Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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Paxton High School Reflector 16 Host? lu'fnruts the Spoken tngltsh of the Ixollisters AN ORIGINAL TWO-ACT FARCE-COMEDY WRITTEN BY EMILY JOHNSON, ’22, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PAXTON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL “BETTER ENGLISH” ENTERTAINMENT GIVEN JANUARY 11, 1921—A LOCAL HIT—(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.) CAST OF CHARACTERS. Rosie Rollister, the elder daughter. .Mr. Rollister (William Jeremiah) Editor of the ‘Avondale Advance.' Mrs. Rollister, a good old fashioned mother. Angeline Rollister. who is anything but what her name implies. Jack Rollister, a real boy. Dick Van Replen in love with Rosie. Aunt Priscilla Patterson, a southern maiden lady. Professor Samuel T. Doodle, who finds his soul mate. Katie O'Halligar., the Irish maid. TIME—Present. SCENE—Diving room in the Rollister home. Rosie is seated in a large chair holding a magazine. ACT I. ROSIE: Oh, I’m so glad that Hazel lent me her magazine with this splendid article on better English. Yes, I really must begin immediately. ENTER MRS. R: Begin what darlin’? Here, you’ve worked like a little trooper all day, ar.' now you jist sit right where you are. I’ll git ona little snack for Dad an’ the kids an’— ROSIE: (Jumping up and catching her mother by the shoulder.) Why Mother Dear! I'm not speaking of that kind of work, I’m talking of English. You know this is “Better English Year”— MRS. R: Yes. so tis. ROSIE: Well, and I have decided that our family should speak more grammatically. Now to 1 egin with. Mamma, how many times must I remind you not to leave off your “gs,” not to say jist” and “git,” and above all things not to say “snack?” MRS. R: Yes I know it. Rosie, my grammar is somethin’ fierce but you must remember, dearie, I'm git—getting old. ROSIE: Never too old to learn. Mamma. MRS R: Well. I will try ’cause you wish it honey, but now I must be join’ to the club. It’s diction day today an’ I wouldn’t miss it ter nothin'. We re also genta start, but as I was sayin,’ I'll be home in time to—to prepare dinner. (Rosie, the while, looks dismayed until her mother's last statement. then she gives a delighted little laugh, saying—) ROSIE: Ch, Mother, you are trying aren’t you? And as to reforms, why don't you bring up the subject of “Better English” at the Club? I really think that the mothers of the village should speak well not only on their families’ account tut for their own good as well. MRS. R: That’s a fine idey. Of course. 1 ain't much on this speech given, but I might mention it.

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Paxton High School Reflector 15 “ACCURACY NOT SPEED. This motto, in a somewhat different sense, may he applied to English students generally, as well as to typewriting students. If, before speaking. we would always take time to consider the grammar we are about to use. the resul would be the forming of better English speaking habits, and the acquisition of a larger ar.d richer vocabulary. John Locke, one of the great teachers in Europe during the seven teenth century, among his other doctrines, taught that the, 'native language should receive special attention ; for, as he said, “Is it not a greater disgrace to use tlie native language incorrectly than to blunder in a foreign tongue? —M. H ’21 PUBLIC OPINION A certain newspaper reporter on the Chicago Tribune staff, known as the Inquiring Reporter,” received the following answers to this question: Do you approve of County Superintendent Tobin's decision permitting the use of “It is me” and He didn't in the county schools? The following answers were received from various people picked at random: “I am not in favor of accepting slang and grammatical errors in our written speech. It is all right in quoting spoken language, but it is decidedly out of place in the body matter of supposedly good English. The fact that many persons speak ungrammatically does r.ot make such speaking right. “Undoubtedly Supt. Tobin's ruling is good. Just as many slang phrases have been accepted for general use, so will, “It is me” and “He don't,” be eventually accepted as good form. This tendency is noticeable in new American fiction by the best authors. “No, I certainly do not approve. I think it is poor judgment. We are all s' king to go forward with the English language instead of backward. Precedents of this kind ofTer all sorts of openings for the general acceptance of slarg expressions and ungrammatical utterances. There were two other people who answered negatively. Therefore, out of the five persons consulted, only one was in favor of adopting Mr. Tobin's decis’on. I think this is a convincing proof that the American people are for good English and against all slangy and ungrammatical ! hrase .— M. Me. '21. THE CLOSING PART OF THE SCHOOL CALENDAR APRIL 7th 8th—Mid-Semester Examinations. APRIL 29th —Literary Society Contest. MAY 22nd —Baccalaureate Address. MAY 27th —Senior Class Play. MAY 30th —Senior Reflector (comes from the press.) .JUNE lst-2nd —Final Examinations. JUNE 3rd —Commencement.

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17 Paxton High School Reflector ROSIE: Well, I certainly would. Now have a nice time and don't hurry home. (Turning to the audience.) It almost seems an impossible task to improve Mother’s English, but I’m sure success will crown my efforts in the end. (Picks up her magazine and continues reading.) (Loud banging is heard outside. Angeline skips into the room, books and papers in her hand. Slams them down on the library table.) ANGELINE: Gee. Sis! We girls saw a pip cf a kid tonight after school. He sure was some sport. You tell ’em. Babs met him last summer at some kind of a spiffy affair up at the Baxter s. She was so tickled to see him she almost shimmied. An' talking of dances. Sis. they have a bear of a new one called “The Tottle”—it sure is—Good night. Sis. whatza-matter. you goin ta faint? (Rosie leans back with a sign of distraction, closing her eyes. Suddenly she sits upright stamping her foot on the floor exclaiming! ) ROSIE: Angeline Rollister! Such English! ard after mother and daddy have deprived themselves of so mary things to send you to school, and we're all so proud of you when you do well. Why, such language is outrageous spoken by anyone and especially I y a junior in high school. Aren't you’ashamed! (with another sigh.) I never seemed to notice it so much until now. ANGELINE (tearfully:) We—well, you don't have to sit there ard preach. I guess everybody uses it! Why. this morning PrcT. Cunningham said “I seen, and the oilier day Mr. Bainum ever said “cuts. ROSIE (smiPng in upite of herseif): Really? Well I know it's hard dear, when you hear such talk all around you but you just make up your mind you aren't going to be “everybody. You know this is “Better Ei glish Year. and— ANGELINE (disgustedly): Yes, I know it is! We have tc make s me posters for English, and you know, Sis, how rip-ping-ly—Oh. I mean how artisticly—I draw. ROSIE: Well 1 hope you do start a better English movement in high chool. I'll help you’with your posters. Angel. ANGELINE (embracing her sister): Oh. you're a perfect dear. Sis! ROSIE (assuming a diexMied a‘r): I think it would be a very good idea, young lady, if you used some of your abundant energy in straigntentng your room. It looks as if the four winds of heaven had held a political meeting there. ANGELINE: Yes'm (makes a playful curtsy before her sifter and skips out of the rcom.) RCSIE: Well I thot reforming Mother's English would be a task but Angeline—(sourd of a motor is heard without.) Surely that isn't Daddy Why it's only five thirty. (Arranging her hair.) I wonder who it can be. (Doorbell is heard. Rosie gees into the hall.) (Heard from the hall.) ROSIE: Why Dick Van Replen—of all people. I'm so glad to see you. (Rosi? and Dick Enter.) But how did you find your way to Avondale today? DICK: Well, you see I ran out to see the estate this afternoon and thot I’d drop around to see my old Fal. ROSIE: Oh we’ll all be so delighted to have you. Of course you’ll stav for dinner. DICK: Thanks! I’d like to. but I'm afraid Rosie— ROSIE: What? Then you can't stay? DICK: Well, you see Mother's having guests for dinner this evening and I’m late already. I'm awfully sorry. Rosalind. But I thot I must stop as there is something very important I have to tell you.