Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women - Wise Acres Yearbook (Ambler, PA)

Page 9 text:

IN APPRECIATION For somewhat over two years it has been our good fortune to have Miss Edna C. Thomas as an instructor in subjects of poultry, farm animals and farm crops. Her knowledge was both scientific and practical, her method of imparting it exceedingly interesting, and a touch of humor added spontaneity to her words. Courses in both American Colleges and European Schools gave her excellent scientific training, and her own place of thirty acres, “Cheeryneuk Farm, in Eliot, Maine, had given her ample experience for ten years. Miss Louise Metzger, her able assistant, threw her whole en-ergy into her work. Her ideals of accomplishment were high, and she was a happy exponent of the dignity and joy of manual labor. We understand that Miss Thomas and Miss Metzger expect to unite their fortunes in a farming or poultry project. We wish them all good luck and hope that the name of “Cheeryneuk Farm” may follow them to their new home and be a good omen for the future. E. L. L. COMMENCEMENT The mid-winter commencement of the School of Horticulture was held Friday afternoon, December fifteenth. There were over a hundred people present to enjoy the address given by Dr. Maurice Francis Egan, late Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to Denmark. In speaking of agriculture and horticulture as taught in the Danish Schools, Dr. Egan stressed our need for a return to simplicity and the right use of our leisure hours. He said: “The real aristocracy of any country is made up of people who are in love with simplicity. Who, then, are the real makers of our nation ? If you think they are the men you send to Congress, you are mistaken. The real builders of the prosperity of our country are those who, like the graduates and students of this school, are learning to revere the elements of life, to learn the value of well-ordered leisure and the worth of simplicity. A garden, for instance, even the little garden of the city, is an excuse for leisure, and for leisurely thought. N’obody can be greatly bored or really unintelligent who cultivates a garden. The advantages of the simple life are not always seen in our country because we devote ourselves too much to instruction and too little to education. “Just as culture does not depend upon wealth, so intelligence, which includes the quality of seeing life clearly, is not the result of instruction, but of judicious education. Our young folks go abroad to finish an education that was never even begun over here. The 7

Page 8 text:

MEET OUR FARM MANAGER! Raymond T. Kuhrt comes from Chautauqua County, New York, the home of grapes, small fruits, milk, cheese, and poultry. His school days were spent at a district school, after which he at tended Forestville Free Academy and High School, from which he graduated as President of the Class of 1912. From High School he entered the Training Class and taught one year in a country school. During this time Mr. Kuhrt had the opportunity of organizing and instilling community spirit into the district. Great sorrow was felt when he left to enter Cortland Normal. Just a word may be said of his home life. The Kuhrt farms at present, though fruit predominates, boast of a herd of fifteen Line-bred Holstein cattle and a herd of about forty pure-bred Duroc Jersey swine. His home borders a brook and as a small boy he might have been seen any day with a pole and line fishing in summer or with a string of traps trapping in winter, studying Nature's ways at first hand. His early experience came in dealing in pigeons, chickens and rabbits. This gave him the incentive to go deeper into the poultry field and he specialized at Cortland Normal in this phase of Animal Husbandry. After graduating from Normal, Mr. Kuhrt taught High School Agriculture at Ellington, Sherman and Forestville. While there he maintained a pen of White Leghorns as a side issue. Two years ago Mr. Kuhrt gave up teaching to devote more time to his poultry business. He has had a splendid selection of Barron strain White Leghorns at his home for several years, still maintans a flock of five hundred and is directing the management. He has incubating equipment with a capacity of three thousand eggs and has orders booked for five hatches for this season. Mr. Kuhrt comes to the School of Horticulture with practical experience in farm managing, care of animals, growing of general farm crops, and as a poultry specialist. The most hearty welcome to our midst is extended to Mr. Kuhrt. R C. D. 6

Page 10 text:

students of this school are living examples of those virtues which are the best corrective of extravagance, of the illusions of luxury, and of that feverish activity which soon wears out body and soul.” It tfas also a great pleasure to have Miss Beatrice Williams, a graduate of this school in June, 1918, with us. She is now connected with the American Committee for Devastated France and is in this country on a mission to Washington. She gave a most interesting and vivid talk on the splendid undertaking in which she is active in France. Upon the completion of her mission to the United States Miss Williams will return to France to continue this worthy work. White Leghorns at his home for several years, still maintains a flock Clark’s Green, and Miss Elizabeth Swing, of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, were presented with diplomas by the President of the Board of Directors, and one of the founders of the school, Miss Jane B. Haines. . After the presentation of diplomas and congratulatory remarks Miss Haines announced that Miss Sarah B. Fogg, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, editor of “Wise-Acres” during her Junior year, had earned the Honor Scholarship for her Senior year, which is offered annually by Miss Marion Reilly—a member of the Board of Directors—for her excellent school average. Miss Irene Geiser, of Waynesboro. Miss Elinor Matthews, oi tors—for her excellent school average. Miss Haines also announced that a debt approximating $27,000.00 had been most generously cancelled by those who made the- loans; that these loans in large measure were made at the time that the dormitory, cottage, farm house and greenhouses were built; and that no interest had ever been charged upon them. She expressed the gratitude of the Board of Directors and the School for this cancellation which amounts to a large gift. WISE-ACRES congratulates the School upon the possession of such friends and wishes to express its own warm appreciation to those who have thus made the future of the School assured. In closing the exercises, Miss Elizabeth Leighton Lee, Director, expressed the appreciation of the school to the graduating class for their gift of dogwood trees. Then, upon her invitation, the gathering enjoyed a social hour of tea before the school formally closed for the winter holidays. H. F. 8