Northwestern State University - Potpourri Yearbook (Natchitoches, LA)

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Prologue, Criticism tfjat is abbcrsc in pour beart anb minb (He tot£ffj atoap, anb bessire insteab to unb, HJubging reaber, tfjat qualitp of grace — Hobing spmpatbp for our tfjemc anb place. ur scene is i ormal, ' cause toe tooulb make knoton JtIo school ' s toortf) is better t!)an our oton; J|o place gibes freer toelcomc at its; boor tEo to tons man, rustic, manp persons more, ©Hbosc minbs, tocll traineb here, serbe the tate nb aib ber in her struggle to abate QDbe tibe of ignorance. Chough toe are fain jBtot to instruct so mud) as entertain, 0m toish is that each stubent here sfjoulb knoto Che forces tohich babe mabe our formal groto. H omc forces toe casuallp map espp; bep neeb no abbertisement. Che inner epe Sllone biscobcrs those tohose Strength bepenbs Upon a finer, subtler potoer tobicb blcnbs IHitb feeling. Past toork, past fjopes, olb ibeals are Cbe spices, perfumes, flotoer=leabes in tbe jar Cbat blenb tbeir scberal obors anb bist il Cbem gcntlp through the air of i ormal $ill. Combineb tljcp form a rose=jar, potpourri TObose fragrance, once intjaleb, toill bencefortb be link tbat binbs one ' s present to tbe past 3m closest union. Come, let us make fast Cbis botibe bonb, anb plebge toitbout bclap: Jfcaltp to tije formal of an lber Bap.

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Contents Dedication, 2 Frontispiece, 3 Our New President, 6 Editorial Staff, - 8 Calendar, 10 Prologue, - 12 Our Old President, - 24 Classes, 59 Model School, 160 Literary Societies, - 163 Religious Organizations, 196 Music, - 205 Athletics, - 224 A Laugh with Uncle Cu:m, - 245 Epilogue, - - 255 Advertisements, - 259 1 1

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0m lma Jfflatar HE Louisiana State Normal School was the first great un- aided expression of the will of the people of this Com- monwealth to conserve and dignify its childhood. A bill was introduced into the Legislature of 1884 by one of north Louisiana ' s most progressive citizens to establish a school for the training of teachers. The people of the old historic town of Natchitoches made sacrifices in money and persistent effort to have the institution located at this point. Their endeavors met with success, and the Con- vent of the Sacred Heart, located on a hill just back of the town and overlooking the valley of the river, became our Normal School for the training of the young men and women who were to create and maintain a system of twentieth century schools for our children. During the three years of Dr. Edward E. Sheib ' s administration of the affairs of the institution many fundamental problems were worked out, and interest in the upbuilding of the School spread throughout the State. In 1888 Colonel Thomas D. Boyd was called to the serious task of making the School function for the wider spread of its uplifting influence. During the eight years in which he was at the head of affairs many activities now in operation in the State for arousing the public conscience on the subject of home education for our children were instituted Under his administration the first Institute Con- ductor was employed and the State Teachers ' Association was formed. How the spirit of that olden day lives and throbs in the hearts and lives of Colonel Boyd ' s boys and girls ! In the gatherings of the Alumni the Boyd people are easily detected by their optimism, enthusiasm, and altruism. The Normal to them still means the large old Southern buildings quietly fronting the massive oaks and cedars, and the garden of old-fashioned, sweet -smelling flowers. Something of the gentle dignity of that grandest of women, Mrs. Agnes Scott Donoho, per- vades all the memories of this day that is past ; and they remember, too, a man ' s coming into control of the destiny of their Alma Mater — a man whom they already knew and loved through his work with many of them in the Biological Laboratory — Mr. Beverly C. Caldwell. For twelve years the work established under Colonel Boyd grew and strengthened, inspired and directed by one whose insight into human life and human affairs is little less than marvelous. The Caldwell people in the Alumni Asociation stand shoulder to shoulder on all propositions touching the well-being of our oublic schools. With high ideals and an abiding faith in the power of love and of work, these men and women to- day mean much to the progress of the State and its steady climb toward a high plane of real social efficiency. During the last years of Mr. Caldwell ' s adminis- tration our present State system of public schools arose — organized and lifted 13