Sheridan High School - Syllabus Yearbook (Sheridan, IN)

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THE SYLLABI! S JJnijiljprg nf BZZ A London fog had settled over the city and as I made my way down Lincolnshire Avenue, a sign lighted by varied colors, caught my eye, “MADAME ZUNA, SORCERESS.” I wandered in and asked for the lady and told her I should like to see all my old classmates of 1927. She told me to sit down and be quiet, and we would journey into the years. First Madame Zuna showed me, Rachel Baker, an old friend, who was entering a large home on Fifth Avenue, with a small child at her side; I looked more closely— and saw the inscription on the door which read: “Madame Baker’s Music School.” She was teaching little millionaires how to sing and play. The next scene showed Pauline Barker’s name in great electric lights across Broadway. At last she had made good and was a star, having gained her fame as a great dancer. I was then shown a little town in the West, and at the city hall was Paul Beard, who after finally graduating had gone West and been elected Mayor of the little town of Piona. He was in his right sphere at last. The next scene Madame Zuna showed me was in sunny France. I saw Doyle Beard standing in the doorway of the finest hotel there. Many people came by and spoke to Monsieur and he returned the courtesy by passing out his favorite black stogies. The scene then shifted back to Ind’anapolis, where I found Claude Burton calling trains in the Union Station. A little boy and girl came running up and embraced him. He had married his boyhood sweetheart and settled down in Indianapolis. Madame Zuna then told me she would show me the Orient. In this scene a lady appeared dressed in a riding habit. It was Eva Compton our old basketball hero, vacationing in the Orient after founding Compton’s Amusement Park back in her home town. Texas appeared next. Here were Martha Cooper and George Ogle, who were spending a happy honeymoon, after being quietly married at Danville, 111., by our old friend Rev. Porter Myers, who war, preaching in that city. Then—a man, carrying a brief case in a southern city. As he walked closer I recognized Lemmo Dell. He was engaged in selling real estate. He had grown a mustache and was nearly bald. I was then shown the Library in Washington, D. C. and at the desk sat Edith Eytcheson, who after getting her degree from Butler was head librarian for the government. While still in Washington, Madame Zvna pointed out to me a small shop with three balls protruding over the front. A man came out and at once I recognized Ed King. Ed after years of fruitle c adventure had settled down in his favorite business as a pawn shop keeper. Madame Zuna showed me then a lady, in Paris, painting a landscape, when she looked around and behold,—there was Bernice Fisher in a purple smock, painting for the Saturday Evening Post. A little country town appeared next and a hotel on which I could hardly make cut the name at first then I recognized the words “Garver Hotel.” At last Lenora had succeeded in her chosen work and was running a chain of Hotels in small towns. 25

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THE S Y L L ABUS A Sraiirfuj of Spring One act. Time—1927 1st Scene. Upper assembly, the first fifteen minutes on a very warm afternoon. Mr. Moore at teacher's desk. Seniors in usual places. Spring fever had struck many of them as evidenced by vacant seats. Lenora—May I speak to Dale. Mr. Moore—(Nods his head and smiles.) Lenora (to Dale)—I’ve got my car here today. What do you say we play hookey. We can get out when the bell rings for general assembly. You will won’t you? Dale—You’re on. I’ve stood this about as long as I can. Who else shall we get— Fetty and Eva ? Lenora—You ask them. Dale—Oh write a note to them. Moore will think its funny if I talk to both of them. Lenora—All right. Lenora then inscribes a voluminous note to Petty and also to Eva. Instantly they accept. Then the one o’clock bell rings. They make a hasty exit out the front door instead of going to the assembly. Petty (drawing a long breath)—So far so good. Where do we go from here? Eva—What’s the diff. Anywhere but here suits me. Lenora—Let’s go to Atlanta. Dale—Ah no your fellow lives there. Let’s go up town then we will decide. 2nd Scene. Mr. Bradley’s office. Mr. Kingsolver, very irate, talking to Mr. Bradley. Mr. Kingsolver. Four gone from my assembly. Looks suspicious to me. Mr. Bradley—Who are they. Mr. Kingsolver—Lenora and Dale, Eva and Kenneth. Suppose I go up town and look for them. Mr. Bradley—Pretty good idea. Better go now more chance of finding them. 3rd Scene. On Main street. Mr. Kingsolver has just seen the culprits. Mr. Kingsolver. Well, here you are. What in the world do you mean by this. Don’t you know by this time you can’t put anything over on us. Dale—Oh what’s it to you. We admit it. Don’t preach all day. Mr. Kingsolver. All right, be careful now or I’ll take some off your grade too. Come on let’s be getting back. Then you’ll get taken down some. The four crushed and downtrodden students follow him slowly. Curtain. 24

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THE SYLLABUS 3H= ----------— ----------------------------------------- The next scene was in a school building, where I recognized Helen Griffin, who after years of study, was teaching Dramatic Art. She was exceptionally talented in that line it seemed. The next scene was in an open field. In the distance I saw something moving; as it came closer I saw that it was our former class president, Dale Hinesley. He was riding a tractor, after refusing the Presidency, he worked on a farm. That scene faded and I saw a tall stately farmhouse, with my old friend Helen Newby singing and baking pies. She had married her boy friend and settled on a farm, north of Sheridan. Then appeared a large flower shop and in it was Mary Newman and her husband, they were busy supplying the natives in Louisiana, with flowers. Out at sea I saw a large vessel sailing swiftly along, only one figure stood out and that was the captain. He was dressed ir. blue with a row of medals across his chest. As the ship grew nearer I saw that it was Kenneth Pettijohn, who after attending Annapolis, had fulfilled his boyhoed ambition and war. a mariner. The next scene looked very familiar to me, I saw again the man on the tractor and this time a woman ringing a dinner bell. The woman was Gladys Reddick of course, our former president’s assistant. Memphis Tenn. next appeared, where I found Elizabeth Stephenson in a newspaper office as society editor, having discovered her talent to lie in that direction. Then was shown a large tent with a monstrous sign in front “Spidel Pritsch.” lone and Joel after graduation had organized a circus and were cleaning up in the northern states. Jce was selling tickets while lone was training elephants. A broadcasting studio in Chicago heralded my next friend. I saw no one but heard a voice say this is WLW Sears Roebuck Station. I recognized the voice of Du- al Wallace. He had won a hog calling contest in Boone county and been selected for radio announcer. The last scene was out on Went Second street. There I saw sitting on the porch Neva Graham. She was reading one of her own literary works. She wrote nature stories for little children. I took my departure then, feeling happier after seeing the successes of my old friends. —W. McMurtry. 26