Canastota High School - Toot Yearbook (Canastota, NY)

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THE TOOT 11 GREATEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD RUTH TUFTS The Red Cross was originated in 1864, where a flag with a red cross on a white field was adopted. The first woman to open the pro- fession of nursing for women was Florence Nightingale, a wealthy English girl. She was inspired when a young girl by a visit to a hospital and moved by the unsanitary and unclean conditions, she decided immediately that she would become a nurse. In America few people knew of the society or of the work of Florence Nightingale. During our Civil War the sick and wounded were cared for by an organization known as “The Sanitary Commission.” Dorothy Dix was a well known American worker. After the war broke out Miss Dix was in one of the cities of our country and was moved by the suffering of our men. Miss Dix went directly to Washington and volunteered to give her services. She was made superintendent of the women nurses and set about her great undertaking to distribute supplies, select nurses and see that the soldiers were properly cared for. During the four long, hard years of the war she never had a holiday. When, at last, the great struggle was over the Secretary of War asked her what she wanted for her noble work. Miss Dix asked for a flag and was presented with two beautiful ones, which now hang in the memorial hall of Harvard College. Mother Bickerdyke was a prominent worker at the time of the Civil War. Another noted worker during this same period was Clara Barton who, while in Washington, heard of the wonderful work that Miss Dix was doing. She saw some soldiers who were suffering from wounds which had not been properly treated and made it her duty to have their wounds cleansed and dressed in the right way. The young nurse wrote home to her parents, suggesting that supplies be sent for the boys’ comfort. Later she obtained a pass to go behind the fighting lines and there nursed Northerners and Southerners alike. When the war was ended Miss Barton went abroad for a rest and while there she heard of the Red Cross Society. In the war between France and Germany, she saw for the first time the medical staff of two opposing armies working together in care of the wounded soldiers. Upon returning to this country, Clara Barton organized the Red Cross in America and was made president. Miss Barton was born near Oxford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, on December 25, 1821. Her training in school subjects was as varied and as thorough as her Continued on page 24

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12 THE TOOT forty feet above him. He had never tried to climb with spurs, but he knew that if he could gain the top that he could at least try to relieve the situation. He buckled on a set of spurs, put a pair of pliers in his pocket and began to ascend the pole. He took his steps one by one, slow but sure, and made his way up those forty feet as well as an experienced line- man. One by one, he cleared up the wires, and the derails and switches began to close, thus lining up the track for the Seneca division and the Black Diamond. But one derail would not close and left the way open for the oncoming flier. His repeated attempts were not successful. His time was nearly up and he could see in the distance the approaching flier. Soon the four short blasts of the whistle for the signal shrieked fifty rods away. He spliced two wires as his final attempt and as the train approached within a hundred feet of the signal, the arm slowly began to raise and close the derail. The engineer, with fixed eyes, again opened the throttle and the train bound for Ithaca, carrying two hundred young men and women back to college, passed safely over the junction. Twenty years after, Raymond, who was now in his fifty-second year, sat in the “new tower,” which was now getting old, thinking of his success, an errorless career at the signals and switches. He also thought of the time when he had climbed the pole, when Dame For- tune had guided his hands that he might save the lives of the young men and women who were now taking part in the world’s activities. As he sat thinking, the division superintendent, a middle-aged man, entered the room. In a casual manner he drew out of Raymond the story of the near accident so many years ago, and he disclosed his identity as one of the boys on the train going back to college. The superintendent’s heart softened with gratitude as he looked back at the heroic task, which for twenty years had passed unnoticed by either the railroad company or the world. Now in a position to show his gratitude and affection, he mentioned a reward to the faithful servant of the roadroad. Raymond looked up at him and replied, “I have done nothing to be rewarded for. I simply did my duty for the company for which I am working. They give me a job with a salary and it is my duty to work for their interest.” “That may be true,” said the superintendent. “You saved the company a good many dollars, but that was not all. You saved the lives of men and women who are now valuable to our country and you deserve a reward, though it be tardy.” “That was my duty to God,” replied Raymond. “Would it have Continued on page 21

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14 THE TOOT Btbletics Athletic Association A one hundred per cent membership, the aim of the Athletic Association, has been realized. The whole student body formed a procession and marched past the desk where the dues were received. The teachers and many of the grade pupils are also members this year. The officers of the Athletic Council were elected as follows: President, Mr. Simmons; treasurer, Mr. Crisp; secretary, Helen Te Winkel; James Culver, Darwin Gregg and Avery Merwin. Our Team A strong team for the coming basketball season has been organized. Since “Jim” Culver is the only surviving member of last year’s players, the team will be made up almost entirely of raw material; but, under Mr. Crisp’s direction, it will surpass records made by teams of former years. Manager “Archie” Maynard promises a good schedule. The first game was a double header with Chittenango on December 10. Girls’ Teams The Freshman, Sophomore, Junior-Senior and Varsity teams for girl’s basketball have been organized. The Varsity team, of which Marie Gustafson was made manager, was chosen from the best material of the class teams and is considering an out-of-town schedule with Chittenango, Cazenovia and other surrounding towns. The managers of the class teams are: Junior-Senior, Lois Te Winkel; Sophomore A, Erma Prosser; Sophomore B, Ruth Tufts; Freshman A, Margaret Daily; Freshman B, Mary Tuttle. Baseball The Sophomore-Freshman baseball games played during the early part of the school year showed Canastota’s school spirit. The two teams were supported not only by their own classmen but by cheering squads from the Junior and Senior classes. The “Sophs” proved the better players, winning two games out of the three. Cheer Leaders In view of the basketball season, the student body elected three cheer leaders at a meeting held before school on November 30th. Glenn Mowry was made cheer leader and Dorothy Donnelly was made leader of the singing. The cheering this year is peppier and more distinct than it has been for many years.