Mississippi Delta Community College - Retrospect Yearbook (Moorhead, MS)

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The Pioneer Flight of the Spirit of the S. J. C. IN THK same year that Col. Lindbergh hcpprd off for his noi.slo| flight across ihc Atlantic, a [)ioneer class began a trip equally as important and thrilling. The plane, The Spirit of the S. J. C, was well equipped with educational supplies of all kinds. The flight was to cover a period of two years with only a few months interval between flights. The jolly crew was composed of 24 aviators comin? largely from Sunflower County. At 9 A. M., Sept. 8, the ship, surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd of spectators rose from the Sunflower Field to begm the journey. Circling in our immediate vicinity we picked up Directress Addie Hester and the right Hon. J. M. Weeks from whom we learned the arts of home making and the science of agriculture and came into a greater appreciation of the industries on which the progress of our great Magnolia State is based. We flew northeast at about 2,000 feet and passed the Atlantic on a non-stop flight. Pulling gently down to about 600 feet, the Spirit of the S. J. C. dropped like a rock near London. Here we left it for repairs while we .fatigued with hunger and thirst for learning, journeyed on foot to the Thomas Coffee House. Here Madam Ernestine replenished us and introduced her old friends, Dan Chaucer, Edmund Spencer, Will Shakespeare, Frank Bacon, John Milton, Alf Tennyson and others. These enlightened gentlemen imparted some of their superior knowledge to the astounded aviators, and aroused in us a desire to visit all the country made famous in song and story. We returned to our plane by way of Westminister Abbey, absorbing facts stored by the ages within those sacred wall. Bidding a long farewell to dear old England, we disappeared into the clouds, and after a svsdft brief flight, the glitter of the myriad lights below indicated that we were over Paris. We then tried to find the ground with the winglights, but their glare was worse than useless ?n the haze. Just at this time M ' selle Smith, the inter-nationally famous parachute jumper, came in her balloon to our rescue. The beacon which she brought greatly relieved us in our darkness, so that she could devote all her time to drilling us on French verbs and pronunciation. We encountered darkness about 25 miles north of the examination but after three days of hectic traveling in the haziness we were relieved by signals from the Vandiverian light house which indicated that we were safely over the seventy-five grade line. With great happiness ihe party decided to disband for a three month ' s vacation with the home folks. During the few months rest period, six members of the original party joined other travelers whose route was to cover territory in which they were particularly interested. This only left nineteen members, but there were never nineteen more enthusiastic young people. The first year ' s flight had only made them want to see and learn more of the world. On our second flight we made our course easterly from Florida to Spain. On September 10, the main tank went dry at 7:51 and the reserve at 8:10 so we came to a forced landing on the outskirts of Madrid. Senor Jones, El Catedratico de la universidad, was very gracious in his hospitality. He insisted that if we would broaden cur knowledge of Spain, we must see her people in their social activities. Accordingly we were prevailed on to attend a bull fight a game of hoi polloi, and other iiational sports. In all of these, our host showed himself a splendid guide and instructor.

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WILLIAM MOSES .... Rdevillc Life is a jest, and all things show it, I thought so once, but noli ' I frioU ' it. Mcscs is a jolly, good fellow, loyal to school and friends. He is our class wit, and aiiollier Beau Brummel. KINCHLN O ' KEEFE . . . Mattson The world needs men who will dare. and such is Izzy. He is a devoted adherent to his standards. He is president of the Y. M. C. A. and a general favorite, and we might add, a special favorite of a certain fair damsel. His ability as a leader was clearly demon- stated in his work as captain of the pioneer S. J. C. foot -ball team and as 1927 coach of the Peewees. L. E. ROSS Star If L. E. ever has an evil thought she never speaks an evil word. She is optimistic even when the clouds are grayest and is the most conscientious girl on the campus. How fortu- nate is the Y. W. C. A. in having L. E. as its president. MARGARET RUSH . . . Moorhead Tiny is as welcome as sunshine in any place because of the beaming smile on her good natured face. She is president of the Vantonion Society and business manager of the Restrospect, two offices she fills with ease and efficiency. ELOIS TOLAR Moorhead Elois is one student who never get s any rest. Get Lois to do it , is the constant cry. She does it, too, and does it well. She is one of the most outstanding girls of the S. J. C. be- cause of her ability, intellect and genial wit. She is a member of the dramatic club, of the 1928 debating team, and editor-in-chief of the Retrospect. INEZ TRUITT .... MinterCit)) She has a ivap all her own and Tve find it ver pleasing. Inez has brains, a sparkling wit, and a sweet personality that makes us all love her. There is one quality that her own, and it is a rare one---she ' s everybody ' s chum.

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All these interesting e.xpericnces and the expense accounts were carefully recorded and filed, true to the instruction of B. D. McCallister, the Jay Gould of today. At our stop in Goettinj en, Germany, our passengers were enlightened and inspired by the lectures of Prof. C. L. McCorniick, famed for his scientific and educational knowledge. He was also interested in showing the boys new athletic feats from which they greatly profiled. Holding the famed Spirit of S. J. C. true to its course and schedule, the crew landed in Berlin to receive the plaudits cf the cily. Frau Barr escorted us through the realms ' A her precious mathematics, invading trigonometry, analytics, geometiy and algebra. After a short stay in which we were so admirably entertained by our intellectual hostess, we mounted the plane once again, and after a few hours ' flight, swirled around over Athens, picked up Tutenkanmen Stennis who was visiting there and who planned the itinerary for the rest of our flight in the old country. Swooping down over the Pass of Thermopolae at a distance so near that we could see where the last Spartan fell, we decided that a rest in the Hanging Gardens would be appropriate, so we passed on to that abode. Here the plane was completely overhauled and put in excellent shape for the return trip. We took a turn over Alexandria for the ancient knowledge which that city hoarded and then we circled the pyramids, which we measured from the air, rrot only to apply our geometrical know- ledge but to be certain that their dimensions had not been exaggerated. Tutenkamen Stennis was dropped in the driving chute which functioned perfectly, leaving her safely in her native haunts. In the course of our two year flight, we not only gathered information from the realms of education but we participated very successfully in the annual spring contests which were held at different places in our country. Before the first flight was completed Misses Doak and Gibson won the J. C. debate and were rewarded with a beautiful loving cup. Misses Tolar and Gibson, and Mr. Waddell Hurt won second place in The Little Theatre. Misses E. Kealhofer won first place in the vocal solo, Miss Anice Doak in reading, and Miss Gladys Hughes won second place in piano solo. The boys of our party also showed their skill in all phases of athletics. During the second flight, our troop represented by Misses Doak and Tolar were successful again in winning the debate. So we landed in perfect safety and glorious happiness in our dearly beloved Sunflower Field. As each faithful a iator alighted from the plane, he received from the hands of the beloved master mechanic, J. S. Vandiver, his award, known in the educational world as a diploma. When the flight was over it was with a feeling of sadness that we realized that never again would we be permitted to circle the realms of education in our beloved Spirit of S. J. C. Since none could claim that noble plane.she was left behind for future passengers with the wish that those who come after would love and appreciate her as did the Pioneer Aviators.