Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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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.

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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.

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19 Paxton High School Reflector MR. R.: Yes, our furnace is defective. But now, Miss Ka.ie, I want you to meet my daughter, Rosalind. KATIE (promptly extending her hand): Sure it's pla .ed to meet yez, 1 am Miss Rode, and indade it’s meself was thinkin’ ’twouli be great to work in the home of so foine a lady. ROSIE (smiling): 1 know mother will be delighted to have so pleas- ant a maid. Oh! Why, -good evening Professor Dood.e. (Prof. Doodle has been standing the while in .he doorway arrang.rg his tie and brushing imaginary dust from his coat. He now advances gingerly and, with a precise bow, says.) PROF. D.: Ah! Good evening, Miss Rosie. MR. R. (offering the Prof a chair): To be sure, to be sure, I forgot to tell you, Rosie. To celeorate the occasion, l brought the professor home to dinner. ROSIE (murmurs sweetly): So glad to have you. Professor. PROF. D. (addressing Rone aside): A most remarkable woman! my dear Miss Rosalind most remarkable! 1 assure you my attempts to keep her in the hall were futile. But you. Ah. you will pardon me for speaking thus, but you know I never understood the daughters of Eve, especially those of old Erin. KATIE (turning upon him): Sure, an’ it’s mcsalf that never under- stood the sons of Adam, especially those of old An gland, an' indade if it wasn't that I had so many cousins depindin' on me ter a l.v.ng I’d be over there now fightin’ for the blissed country. (Picks up her basket and marches toward the kitchen.) (Prof. Doodle looks both surprised and mot tiffed, swallows, arranges his tie. crosses his feet twice saying): ‘‘Pooh, Pooh, Pooh, Pooh. ENTER JACK (tosses his cap to the ceding exclaiming): Darn it all. I'm fired! ALL: Fired? Jack! JACK: Yes! That old nut down at the office thinks I use entirely too much slang. ROSIE: Oh Jack I always said— JACK: Oh Gee, Sis! den’t begin to lecture. I've had enough of that for one day. Did you ever hear anything so dinged crazy. Thu. oid ga ook's been figerin’ on puttin’ one over on the office bunch for a coon’s age. toddling around the office with the face of a bear. Well, today he gave me the cold stare and seme hot gab. and I grabbed my lid, said, ‘ so long, old top. and beat it. MR. R. (rising and patting his son's shoulder): Well, that’s a shame son. That reminds me, today 1 heard the bunch at the office saying something about English. ROSIE: Why Daddy, don't you know this is better English Year? JACK: Well, what in the deuce is that for? ROSIE: Why. a year in which we should try to improve our English and try to omit the use of so much slang. And Daddy? MR. R.: Yes, dear? ROSIE: I have just thot of a little plan. Why couldn't I write an arti- cle for “The Advance.” MR. R : Great idea, girlie. The old paper needs a little boosting. I'll be glad to have it as scon as it’s written. (Angeline enters.) ANGELINE: Hi, Kid! Lost your job? Well, I'll be dinged! Why didn't you crack the old crank's bean? MR. R.: Children! ! PROF. I).: Most remarkable, most remarkable. The vocabulary of the younger generation is indeed an overdrawn extravaganza of the Anglo-