West High School - Senior Occident Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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THE SENIOR OCCIDENT 157 Class Prophecy The following article appeared in the Accidental Accident” during the month of May, 1923: PEACE SHIP TO SAIL. The “Fifty-Seven” to Embark. Noted Financiers on First Cabin List. May 30.—With minds crammed with conciliatory ideas, peace dele- gates under the invitation of Mr. Franklyn Burke, the manufacturer of the famous floating fish food, sails next week for Mexico. First cabin list is as follows: His Highness, The Earl of Reed, Mr. Ferdinand Powell, member of the staff of the “Accidental Accident”; Roy Miller, manufacturer of war munitions; Roswell Marshall, historian of the trip; Reta Eyer, the editor of “Eat and Grow' Thin,” with her agents, Ruth Sibley and Isabelle Lanson; Vera Wibur, the famous writer of free verse; Ruth Heckel, the most wonderful diver the world has ever produced; Maude Kahler and Maude Shone, agents for the 20-Mule-Team Borax; Mildred Smith, cham- pion exponent of Speech Arts; Roberta Jennings, superintendent of schools in New York State; Ruth Rahn, a missionary to Africa; Homer Lewis, inventor of toothpicks for horses; Donald Houghton, maker of soft drinks; Emilie Isler and Ruth Loomis, ballet dancers. After reading this article I laid the paper down and allowed my mind to drift back to January, 1918. I was soon aroused from my reverie by the postman’s knock. Much to my surprise I received an important looking letter from Mr. Franklyn Burke, inviting me to join his peace party. As soon as possible I completed all preparations for the journey and on June 2, I left Rochester for New York. When I reached Albany I was obliged to transfer to a different division of the railroad. Just as I was mounting the steps leading up to the train I heard a strangely familiar voice calling: “All aboard for New York, hurry lady!” “Ralph Eckhardt,” I shouted, “whatever are you doing here?” “Just waiting for the stock market to go up,” he replied. At this point he rushed to the assistance of an old woman carrying two band boxes and a bird cage; and my train pulled out. The next thing I re- member u'as the conductor shouting in my ear, “Fares, please.” I looked up and recognized Marguerite Vanderpool. She smiled in a sheepish way and I said: “You are doing active work, aren’t you?” “Sh,” she answered, “I thought I would like it, but one is so con- spicuous on a train as a conductress, so I’m going to get off next week, with the excuse that I’m to be married, but I haven’t got tbe man yet. As soon as I reached New York I went at once to the harbor and here joined the first cabin list. On June 4, amid great cheers the “Fifty-Seven” sailed out of New York Harbor. Three guns were fired in our salute. For the first three days there were no meetings held on board the ship. The reason for this was the calm condition of the water, Ahem! even the strong-minded superintendent of schools in New York State, Roberta Jennings, was scarcely able to eat her usual hearty meal. On the fourth day Mr. Burke called a meeting and many speeches were made. During the thrilling talk given by Frederick Haines who never swears, Mildred Smith interrupted.

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156 THE SENIOR OCCIDENT a motor truck for Base Hospital Unit No. 19. In this way we have tried to combine our service with our own and the community’s amusement. Although we are but few in number, still we have been well repre- sented in the various school activities. In athletics we have been notably conspicuous in the persons of Donald McKie, Earl Reed, Francis Daniels and others, while Roberta Jennings, Roy Miller, Ferdinand Powell and Basil Moore have held up our honor in literature and art by serving the OCCIDENT to the best of their ability. Strange though it may seem, the boys out-number the fair sex on the Honor Roll, which brings out the truth that the boys will by some unaccountable reason, prove themselves just the least bit superior to the girls. But by no means is the entire ability of the class centered in the Honor Roll, for every member of the class is far beyond the lower classes of the school in intelligence. So therefore do you children who remain in school to complete your small store of knowledge, look to the example of the illustrious class of January, 1918, and profit thereby. ROSWELL, R. MARSHALL. What ho! Draw near! What have we here? A creature new! Is’t from the zoo? But why so queer? Methinks for sooth It’s Puss in Boots, In stories told, Or knight of old, Who stalks so bold. A word, my friend, Will quickly clear Your wonderment, So listen here. A damsel fair Is passing there About the streets, You’ll see she sloshes, For on her feet She wears galoshes! —MILDRED SMEED.

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158 THE SENIOR OCCIDENT “Miss Smith ’ shouted Mr. Burke, “Mr. Haines has the floor.” For the first time in her life Mildred Smith took her seat without expressing her opinion. For three days and five nights we sailed on the old Atlantic. On the 4th day we reached Vera Cruz. Here we were welcomed by a regiment of troops who were to take us to the new Ghent Hotel, which as I after- wards found out belonged to Raymond Ghent. Just as we were leaving the ship, a young man stepped up to Mr. Burke and said: “I beg your pardon, but I am the reporter for the Ukelele Telegram, and have been instructed to find out your plans. Could you give me a few moments now?” We gazed in astonishment at the audacity of the request, and then all shouted in unison “Roger Wixted.” He shook hands with each of us and wished us success on our expedition. But he seemed so full of business cares we did not have the heart to detain him long. On our way to the city we were greatly puzzled at the immense crowd ahead of us. The people seemed to be gathered around one center of at- traction. Our curiosity knew no bounds and on questioning one of our guides, we learned that a famous moving picture under the production of Towsley and Waring Company, was just in the operation of being completed. We also were told that their leading lady was Ethel Edick with Louise Gibbs, Grace Horner and Marguerite Nippert as understudies. Ethel dismounted gracefully from her horse and came toward us. We offered her our congratulations and again started on our journey. This time we reached the hotel without further happenings. There was a ball to be given in our honor on the night of our arrival in Mexico. The great Villa was to entertain us at his home. We ar- rived punctually at 9.45 o’clock (this was the stylish hour in Vera Cruz), Villa greeted us cordially and while the other members of the party were paying their compliments to the host I walked to the farther end of the room. Directly opposite to me stood a tall, dignified young woman. When she turned around I was almost guilty of an exclamation of surprise. I quickly crossed the room and greeted Miss Lillian Brautigam. After a few remarks I asked her what she was doing in Vera Cruz. In a very haughty voice she replied: “Evidently you have not read the newspapers lately. If you had you would have known 1 have been posing in the 'Hay- yard Studio’ for some time past.” After this remark 1 hastily made my adieus, for fear I might com- mit another unpardonable offense. A few mornings after the ball Mr. Y— and I decided to sec the sights of Mexico. We hired an auto for the morning and started on a tour of inspection. When we were about five miles out of the city we noticed a narrow but pretty road leading off the main road. It was soon decided that we investigate this novelty. Of course we saw a huge sign covered with hieroglyphics. But after one has been in Mexico for a time he soon becomes accustommed to these things. We had gone about half a mile up this road when we met a man carrying a large gun. “Stop,” he ordered, “didn’t you see that sign down yonder telling you this here land was private?” He took off his cap and waved it frantically in the direc- tion whence we had come. Both Mr. Y— and myself gazed in astonish- ment at Clinton Lintz. “Clinton Lintz, we plead guilty,” I replied. “Is it necessary to relate that we did not pay a fine to the plantation owner for trespassing?” Later on in the A. M. we were not so fortunate. We had promised to return to Vera Cruz at 12.30 o’clock. A little after eleven we were 45 miles from there. To add to our misfortune we had one of those cars