Plymouth State University - Conning Tower Yearbook (Plymouth, NH)

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“THE CONNING TOWER ’ 192 8 23 The jolly face and expanse of white apron faded and another scene met Our view. We saw the busy typewriting room at P. X. S. Suddenly the faces of the pupils sobered down to strict attention as a slender figure, with a stern, important look, entered the room. This young woman with the dignified bearing was tin head of the Commercial Department, Eva Avery. The magician snapped his fingers and the picture vanished, but it had no sooner disappeared than another, in a far different setting was outlined. Moonlight on the Mediterranean! Could anything be more romantic? A ship was sailing smoothly over silver waves. But what did we see—a woman captain? It could not be. Yes it was Marion Stevens, otherwise known as Steve, who was well known for her fearlessness of the turbulent deep. The ship? The United States steamer. Loon Lake. A quick wave of the hand over the crystal and the picture was gone, but still another came to take its place. Instead of quiet, peaceful waters we saw a busy, modern office. Behind a door marked “Private , a smartly dressed woman was dictating letters. One could tell by her face that she was happy and entirely in her element, doing the work she loved; for she was Editor-in-Chicf of the Pictorial Review, her long treasured magazine. Who was it. you wonder? Why it was none other than our Maizie. We laughed as we had often laughed before at Maizie and her Pictorial Review. Then we became excited! Our favorite game was being played—small wonder we were interested. The two teams contesting for the winner’s trophy were Posse and Sargent. The whistle blew, the game was ended, and the coaches rushed to congratulate their players. One, the coach of Sargent, a tall, slender girl with light hair, seemed familiar to us. and as she came nearer the familiarity changed into recognition. It was Mick Eastman. At last she had conquered athletics. The crystal became clouded. It had still one other story to tell us. Again we saw an office, but far different from the one seen before. The last of the familiar figures was a tall, graceful girl with black, naturally marcelled hair. Site was clad in a stiff, white dentist’s garment, and we saw her busily carrying on experiments in a vain endeavor to discover why hens do not grow teeth. So this was still a matter of wonderment to Teddie. Slowly the land of dreams was replaced by reality. Instead of reclining on the Oriental cushions of the Hindu, I found myself reposing in my armchair. Only a dream, but during that dream I had lived again happy memories of those tried and true friends at P. N. S. DProtn v Morrisosr, Maude Wilkins.

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22 “Til E CONN I NG TOWER ’ 19 2 8 Commencement is here and we are proud of the honor to In the first four year class to graduate from 1 N. S. We know that our extra year has aided us both intellectually and socially, causing us to be better equipped to uphold the high ideals of our Alma Mater. M. McDonough, M. Stevens. Class Prophecy Ten winters of teaching, five summers of study, at last the degree earned. “Oh dear, how glad 1 am of a chance to rest , 1 murmured to myself as I sank wearily into my ever welcoming, comfortable, old chair. But though weariness encompassed me within its embrace, my brain refused to stop its active exploring of a hundred and one different ideas. That morning I had raised sufficient courage to steel myself to the ordeal of asking my superintendent for a year’s leave of absence for travel. Contrary to my expectations he agreed heartily to my plans and assured me that lie would have no difficulty in dealing with the school board. I had triumphed,—and now to choose my traveling companion. From ten years of reality to one year of dreams! My eyes grew heavv-lidded. closed, and then—we were in India. India! that land of incense, mystery, beauty; that land of spices, sunshine, novelty. Wandering about the streets of Mandalay, we saw many vendors peddling their various wares and calling out in sing-song, monotonous voices. As we went along into a narrow, untidy side street, we noticed a lean, swarthy individual with a once clean turban wound around his head, bowing obsequiously to us and motioning for us to come nearer. 1 hesitated because everything seemed so obnoxious; but my friend urged that we see what he had to offer, so we went up to where he was standing. As we drew nearer we noticed a clear, sparkling crystal resting on a snowy, white cloth brought into sharp relief against the man’s filthy appearance. Mere was a fortune teller, and nothing would do but that my friend must have her future foretold. As she snt cross-legged on a heap of cushions, the Indian Cautioned her to maintain silence. However, it was not her future she was to behold, but those of her former classmates of Plymouth Normal School. My friend watched skeptically at first, and then intently. I leaned forward to see at what she was gazing. Figures appeared in the crystal and we watched spellbound. What were those indistinct figures. Ah! They were getting clearer and clearer and we gasped as we saw a familiar, well loved figure preparing tin excellent food for our President at the White House. Many a time during our four years at P. X. S. we had sampled Tillies cooking; but we never expected her to receive the highest culinary honor in the United States, although we always knew that she would rise to great heights.

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24 ‘THE CONNING TOWER ’ 192 8 Class Will Wo, the members of 1 ho CM class of 1928, of Plymouth Normal School, in the town of Plymouth, in tin county of (Jrafton, in the state of New Hampshire, realizing that our four short years at Plymouth Normal School are drawing to a close, and being fully aware that the members of the ('4 class have many admirable yet unusual qualities befitting future successful “school ma’ams”, do hereby draw up our last will and testament for the purpose of disposing of said “gifts” in order to avoid any discussion over same after our departure. We do hereby give, bequeath, and devise to have and to hold, to them and their heirs forever, the following: To President Ernest L. Silver we extend our sincerest wishes for continued success as the “Daddy” of this institution; and we hope for his sake that incoming classes may uphold and build upon the honor of the school as we have so earnestly tried to do during our stay here. In appreciation of the many fatherly talks to be treasured by us, we hereby appoint him executor of this document. To Mr. Ernst we leave memories of his interesting hourly sessions with the “famous C4V .Selling “salesmanship” to the class next year may be easier, provided that the members of the class are born saleswomen with a convincing line such as ours. To Miss Moran we bequeath twelve new editions of “Correcting the Scribble”, the above having been compiled by us to aid her in eliminating the meaningless characters .so common in the handwriting of the Junior classes. We suggest that penmanship classes be held twice a day in the future, Miss Moran. To Mr. Skelton, who has helped in developing in us “firmness but gentleness”, we leave a recorder so that a list of the “What about” questions may be kept for him. To Mr. Swett we leave duplicates of numerous history tests, and we also file with him copies of orations delivered by us in Sociology classes. Such works of merit should not be allowed to go unrecorded. We. the C4 s, will to the C'3 s the one and only copy of Holdsworth. Use it carefully, girls. We suggest that you make a time schedule for its use so that every one will have an opportunity to study its contents before class. I, Marion Stevens, will my salesmanship ability to Thelma Sinclair. My specialty is textbooks, so 1 advise you to try that line. Thelma. I, Dot Morrison, ask that my exclusive rights to argue in class be left to Evelyn Lynch. Don’t abuse the privilege, Ev. I, Maude Wilkins, do will and bequeath to Clara LeMay my petiteness. I, Eva Avery, will the attractions of my morning and evening walks across Holderness bridge to Thelma Hall. He careful, Thelma.