Peace College - Lotus Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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An Stttrg from tljp Starg of tijp rnpl Pt of (ElaBa 1904. DECEMBER 21, 1936. YESTERDAY, rummaging about in the attic, I came across the little packing trunk I had at Peace thirty odd years ago. In a flash it brought back so many pleasant memories that I could not resist the impulse to lift the lid. My ! what confusion ! ' T was nearly as bad as our top bureau-drawer at Peace used to be. One of the first things I came across was an old French exercise-book of Daisy ' s. I laughed as I thought of the many times she had tried to skip dictation. I suppose to keep out of the draught, for she always jumped into the closet when the door was opened. I have seen her only once since then ; she moves in a circle of society too high for me — newspapers speak of her as the most brilliant woman that has shone in New York society for many years. But with it all, she carries the simple grace and dignity that characterized our Class president. Here is a pin-cushion made from a scrap of Katie Lee ' s old blue silk skirt, with a hole burnt in the corner, reminding me so forcibly of the night she tried to burn us out — -to be in style and get a diploma without standing examinations. Contrary to her youthful ambitions, she is a typical old maid, worn out with constant teaching and an effort to keep pace at the same time with the gay whirl of society. If she had only taken Miss Poyster ' s advice and studied more about Pestalozzi and his method, she might have been a successful teacher. But, just as of old, she thought she knew, and now what is the result? An old maid beyond all hopes. Why, what is this? The belt to little Lucy ' s old blouse. I remember the very day she made such a stir about its being lost. How could it have gotten here ? ' T is scarcely fifteen inches, how ridiculous I Only yesterday I had a letter from her asking me to suggest some anti-fat. She says that from the day she commenced taking the massage treatment recommended by Mrs. Buckner, for which recommendation, by the way, she has never forgiven her, she has grown so stout that navigation is difficult, which state greatly interferes with her business — shopping for out-of-town friends. Next I found Helen ' s old book of notes on Pedagogy, the leaves all dis- figured with curious little monkeys, drawn when she should have been practicing vertical writing ; and still she was voted the most dignified ! ' T is true she was quiet, scarce deigning to open her lips, save in a friendly quarrel with her sister — that poor little sister, who always bore it smilingly, with never a retort. In those davs she had loftv ambitions to be a missionary to the Indians.

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understanding, so that he was a leader among men in wisdom as well as in strength. Many plagues happened to this peaceful tribe, even equal to the number of seven. The rats fell upon them and did devastate their country. And the waters descended upon their heads and the pipes burst and flooded their fair fields, and the tribe was sore afraid. And the spooks and the spirits of the departed came among them and the tribe was sore afraid. And they communicated with departed spirits by means of a rapping, fre- quently heard. And there was a tempter among them, who led them in wayward paths, even unto midnight feasts. The year following they all assembled and chose Eggleston for to rule over them, and he executed judgment and justice among his people. They prospered so that there was none like unto them in wisdom, virtue, and understanding. And what one nation on earth is like unto these people? They smote and subdued hostile natives, and those inferior clans that re- mained bowed down and worshiped them. And it came to pass that before Eggleston had long taken the crown that a plague heretofore unheard of smote the tribe, and it was called Pedagogy, and the tribe subdued it. And it was commanded that the people should be numbered and they were, even unto the number of ten and two. And they were known in that land by a badge of wondrous beauty. And yet again there came upon them divers examinations, and there was weeping and wailing and the tribes waxed wroth. And they gathered knowledge and learning, and went against these exami- nations and they overcame them. But notwithstanding all these chastisements, these people, because they took the counsel which the old men gave them, prospered and reached the highest ■degree of civilization. Now there was a prophet among these people who prophesied, saying: These people can do wondrous things. And they came together and agreed to play before the old men and the barbarous tribes. And the old men were pleased, and the applause was sweet to their ears. And they lived in this land in concord and harmony until the land was too nar- row to bear them all. And the tribes scattered, to give unto barbarous nations the wisdom they had acquired in this land of Peace. Cityite.

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She started out bravely, but alas I she deserted her charges and, as her poet friend prophecied, went a-gliding down the pike with Johnnie. Well, to make a long story short, she is happy, and from what I hear, he is too. They have been married a long time now, tlierefore dear old Helen ' s girlhood fear of being an old maid is lost forever. Here is an old report of Nora ' s. I ' 11 just see what the lady made: Deport- ment mark, twenty-three ; my I even old Whit could get seventy-five when she tried. Room mark, seventeen ; but hurrah I for chemistry, loo ; that ' s not strange — her fondness for Al Oj, furnished the inspiration for that. And no girl can be expected to keep her room clean when she has as many letters to read and write as Nora had. But she has been married these many years, and, since the wrinkles and gray hair have come, recalls forcibly the appearance she pre- sented as Old Gobbo in the Senior play. Opening a Y. W. C. A. pamphlet, I found a slip of paper : Please announce that Annie Land has lost her trunk key ; it has a white string tied to it. Oh ! the numerous mornings we had to listen to that same little notice. If she did lose her trunk key, she never lost her heart. Although more than one poor fellow thought he had the prize, yet, when he was most certain, she would playfully tell him she was only joking, then turn and smile at his broken heart. But our gentle Annie found one who would not take her refusal and, though both are advanced in years, he is still playmg the devoted ; and, from what I can learn, our Annie shows some signs of capitulation. A letter from Stone Printing Company, addressed to Minnie Lou. Minnie Lou, who was always bearing others ' burdens. Through her long years at Peace she was constantly toiling over the Annual, and since that time has given her life to the wayward Bessie. X is still waiting, but our classmate has vowed to remain single until Bessie is married. And, you know, Bessie has no fondness for men. They tell me Minnie Lou grows sweeter and more unselfish ; but that, to me, is as incomprehensible as some of the propositions in Butler ' s Analogy. A little picture of Lila — dear old Lila — the sweetest among us. From her babyhood she has heard only of her Scotch ancestry ; and, having received fresh impulse from Miss Nannie ' s glorious description of the old world, she went abroad determined to remain until she had located the home of her forefathers. But falling in love with a bonny Scotch lad, she remained. Bessie, her heavenly twin, after much correspondence, finally got her promise to return just as soon as she had found the name and located a seventeenth cousin of her father ' s great-uncle, the only one now missing from the family tree. Bessie, in the meantime, has gained an enviable position as a club woman. She has done North Carolina a great good in the work for the Betterment of Public Schools. I heard her make a fine speech a few years ago, advocating the Need of Discipline in our Southern schools. I was surprised, for she