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

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THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. 29 Belgian Relief Fund After an impressive talk by a Belgian who had recently been doing relief work in his own country, and whose vivid de- scriptions moved all to pity the little dis- tressed Belgian children, collections were made in several classes immediately and other sums were turned in at the office. The total sum collected for the Relief Fund was 35181.50 Candy at French Play The members of the French Club sold S21 worth of candy and popcorn balls be- fore their play began. They could have sold much more if they had had it. This money went to the French War orphans. Besides its other work, Les Faineants is caring for a French orphan. Food .Conservation The girls' cooking classes have, during the last year, received much training in Hooverizing. They started last fall by having an exhibit of conservation bread at Electric Park. They have studied meat substitute dishes, use of flours other than wheat, and have minimized cooking in fat by substituting baking and boiling. At Christmas time each of the classes prepared a fine big Christmas dinner for some poor families. Furtheunore, Miss Jackson has conducted Food Conservation classes made up of anyone from the Rol- lins, Longan, and Hyde Pa1'k districts. There was an average attendance of about eighteen. Miss Jackson conducted twelve such lessons giving a demonstration and lecture with each. ' The whole school has been reminded of the Food Conservation Campaign by the large posters in the hall. The school is responsible for these to Miss Wilder, who has carried the campaign still further by giving appropriate lectures in the class- room. Food Conservation cook books have had a large sale in Westport, especially among Seniors and certain members of the fac- ulty. These books are published to help the puzzled housekeeper use the war foods in the proper combinations. The lunch room very early fell in line with the Food Conservation movement. To this all seemed to give their heartiest consent. Questionnaires Westport teachers helped the govern- ment by copying the draft questionnaires. Several thousand of them had to be copied twice, so you can imagine where their spare time went. The students are wondering, however, how soon they will have some more to copy, as it took so much of their time that they were unable to give any written quizzes for several weeks. . Home Guards A considerable number of Kansas City's Home Guards, or State Guards as they are now designated are Westporters. This opportunity for training and service was seized by many of the fellows, and they have helped much to make Kansas City a safe place in which to live. During the fall and early winter they were often in demand to 'do guard duty. The Stock Yards Fire and the recent strike also saw them on duty. We regret very much that we can not publish a complete list of all the fellows who are in the service. When the Home Guards were national- ized a few dropped out, but the majority remained.

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28 THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. complished which is not listed here. Even plans have been formulated for large sized Junior Red Cross organizations this summer. ' Books, Magazines, Music Records for Sol- diers Through the aid of several of the Fac- ulty members great stacks of magazines and books were sent out to the soldiers. Room 35 sent one hundred and eighteen music records to Camp l Doniphan to the soldiers of the former Third Regi- ment of Kansas City boys. ' Patriotic Knitting A knitting club of all girl members met at Miss Wilder's home one afternoon a week during the knitting rush. Many were working for personal friends. Aside from this, four complete knitted sets were turned in to the Elizabeth Benton Chapter of the D. A. R. A pleasant re- sult of this work was the letters and postcards from European ports which came from our sailors, acknowledging the receipt of the knitted articles. Afghans A service that stands for individual ef- fort is the knitting of blocks twelve inches square for afghans for convales- cents. Five large ones, each having eigh- teen blocks, and two smaller ones of six each, have been put together by the girls. A number of boys knitted for these, and their work bears comparison well. These comforts were beautiful indeed, and the soldier boys who have seen and admired them, deeply appreciated the spirit of these boys and girls of Westport. These afghans were given to our American boys, and the variety of color- ing design and embroidery will have at least carried a message of cheer and good will that it is hoped has expressed the sympathy and admiration their great deeds deserve. p Opera Glasses Mrs. McLaughlin took charge of the procuring of opera glasses for the army and navy officers, and five pairs have been brought in. Two teachers, Miss Liepsner and Mr. Hart, gave theirs, be- sides the others brought in by pupils. All were sent to an army camp. Salvage for Red Cross A Freshman in Room 28 fifth hour started the pupils of that room in saving tin foil long before the Red Cross Sal- vage Department began its work with us. Seventeen and three-fourths pounds were collected and brought in before the boxes were put in the lunch room. A Red Cross box was then put in 28 by the Salvage Department. Aside from foil, a quantity of jewelry was put into the box for the melting pot. Up to May 1 sixty-five pounds of foil had been turned into the Salvage Department by Miss Wilder. The salvage boxes in the lunch room also collected much foil and other ma- terial. One of the best things that can be said of these boxes is that they have done much to inculcate habits of saving. Red Cross Shipping Boxes Mr. Guisinger's classes were busy dur- ing the Spring days in making 100 heavy wooden boxes 3x2x2 for shipping Red Cross material to Europe.

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'QTET BOYS' DEBATE The war has reached out and touched every phase of American life. Both the boys and the girls debated questions that had their origin in the war situation. The boys' question for debate was, Re- solved, That the United States should own and operate all the railroads in the United States and its possessions. The recent congestion of the railroads and the partial control exercised by the United States government served to make the question of unusual interest. This was shown in the large number of con- testants that tried out for places on the two teams. The afiirmative team lost to Central by one point, but the negative team more than evened the score by winning a unan- imous decision over Northeast, thus caus- ing Northeast to lose her lease on the Amherst cup. We got seven decisions out of ten--some record! Westport vs. Central Our affirmative team, composed of Hu- bert Parker, Jules Guinotte, Robert Sloan, and Dan Silberberg, met the negative team of Central at Northeast. Hubert Parker, our first speaker and the only old man on the team, started the ball rolling by proving that govern- ment ownership of the railroads is right in principle. His speech was as solid as a stone wall, it could not be refuted. He was cool, collected, and was at ease throughout his entire speech. All argu- ments were brought out with great di- rectness, and in t1'uly a masterful man- ner. Jules Guinotte, our second speaker, was truly a joy to listen to, not only because the speech was so sweet to our ears, but because it was so rich as debate. Jules proved that government legislation has failed, and that it will always fail. His great knowledge of the question was ap- parent from start to finish. The speech was a marvel for clear thinking. The last speaker for Westport was Bob Sloan. Bob p1'oved that govern- ment ownership is an economic improve- ment and also an economic necessity. He certainly did himself proud. The nega- tive was utterly unable to shatter the foundation that he laid. Throughout his speech there was an apparent genuine- ness that carried conviction. Dan Silberberg, our alternate, worked like a Trojan through the weeks of prep- aration, and did valiant service during the debate by gathering the points for re- buttal. You should have heard that re- buttal. Parker, Guinotte, and Sloan met every argument in a manner that would have done your hearts good. It looked like Westport when they were through, but oratory won the decision. We hope that it may not always be so.