Rogers Hall School - Splinters Yearbook (Lowell, MA)

Page 17 text:

THE SITTING OF A STATUS-SEEKER I entered the train bound for Boston with an air of confidence in- consistent with my nature. Carefully I surveyed the seating situation and found my choice limited to sitting with either an old nun or a freshly-scrubbed Yalie. As I am fairly close to being a normal American girl, I chose the latter. Fraught with suitcases, coat, books, and other miscellaneous articles associated with those returning to prep school after a week-end, I walked with assumed fearlessness to my predetermined seat. With a sigh of casual- ness, almost boredom, I allowed the gallant lad to put my suitcase on the rack overhead. Inside I was shaking. My black-gloved hands commenced to open a pack of cigarettes. Obviously, this was one of my first attempts. Again showing gallantry, he lighted my cigarette. We spoke few words. Rather I might say I stuttered a few replies to his wise questions. But I suppose it was a typical train-ride conversation. As I sat there preoccupied with the task of creating the impression of a suave, ever-so-experienced college girl, I failed to notice a rather tremendous suitcase looming in the rack above. This suitcase was above average in both size, and, as I was later to learn, weight. Meanwhile my chatter with the Yalie continued. We discussed Vance Packard's The Status Seekers. I-Ie spoke articulately on Packard's main thesis. I listened. My mother has always told me to say nothing when in doubt. When I again started looking at my copy of The Status Seekers, CI use the word looking at to differentiate my action from readingl, I had been little enlightened by the listening. Then again, I was too busy trying to make an impression to learn something. The train bounced on. We sped under 3 bridge, hit a rather pronounced bump, and, lo and behold, the suitcase, previously looming above, had fallen mercilessly upon my unknowing skull. Needless to say, this was not only a painful experience but an embarrassing one as well. Recovering, I asked myself just what the experienced college-girl would do in this situation. The questioning was to no avail. The experienced college- girl's life, in general, is void of such unfortunate experiences.

Page 16 text:

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After the initial blow, I remember hearing the Yalie, now with eyes bulging in disbelief, saying, Are you okay? His concern was genuine. After all, it was his suitcase that had indented my scalp. To make things worse, a rather boisterous woman sitting in the front of the car announced to the population who hadn't seen the accident that the suitcase had fallen directly on my head. Consequently, everyone looked over at me. The blow had dazed meg the woman had embarrassed me. I still at- tempted poise. I thought a cigarette might relax me, so I proceeded to light the filtered end. Enough of this impression stuff, I thought to myself. The remaining miles on the way to Boston were filled with easy conversation and genuine relaxation. I had closed the book, put away the cigarettes, and started playing myself. RUTH Pocun '62 in I VL 2 .n,,.,,iQr: ,I .fm r D - J --N My I Y, -f-.K I ,,,-L, if .wr-fr, -M .4 mfs ff. 'N . 1- . ' I A ' 1 ' -fr-Q-4..wss4-... iv N . 1, .. .JI Pfrf' .5 rt-1' 'a ,x. .' .ij , A4 . il ,Q 1 I K gtg.: I fl ' ' ' . -' ,fix N. V l 5 I ' . .j 2 l. I 4 1- 4 ji ' 1.1 , T A . ' -,li-fi Wil K ,- . , . 5 A ' , 'f ei A .. I ,!f' i 1 f Ml i ' s- ' , , H 3 Q .' Q ' , ' 'Q f' Jlfzq' I fi , I . 1 - ,gf Q , . w '5 IVF, X I-1,2113 - ,. - Sa-...ith Q,