Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

Page 19 text:

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.

Page 18 text:

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.

Page 20 text:

18 Paxton High School Reflector ROSIE (nervously): Yes, what is it? DICK: Well, getting down to plain facts, I can't go on like, this any longer I’ve got to know. Rosie, you remember the night of my cousin Helen's dance, when we were just college kids, I told you—Oh well, you know what 1 told you, and you said you were too young? ROSIE: Yes—yes 1 remember. DICK: And the summer at the seashore when I again told you how much I cared for you, and again you said that you must finish college when your father had been so kind in educating yon. ROSIE: Yes. Dick, yes; but why speak of all this now? Can't we let bygones be bygones? DICK: No, Rosie it will never be bygcnes to me. I have waited for you ever since college days but surely now there is no excuse. I nless— unles.; there is someone else. ROSIE (distractedly): Oh why must you mention that subject again. Of course there is no one else. Oh don't you understand? I must stay here. I’m—I'm— DICK (patiently): Yes? ROSIE: I’m reforming the family. DICK: You're what? ROSIE: Yes, I’m improving their English. DICK: Well I'll be--------! Of all things. But if any one needs reforming it's me. And besides they have had you long enough. Really. Rosie, won't you? ROSIE: No. Dick, I have made my promise and I must keep it. DICK: Very Well, Rosie. ROSIE: Oh Dick, I haven't offended you! Surely, we can part just as friends? DICK: Certainly, Rosalind. I would not have it otherwise and you have my sircerest wishes fcr success in what you have just undertaken. Goodbye. ROSIE: Thank you Dick. Good-lye. (Turning to the audience.) Oh. he doesn’t understand and I’m afraid he is angry. Still, how could I have done otherwise for I so wanted to carry my little plan through. Oh, why, there’s Daddy. (Mr. Rollister steps thru the doorway as Rosie runs forth to meet him.) ROSIE: Why, hello Dad. I was just thinking it was time for you. MR. R. (holding up a warnirg finger): Sh-h-h-h! Where’s Mother? ROSIE: She has gone to the club. Why? MR. R.: Good! I have a little surprise for her and for you too my pet. ROSIE (clasping her father’s hands): Oh what is it? MR. R. (unbuttoning his ccat): Well, you know, Rosalind, how hard your mother has worked all these years. Oh, of course, of course, I know you’ve helped her all you could. Rosie. (Noticing the troubled expression on iiis daughter's face and laying his hard affect’onately on her shoulder.) But still. I always kinda thot she’d maybe like to have a maid. 'Specially after Mrs. Hamilton brought that girl home from the city and you told her how-many servants the Van Replens had when you was visitin' there. So I decided that now you are through school and Jackie has a fair job. and Angeline is getting along so well, we ought to be able tc afford— (Katie stamps into the room hands on hips—Rosie draws back with a gasp of amazement. Mr. R. locks uneasy.) KATIE (pointing to the hall): Faith, and it’s meself that would be (razin' to death in the likes cf sich a hall. MR. R.: Oh—er—Miss Katie. I beg— KATIE (paying not the slightest attention): Indade, Sor, the place I just left was Bke summer, so well hated was the house, Sor.