Louise S McGehee School - Spectator Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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THE SPECTATOR Thirty-five must sacrifice personal comfort and happiness to achieve their goal. I only hope that I may have the courage and character to take whatever is in store for me, so that I may live up to the standards which my family has already set. The Theories of Thrackpzology The theories of Thrackpzology are: 1. Ideas pertaining to falling rain . . . That reminds me of one rainy day I spent in the attic. As I was hunting around, I came upon a very old doll. She had a china head with tiny painted features. Time had blurred her coloring and she seemed to have a tired expression. Her body was made of a kind of silky cloth. Her clothes resembled those of the Civil War period. Her dress was made of pink organdy trimmed with lace. It was smudged by many eager little hands, and the lace trimmings were tattered and yellow with age. One of her tiny boots was missing. On this foot there was stamped M. SMITHERS 1851. I sat there a minute looking at her with reverence. Imagine the many little owners that had cared for this tiny doll in her eighty-nine years! For a long time I sat in the creaky old chair and dreamed of her glorious history. Then as a rat scurried across the floor I laid her carefully back in her wrappings. Oh, yes - the the- ories of Thrackpzology - I know them well. O Charlene McCorkle, '45. Description Ada's qui-te average, but at times I'm inclined to believe that she has more faults than the average negress. She has thhat customary dis- pleasing odor, kinky, black, greasy hair, and large, thick lips. She shuffles around in dilapidated, rundown old shoes. She never wears stockings, but loud striped socks, which,don'.t,fit around her ankles. She drags her feet after her as if they each weighed a couple of tons. The morning isn't a success unless she stumbles over a few chairs, bumps into a breakfast table, or almost spills a cup of coffee down some poor innocent's back. J- Ada has quite a shape. It's,sognething like that of a box-car. Her top sags and sits qn her enormous bulging stomach. The appearance produced by this slovenly creation is,quite dismaying. Her most annoying habit is mumbling aftew order h een given her. Sometimes she voices her opinion on how tgllgeat lohnh5,s cold or why Susie should be made to go to school. Clomp, shuffle, clomp, shuffle! There she comes. We had better go before she sees us talking about her. Ruth Boulet '44

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Thirty-four THE SPECTATOR shoved me over and stuck her foot out. By this time I was rather de- jected so I sat in the boat tying knots in a rope. We finally docked with the help of Oscar and everyone set to work. I looked around for something to do but could only gather my things from the bottom of the boat and stare stupidly. Now and then, Monk handed me something. I held it awhile and then it was snatched away by Patsy. Eventually, they finished, and on walking to my car, Dottie re- marked, I wish our passengers would do something besides gripe. Next time you come, Dot, you're going to work! 42. l11-O. . ? How The War Has Affected Me Before the momentous day of December 7th, I was ct normal, happy person living in peaceful surroundings with congenial people. The war was far away and I was too interested in my own welfare to give much thought to the happenings in Europe. Then, suddenly we were plunged into the fight too. There were no realistic air raids, no devastated cities, no wounded civilians, but there was Pearl Harbor and that was enough for most Americans. With the declaration of war on our part came only one question to my mind and that question repeated itself again and again. Would I see my father before he left? That may sound silly to you-it sounds silly to me now. But in those first few days after December 7th, I lived in mortal fear that my father would be sent away before I saw him again. Then, Christmas came-and I was home once more. The post had grown. Soldiers were everywhere. The men were serious, thoughtful, busy. The women were industrious, worried, dazed. I didn't see my father often, but I could see that he was discouraged about our progress, disgusted with our complacency, and harassed about our future. I only talked to him once for any length of time, but in that short time, he gave me two thoughts which I shall always remember. Do your job and do it well. Never forget how to pray. Since then, I have done more thinking than I have ever done in my life. I realize now that my job is here, doing my work to the best of my ability. I am still a happy, normal person. The knowledge that my father will leave does not send my mind into hysterical thoughts, for my own private life is of relatively no importance. Privations and incon- veniences are a joy, because they make me feel as though my part in this war is real and vital. I know life next year will be completely different from any I have ever known, but it does not frighten me. War has shown me that people

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Thirty-SIX THE SPECTATOR The Students' Institute-A Week in Washington A short While ago four tired but thrilled High School Seniors and their history teacher arrived at the Southern Station in New Orleans after spending a week in Washington. These girls had represented the Louise S. McGehee School at the Institute of National Government for Secondary School Students held in Washington from March 29 to April 4. This is a new experiment in education, for the purpose of the Institute is to develop leadership and understanding by showing students the com- plex, but efficient working mechanics of our democracy. The McGehee School sent its Student Body President, Patsy Gibbens, its Student Council President, Dottie Hecht, its Prefect, Connie Faust, and the chairman of the Social Service Committee, Marilyn Wellemeyer. With our chaperone, Miss Ruth O. Kastler, we made five representatives from New Orleans. The Institute encompassed a varied group of High School students and teachers-one hundred and fifty in number, representing many High Schools from thirteen States. The New Orleans school was the southern- most one represented, and the only one from Louisiana. The program of the Institute was necessarily an informative and educational one. Our first experience began when we arrived in Wash- ington in a snow storm. We Southerners were delighted at being able to throw snow balls and make snow men in twelve inches of snow. We re- sided at the American University and travelled about Washington in chartered busses to avoid the war time congestion on the streets and in the hotels. The mornings were mainly devoted to visiting various work- ing departments of the Government-such as the Department of the Interior, the National Institute of Public Health, and the Department of Agriculture with its Research and Experimental Laboratories at Beltsville, Maryland, the Social Security Office, and the Office of Civilian Defense. In auditoriums of the departmental buildings we were shown movies and heard vitally interesting and informative lectures by important people from each department who were interested in the Students' Institute and its purpose. The speakers told us about their work, how the war was affecting it, and how each department is helping in the war. After each lecture time was generously alloted for the asking of quetsions by the students. One noonday we visited the Supreme Court and saw the court in session. Perhaps the most educational as Well as entertaining morning was spent in a tour of Capitol Hill. First we visited the Capitol building, im- pressive with its huge dome and many white stone steps. Here we saw the Senate Chamber and the large Chamber of the House. We also saw