Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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24 Paxton High School Reflector (Katie is carrying a large dipper of water in one hand and a dictionary ir. the other. She offers the water to Aunt Priscilla.) MRS. R. (excitedly): Why how did it happen? PROP. D.: Oh—er—Oh—er Ahem! Ahem! (Rosie whispers some- thing to Angeline and smiles.) KATIE: Faith an' wasn't it meself that was telling yez that Anglish- man had more than one bird in the bush when lie bring around pretlndin' to help Miss Rosie with that pace fer her father's paper? (Aunt Priscilla gradually revives and takes the Professor's hand (Enter Mr. R. and Jack.) MR. R.: Why, what's all the confusion about? JACK: Same as I say? ANGELINE (winking wickedly): He popped it and it worked! MR. R.: Such a surprise, why—Professor I tliot you never under- stood— JACK: Ah. be a sport Dad, you know we never know what we're going to do next. PROF. 1).: Quite so. quite so. ROSIE: Do tell me Jackie what kind of luck you had. JACK: Excellent! I got the position with Burdinson and etc., alright. ROSIE: Oh. I’m so glad you always wanted it, didn’t you? MR. R. (patting his shoulder): I always thought you’d make good. son. ANGELINE: Hurrah for you kid! But how did you do it? I thought you had to be an A No. 1 before that old bear would consider at all. JACK (putting an arm around Rosie): Well, 1 took tile advice of my little Sis. speeled off my best English, melted his icy heart and got the job. Why, he said he believed I was the only kid in a hundred who knew that there was such a thing as an English language and that Webster wasn't a myth. MRS. R.: Seems that following Rosie’s advice always brings us out successfully. Here 1 am president of the M. A. C. club, and Jack has his position—an’ Angeline—why what was yours dear? ANGELINE: Oh, mine's a secret yet. KATIE: Yi , an thanks to this blissed lamb learning or I mean taeh- ing me ivery noight. I've been able to write the first love letter to mine Patrick. (Holds up a large bright colored envelope.) PROF. I).: Though MY success may not have dealt with our most re- nowned Anglo-Saxon language, still I feel that it is ever, more marvelous that I have won the heart of so remarkable a woman. (Smiles and turns toward .Aunt Priscilla.) MR. R.: But the best surprise of all is yet to come. (Draws a maga- zine from his pocket and hands it to Rosie.) (All eagerly gaze at it.) ROSIE (opening the magazine and noticing her article): Oh, but I don't understand. I wrote this for your paper. Daddy, for I so wanted to boost the Advance (looks at the magazine) why, this is Dick's paper. (Drops the magazine with' a sigh.) Oh, what made you do it father?—but of course you didn’t know . MRS. R.: Why. what is it pet? We all tliot you'd be so pleased and you have plenty of time to write for the old Advance and this article was so well written we thought we’d surprise you. (Sound of motor is heard outside. Everyone turns toward door and Ros:e picks up the magazine and makes her escape.) (Enter Dick.) DICK: Hello everybody. What's all the excitement about? ALL: BETTER ENGLISH. DICK: Strange how such a seemingly small subject can cause so much disturbance, that’s just what’s disturbing me, but say, where is she? MRS. R.: Why, she was just here a minute ago. Rosier

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Paxton High School Reflector 23 ANtiELINE: Lay myself down an’ cut me in two. I’ll never tell. PROF. D.: Well, I’m in love. AXGELINB (greatly surprised): In love? ? ? Not you. Professor? ? ? PROF. I), (gazing heavenward): Yes, Miss Angeline, I've found my soulmate. ANGELINE: Say. how does it feel anyway, and who’s the lucky lady? (Makes a question-mark with her finger.) PROF. D.: To he sure. To be sure. ANGELINE (winking): Why I haven’t the faintest idea. PROF. 1).: Tut, tut. my dear young lady, surely you must have noticed my daily increasing admiration for your aunt. (Angeline appears greatly astonished.) PROF. D.: But my dear, here-in lies the difficulty. I scarcely know how best to broach the delicate subject of matrimony to one whose judgment is so superior and discriminating. You see modem methods of proposing •differ so greatly from those of my unfledged youth. A NO KLINE: Oh, so you had a little experience in your younger days Professor? PROF. D.: Tut tut. my child, tut tut. you know, as I have often said. I never understood-------------. ANOKLINE: Yes, of course, but what about my advice? PROF. I).: To be sure, to be sure now what mode of conveying my sentiment would it be best to employ in asking her for her heart and hand? ANGELINE (seriously): Well, of course I’ve never had much exper- ience. but my motto has always been “Pop the question suddenly.” That's what I want my man to do when he comes along and. will I fall in? I’ll say so. I'm sure that’s the only tli’ng that will work with Aunt Priscilla. ’Cause you know a faint heart never won fair lady! PROF. I).: Quite so. my dear, quite so. Now you’re absolutely sure it will work? ANGELINE: Well if it doesn’t. I’ll kick the bucket. (Exit.) PROF. I . (rising and walking up and down the stage): Most remarkable. most remarkable. “Pop the question suddenly, pop the question suddenly, pop the question suddenly, pop— (Enter Aunt Priscilla.) AI N'T P.: Why. Professor what in the world are you talking about? PROF. I) : Ahem! Ahem! Indeed, indeed Miss Angeline, and 1 were just saying how pop—hcvv popular you had become in our little village. It is to be regretted that you cannot establish yourself in a home of your own with a sympathising companion. AI N'T P.: I cannot say that I agree with you. Professor. I have lived foah fc.ihty-eight yeahs, nine months and thirteen days without a husband, and I feel quits capable of living 48 yeahs, 9 months and 1” days moah without one. (Prof. I), nervously moves about, brushes his coat arranges his tie— swallows at least four times. Then kneels, places a hand on his heart and one toward her.) PROF. I).: Priscilla, will you marry me? AI N'T P.: Oh! Oh Samuel, this is sc sudden. (Clasps her hands and faints half on the davenport, half in the Professors arms.) (Paces from davenport to door, frantically calling.) PROF. D.: Katie! Katie! water quick! (Angeline who has been hiding behind a large chair and the table now jumps up.) ANGELINE (yelling): Oh Ma. come quick! Aunt Prisy’as fainted! (Enter Rosie, Mrs. R. and Katie.)

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Paxton High School Reflector 25 MRS. R.: Perhaps she has gone to her room—Ansel run up and rail her. ANGELINE: Gee, this is getting excitin' wonder how it will turn out. (Exit Angeline.) JACK: I believe she’s out on the piazza. (Exit Dick and Jack), Mr. R„ Mrs. R. and Katie start for the kitchen.) PROF. D.: Bless my soul, such a remarkable oecurance. Come Pris- c 11a my dear, let us join the search. AUNT I : Very well, Samuel, you carry James Cox. (Gives the cat to the Prof.) (Enter Rosie.) ROSIE (wrapping a scarf about her shoulders): Ch. I’m so glad they’ve gone. I can’t see him after our last talk, perhaps he just printed that to ridicule my little plan. I'll rur over to Hazel s until he has gone. (Enter Dick.) DICK: Oh! Ha! running away from me—are—you? ROSIE: Well, yes—Oh no, of course net. DICK: Rosie. I know I've acted like a silly kid, but you know I'm sorty- can't you forgive me? ROSIE: Why of course, Dick I know you didn't mean it and— DICK (interrupting): But that’s the deuce of it: I DID mean K Oh Rosie won’t you come? ROSIE: Oh yes—no. but you see I'm— DICK: Oh you little Dickens. I could turn you over my knee. You’ve been cookin’ it up pretty raw for me for a heck of a while, but I’m beginning to get next and your time’s cornin’ kid! ROSIE: Dick! SUCH English (after a pause) MAYBE YOU DO NEED REFORMING after all. (Etc. ? ? ? ? ) (Angeline rises from the back of the davenport. She raises her finger with a warring, Sh-hh-h.”) CURTAIN DICTION. The student who would improve his diction (the selection and right use of words), should recognize the most important qualities of good diction. These are Purity, Propriety, and Precision. Purity consists in using such werds only as are at present used by the best writers and speakers. A Barbarism is a violation of purity. T.ie use of “singist” for “singer” is an illustration. Propriety consists in choosing such words as properly express the intended meaning. The use of ‘bring” for “take”, or “borrow” for ‘loan’’ is a violation of purity of diction. Precision of Diction consist in choosing from synonymous terms those which best express the ideas to be conveyed. “Aged,” “ancient,” “obsolete,” “antiquated,” and “old” are called synonyms. We may. in obedience to precision of diction, say “an ancient temple,” “an aged man, “an obsolete word”; but not an antiquated temple, an anc'int hat. or an aged word. Other groups of synonyms that require care in their use are abandon, desert, forsake; absolve, exorerate, acquit; avow, acknowledge, confess, admit; discover, find, invent; pale, pallid, wan. Illustration: “M ss Z. were a charming costume of wan green.” Some Examples of Schooi-girl Hyperbola. I am “tired to death : “t'ckled to pieces”; “cold a; ice”: “crazy with the toothache ; ‘awful glad”; “a perfe tly magnificent time’; ‘a lovely pug dog”: “a div nc moustache.”