Chicora College for Women - Nods and Becks Yearbook (Columbia, SC)

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Senior Class History September 17, 1918 sixty-five girls with quaking hearts launched a ship on the extensive “Sea of Knowledge”. We chose Lois Query as our Pilot and immediately she took the helm assisted by her able staff officers—Margaret Patterson, Ada Walker and Laurie Moore. At first of course, there were many dismal and homesick days for the crew. If it were possible I fear that the sea must have felt the effect of our tears. But those days were soon passed and we be¬ ginning to love our work, settled down for a hard struggle. At the close of the first three weeks, to the general dismay of all, “flu” broke out and the ship’s company was forced to disperse to the several homes. Still fresh in our memories are those days of suspense when everyone walked around with serious face and business-like air. Who can forget the Sunday that all were called together by the good ship’s Governor and Rector and were given the word that all might go ashore on the next day? Delighted at the un¬ expected vacation, yet filled with grief because some of our number must remain on board in the ship’s hospital, we young sailors set out for home. Upon our return, affairs glided along smoothly until first examinations—out young voyagers, you know, had entered upon a long course of training to continue at least four years. Who, pray, does not know the horror and despair of crossing College Exam Rocks for the first time! The feat was finally achieved without shipwreck and June found our little company securely landed on Sophomore Island. What a store of information our brains contained—why we knew all there is to know about Trig, and geometry and “bugology”—there was nothing new for us to learn. In September 1919, after shore leave of three months, the boat was launched again for another stage of the training, the goal now being Junior Port. Alas our eager crew was now diminished in numbers, owing to the defection of some, who in the all-knowing self-assurance of Sophomores, had decided to follow the quest no further finding it pleasanter to remain at home to enter another field. We were extremely sorry to lose these members but our ranks were filled by other fine recruits as Lucille Belk, Evelyn Lea, and Gladys Porter from Queen’s and Flora McDonald. After Christmas a new pilot, Margaret Russell, had to be chosen leader of our band, as Captain Query was unable to return for some time. Her assistants—Laurie M oore, Margaret Patterson, and Julia Luther were capable leaders and proved their worth. Never before had one ship made so much progress on the Sea of Knowledge. We could name the Kings of Israel backwards if necessary and Physics problems were as easy as our A. B. C’s. Somehow we lived through this year of Sophistica¬ tion and were perhaps a saner, more intelligent, yet jolly bunch than heretofore.