Java applet and loading faster Help please

First of all hello. Second of all I am new to the java language and need a litle help. I am using microsoft frontpage and used the hover button feature to make a java applet. got it like i want it and I have like another 18 of them that are just like it. i takes for ever for the applets to load. is there any way that i can change the code up to get it to load faster. Like call the class once and/or the jpgs once also. Any help will be appreciated. part of my code follows.



<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%">
<span style="position: absolute; left: 12; top: 148">
<applet code="fphover.class" codebase="./" width="212" height="24">
  <param name="hovercolor" value="#0000FF">
  <param name="color" value="#2124CE">
  <param name="textcolor" value="#FFFF00">
  <param name="image" valuetype="ref" value="button1.jpg">
  <param name="hoverimage" valuetype="ref" value="button2.jpg">
  <param name="font" value="Helvetica">
  <param name="fontstyle" value="bold">
  <param name="fontsize" value="14">
  <param name="target" value="main">
  <param name="text" value="General Information">
  <param name="url" valuetype="ref" value="general.htm">
 </applet>
</span>

<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%">
<span style="position: absolute; left: 12; top: 172">
<applet code="fphover.class" codebase="./" width="212" height="24">
  <param name="hovercolor" value="#0000FF">
  <param name="color" value="#2124CE">
  <param name="textcolor" value="#FFFF00">
  <param name="effect" value="glow">
  <param name="image" valuetype="ref" value="button1.jpg">
  <param name="hoverimage" valuetype="ref" value="button2.jpg">
  <param name="font" value="Helvetica">
  <param name="fontstyle" value="bold">
  <param name="fontsize" value="14">
  <param name="text" value="Elementary Schools">
  <param name="url" valuetype="ref" value="elem/elemzones.html">
  <param name="target" value="main">
</applet>
</span>
</p>

<p align="left" style="line-height: 100%">
<span style="position: absolute; left: 12; top: 196">
<applet code="fphover.class" codebase="./" width="212" height="24">
  <param name="hovercolor" value="#0000FF">
  <param name="color" value="#2124CE">
  <param name="textcolor" value="#FFFF00">
  <param name="effect" value="glow">
  <param name="image" valuetype="ref" value="button1.jpg">
  <param name="hoverimage" valuetype="ref" value="button2.jpg">
  <param name="font" value="Helvetica">
  <param name="fontstyle" value="bold">
  <param name="fontsize" value="14">
  <param name="text" value="Junior Schools">
  <param name="url" valuetype="ref" value="jrhigh/juniorzones.html">
  <param name="target" value="main"></applet>
</span>
</p>
 

etc, etc, etc!
Thanks,
Matt
teners69@aol.com