Punchard High School - Prism Yearbook (Andover, MA)

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Class ropf)ecj? A reunion was called for the Class of 1916 in the year 1936 and I was delegated to look up our graduates. Lix-ing down in China at the time, I thought that since I had not seen the Old Town for nineteen years, I would come. But did I see the old town? No, indeed; it had grown to be a flourishing city with great stores, theatres and even aeroplanes. Not seeing anyone I knew, I decided to aeroplane to the Phillips Inn and dispose of my grip. When I was seated comfortably, I began to feel uneasy about my classmates. To my great astonishment I spied Pete Tyler, a little gray-haired man, of three feet six inches, running the aeroplane. Of course Pete had to tend right to business and had no time to talk. How- ever, he told me that he was still keeping bachelor ' s quarters and had not been away from Andover since he was graduated. I also learned that Gladys Ralph was employed in his Aeroplane Company as his time-keeper. At last, I reached my destination and instead of finding what I had supposed to be the PhUlips Inn , I found a very beautiful hotel. On stepping into the office to register, whom should I see but my old friend, Isabelle Peters, the proprietress of the establishment. Poor Isabelle had been so unfortunate as to marry only twice, and losing both of her husbands was obliged to make her own living. After she had told me all her troubles, I informed her of my errand and you may rest assured she was a mine of information. Of course, I was given a beautiful room and, being very tired, went to bed early. The next morning while reading the World ' s Xeus, I discovered a fine article on the European war of 1914, written by Gertrude Berry who had won international fame as an historian. My trunk had not arrived and, having been invited to go to the opera with some friends, I journeyed down town and went into one of the large department stores to purchase an evening gown. The manager directed me to the latest Paris styles on the fifth floor. Seeing 26

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3 unct)art 1916 reception by the Juniors was given us in the November Club House and we were very pleasingly entertained. We have held parties at frequent intervals at the homes of different members of our class this spring and these will long be remembered by us as one of the most pleasant features of our high school career. The Class gave a play in the Town Hall to raise funds for the class gift and it was a great success in every way. Now as we leave the halls of dear old Punchard and our path separates, we cannot help hesitating on the threshold to ponder over our situation. While most people are interested in the results of the great conventions at Chicago and St. Louis, we are most concerned in the results of our departure from Punchard and the effect it will have on the communitv and on ourselves. 25

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uncfjarD 1916 an interesting gown on one of the models, I went very close to examine it. There with all her girlish beauty stood Madeline Fitzgerald, who greeted me warmly and fitted me out with a stunning gown. Isabelle had told me that Larkin was performing in the Stock Company at the theatre, and as we had some time to wait, we stepped in, just in time to see Larkin rush upon the stage to the accompaniment of soft music, and rescue the heroine, Cora Abbott, from the trapeze upon which she was performing. As we left the theatre an attendant offered us some handbills announcing that Ann Leslie would deliver a stereopticon lecture on the following evening. She was still with the Merrimack Mutual Company and was touring the country giving talks to lai ' ge audiences on Insurance. The bill also announced that the Cosmopolitan Quartet from Buenos Aires consisting of Webster, Brown, Lawson and McXally, would make their appearance on the following week. While we were waiting for the aeroplane, we saw an illuminated electric sign which bore these words: BEAUTY PARLORS, TRAXSF0R: L TI0X WHILE YOU WAIT LiLLL x M. McCarthy DBIPLES EXECUTED WITHOUT PAIX Pearl M. McCollum As I stepped into the elevator, I heard the shrill voice of Blanche Higgins. Blanche, clothed all in yellow, was trying to convince the clerk that because she was the leader of the Women ' s Rights Movement , she should have the best room in the hotel. 27