Wilson Central School - Crest Yearbook (Wilson, NY)

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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

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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

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STARLIGHT PAGE TWENTY-FIVE seo Miss Bridenbeck in Washington, where she is the German interpreter. Miss Markle has just recently completed her new Virgil text hook and she is having the pleasure of seeing it introduced into many of the large schools here in New York. 1 will not bother you any more, hut if you will accept them I will send you a set of my six best sellers, and 1 will also say that I speak for the class when I say that we are proud of your success; and with best wishes for your future success, I remain Yours admiringly, HAZEL R. WILSON, ’16. WISE AND OTHERWISE. Mary Louise—What course is Martin going to graduate in, Mary ? Mary Brennen—In the course of time. Miss Ilnhhard (in English IN'.)—The envelopes are here. They are either two for a cent or a cent apiece. 1 cannot forget. It cannot be You’ve failed to see That Hazel is mv affinity. —(M.) Miss Swick (in Virgil)—Nor have I any hope of seeing my ancient parents. Kenneth says his pa is making his ma economize now because potatoes are so high. He told her the other day that she had to pare all of them with his safety razor. Knowledge in truth is the great sun in the firmament. Life and power are scattered with all its beams.—Webster. Miss Bridenbeck (in Virgil)—When a man cannot hear, he is dead isn’t he? Yes, words may sound alike, yet have Dissimilar meanings maybe; How different is a weak old man Prom just a week old baby! If periods are pyramids, what are commas? Ask George N. Why doesn’t Norman carry a robe on the hack seat? Ask V esta. A certain duet rendered by II. Wilson and M. Jeffrey proved to he too much for Mr. Mcllroy. Don’t give Marjorie any matches. If you want to know why not, ask her.