Northwestern State University - Potpourri Yearbook (Natchitoches, LA)

Page 20 text:

Song ! And each class bears its own colors — such combinations : all the hues of the rainbow, with a thousand varied shades. But look, dear student. At this distance, with this perspective, do you not see that thev soften and blend into one harmony of color, the Purple and White. Student of 1912, you smile at the quaint pictures of old graduates in old cata- logues and annuals — old graduates, with their queer styles. You smile, perhaps, at their methods of teaching ; you do not use their old scratched-up desks and blackboards and plans ; you do not keep up their ol.l habits and customs ; they, departing, left behind them footprints on Normal Hill which you have not pre- served (since the new walks were laid) ; but there is something you have kept — something; that never could be improved upon, something you are proud to own — their spirit, that beautiful, kindly spirit of love and helpfulness and understanding that works for the uplifting of humanity ; that spirit tint makes all things possible. It is wonderful, the Alumni of your School, and the Old Normal loves her graduates and looks with pride upon them as a mother does upon her great grown-up successful sons and daughters. So, dear student of 19 12, do not forget what your Alumni means to you. Lift up your glass and drink a toast to them: Here ' s to tho. c e who have gone before, who have carried the standards of the Normal out of the life of school into that larger school of life where they labor for us yet. We ' 11 not forget. The Alumni! 18

Page 19 text:

{Kfje Alumni Normal, Normal, she s the one for me! Normal, Normal, prosperous may she be! She ' s the queen of the South, she is worth all the rest. Normal, Normal, Normal she s the one I love the best. All over the State there are men and women who are singing this song in their hearts they are the men and women who comprise your Alumni, student of 1 91 2; your Alumni that working body of people who represent so nobly the best of your Normal School — that body of graduates whose ranks you are striving to join Suppose, student of 1912, that you could have them all assemble from every part of the State and form into one long, long, unbroken line, from the graduate of over a Quarter of a century ago to the last little graduate of the last graduating class. What an inspiration ' What a difference in age, looks, thought, and char- acter, yet what a purpose, what an underlying principle, uniting them all under the standards of the Normal School! Listen! Each class is giving its yell — its enthusiastic, hair-raising, ear- splitting class yell — but isn ' t it strange and wonderful that at this distance all those different yells soften and blend into one glad harmony, the old Normal 17

Page 21 text:

rabttton of tfje formal HE great State of Louisiana Boasts a splendid Normal School, Where the hills resound with music, Blown by breezes sweet and cool. Though the place may seem prosaic, Legend does its history fill, For the memory of the Convent Weaves a halo o ' er the hill. Long before the modern changes Laid the Convent building low, Nuns took up their habitations In the small cells in a row. There the nuns, in clean black raiment, Slowly paced the narrow hall; They had laid aside all pleasures, Answered quick to duty ' s call. Grave were they and very gentle, Smiles scarce ever lit a face; Worked here daily the sweet Sisters, Moving with a blessed grace. They had left their gay companions, Entered gratefully this life, Laid aside the world ' s vain dealings, Calming down its awful strife. Praying, and then starting over, Lingering humbly o ' er each bead, Asking that He would remember To fulfill their every need. Sometimes they would almost waver In their steps, so true and slow, But each one would help the other In their holy path to go. 19