Westport High School - Herald Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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18 THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. enroll all the girls that desired to take the courses. Westport's interest and zeal in the Red Cross work have produced wonderful re- sults. The school became a member of the Junior Red Cross, contributing almost twice as much as was actually needed for membership. The sewing classes have preparation of greatest inter- shown in the Cross training. organized dur- given their time to the Red Cross supplies. The est, however, has been classes organized for Red Five classes have been ing the year, four in Elementary Hygiene and Home Care of the Sick, and one in First Aid. Those who have passed these two courses successfully are hoping for an advanced course next year. Anyone can be very proud to have re- ceived a certificate from an organization so universally recognized as the Red Cross. Such certificates are rightfully given the place of honor in the gradua- tion books. - Although the girls may never put their Red Cross training into actual prac- tice in war work, it will be of great value to them throughout their whole lives. The hour and one-half spent in Red Cross training each Thursday afternoon will never be regretted, for there they have learned the true need of accuracy and proficiency. The serious attitude taken toward the Red Cross work and the interest and de- sire to learn evidenced by the girls show that Westport is anxious and capable of doing worth while things. Alpha Lyra Club Each year sees some change in the line- up of Westport's clubs. This year the new arrival is a musical aggregation. Heretofore the Girls' and Boys' Glee Clubs have not been organized as school clubs. Some time during the first semester the two clubs were combined and organized into the Alpha Lyra Club. They have the advantage over the other clubs of the school in that they meet every day dur- ing the fourth hour. We are glad to wel- come this new club, and so, accordingly, we extend to the Alpha Lyra Club the right hand of friendship. High School Clubs This has been a most successful and profitable year for the Girls' High School Club. The alternate Monday meetings were sometimes held at the Y. W. C. A. and sometimes in room 80 at school. The in- teresting discussions dealt not only with the simple things of life, but with the complex problems as well. The purpose of the Council Club is to bring the girls into the broader scope of school life, to cause the girls to become more intimately acquainted with each other, and to help the girls to appreciate and to strive toward the better things of life. We feel that much has been accom- plished along all of these lines. The Boys' High School Club, on the other hand, has had a year of varied for- tunes. The attendance at the beginning of the year was fine. Then it dwindled. In the winter it picked up once more, but towards spring it decreased again. The cup that Westport won last year for at- tendance went to Northeast this time. Central was secondg Westport, third. The boys have had an unusual line-up of speakers this year. Not only have we had a large number of Kansas City's fin- est speakers, but we have been lucky enough to secure quite a number of promi- nent men who happened to be in the city on Monday nights. Although we did not win the cup, yet the meetings have been much enjoyed by those who attended reg- ularly.

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THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. 17 lows in the Army and Navy concerning whom information could be secured. In another place in the Herald will be found a complete list of those in the service. We are indeed proud of such a list. Westport will ever hold the names of these wo1'thy sons of hers among her choicest memories. May the succeeding classes do their duty to their country as readily as these have answered the call. War Work We are proud of our boys who are at the front, and if they knew what we have been doing here, they would probably ap- plaud our efforts. There are not so very many things that boys and girls in high school can do, but the variety of things that we have done is surprising, never- theless. It seems as though everyone is doing something. If there are any slack- ers among us, we are not aware of the fact. ' . The demands for money have been va- rious-Liberty Bonds, Thrift Stamps, Y. M. C. A. War Fund, Junior Red Cross, Belgian Relief, and other lesser enter- prises. We have not stopped there, how- ever, as 'is witnessed by the great num- ber of books, magazines, field glasses, and records collected, the hospital supplies made, the many sweaters, socks, wrist- lets and other things knitted and made, and the large number of Liberty Bonds sold. We are glad of this opportunity to be of service. For a more detailed account of what Westport has done during the year, see the News department. Military Training After looking over the records of the military training and the spirit shown by the cadets during the last two years we can truly say that we are proud of this Westport organization. The work and the drill have always been good, but it is the spirit of the men and the spirit of the company behind the drill that have pushed it above the standard. It is always the spirit of an organization that determines its making or breaking, and it is con- cerning this spirit that we desire to com- ment. ' Next to the spirit of discipline-the power which is by far the most essential to military work--the spirit of cleanli- ness stands first. Cleanliness of mind and body is necessary, but cleanliness in uni- form is also necessary. Owing to their interdependence, it is the boy with the clean face, polished shoes, and combed hair who has the clean and polished mind. One of the first things that is instilled into the mind of every cadet is to do everything his best. Everything from the most insignificant movement to the most complicated maneuver, is carried out with the same care and thoroughness. And last, but by far the most admired, is the spirit of iight-the spirit of strug- gling to the end, whether that end be a defeat or a victory. It requires good training to take a defeat and come up again, undefeated in spirit, but it takes even. more training to take a victory without suffering the disease usually at- tending a triumph. The spirit of the cadets is indeed the personification of the spirit of chivalry, courtesy, discipline, obedience, and trust- worthiness. Red Cross The Red Cross work at Westport has had an additional incentive this year. The fact that the United States is actively en- gaged in the war, together with the very large number of Westport boys already in the service, has made it impossible to

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THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. 19 The C. C. C. Campaign put on by both the Boys' and Girls' High School Clubs were the most successful and far-reach- ing that the clubs have ever experienced. Personal Talks Along with the annual C. C. C. Cam- paign this year the boys had an opportu- nity to have personal talks with several of the big business men of the city. In this part of the Friendship Campaign con- ducted by the Boys' High School Club of the city, each student was given the op- portunity of having a private interview with one of these business men. Through these interviews, many of the fellows, who heretofore had been undecided, came to a definite conclusion concerning the line of activity that they shall follow when they get out of school. These men are all busy men, and we desire to thank them for the time they gave us. Bible Class The girls have had another organiza- tion that has been working for their bet- terment. This is the Bible Class, taught by Miss Weston. Her exposition of the various books of the Old Testament has been exceedingly interesting, while her application ofthe truths found therein has helped many a girl to attain higher ideals of living and thinking. THE JOURNEY Far past the expanse of the great desert's glance, through the limitless, endless extent, Where majestical space does the earth and sky lace. till at the horizon they're blent, Far past all the earth to where God gives souls birth, a tremulous spirit went. Past calling clouds purple and gold in the sun to the inscrutable unknown beyond, Where the Sun God holds court and the rays dance in sport, obedient yet to his wand, Where a Power that is pure holds all things secure, his soul flew so daring and fond. The stars in their courses swing on from the forces this Power gives out in its sway, And the spirit oppressed comes to infinte rest in the realm where there's no night nor day, And magnificent worlds wait outlaid to accept the spirit released from the clay. The Past and the Future blend one to the other with the Present the balancing power, As the wisdom of sages come down through the ages is divinely surpassed by a flower, So the prides of the earth the heavens laugh at in mirth and the real blessings they themselves shower. His soul passed through here in this magnetic sphere with the heavenly ones 'habiting 'round And the fogde of their righteousness opened his heart and the heaven of heavens was foun . The sublime majesty of God's eternity had compassed his soul aroundp He gathered this strength and flew back at length from the heavens once more to the world, Controlled gn his might, prepared for the fight by the glory which 'round him had cur e , And mankind, imploring, gains strength still adoring the banner this strong soul un- furled. -Helen V. Rowe, '18.