Girls High School - Yearbook (Reading, PA)

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The Armistice Anna A. Stout The armistice, a truce preparatory to a permanent peace, was signed at Eve o'clock, Paris time, on the eleventh day of November, nineteen hundred and eighteen. Six hours after German envoys had signed the terms im- posed by the Allied and American governments, hostilities ceased and the World War was over. For four terrible years almost all of Europe was engaged in the most horrible and destructive war ever waged in all the thousands of years of the world's history, a war started, by a fanatical and ambitious despot in a vain attempt to conquer the world and to force upon its people the propaganda of German Kultur, It is well known how his Prussian Guards made way into Belgium, crushing as they went overy object of beauty which came across their path. Ever since August fourth, nineteen hundred and fourteen, the quiet vil- rages and farm lands of France have furnished the battle-ground for the op- posing forces and the turmoil and destruction which accompanies these hostilities. However, at eleven o'clock, Paris time, or six o'clock, Washington time, the last shot of the Great World War was fired. The troops of both armies came from out the trenches and dug-outs, and gathered together rejoicing, the allied army rejoicing in salvation and freedom, for which they had sacrificed so much, and those who had been our enemy rejoicing in the cessation of hostili- ties and the hope of returning home. The lighting forces were not the only ones who celebrated this event. The news reached Washington just after midnight. In turn, every city, town and village was notified as soon as possible. Many places, expecting the glad news, had arranged a system of bells by which they might arouse the inhab- itants. As soon as the bells announced its arrival, the people, aroused from their slumber, congregated in the streets and public places. All were eager to show their pariotism. Throughout the country there were patriotic demon- strations of all kinds, parades formed of all societies, of people in all walks of life, regardless of creed or nationality, public sings and exhibitions of fireworks. The whole day was a gala day for America. No one worked, all factories, schools, omces and stores were closed. The one ambition in the minds of the American people was to show their thankfulness for freedom and peace and to give tribute to those who had won it. 28

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Women's Place in War Since 1776 D. A. R. PRIZE ESSAY b Emily M. Derr MERICAN WO1llCll of tl1e year 1919 are no braver, no n1ore patriotic than women have ll6Cll in wars of all tin1es. Earth's wome11 of every generatio11 have faced suffering and deatl1 with a11 equanimity that no soldier on a battlefield 11215 ever surpassed, says Oliver Schreiner, and wl1ere war l1as bee11 to preserve life or lalld or freedo111, rather tl1a11 for tl1e 2lCCLllllLll2lllOll of power, noble wome11 of all ages l1ave known l1ow to bear an active part a11d eve11 suffer death. Tl1e won1e11 ZtlllOllg tl1e early settlers of An1erica were of a truly heroic breed. lt was spiritual as well as bodily courage tl1ey displayed, suffering tl1e assaults of tl1e savage lllCllftllS, a11d, i11 tl1e abse11ce of their husbands, frequently using tirearms to protect their cl1ildre11 and their llOlllCS. Shoulder to sl1oulder witl1 tl1e llltlll tl1ese Wtlllltill worked, Zllld fron1 tl1e struggle was evolved a 11ew type-the W0lll?lll of 1776, without wl1ose assistance tl1e Revolutionary War could scarcely have succeeded. There sta11ds out pron1i11e11tly 0116 of these won1e11, wl1o might l1ave lived ill luxury, aloof fron1 scenes of sutfering, l1ad she so wished. This was Martha Washington, the wife of the COlll1llZ1llClCl'-ill-Cllldf of tl1e Continental Arn1y, who gathered tl1e wives of tl1e officers around l1er at Valley Forge, during the severe wi11ter of 1777 to 1778, a11d witl1 tl1en1 undertook tl1e work of relieving the needs of tl1e soldiers. But the distress of tl1e army continued to be very great because of tl1e need of Cltltlllllg, a11d i11 tl1e next year it was the generous women of Phila- delphia who Cltllld to tl1e relief of tl1e soldiers. Forming a11 association, tl1ey sold tl1eir tri11kets a11d jewelry to buy tl1e needed n1ateria1s for garn1e11ts. Mrs. ESlll6l' Reed becan1e their leader. Though frail i11 body, sl1e el1eerfully gave l1er llllld and e11ergies to the good cause. As a result, l1er l1ealtl1 suffered fllld a few n1ontl1s after becoming a member sl1e died, a true 111artyr to tl1e cause of fI'CCCl0lll. But her work continued under tl1e leadersl1ip of Mrs. Sarah Bache, tl1e daughter of Benjamin Franklin. Tl1e extremes i11 this Association of Women are shown by Pl1illis, a colored won1en, Wilt? gave seven sl1illi11gs, a11d tl1e Marchioness de Lafayette, who co11tributed a hundred gui11eas in specie. A ditlerent type of won1an, one wl1o showed her courage in quite 2ll'lOlhCl' way, was Molly Pitcher. At that time, a few W01llCll, wl1o found it easier to sta11d tl1e fearful strain of battle tl1a11 to re111ai11 at home in suspe11se, were allowed to accompa11y tl1eir husbands to tl1e battlefields-not to fight, but to wash, mend a11d cook for the IllCll. Molly, tl1e wife of John Hayes, a gunner, was one of these. To all of us is known the tale of l1er husband's fall a11d l1er brave sta11d bel1i11d l1is gun, which she saved fro111 capture. Sl1e was given a sergeantls con1n1ission and half pay for life, but a far greater reward is tl1e place sl1e llOldS in tl1e hearts of all for who111 sl1e helped to secure freedom. 29