Northwestern State University - Potpourri Yearbook (Natchitoches, LA)

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Red Cross 1 OON after America entered the World War the growing interest in Red Cross work of the girls at the Normal School found an avenue of expression in the Normal Auxiliary to the Natchitoches Red Cro;s Chapter. A class room on the second floor of the Academic Buildirg was fitted up with tables, cabinets, and all the needed conveniences fcr the making of surgical dressings. The girls went to work with a patriotism worthy of the highest in American womanhood and the great cause in which our country had engaged. They were formed into squads under students and faculty captains, and made thousands of compresses, sur- gical wipes, abdominal bandages, and some pneumonia jackets. These squads under the leadership of Miss Roberta Newell, worked at vacant periods, before dinner, on Saturdays and Sundays. The quality of the work always received the highest rating from the regular inspectors from the chapter headquarters, and tSe chapter itself was on the honor roll of the Gulf Division. Refugee garments were made by the dozens in the Domestic Art rooms and the campus and the auditorium always exhibited indefatigable knitters of socks, sweaters, hel- mets, and mufflers. When a call came for hospital towels the g rls purchased a hundred, laundered and bundled them ready for shipment Overseas. In short, the young women of the Normal in this supreme test of character, proved themselves to b? among the worthiest. To Our Boys Upon the far off fields of France Where sleep our soldiers brave, A cross its lonely vigil keeps. Above the narrow j;ravc. Upon the far off fields of France The fields that we may never see. Lie buried all our hearts held clear Who died for you and me. (12)

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v . „ f ■ jtfMkX - Li «. Rogers The Normal Boys ' Response to the Call to the Colors When the call to the colors resounded through our country, that so awakened that never-dying patriotism embedded in the heart and nerve and sinew of the sons of America, a direct strain of the heroic music stirred the hearts of those who were drinking at wisdom ' s fountain — Normal. The fact that civilization was at stake and service was needed, was the inspiration that caused every interest of self to be discarded. The question was never asked, Are you going into the service? The common question was, In what branch of the service are you going to enlist? Not only was there a unanimous response by those sons of Normal then in attend- ance, but all those who in past years learned the lessons of justice and righteousness at the feet of our Alma Mater were endowed with this same patriotic spirit. 1 he spirit of ' 1 7 is unsurpassed by any other in history. For a typical picture of this spirit just cast your eyes on Normal in the spring of 1917, then in the fall of 1918. In the spring of 1917 there were more than a hundred boys in attendance — a fine hardy group, living in peace and dreaming of the future when they should be directing the foot- steps of the youth of the state. When the long contest of right against might closed in the fall of 1918 there was not a boy of military age in school. All who were able to bear arms had gone to do and to die for the eternal right. While our service flag is fortunate in bearing only a few gold stars it is because destiny assigned only these to the honor. Now that the long and bloody contest is over, and peace re:gns supreme, may there be one sentiment for the soldiers living and dead, Cheers for the living and tears for the Marvin T. Green. (II)

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Campaign of Patriotism Through Education N response to a deeper understanding and the obi gation felt by the Normal, both faculty and students, toward making this war for democracy a success, we saw the necessity of a campaign of patriotism through education. The necessary things to life were first considered and, of course, food was of the first importance. The government foresaw the necessity of the truth of the food situation to reach every man, worn in and child of the nation in order that food might in every way be saved. The government realized that the schools were the medium through which the people could be reached. Therefore, cer- tificates were offered to students who completed the short course in Food Administration. Classes were organized in the summer of I 9 I 8 in order that we might learn of the food situation all over the world, and the method by which we might help to make the food supply adequate for the Allied Countries. A study of the uses of substitutes of the most important foods, meats, wheat and sugar and the best method of preparing the substituted food in order that it might be attractive and palatable was given. Although at present it is not a required subject it is still demanded by the students and has resulted in a Food Administration Course that will meet the present post-war situation. Normal not only look a step forward in studying food, but there was organized a class in War History in which the students could obtain a more accurate knowledge, a broader and deeper understanding of the forces that caused this great world crisis, and to give an educational basis upon which can be erected a more successful democracy. No effort or expense was spared in equipment for this course. Did the Normalites respond to this? We not only responded in a large number, but we all began to dig deep into the subject with enthusiastic patriotism. 1 he library facilities were expanded and there were added seventy-five reference books, twenty-five magazines, weekly and daily papers. There were five hundred pamph- lets and publications sent out from numerous centers, world-wide in scope. One has only to spend a part of his time in the library to visualize the war through the reading of mil- itary, social, political, national, and international problems. War French was given a place also. A class of boys wer: soon marching forward in pronouncing, understanding, and speaking French, for soon they were to see actixe service in France. The girls took great interest in this work as is shown in the enrollment of the summer term of fifty-nine girls and one boy. There has been a total number of eighty-nine faithful and patriotic workers in the War French Class. Every s tudent and every member of the faculty is now ready in many ways to say, Amerique nous voici. (13)