Chowan College - Chowanoka Yearbook (Murfreesboro, NC)

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(1920) FTER the dreadful effects of the European war had been felt throughout all Europe, the less powerful nations felt most severely the backward step in civilization; and it was those upon whom the horrors of war fell most terribly. In addition to the destruction of the most glorious and powerful nations of Europe, a plague of the most terrible sort, which often follows war, when the strictest sanitary conditions are not maintained, came upon the little country of Roumania, destroying many thousands of the inhabitants. The call came to America for aid, and I was sent by the Red Cross Associa- tion to the little country of Roumania as a Red Cross nurse. In the hospital, there lay very ill an old woman, who attracted my attention from the very first. She was my patient, and as she began to improve I would read aloud to her each day. Finally, one day she said to me, Stop reading, and tell me about yourself. I had already told her that I was an American, so I gave her a short sketch of my life, mentioning only the important events. One of these events I told her was that I was graduated from Chowan College, in 1915. There were only seven in my Class. For some length of time I knew of the whereabouts of my classmates ; but years have passed now, and I have lost trace of all of them. How I wish I knew where they were, and what they were doing at the present time! In the midst of my conversation, my patient interrupted me, and said, My dear child, I ' m a fortune teller; and as soon as I recover, I will tell you of your classmates. A few days passed, and the old woman improved rapidly. Soon she was able to leave her ward. Time passed. I was kept busy with my work, each day becom ng interested in some new patient. The promise of my former patient had passed entirely from my mind. Late one afternoon of the following summer, I was tired from my week ' s work, and decided to walk out in the country, where I would be free from the noise of the city, and enjoy Nature ' s beauty.

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Now came the thrilling event of our entire three years at Chowan — Junior privileges. Sh ! But silently and gently our dear Lady Principal crushed us with a word: ' oung ladies, for fear you have not yet passed the stage of mischief and flirtation, and for fear this sudden plunge into dignity will leave you quite frail, you must refrain from indulgence in further Junior privileges. Stung! Next we turned our attention to the planning of the Senior Reception, which was a great responsibility for the httle seven. At last we decided to entertain them on St. Patrick ' s Day. The fondest dream of the Class of 1915 was realized on the evening of March the seventeenth, when the Seniors of ' 14 entered the reception-hall in all their dignity. Of all the occasions of the year, this was the crowning one. Real formality and shamrocks pervaded the atmosphere. It was in every way a most remarkable success. The hour for departure came all too soon. Should you like to know how our elder sisters enjoyed the evening, and what they and the Faculty said about us, ask some members of the ' 1 4 Class. Our Junior year swiftly drew to a close, after our privileges were restored. Thus far we had gone on our way to the goal ; but our destinies were yet to be unfolded. However, we felt sure that our intellectuality, our persistence, and our faithful- ness would carry us through — now, we are Seniors! Six of us came back to tread the paths together for another year. Old Chowan had undergone many changes during the summer of 1914, and hence with our new President and Faculty we entered upon our work. Proud and faithful Seniors we were; and with the same fortitude with which we began our work as Freshmen, we finished it. Parlor and library walls were bare! Something had to be done; accordingly, pictures were ordered, to beautify the parlor and library. The bill was sent to the Class of ' 15 (All candy boxes left in Room 7, please). Think of what difficulties we encountered m our Senior work ! And yet we were loyal. The Columns — to whom does the credit go? — the first real magazine old Chowan ever issued ! Then, similar to the Revival of Learning which broke the bands of the dark era, the whole school was made to rejoice, and the Faculty to wonder — Student Govern- ment! When our footsteps were heard, the Faculty drew a sigh of relief, and upon every girl ' s brow shone honor. ' Liberty giving to our own selves. At the beginning of the m ddle term, a new member joined our band. The year swiftly drew to a close. Many gray hairs were the result of the year ' s pitfalls and duels ; but soon they will pass away, and golden webs will take their places. The future looks bright ; opportunities seem staring us in the face, and for the first time we are leaving Chowan to face the world alone. Work wonders? Surely we will; higher hopes and stronger bonds of loyalty were never embedded in the hearts of seven girls. Remember, perseverance maketh good. We will soon enter into our realm of true womanhood. Our last plan, as we bid farewell to Chowan, is to return, ten years hence, for our 1925 Reunion. As a work of appreciation for the amount of training and development we have received, we leave to our Alma Mater the best of wishes for her highest possible pros- perity. May each one of us who have studied together, lived and fought together, for four years, always cherish her Alma Mater. — Historian Twenty

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As I walked all alone, my thoughts drifted slowly back to my dear Alma Mater and my classmates. Suddenly I noticed a bent old form sittmg under a shade tree. At once I recognized her as the same old woman I had nursed so faithfully just a year ago. Then the association of her four-weeks ' stay in the hospital brought back her promise to me. I came near where she sat, and stood silent for a minute. She looked at me very closely, and then I saw her face grow bright, and she said, My dear child, where did you come from? I told her. Then, after some minutes she said, Oh yes; and I promised to tell you the fate of your classmates. Then she proceeded: Why, Elizabeth L. is now going to Emerson. She gets another diploma in Expression next spring. She will soon be a full-fledged society woman, until she meets a man that she knows is ' the man ' ; then her happy career will end. And Stella is going to Vassar now. She is a very ambitious girl, but she will surely marry a ankee, to get out of taking her final examinations. Annie, the flirt of your Class, has been in love with five different boys in the past six months, and if things go on at that rate she will be married Christmas. Perhaps you already know that Miss Wynn is married. No one could take her Education II Class except Jessie. She has been leaching Education II for the past two years at her Alma Mater. To be a member of the Chowan Faculty is a great honor. Retta, you know, always was a suffragette. After an excting campaign, last fall, she was elected mayor of New York. Now there is Lucile, who is a girl of many capabilities. Her great talent for Expression has led her to be the greatest poet of the twentieth century. Her latest poem — ' When the Day Is Done. ' Now may a long and prosperous life be yours, and may you always merit the praise of your Alma Mater. As the approaching shades of night awakened in me the realization that I was far from my patients, who would be growing weary for attention, I expressed my gratitude to the old woman, and turned my steps homeward, meditating over the glorious tidings that had come to me concerning my old companions. Hence to work after my stroll, and to wish that happ.ness pursue each member of the 1915 Class always. — Prophet Twenty-Two