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light slanting down through the branches of the redwoods. One book, which I have kept, is hilarious--sketches of hats that would startle Lily Dache.

An art course in high school led me to the next stage. The teacher there was Miss Ethel Abeel. (One of my uncles was in love with her.) She showed me the techniques of drawing, the study of geometrics and the principles of design. Alone with my sketch book I was fascinate to discover how these principles applied to my drawings. I am sure I never said in so many words, "I am going to be a painter." However, coloring and sketches had become the consuming interest in my life, so much so that tears of happiness sometimes came to my eyes as I worked.

It was a happy period of my life. In high school, I had my share of beaus and dates. The nickleodean had come to Santa Rosa and you were taken to see Pearl White in "The Perils of Pauline" and the Gish Sisters, and the leading "vamp" of the movies, Theda Bara. Occasionally, there were dances in the high school gymnasium. At other times, school-