Tuscola High School - Tuscolian Yearbook (Tuscola, IL)

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Suddenly Sarah Munday uttered a shriek which made us all stop and stare, and then we heard Sarah collapse, (Phil caught her in his arms). We all strained to see what Sarah had pointed at, and we saw three great lights. Quiet reigned. Then we saw the dim outline of a huge black cat sitting on her throne before a fire which burned low. She seemed to beckon us forward. But we were all loathe to move. Again Major advanced and again we followed. As we drew near the Black Cat we were able to discern many smaller black cats who seemed to be the members of her court. Also in front of the cat, a pot of cauldron boiled. Marjorie Timm fainted as she heard the cat say, “Welcome, Seniors.” We all stood aghast! Then again, “Do not be frightened. Draw near and I’ll tell your fortunes. Who will be first?” No one moved! Then Wayne Lewis, always curious, the freckles standing out from his pale face, stepped forward. “I am not afraid, tell mine.” The Cat stirred the cauldron and looked into it. Slowly she spoke. “I see the pretty farm-house of a well-to-do Ficklin farmer. In the front yard a red-headed boy is pulling a chubby black-haired, rosy-cheeked lassie in a wagon. In the back yard I see Mrs. Anna Mae Lewis feeding the chickens.” Wayne backed away and Bonnie Albin took his place. The Cat looked solemnly into the pot. “I see your sweet smile in a Methodist parsonage in Areola. There are several light-haired youngsters playing around your knee.” With a blush Bonnie stepped back into her place, and John Davis took a step forward. He announced, “There’s nothing to this stuff. Well, let’s hear what you have to say.” The Cat gave a dig in the pot which we thought would make the cauldron overflow. “You, sir, are destined to be a Major-General in the U. S. army and you will become a distinguished soldier.” And from the rear we heard Blye’s remark, “Blah!!” Marjorie had by this time revived and was eager to hear the worst. She solemnly listened to the Cat as she said, “I see you as a bride at the parsonage of Rev. Harold Scheu. The future chemistry teacher of the Tuscola Community High School, Robert Cochran, is the groom. He gazes with admiration at his newly conquered divorcee.” Marjorie exclaimed, “Oh, my John!” and slipped to the rear of the crowd. Squire Williams gazed expectantly at the cat and before long she cried, “Ah!—a gentleman of leisure, living on the luxuriant farm of Mr. Williams. There are many oil wells on your farm. You have a pleasant life to look forward to.” Aileen Marley came forward, “And what am I to do?” The cat spoke with pleasure: “I see a great movie actress to whom the whole country bows, and the one who bows most is a friend from Paris, Illinois.” The cat resumed her stirring of the cauldron. “I see another world-famous stage character. She is a blonde, and her bright smile is applauded by enormous crowds on Broadway. As she dances, she winks slyly over to the corner where her ever-proud husband Jimmy admiringly gazes at her.” Everyone turned to look at Madesta, who blushed prettily. The cat spoke again: “I see a physical training teacher at the Garret High School. Her name is Mrs. Thalma Moody, wife of the principal of that school. Bobby Owens, the son of Harry and Martha Owens, is noted for his mischievous behavior in this school and is a great trial to Professor Moody.” Twenty-nine

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SENIOR CLASS HISTORY After four years of the joys and sorrows of high school life, we Seniors are about to bid farewell to dear old T. C. H. S. When we entered as Freshmen, our class numbered about one hundred of the peppiest and greenest, that the school has ever seen. During our Freshman and Sophomore years we gave several parties, and finally, after wading through plane geometry and Csesar, we became Juniors. As Juniors, we felt quite proud of ourselves. We gave “Seventeen” for our class play, and it was a great success. The girls won the basketball tournament for the second time, and several of the fellows received letters for athletics. We gave the Seniors a banquet, as usual, at which everyone had a good time. The fall of 1925 brought us back to the entrance of T. C. H. S., as dignified Seniors. Our class numbered about thirty-eight, but several have dropped out. We, with Miss Sluss and Miss Webber as advisors, had our election, and selected the following officers: President................Mildred Harrington Vice President................Thomas Lovett Secretary-Treasurer...........Weldon Hackett We are striving to do our best, and are also looking forward to the Senior class play, which we hope will be as successful as the Junior play. We are thinking of the enjoyment we will have being guests of the Juniors at the banquet. Then there is Commencement! We can scarcely believe that our high school days are so nearly over. “When the cares of life o’ertake us, Mingling fast our locks with gray, Should our dearest hopes betray us, Fake fortune fall away: Still we banish care and sadness As we turn our memories back. And recall those days of gladness ’Neath the Old Gold and the Black.” M. H. B., ’26. CLASS PROPHECY It was the last day of school and the Seniors were having their last high school picnic in the woods. Wandering from the rest of the crowd Wayne and Anna Mae were investigating the interior of the woods. Suddenly we heard a loud shout and looked around to see Wayne wildly waving and Anna Mae disappearing into the side of a hill. Everyone scampered to the hill and Wayne and Anna Mae announced that they had found a cave. We all peered into the black gloom of the cave. Who would venture to enter such a place? Out of the quiet came the booming voice of Major Davis. “Afraid to go into that place? Give me my gun,” and John led the way. One by one we followed our Major. At first all was darkness, but as we advanced to about one hundred yards we began to see dim outlines and heard Frank Michener’s shout, “I believe we have found a Mammoth Cave in Illinois.” Twenty-eight

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Ruth Skinner and Lillian looked into the pot. The cat said, “Look! Do you see a healthy girl and a thin one? They are you two girls. You live in Chicago and are advertisements for a medicine that will either reduce or build up your body.” “Who is this farmer from West Ridge?” And we heard from some place Weldon’s voice, “Maybe that’s me.” As the cat gazed at the cauldron she said, “You will live happily with a golden-haired girl for the rest of your life.” “I see a large business store in Tuscola—Lovett’s and Haney’s Dry Goods Store, and in it are two clerks, whose faces I see now. They are Eva Leah’s and Gladys Gill’s.” Howard had gained courage and asked the cat what his fate would be. “You are a minister in the church at Pesotum. Mrs. Sarah Munday Weasle presides over your children as a fond mother should. She has a terrible time keeping them from giggling during church. “I see Mrs. Evelyn Sharp, who lives at Arthur. She is the wife of a prominent business man there. Constance Sturgell I see clerking in a jewelry store. Leonore Romine I see cooking in her country house near Ficklin. She is a good housewife and attends band concerts and Saturday night shopping at Tuscola.” Phil stepped up and the cat exclaimed, “See—a great architect. He has just completed the plans for a new White House and is receiving a medal from the President. “I see a school teacher. She has a ‘steady’ who threatens to change her name, and this is your face.” The cat looked at Mabel. Amy Todd giggled and said, “What will become of me?” The cat looked severe and said, “You also are teaching school at the Hayes Corrective School for Young Ladies.” Amy nearly went into hysterics. As Frank Michener looked into the cauldron the huge Black Cat said, “You are president of Marshall, Field and Company of Chicago. I see a small and rosy bride by your side.” And to Frank Landers, “You live happily in Tuscola. You are a Boy Scoutmaster and train the young boys under your care in a fatherly way.” From the silence came the booming voice of John Davis: “This is all bosh—I’m leaving.” The Black Cat rose to her full height; her tail whisked; her hair stood out. “So that’s the way you repay me, is it?” She kicked over the cauldron and with a wild scream started at us, with all the small black cats at her side. With shrieks and yells we all ran as fast as possible till we came to the door of that never-ending cave, and in that awful run we had a chance to “come to earth.” Just as we reached the open air, the cave collapsed. We all stopped still in wonder. Then “Bimbo” broke the silence with, “John, you old pill, she didn’t get to tell mine.” “Nor mine either,” exclaimed Mildred H. and Lois. But really had we seen the cave or not? “The Triumvirate,” ’26. Thirty