Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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24 THE GOLDEN-ROD Ruth laughed. She has returned from W ashington, where she was lecturing to some charity classes. To express it in her own words: “I was lecturing to a beastly class, and I looked up and noticed a stately lady coming down the aisle. It was Marion Campbell. She married a Congressman, and leads Washington society, now. It is a fad of hers to visit charity classes. Say, you couldn't imagine whom I saw there. It was Eddie Day. Eddie is playing sec- ond fiddle in the Orchestra of Life, with Dorothy Prout as first violin.” One day last week I went to the electric light company to make arrangements to have our “dorm” -lights fixed. Arthur Alden is the head of the lighting and fix- ture department. Arthur always was a shining light in class, and now he has a shining light everywhere. After I had finished my business. Arthur and I were talking of old Quincy days, and Arthur said: “I met Walton Roets the other day, and he is an inventor. He invents out-of- the-ordinary things, but nevertheless they are suitable. Now he is selling his latest invention. He wanted me to buy a pair for my son who is in high school. I guess Walton thinks that the boy should wear long trousers soon. I told him that my son didn't need long trousers, but short ones. I thought I could stump him that way. Nothing doing, though. Walton is selling semi-convertible trousers, which may be extended when the wearer reaches maturity. At last I boueht a pair, not because I needed them, but to get rid of the inventor. I would rather lose a fiver than keep an inventor.” When I spoke of some of our old class- mates. Arthur remembered that in Wal- ton’s raving he had SDokcn of putting an “ad” in the Ledger. Walton became very excited when he learned that two former hard-working program committee men, Kerr and Newcomb, served as joint edi- tors. When Walton entered. Kerr had just called Gladys Fletcher, who is a clever advertiser, to make an “ad” for “Stingless Gingerale,” which unpleasant drink was invented by Doris Bain. Doris has quite a business. She has an office in Chicago conducted by Laura Cummings, one in St. Louis with Marion Starratt in charge, and one in Montreal with Annie Gauld at its head. Dorothy Spence is Doris’s chief adviser and private secre- tary. Newcomb was writing a very ex- citing narrative about Russell Martin, who is circumnavigating the globe on foot. His early practice to and from Houghs Neck made him think of this ex- aggerated idea. On the desk in the office was an evening edition of the Ledger. On the first page was a large photograph of Esther Nilsen, who is playing the leading part in the “Lemonade Blonde.” Kerr told Walton that a few days ago he had had an interview with Dot Clarke and Helen Cherrington. who are training to swim around Australia. Kerr believes that they are capable of doing it, too. In my private opinion, those girls are strong enough, both physically and mentally, to try anything once. Henry Hokenson had also been interviewed. He had just won the Olympic medal as world’s champion “shot put.” One of the sub-editors was making a headline of a prominent divorce case. The headline was so alluring that Walton started to read the rest of the ar- ticle, and discovered that Anna Tantillo and Florence Rizzi were the lawyers. Arthur said that the firm of Tantillo and Rizzi has a very high reputation. They seldom lose a case. All in all, Walton had a very newsy time, don’t you think? Just after I came home. I went to Bos- ton to replenish my wardrobe, for the Paris styles did not please me. When walking down Tremont Street, I noticed a very distinguished looking shop. There was a charming dress in the window, and so I decided to go in. When I opened the door, I saw four very attractive girls, who apparently were models. A pompous and important looking man came up to me. I told him what I wished, and he said I

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THE GOLDEN-ROD 23 I decided to hire Eddie. This means one more man around. Arthur, you don’t know how thrilling it is to have a man around. The other day I took the girls for a ramble in the woods. While walking along our customary path, I noticed a new one, which led into the densest woods. We decided to explore. Sudden- ly we came to a clearing. In the center was a log cabin. At the door sat a good- looking, haggard faced man. This was the hermit of which we had heard. The girls were anxious to speak to him. As he did not look very vicious, I decided it would be all right. His face looked very familiar, and when he talked he seemed more familiar. Then, all of a sudden, I knew that this man was Jack Beal. Just as I discovered this, a trim woman came up the path. She carried a lot of letters. Jack explained that she was Ruth Carl- son, his secretary. Every other day Ruth comes to bring Jack his letters and to take dictation. Arthur, can you imagine any one receiving so many love letters and proposals that they arc forced to seclude themselves in the woods? This is Jack’s case. Poor Jack! On our way home we stopped at a new tea room in the town. A very important- looking woman came to take our orders. “Hello, Florence Orcutt,” I said. “Why, Ruth, what are you doing in this tea room?” “A large cavity somewhere between my heart and appendix forced me to come,” I said. (I suppose the girls thought I was get- ting giddy.) Florence told me that the tea room be- longed to Catherine Savillc. Virginia Smith has the important position of ad- vertiser. When we went to pay our checks, I thought that the face behind the glass was very familiar. When she opened her mouth to speak I knew it was Ruth La Charity. Beside her, very industrious- ly working an adding machine, sat Josephine Martincau. Ruth demanded an enormous price. I was rather surprised at the high cost of teaing. . “That is an exorbitant price for the food,” I said to Ruth, “but it was fine.” “Why shouldn’t it be? Look who cooked it! Lena Bova is our chef, and she can cook to perfection.” Just then Catherine came up and we greeted each other, as only women can. I noticed that Catherine’s voice was very clear, and she pronounced every word carefully. I remarked on the quality of her voice. “I have just graduated from Juliette McCarthy’s school,” she answered. “Juliette is a fine teacher. Beryl Bean, Margaret Callahan, Anna Coughlin, and Evelyn Price have graduated from there. Why, oh why, didn’t Juliette start the good work sooner?” “Do you know what Gertrude Ander- son is doing?” I asked Catherine. “Why, yes,” she said, “Gertrude con- ducts a school of pianoforte. She has hired Dorothy Eaton, Inez Carter, and Annie Stevens to care for the children be- fore and after the lessons. Poor Dorothy and Inez! Between thinking of the lesson before, and weeping over it after, I guess the poor little kiddies arc nervous wrecks. Surely the two girls have their hands full.” Tonight I took the girls to a lecture on style: “The right thing to wear at the right time.” This will help improve the girls’ tastes in dressing. The lecture was very good. You can’t guess who the lec- turer was. It was so unlike her you will be surprised to hear it was none other than Ruth Wilmore. After the lecture I went up to greet Ruth. At first she did not know me. You must admit, Arthur, that I have changed a great deal. “Whoever would expect to sec you here?” said Ruth. “I never thought that you would fall for small town stufT.” “I don’t mind it now, because I have a real man on the place. Oh, it is heaven- like to have a real man around,” I in- formed her.

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THE GOLDEN-ROD 25 would have to speak to the proprietress. W hen she came from a little room at the side, I immediately recognized her as Elma Lind. “Why, hello, Elma. This is a perfectly stunning shop you have. Is it something new: I never noticed it before.” “Yes, I have just started it. Say, Bessie Ellis is my head dressmaker, and she is some cut-up. Lillian Peterson has a part- nership with me. She makes little novel- ties for big prices.” “Yes, I think Lil should get big prices, her articles arc exquisite,” I said, looking at the articles. “Do you see that man over there: Well, lie is John Fuller, my floorwalker. Say, did you know that John was an awful flirt: Well, he is. I used to have a ter- rible time with him. He flirted incessant- ly with my models. Recently he married, and consequenti)' has become a real non- flirting floorwalker.” “Indeed,” I laughed, “I never knew John.” Then turning the subject. “These are good-looking models you have. Who arc they?” “Don’t you recognize them? The one in pink is Alice White, the little one is Corrinc Pineau, the one with the opera cape is Edith Kraus, and the girl with the black evening gown is Josephine Rob- erts.” “Ah, sure enough, now that you tell me I recognize them,” said I. “But may I speak to Lil, please.1” Elma led the way to a back room. Lil and I greeted each other affectionately. Lil had been making a little butterfly for a dress. “That dress is for a girl at Murray Hamilton’s Mansion School,” she ex- plained. “We make most of the girls’ clothes. Did you know that Joe Eaton is Murray’s dancing master? He teaches the girls all the latest dances, without a blush.” “Ha! ha!” thought I. Murray is keep- ing a school for young ladies, but I was not greatly surprised. - - - —r After I bought a few articles, I went to hear Carmen. While looking over the program, I was greatly surprised to see that Mary Harris took the leading role. Mary’s voice is wonderful. Glancing down the program, I noticed that Mar- jorie Dame was the pianist in Bertha Wight’s and Grace Whitney’s Sympathy Orchestra. On the back page was a pic- ture of a beautiful butterfly. This was advertising Edmund Campbell’s butterfly store. So you see, Arthur, Edmund is real flighty. He chases butterflies for a living. And last, but not least, was a big “ad” for men’s hats. Eugene Kelly, true to his name, is manufacturing hats. - As I was going home I met Florence McLeod. We greeted each other enthusi- astically and talked for a while. Then Fudge threw a bomb in my mental camp. Fudge is a deaconness! She told me this without a smile. I was so surprised that I gasped, but Fudge remained calm. Just imagine Fudge a deaconness! Noticing that she was trying to conceal a book, I asked her what it was. She blushed de- murely, and handed me the book—“Love at First Sight.” Although Fudge is still single, she is interested in love, seeing that as yet no man has noticed her charms. But worst of all, Arthur, the book was written by Esther Campbell. Fudge says that she is an authority on the subject. No doubt she is; she was always inter- ested in it. I asked Fudge about Sarah Johnson and Greta Wester. Sarah is a wild broncho trainer out West. That sure is wild, is it not? Greta was recently made truant officer in Ashkosh, Wise. She was given this position because in her own school days she set such an example for perfect attendance. Pudge was coming from Lillian Pitts’ hair dressing parlor. Arthur, did you ever consider any of our teachers at High as giddy? Evidently they are, for Fudge told me that many of our former teachers go to Lillian’s hair- dressing parlors to learn the art of keep- ing young. Fudge also knew what Fran- cis Driscoll was- doing. Fudge knows