Waukegan High School - Annual W Yearbook (Waukegan, IL)

Page 22 text:

A Peep Behind the Scenes N a warm, clear and typical day in early June, when one's mind turns from examinations, cramming and even ainusements and diversions and longs 'to stroll through some shaded wood, drop all care for the time and simply enjoy nature, as I was wandering in a neighboring wood in hopes of getting an inspira- tion, I came upon a lovely spot which I never remembered to have seen before. Sit-ting at the base of a large maple, I gave myself up to contemplating the scene before me. IVhether it was the absolute quiet, the warm day or that some one came to the relief of a perplexed propl1'et, I can not say, but gradually the forest faded, my eyes closed, and I fell asleep. My eyes had scarcely closed when I awoke with a start, but amid very different surroundings. I was in the lobby of one of the largest and grandest theatres in the United States. Large electric signs announced Shakespearels great tragedy, Macbeth. The greatest actress of Shakespearian roles was playing the part of Lady Macbeth and drawing immense crowds and as I entered was just making her appearance on the stage. Somelrow I re- membered to have seen her before but could not recall the cir- cumstances. Not until she came to f'But screw your courage to the sticking place, And welll not fail. Did I remember that the time I had heard that voice and those words before was in English III. and the name was Helen Garnett. 1 I had no time to think before the surroundings changed as suddenly as before. In striking contrast to the above, I found myself on a level stretch of country land on a warm summer's day. I beheld, reclining in the shade of a stubby bush, a typical looking farmer. He was clad in the regulation suit, even to the large straw hat through which a small tuft of jet black hair ap- peared at the crown. As I entered into conversation with' him, I found him to be no ordinary farmer . His speech and manner would have done credit to ai Wfaukegan society leader. He was, 16

Page 21 text:

Now it came to pass that the rulers of the land bethought themselves of more labors for the host. So these children put aside their armour and remained in the castle and worked over books. And the ruler said unto the warriors that they shall write orations. Then did the children of the host plead for mercy, but there was no mercy forthcoming. And the prophet of the city came unto them, and said, Be- cause ye have been so brave in warfare, ye are to be tested so that thy power in other matters may be proved. And be it known, that ye cannot receive praise and glory due unto ye ,less ye perform this labor. Then the children of the host, set about their task. And they Completed it, for failure was not known unto them. Thus did this host perform all tasks set unto them. And there was none other army in the land so valiant and so worthy as they. Amelia Reil. .AP

Page 23 text:

he told me, a graduate of the State Agricultural school and of tl1e Waukegan High School. He had farming reduced to a science, and had just succeeded in getting corn that grew al- ready shelled. Beyond this I could not learn. I had proceeded but a short distance when I saw a beautiful young woman with a butteriiy net and a bag of specimens approaching me. She asked me if I had seen any phyloxera in my walk. I was spared the embarassment of expressing my ignorance by her suddenly but stealthily stealing toward a little black spot in the top of the bush behind which reclined my scientific farmer. Instantly I recognized the specimen', she was after as the latter's escaped lock of hair. I tried to cry out but it was too late, the butterfly net fell with a crash and the next instant-Anna Detweiler was making profuse apologies to Lloyd Jones. The scene again changes to a city. I saw an elderly lady with beautiful golden curls, carrying what appeared to be a manuscript of some kind, accompanied by a somewhat smaller but equally beautiful lady entering the editor's sanctum of a large periodical. The former, I was informed, was a noted poet who had risen to fame in a few short weeks. As a prophet I am able to state that we have this coming poctess with us tonight and you will have the pleasure of hearing one of the poems upon which her fame will be based. Her companion, instructor of Latin in Yale college, is chiefly noted as th'e author of a book defending the study of tl1e ancients and tl1e Latin and Greek lan- guage in the public schools. From these descriptions I think you will all recognize, as readily as I did, Edythe Gunn and Car- rie Burnett, respectively. I had now become used to these sudden changes of scene and eagerly awaited what the next would bring forth. I was in the hall of that venerable body, the United States Senate. A tall and stately senator was reading Comas to the house, seemingly with the idea that there was plenty of time, while most of the remaining senators fumed with rage, because of the fact that it was near the end of the session and an important bill was waiting to be put through. How th'e worthy senator expected to prove his points by passages from Comas, I cannot imagine, but George Campbell could get a deep meaning out of almost any- thing in his High School days, so I suppose he knew what he was about. In the next change of scene I stood before a spacious coun- 17 I 4