Wilson Central School - Crest Yearbook (Wilson, NY)

Page 25 text:

STARLIGHT , PAGE TWENTY-THREE veil over her faee. George simply said, “My wife,” and left us. I thought it rather tactless of George to leave me with a strange woman, who probably knew not a word of English, and I certainly could not talk Turkish. I was at a loss what to say, when she raised her veil and disclosed—whom do you suppose? No one but my old classmate and chum, Clara Stoddard! We had not said much when several other ladies entered the room. I wondered if this could be a harem. A few days later I left for China, where T accidentally met Marion Thompson serving as companion to a very wealthy old lady. Marion told me that -when the old lady died she was to receive the money to build a home for old ladies in the United States, over which Marion is to be matron. So I am now quite sure of a shelter in my old age. When I had gathered enough local color and material in China, I sailed for San Francisco. I certainly was glad to reach the United States again. One day while walking through the streets of San Francisco I saw a large and imposing sign, on which I read: “Be beautiful! Mary Brennan will make you beautiful in twenty-four hours.” I went in and we had a very pleasant chat notwithstanding the fact that Mary had several people in tin process of becoming beautiful. Mary told me that she had just returned from the tabernacle where the “ Dyer-Berlin ” Evangelistic Campaign was being carried on. You would think that I would be hardened to surprise by this time, but this nearly stopped my heart beating. Who would ever have thought that Harwell would become an evangelist and that Mary would consent to put up with the hardships which an evangelist’s pianist must endure. But so it was and I could not leave San Francisco until I had heard them. Unbeknown to them I sat in their audience and 1 must say that such a crowd in such a small building 1 never saw. When the meeting was over I could barely get a word with the evangelist or his assistant, but when 1 did. they both seemed glad to see me and said that they were coming back to Wilson in the spring. They told me that they were in Colorado Springs a few months ago and while there they boarded with Doris Weaver, who was keeping a large boarding house in that city. 1 promised 1 would go to see Doris while I was stopping in Colorado Springs. 1 was very much surprised to hear that Doris was keeping a boarding house and decided to get an explanation from Doris hereself. So upon reaching her home 1 asked for rooms. She did not recognize me at first, but when she did. she nearly covered me with kisses and sobbed out this woeful tale on my shoulder. “The teachers always told me. you remember, that 1 was working too hard and that I would be sorry some day. Well, two years ago my health began to fail and I began to lose flesh, and Dr. Burns told me that 1 must have a change of climate. lie suggested Colorado Springs, so hero I am. and 1 have taken this place and am running it. while the real proprietor is off on a trip to Europe. But Hazel I really enjoy it, and you know 1 always just delighted in washing dishes, and I will be sorry when the owner returns, but then I am

Page 24 text:

STARLIGHT PAGE TWENTY-TWO a very graceful and wonderful dancer. She could interpret the music perfectly. She told me she had been studying eight years and was to make her debut next month. She very graciously and condescendingly bade me farewell. It made me a little angry. I felt like showing her my six “best sellers.” She summoned an attendant to see me out. lie bowed and kneeled before her and said: “Yes, Madame Schweigertsky.” Schweigertsky! Wonder of wonders! I left rather reluctantly for Turkey, for I would not be likely to meet any of my friends there. Rut, alas! the ways of Fate are strange. There was an accident on the track ahead of us and I was compelled to stop off one night in a small, out-of-the-way village in Austria, and 1 had to inquire at a private home for lodging for the night. When the door was cautiously opened, upon my knocking, I peered into a dimly lighted room, past a tall thin man, who asked suspiciously, “What do you wish?” 1 told him my desire and he said, rather crossly, that he did not pretend to keep a boarding house hut would take me in as 1 was an American like .himself. Imagine my joy at hearing this, and still more, Mr. Mcllrov, to find upon entering tin room, that it was no other than my old friend Fred Tschabold. 1 asked him why he was living in this small, out-of-the-way place alone by himself with only an old colored woman (his cook) to keep him company. lie said, “Hazel, on the foundation of our old friendship I will tell you my secret, which 1 have kept hidden from the inquisitive public for five years, but is on the verge of becoming known to the world. I have labored hard and have completed my life-long desire. 1 have invented a “perpetual motion” machine. This machine will do its own repairing and will keep in operation forever, and I hope will be of great service to mankind.” This was Fred’s story, and think how surprised and proud Mrs. Rlake will be when she hears that Fred Tschabold, one of her former physics boys has made himself famous the wide world over. After spending one day with Fred, the track was clear and I had to continue my journey on to Turkey. 1 was rather lonely at Constantinople so I inquired at the American embassy for the Americans which were there. I was told that the Rev. George Norton, a missionary, lived there. Well, Mr. Mc-Ilroy, I can tell you 1 lost no time in looking up George. After greeting me he asked me where I was going, and as it was growing late, he asked me if 1 wouldn't go home with him and meet his wife. 1 assented and he led me out of a side door where a long, low. expensive racer stood. He turned to me with a smile and said, “My only diversion.” He took me through that city at such a rate that I was dazed when we reached our destination. Such extremes in his character. This was the first chance I had had to examine him closely. George certainly did look rather freakish in those strange Turkish pantaloons. lie took me into a room where a rather stout woman sat, brilliantly dressed in Turkish clothes and with a heavy

Page 26 text:

PAGE TWENTY-FOUR STARLIGHT regaining my health. Hooray!” So you se' Doris was the same old girl. 1 was very contented and could have stayed much longer with Doris but business called me to Chicago, where 1 knew my old friend Dolly Swick lived. I had a great time in locating her place of business, but when I found her she stood behind a counter and s how-case, and what do you suppose was in the showcase? Wigs! Switches! and Rats! Horror of Horrors. Dolly was very glad to see me, and said that I just happened to find her when she had nothing to do. In one hour she must comb Mrs. dames' hair for the dance. Dolly had become very successful in the art of hairdressing and making switches. But she said that she made the most of her money in combing dead people’s hair. Sometimes she received as high as six dollars per hour, and never less than three dollars. Indeed, 1 didn’t fancy Dolly’s position, but she seemed perfectly happy. On my way back to New York City I decided to stop off at Cleveland to see some friends. While there I attended the circus. It was very interesting, especially one lady trapeze performer, who was very agile. I turned to the person beside me and asked: “Who is that lady suspended from a bar at the top of the tent? lie looked at me with pity. I certainly was to be pitied, not to recognize Mabel Wilson, the wonderful trapeze performer, the only lady in the world who could tie herself in a knot. Well, I certainly was to be pitied then, for, Mr. Mcllroy, you could have knocked me over with a feather. 1 did not have a chance to speak with her and, dazed, I went on my way expecting to revisit Wilson and Elberta on my way home to New York City. Think of it, Mabel Wilson a trapeze performer in the “ Woole Wild West Show!” On the train 1 began to think how many of the old class of 1916 1 had run across in my travels, and on counting up I found that Homer Johnson was the only one who 1 had not seen. 1 thought 1 would inquire for him when 1 reached Wilson. Nearly everything in Wilson is changed and I knew scarcely anyone. Upon asking for Homer Johnson, 1 was told that he was a very successful farmer up in the village of East Wilson. Ilomer, on leaving school, wished to show Niagara County men how to farm, so he went at once to East Wilson—dear old East Wilson. From Wilson 1 revisited Elberta, the scenes of my childhood. Elbera, you will be glad to hear, has recently been incorporated as a city. 1 couldn’t stay there half as long as I wanted to, for I had to go on home. Mr. Mcllroy, are you not proud of the class of 1916? Perhaps you have forgotten us, now you are president of Princeton, with a good chance of becoming the President of the United States. Have you heard that Mrs. Blake has discovered the “philosopher’s stone” and is now rolling in wealth? I often see Miss Hubbard, who is the head of a very exclusive and fashionable school here one the Avenue. I suppose you often