the whereabouts of all of them. It was merely by chance that I ran across McClelland. I had ordered a load of coal and when the man came to the door to have Ids ticket signed, amidst the dirt and grime 1 recognized Charles McClelland, the former president of this class. I took this oppor- tunity to find out about those that I had lost track of.” He says his employer is John Hull, who, by the way, married Irene Hedrick.” Oh yes, father, I remember them but tell me about the rest. You always were esj ecially interested in this class and it teas one to be proud of. Now begin at the top of that picture and go straight through.” Well, we'll start over in this corner with Grayce Park; she is a hair dresser in Chicago, and in the same apartment is Hilda Roth who is a manicurist. Loren Meredith is a professional scab;—it’s too bad; he was a nice boy. Marguerite Smith, Loren a Crone and Alice Goodall who were maids of honor at the wedding of Earl I). Vance and Loretta Weidle, went to Europe to meet the bride and groom, and return home with them. The Garrick theatre has at last been able to secure Stuart Swinney to run as the leading man.

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Mr. T. 1). Foster, an honorary member, entertained the class most royally at his home on April 16th, and this party will always be remembered with gratitude and pleasure. The Wapello County State University of Iowa Club entertained ns at the Congragational church with a most enjoyable program on the evening of the 18th. As for the Junior reception we can only tender our utmost thanks and appreciation for the time and labor spent in preparation for that brilliant affair. On June the 5th we attained to the height of our glory by the unprecedented success of the class-play, “Miss Hobbs” combined with “Madam Butterfly”, the curtain-raiser. A curtain-raiser had never been given before but no doubt will be hereafter. The Baccalaureate service and graduating exercises were as usual solemn, sedate affairs, for each one realized that the dear old high school days were ended. As Seniors, we always endeavored to instill in the minds of our younger brethren the respect due to Senior dignity and the realization of the transcendent glory of the Seniors of 11)08. We have always conducted our class meetings with utmost dignity and good behavior, having in mind our far-reaching influ- ence among the lower classes. We, therefore, the representatives of the Class of 1008, in council assembled, appealing to the Student Council of the Ottumwa High School for the rectitude of our intentions do, in the name and by the authority of the good people of the School Board, solemnly publish and declare that this class is, and ought to be, free and independent, and that they are absolved from all allegiance to the faculty and that all educational connection between it and the Ottumwa High School is and ought to be totally dissolved, and that as free and independent citizens, they have full power to contract alliances, visit school, address the chapel and do all the other acts and things which alumni may of right do; and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. Signed, Howard Boot, Chairman Laura McCarroll Florence Tisdale Stuart Swinney.

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Grace Calhoun has erected a home for stray rats; she is favor- ably inclined towards red ones. The teacher of physics in the Crumb High School is Zella I lysart. I sad ore Miller is prima donna in the Ashburton stock com- pany. Fred Hartman has made a fortune oil of his latest patent,— invisible cuspidor for slobberers. Genevieve Norfolk is head waitress at the Bee Hive hotel. Among the Seven Sutherland Sisters this year is Else Finarty; she is on exhibition at Root’s drug store in Batavia. And by the way, Kingling Brother’s circus will be here next week, with it’s new popular attraction, Nadine Dingeman as the two-faced lady. Don Kilby and Mrs. Kilby, alias Katherine Denefe, have started a dancing school in the slums at Chicago. The believe in educating your feet as well as your brain. Harold Strong is agent for Nellie Maud Baker’s latest book. Laura McCarroll has just graduated from Lake Forest where she took the same course that Helen did. Verna Honke is travelling for her health. She always was in- clined to be weak. Hallie Hirst is agent for Thomas’s face cream. Blanche Coughlin eloped with that bell boy, Dick Walker at the Court Hotel. Leora McMullen is physical director at the Y. W. C. A. in Des Moines. The Wendell sisters have a dress-making establishment in New York. Dick Tharp has a farm, seven miles east of the city. The Bloomer Girls’ have added to their number, Helen Briggs and Florence Tisdale. Maggie Trowbridge has just procured a divorce from her former husband, Earl Howard. Anna Anderson is carrying on a series of revival meetings throughout the state. Arthur Haw is running a gambling den in Ottumwa. M ae McAloon is county superintendent of schools, with head- quarters at Albia. The last election for mayor in Ottumwa was hotly contested between Ralph Stentz and Will Osier; Osier was elected by a ma- jority of 15,000. Goldie Trent is matron of a bachelor girl's apartment with six members, Lena Prather, Maud Baker, Leona Doller, Verona LaPoint, Helen Kelly and Minnie Hahn. Ruth Hall has gone as missionary to the South Sea Islands. Ruth Johnson is history teacher in the (). II. S., in Miss Hale's place and Elvira in Miss Smith's.