SUNY Plattsburgh - Cardinal Yearbook (Plattsburgh, NY)

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How the Class of 1 918 Proposes to Do Its Bit The real meaning of patriotism is sinking more and more deeply into the hearts of all true Americans today and every real patriot has done or is doing something to help his country in this, her hour of need. In all probability every member of the Class of 1918 is in either one or both of these classes. Nevertheless there remains something more that we can do — a bigger thing than most of us have yet done, great as arc the sacrifices which some of us have been called upon to make of our near and dear ones. To those making these sacrifices this way of showing our patriotism will doubtless seem a difficult one, for we propose to express our patriotism by helping our friends and all with whom we come in contact to see the silver lining of this terrible war cloud. It would take a prophetic vision and greater minds than ours to foretell the future good which will result from this fearful conflict, but the least of us cannot but admit that, in a world of reason, such an upheaval cannot be without a pur- pose. Furthermore we are blind indeed if we have not noticed some of its good effects which are before us every clay. A few of these are the intermingling of all classes and religious sects; the instilling of the habit of thrift and economy in the minds of a people so nearly forgetting these things ; and the habit of being busy which is coming to be possessed by all, rich and poor. Then there is the wonderful improvement in our boys themselves, as a result of their military training. Is it not reasonable then that the good effects of this terrible struggle will, in our country at least, balance the evil ones? It seems that if we as a class can believe this and try to help others to see it, we will be showing our patriotism in the deepest sense and proving ourselves true to the most wonderful colors under which a class ever graduated. Farewell The class of 1918 has been loyal and true. There have been many ways in which we, as a class, might have been better. Our two years at Plattsburgh State Normal School are drawing to a close. We regret any failings we may have had and look forward to a future in which we will labor only for glory in appreciation of our dear old school. Page thirteen

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Opening Day Speech Over five and twenty years ago, the State established in Plattsburgh a Normal School, conceived in Education and dedicated to the proposition that if anyone lived to graduate he would make a good teacher. Now Fate decrees that we enter that institution to test our ability to do with it or to do without it. We are met within the very walls of that building. We have come to subject ourselves as a grateful offering to the mercy of such tyrannical officers as the State has placed here to produce its martyrs. But even we with all our superior power cannot alter the set customs of this antiquated institution with its venerable personifications of Knowledge. Our poor sisters both living and dead who have been constrained here have proved it far better than we of shorter experience. People of today comment much upon what we secure here but they can never realize what we endure here. Naught therefore remains but to go about our tasks, submissively receiving Miss Canity ' s sarcasm and Dr. Henshaw ' s jokes and courageously looking forward to coming ordeals. Our one happiness is in the dear old carefree high school days which are gone forever. Page twelve

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Presented to the Plattsburgh Sta te Normal School uy the Classes of 1918 and 1919.