Storm Lake High School - Breeze Yearbook (Storm Lake, IA)

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Immediately the huge doors swung on their hinges and I entered. Within every- thing was bathed in a peculiar yellowish, half dim light. I perceived nine immense leather-bound books. The spookiness about the huge vaulted rooms made me shudder, but determining to carry out my mission I advanced. As I opened the' first huge book on the very first page in bold, staring, type stood these words. On pages four, five, and six of the first of these nine Sibylline books is recorded the prophecy of the class of 1917, of Storm Lake High School. Seek and ye shall End! Much amazed to find the future of my classmates really written in History I stood speechless for a moment, and then proceeded to search the records. At the very top of the fourth page I read these words. Twenty years hence Merwyn Bleak- ly, A. B., Ph. D., D. D., will hold the chair of President of Buena Vista College, an institution of great renown, known as the Harvard of the West. My eyes wandered on and near the bottom of the page some poetry attracted my attention. It ran thus: Wouldst thou hear the great tenor, renowned far and near Out-riv'ling Caruso? He has not a peer. 'Tis our Cedric Roberts who'll thrill the great throng With rich, rare, melodious, rapturous song. Or if to more serious thought you incline And fain would hear Storm Lake's most famous divine Go early to church, get a seat while you may The Rev'rend Ralph Avenell preaches today. Elated over such lives for three of my classmates, I was not fearful for the fate of the others, consequently, I hurriedly turned the page and here I found some symbols and figures representing Grief, Care, Old Age, and Toil. What could these mean? Was I wrong? No, there they were. As I was pondering over the significance of these forms like a phantom they vanished and pictures of real women appeared in their places. Instead of the symbol, Grief, Opal Kramer stood before me on the page with a primer in her hand. Then Edith Newell's form Hashed over the figure representing Care, and Pauline Mark leading a small urchin appeared in the form of Old Age. Intent to see what form Toil would assume I watched this figure closely. Gradually the outline grew faint and then, as if by magic, the figure changed and the features of Clara Carlson were evident. I saw it all then. Teachers of course! No other paths of life represent Grief, Care, Old Age and Toil as quickly and profoundly as this profession. I had solved the Whole problem. As I mused these sad tidings in my mind that any of my classmates would ever be compelled to endure such fates, my spirits were suddenly revived, for what was this in the centerof the page? Mabel Nylander-aviator on passenger 275. Could it be that our Mabel would ever pursue this line of work and become an aviator on a passenger aeroplane? But these were the words stamped on the book of the priestessg consequently I knew that such a fate for Mabel had been ordained, I was not suprised

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Item-Miss Franke to console Mr. Miller, in case the latter is compelled to go to War. Item-To Miss Goodman, our patroness, the good wishes of the Senior Class. Now and forever, we the Senior Class leave all our abilities stretching into every field, and do without tithe or diminution leave the knowledge of what a rare, rare world this is. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this, the 7th day of April, A. D., 1917. CSEALJ RUSSELL BATTERN, Class President. Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the Senior Class of 1917, CNineteen Hun- dred and seventeen, as their last will and testament, in the presence of each other we have hereunto subscribed our names as attesting witnesses to said instrument. C. E. AKERS, Superintendent. NELLIE R. GOODMAN, Principal PERCY SMITH, junior President Prophecy of Class of 1.91 7 A Visit to the Lower Worldl' Unde ruunt voces, responsa Sibyllae. I could not translate that line and besides I was sleepy. Un-de-ru-unt-vo-ces. I was no longer sitting at my study table wondering over Aeneas' visit to the Lower World. Everything about me changed. A vast cave confronted me into which a hundred broad avenues and a hundred doors lead. And from these numerous openings rushed forth as many voices, which I saw came from a ferocious being before me. While I was standing before the door, she spoke, her looks changed, her color came and went, her hair was disheveledg and her lips foamed with rage. Cold horror ran 'thrilling through my bones and I prayed that I might be saved from the clutches of this monster. But the raving creature, as if subdued by some supernatural influence, came forth to meet me and poured forth such words. I am the prophetess, Sibyl. Oh, thou who beareth in thy countenance the perils of Latin, why hast thou come? That it may be lot to come into the sight and presence of my dear class of Storm Lake High, of the Year 1917, I answered. Then thou mays't view the Books of Wisdom within, which have always been held inaccessible to the living, she said, and closing her lips was silent.

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however, to find my belief in aerial transportation twenty years hence to be cor- roborated. What are thou doing here ? These words came from behind and in the stillness and darkness of my surroundings, my heart began to pound and intense fear seized my whole self. Surely that voice was familiar, but whose and where-these were the questions. Then again the same quiet but imperious tones came floating through the darkness, but this time they were not unrecognized. I am the spirit of a great general but since the world will become one great andpeaceful nation, my services will be no longer needed, and I shall exist as a happy and contented spirit and dwell in the midst of all that is noble and great. Mildred Gilmore, by all means. Did I not recall the willfulness of Mildred in our class meetings? Although I attempted to question this voice further, it was all in vain for no response came so I again sought page five, almost afraid to see what would next meet my gaze. Blanche Olsen-a farmer's wife. But then I was not surprised for even in this darkness I had an image of the brightness of Blanche's ring. And there on the same page was a picture of a man, not large in stature, light in complexion, with an intelligent and keen countenance. Below was written F rank G. May, compiler of the new dictionary of the universal language. Evidently, there is to be but one language when all the nations are again peaceful. Well, good for Frank! We always knew that we would be proud of him. And here was another picture beside Frank's. It was tall and guant, but bore a kind and gentle face. Yes, it was Sherwood Bell, but what was his future? A missionary were the words below the picture, but I was not surprised that our basketball captain had so pleasant a future before him. At the bottom of the page I found that Paul Bair was to be, in the near future, a wonderful inventor-an inventor of a means of transportation far superior to the aero- plane. By this invention people and objects will be conveyed from one locality to another through a tube, at an incomprehensible rate of speed. I had finished that page and was eager to pursue my search. Upon turning the page whose names con- fronted me but Ruth Robinson's and Dorthy Haynes'. A second Mary Pickford and another Helen Holmes, I found opposite their names. Certainly if we are to have two such noted actresses in our class we must have a Charlie Chaplin too. Sure enough there he was! And it was Don White too. Startling, but here was something still more interesting. Your blythe Russel Battern, light-hearted, carefree A model housekeeper and cook now is he, He cares for four children, mends, Washes, and scrubs, His golden-haired help-mate belongs to six clubs. But something seemed to tell me not to dwell too long over these strange and wonderful truths, so I hurried along to find the names of my other classmates.