Northwestern State University - Potpourri Yearbook (Natchitoches, LA)

Page 15 text:

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

Page 14 text:

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.

Page 16 text:

from the Slough of Despond ' ' by Louisiana ' s Horace Mann, Dr. James B. Aswell, Old buildings began to give way to modern structures on the Normal Campus. The Convent building, with its haunted cells, yielded its site to an immense academic creation in brick and terra cotta; The society halls, S. A. K. and E. L- S., that had been the forum for many voices now heard in chambers of commerce and legislative halls as well as on the educational stump defending the rights of the child, vanished. No longer did Mrs. Lobdell ' s clap resound through the great corridors on Saturday evenings warning the reluctant ones of the lateness of the hour. And a day came when one of the teachers of the Normal was going away. He went. Dr. Aswell relinquished his position as head of the educational system of this State to take control of the affairs of the School which he loved and whose Faculty and Alumni, many of whom he had taught, reposed in him the utmost confidence and devotion ; this confidence and devotion were well placed, for to-day a New Normal stands on the old Hill Three years were quite sufficient for a man of his great organizing ability, masterly energy, and unswerving faithfulness in following up the worthiest in life to lay such plans both for the outward form and inward spirit of this New Normal that it will meet the needs of the State, even in the distant future. The old scenes on the Campus familiar to the graduates of the ' 90s — the walks, the trees, the buildings — have disappeared or are disappearing. The Ma- tron ' s building will remain as a monument to Ye Normal of ye olden time. Stately modern buildings of brick and stone are finding abiding-places among the tall pines. Hundreds of electric lights flash out from the Hill and drive ways. The sun sinks in erstwhile splendor behind the great forest. An earnest little man from south Louisiana sits in the office of the New Academic, talking to the girl who ought to go home for her health, and answering telegrams from the Superintendents who wish to employ the services of graduates. The needs of the State are greater than ever before. The power of the Alma Mater increases with occasions. A new bell suspended from the great water-tower announces study hour. Hundreds answer its summons where tens did in the past. Silence prevails The forces that produced the Normalite of the past are still oper- ating. The spiiit of the Alma Mater will always animate the lives of those who dwell on Normal Hill, mm m$t 14