Weekly Messenger - 1917 February 17

              THE WEEKLY MESSENGER
Devoted to the Interests of the Student Body, Washington State Normal School
Vol. XVI. BELLINGHAM, WASH., SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1917 No. 19
Assembly
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Superintendent McKown, of What­com
high school, spoke in assembly
Friday, Feb. 9. "Why Are We Here?"
was the subject of his talk. He told
many interesting things about himself
and how he went to normal to learn
how to teach, after teaching several
years in rural schools. He spoke of the
importance of the work of the primary
and grade teachers. "It is easy enough
to be a high school teacher," said Mr.
McKown. "It is in the grades that the
most important work is done, and
when I find students doing good work
in high school, I know that some grade
teacher has done good work some
time."
Mr. Phillipi spoke on Abraham Lin­coln,
in assembly, last Monday. He
told some stories of the life of Abra­ham
Lincoln, and discussed Lincoln's
political views.
Mr. Moodie's talk on "The Economic
Value of Some Common Plants," was
very interesting and entertaining. He
said that Indians use "skunk cabbage,"
snake fern, and the bark of some com­mon
trees, for food. Mr. Moodie was
very careful to give the scientific
names of these plants for fear that
some of the students might not know
them by their common names.
An exceedingly pleasing musical pro­gram
was given Wednesday morning
by the "Bellingham School of Music
and Art." Miss Strange was at the
piano; Mr. Wililams, the violin; Mr.
Bugge, violin; Mr. Cornish, the cello;
Mr. Schirrman, clarinet, and Mr. West,
the flute.
The numbers played formed one of
the artistic musical units of the year.
"Opera Mirror," arranged by Tobini.
"Minuet in G," Beethoven.
"Dancing Dolls," Polgini.
"Serenade," Tittle.
"Birdland Suite," Bendix.
"Hungarian Dance No. 6," Brahm.
"Liebesfreud," Kreisler.
Cecil A. Folsom, business manager
of the Messenger, has been sick with
the measles. Smith Carlton has been
acting as manager during Mr. Fol-som's
"isolation."
aaijtngton at Haling Jfarge
A Dramatic Monologue.
My men walk barefoot in the frozen snow
And stain it with their blood. Unclothed, unfed
We cower beneath December's cruel winds
In this cold northern land. Our master there
In yonder city, warmly clothed and housed,
And richly fed, waste hours in ruitless talk
Nor care that we are perishing of want.
Their praise is all for others, not for me,
For Gates and Arnold, Schuyler and the rest
Who basely plot to drag me from my place
And bring disgrace and ruin on my head.
Is it for this I brave the winter's cold
And hush the murmurs of my starving men
And wrestle daily with my God in prayer
That He will free this land? Is it for this
That I have left the safety of my home,
My wife and friends who long for my return,
The comfort and the ease that might be mine.
Suppose I leave this place where famine dwells,
And Death stalks daily seeking for his prey,
And fling my office at the feet of those
Who seek by plots to steal it from my hands,
And leave this thankless people to its fate?
This I would do but that a voice within
Speaks to me saying that on me is laid
The task to free this tyrant ridden land
And found a nation here; a voice that says
The victory shall be mine, and these base foes
Who weave their plots in secrecy and shame
Shall be confounded and to me at last
Shall be the rich reward of duty done,
And I shall live within the nation's heart
Through all the glorious da)^ that are to come.
Therefore I will be patient and will trust
That He who rules the world, in his good time
Will take away this bitter cup I drink.
For right must ever triumph in the end
And falsehood must be trampled in the dust.
W. F. PARISH.
Calendar
Monday, Feb. 19, 1917. — Assembly,
Miss Norton and Mrs. Kuykendall
will speak.
3:20—High.School B. B. practice.
4:10—Boys' Glee Club meets.
Junior B. B. practice.
Tuesday, Feb. 20, 1917 —
9:30—Dr. E. O. Holland, of Pullman
State college, will speak. ••..-•-
3:20—Elementary and Senior B. B.
practice.
4:10—High School and Junior B. B..
practice.
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1917.
Assembly. Musical numbers pre­sent
by Mrs. Engberg.
4:10—Choral club mets in auditor*
ium. Senior and Elementary
Kline cup game.
Thursday, Feb. 22, 1917—Holiday.
Friday, Feb. 23, 1917 —
Assembly. Supt. Jennings, of Ana-cortes,
will speak.
4.10—Junior and Elementary Kline
Cup game.
Saturday, Feb. 24, 1917.—
10:00—Studio club meets.
E
IS
Contest. The rules and regulations
governing this contest will be decided
upon by a committee appointed by the
editor.
Students be keen! Get busy with
your pens and submit short stories,
The Board of Control has kindly poems and essays to this committee,
consented to award thirty dollars in Watch The Messenger for further an-cash
prizes for The Klipsun Literary nouncements.
Miss Keeler has a letter from Vin­cent
Boucher, who is principal of the
East Mountain View school. His sis^-
ter, Florence, is primary teacher in
the same school. Mr. Boucher is one
of last year's students.
We are sorry to lose two of our
young men this semester, since they
are so limited. J. B. Russell '18, and
Raymond Elder '18 quit school and ac­cepted
teaching positions in Lewis
county. Congratulations fellows!
Comrade Griffith, patriotic instruc­tor
of the G. A. R., visited the Normal
one day last week. Mr. Griffith was
personally acquainted with Lincoln,
back in Civil War days.
Miss Keeler was at East Sound last
week. While there she met Sally Shel-ton
and Evelyn Culver, both former
Normal students. Both the girls are
delightfully situated and are enjoying
their work.