~ 1910 CLASS PROPHECY ~ HOWEVER the classes that graduate from the M.H. S. may differ in other respects, there is one point in which they are extremely tiresome. Each class is positive that its own is more wonderful, brilliant and unusual than any that has preceeded it or in ally human possibility will ever follow it.
And we make the same claim, but with reason to warrant it. And although some narrow minded undergraduates have jealously declared that our class had nothing "classy' about it-in fact that it is rather common-place, I claim that there is something attending the graduation of the class of 1910 that is remarkable in the extreme.
1 do not refer to "Teddy's coming home,'' or even to the 250th anniversary of our city; but to that wonderful celestial visitor, the comet, which has chosen the very month of our graduation to visit us. Class of 1910, you graduate in the very blaze of Halley's comet. What other class ever did ? `What other class ever will
And this comit has much to do with your prophecy, Class of 1910, which I am to read to you tonight. . A lucky thing it is for me, too, for if you are not satisfied, you can "blame the comet" as they say.
Now many prophets have produced very interesting fates for their classmates by drawing on their imagination, but imagination would never do for me. The facts or nothing say I. The oracle at Delphi is the only source of true future predictions. Hither I hurried one day when the no session whistle blew, and, listening to the deep-mouthed voice in the side of the mountain, I heard in awful tones, the words. Watch the comet! Watch the cornet! Watch the comet!
I hastened home and tried to obey, but found it no easier task to keep the comet in sight than the astronomers did. But one night I got him and stuck with him until suddenly as I was gazing skyward, he unfolded his tail and dropped this majic box at my feet with this note attached:
Prophecy of the Class of 1910. DANGER handle with care.
Dear Holly-
Enclosed I have written the future of your classmates as you will see them in 20 years. Just turn the crank and pull out the fates but once taken out they cannot be replaced.So long .
EDMUND HALLLN COMET
So you see, class, I and In as expectant a mood as you. I Could not call out the prophecies without losing them; so I don't know what is in the box. The note says turn the crank. Let's do it and see what happens.
Behold in the year 1930 Marlboro is a thriving city with a population of 100,000. No. 43 Short street is the center of the metropolis. At No. 43 Short street is a magnificent cathedral. On the outside I read: Services this evening at 7.30. The Reverend Father Drummey will preside. Subject: "Football Reform as a step towards Christianity." So reverent and solemn were the words of the natural solemn Joseph that a bountiful collection was taken to be used in the purchasing of shin and nose guards for the M. H. S. football team of 1930.
You can't imagine what a shock I got when I heard that Kate Dwyer was married. Baby Kate! for she was the youngest of the class. When I asked her how it happened, and if she wasn't speeding up a little, she said "I saw the fellow that I liked, and I just followed Miss Johnson's advice which some of you may remember-Gather ye rosebuds while ye may." I did not see her husband, but Kate was lavish in her praises of fine black eyes and thick dark hair. Kate was always partial to dark eyes, yon.. know.
Rose McNally went to Simmons College, Boston. She said, "I am going to learn to cook a decent meal for my husband. Culture is fine but the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! " Rose said she thought there would be fewer divorce cases if more girls studied domestic science. I fancy Rose does not intend to lose her husband.
Imagine Florence Howard's queenly figure adorning the city hall as Mayor of Marlboro. Florence proved herself equal to the position. During her term of office, a bill was passed forcing women to wear smaller hats and bigger shoes. This helped to balance the women that is as nearly as it i5 possible to balance them.
Well, well, Anna Curran, western girl! Rosy Cheek Ranch N o. 47 was where I found her. Here she was the proprietor of a great estate. Owning neighboring ranches, were Margaret Buckley and Grace Farrell. All three girls had taken to the free, open life of the plains and the culture they had brought from the East blossomed like a rose in the wilderness. Sec. Freeborn made a special mention of them in his report as having ideal ranches.
Senator Berger is a shining light in the U. S. Senate. At Washington Henry is influential in the passing of a. bill providing the right of suffrage to all good looking young women. One of the chief duties of Henry at the capital is the showing of ladies about the buildings.
Mary Smith, private secretary to J. Pierpont Morgan. Our class again distinguished! So rapid is Mary that Pierpont needs only one secretary now, as she can do the work of ten. So capable is she that she understands all the inside works of his immense business. This takes positive genius.
On my return from Washington I stopped off at New York. Here I met Mabel Flaherty and Eva Messier. The two girls were as chummy as ever. Mabel was private Secretary to Count Don Gusmand Fitz Patrick Magdalener Scrubolio, Prince of Spain. Mabel said that the prince besides being very nice, had a title. Of course, we all wish Mabel all kinds of luck. I found E va had giving up work in all its forms. She was intending to return home at once to meet her long standing, broad shouldered fiance.
On my return to Marlboro, I went over to Fairview Farm. On ar riving at the milking room I found one of the proprietors, Mr. Leroy Howe, in a state of great agitation. He told me he had lost the spark plug to the artificial cow and could obtain no milk for his customers. He soon found it however and in a milder state of mind, showed me over the new milk distributing plant. Through the business ability of Leroy pipes had been laid straight from the artificial cow to the consumer. Mr. Howe was now serving his fourth term in the State House as representative from Marlboro.
Adjoining the Fairview Farm rises a stately building. `Tis the Marlboro hospital free to all the citie's people. Trolley and airship lines connect it with all parts of the country. As I step in two nurses :Mary Dalton and Helen Ahern, smilingly approach me. "What! two of our class here" said I. "O! more than that,' said Mary. ' `Wait a a moment." Stepping to the telephone she said, "Please send down the other two nurses of the class of 1910," and behold, Lois Butler and Nina Flansburg are greeting me. How handsome they all looked in their natty nurses' costumes. "And see?" said Lois "Yonder is our :Matron, whose perfect management contributes largely to the great success of the hospital." That stately woman moving so serenely about, I at once recognized as Lena Johnson. But who is that distinguished looking man with whom she is talking? At that they all laughed. "Why that is Claron Cook," they replied, "our head operator. So skillful is he that he can remove a man's brains and replace them so quickly that the patient's line of thought is uninterrupted.
A grand convention for all the club women in America is being held in Chicago. I steal in unnoticed. All those thousands of eyes are turned toward the platform, for the chairman is just presenting the National President of Women's clubs. There is subdued excitement, a stillness broken only by a peculiar sound, caused by the craning of women's necks as they attempt to get a better view of the new president and the gown she wears.
She steps gracefully forth, the center of all eyes. There seems to be something familiar about her-Can it be? Yes it is - Berenice Geddes. Tremendous applause greets her. I add mine but I am not noticed. I stay long enough to hear Berenice's smiling but dignified response before I steal out.
`'While sauntering down one of the corridors of the capital, I chanced on a door with this printed on the glass window.
Mr. S. B Freeborn, Sec. of Agriculture, A1. H. S. Class of 1910.
Wipe your feet before entering
Blowing the dust from my sandals, I pushed open the door. There sat Stanley with his feet on the table, studying a treatise on forestry. He seemed glad to see me. When I spoke of his rapid advancement since he left Massachusetts Aggie, he said "Yes, I was in one place hardly long enough to get used to the work before they promoted me to another." Sec. Freeborn was instrumental in securing the passage of a bill for the preservation of the White Mountain forest region. Hardly second to this in importance was his invention of a poison called "Bug Death'' used in exterminating current worms and potato bugs.
After graduating from Normal Art school, Marion Brigham spent most of her time in Boston, but one day I chanced upon her in this hall. Perched upon a ladder she was carefully lettering the names of certain former students of the M. H. S. Marion said that she was painting a memorial verse to those gallant martyrs who had fallen through the ceiling in the cause of the flag, "and departing left behind them footprints in the ceiling of Assembly Hall."
Brilliant has been the career of many of our class, but for the real thing in a bright and shining light, we turn toward Joe Lynch. He is light house keeper, and "way out on the stormy ocean" runs a million candle power light. ' `Yes" he admitted. "it is a bit lonesome but then the sirens are very nice to me." His modesty prevented his telling me of the many lives he had saved, but he has kept the skeletons of them all as souvenirs. Brave Joe!
One of New York's greatest socialistic papers, edited by Lamothe Noyes Co., I found to contain a very interesting article on Socialism. Armand and Fred were both confirmed Socialists. Through the influence of their paper they had a large following. By their sound arguments they almost convinced me to join their ranks. You must understand that socialism of 1930 is very different from that of today.
Giblin's Business college puts Bryant and Stratton's in eclipse. Under the management of Helen and Isabel, it is the first in the world. Here a person can learn anything from the brokerage business to the proper way to eat and live. A college run by two women named Helen and Isabel with Giblin for a last name could but take. "Giblin College" sounds good to me.
Among the leading magazines of the clay I find "Laplante's Style Book" straight from Paris. Cora Laplante, editor-in-chief. Cora's taste was so excellent that society ladies were no longer obliged to send to Paris for their gowns but thronged the Laplante Dressmaking parlors. She so combined sense with taste that she has done away with 500 button gowns and inverted dish tub hats.
It is not often that a woman's name is found on the list of world's inventors, but our class can produce anything. Katherine King has developed wonderfully along this line. After inventing a hundreduses for a hatpin, she actually invented the art of being in two places at the same time. This enabled Kate to go to ball game and to be at church at the same time, or to attend Mrs. A's music~il without neglecting Mrs. B's "Pink Tea."
Helen O' Connell was just starting for England once more,, since London and gay Paris suited. her better than bean eating Boston. In spite of this remark I took her into a Restaurant and ordered a baked bean supper. Although she kept singing the praises of the gaieties of Paris, I noticed that Helen disposed of the despised baked beans in good style. Miss O' Connell said she seas aiAout to tour the world as a lady of leisure from the M. H. S.
B. W. Dezotell & Sons, manufacturers of automobiles and toy water pistols, is a great N. Y. firm. Bernard's natural mechanical ability and liking for toys made him a great success. In trying to sell me an auto he said : "Remember the exhaust capacity or the B. W. Dezotell & Son's dandy, durable, high grade absolutely reliable mobile is larger than any in the world. B. W. Dezotell & Sons absolutely guarantee every car pasteurized, sterilized, boiled and germ proof.
While attending the reception of the class of 1930, and being Introduced to the graduates, Sylvia Jackson was ushered in with a rustle. In a short talk that I had with her, she said she was now illustrator for Harper's. Sylvia looked fine as did her escort. I wonder if she calls him William or just plain Bill?
The two Blanches graduated from Radcliffe together and with the scholarships won there studied abroad for two years. They then established a school for the higher education of young women. Blanche Potter assumed the business manager while Blanche Whitman supervised the teaching force. They naturally sought out Grace Barker as head teacher in Latin. This proved a happy choice and Grace became the favorite teacher of the institution. Remember the name-"The Blanche-Blanche Exclusive School for Girls."
Morgan Curtis married very early. This was at -lie request of his n zany lady friends, who begged him to take this step toy set their minds at rest, for as long as he was in the field it was impossible for them to set there affections on any one else. He saw that there request was reasonable and gracefully yielded to it. The magic box cannot tell the name of the favored one, but she was a peach. Arid the two lived happily ever afterwards.
In New York I met Amy Allen. She w,t,, teaching the kindergarten for the great 400. It is enough to say that Amy was mailing a glowing success of this as any girl of her brilliancy and ability must have. Then too, Amy retained that young and Jovial spirit which she used to show in room six; and this is always talking with children.
Helen Daley started out with the intention of following a business career, but alas! such a fair creature as Helen was never made for suchwork. From her friends, I found that Helen had been wedded some five years and he was a member of the class of 1 A0, too.
Of all our class, none took life so easy as John Ward. Jack said that after finishing his education he had been traveling. "After I have been around the world the world a couple more times I think I will take a vacation," said Jack. When I asked him if he was intending to marry he said that he w-; not particular, but would look with favor on the advances of any ch lr_111ng, handsome young women with a few stray millions.
Mabel Leighton turned to newspaper work, and attained great distinction, becoming a member of the Boston Transcript staff. Only the cream of all writers rise to this height, and often the less they write the larger the salary. So Mabel Elizabeth Agnes had both money and leisure.
Sudbury is a thriving center. In the heart of the town, arching the street and in big letters is a sign on which is written: - "Lansford Harrington, Dentist. Crown and Bridge Work. I am the best dentist in the world. I guarantee satisfaction. If it's Harrington's, it's right. If it's right its Harrington's." So great was Lansford's patronage that hundreds waited outside his door for attention.
On a crowded thoroughfare in the heart of the Hub, I saw a magnificent building surmounted by a huge electric sign, which read: "Garland -Brigham Theatre. Tonight at 8. Sheakespeare's Macbeth." I bought a ticket and entered. The curtain was just rising on the first production of a play that was to astound the world. Miss Garland's previous success had been nothing in comparison to this. In fact, I hardly recognized her gentle disposition under the fierce guise of Lady Macbeth, but then Ruth alwavs did show considerable life in those senior debates? Ruth said that she and Dorothy had a branch theatre in London, where Dorothy was singing in high class opera. So great eras her popularity that she did not need any divorce suit to bring her before the public. She had already had several audiences before crowned heads and her star had not yet reached its zenith.
Of all our class Nellie Kelleher had the hardest time in choosing her life-work. Being a girl of so many accomplishments, it was hard to know which to follow. At one time I found her considering an offer as leading lady in a London orchestra, an earnest appeal to become principal of the Framingham Normal school, and a request from her admiring friends to spend a year in California. Nellie wisely chose the pleasure of California, concluding later to return to her first love, kindergarten teaching.
Who would have thought that smiling, dimpled Barbara Drummey would have become a serious palmist' Well, she did, and so true were her predictions that thousands came from all over the earth to submit their palms to her scrutiny. While I was talking with Barbara, Rosalyn Warner tripped in and asked to know her future. Examining her hand, Barbara said, "Miss Rosalyn I read that you are already a graduate of Alt. Holyoke college. Your course will continue to lie among the halls of learning; for after three years of study in Germany, you will be called to a professorship in Chicago University."
Henry Newcombe was one of the most finished organists that the New England Conservatory of Music ever produced. After graduation he received offers from the churches of our great cities to become their organist. But with one wave of his hand, Henry declined them all saying that he had just received word of the death of a very dear, rich, old aunt, and that any occupation was now unnecessary. Hereafter music would be a mere pastime with him.
In conclusion, I would say that every girl will marry; five of these very early, and three very late in life. As for the boys all but two will wed. Of these one will never find a girl that will suit him and one says: "Ale me! I was engaged but alas, Frailty, thy name is women.' She married another man." Of the 12 boys who will marry 10 will live happily, one will be divorced and one will be a henpecked husband.
HOLLIS HENRY TAYNTOR
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