Editor’s note: In November 1918, Armistice comes, which Pearl has written about earlier. She recalls it now, as America is experiencing the Spanish Flu epidemic near the end of the war. We read of many interesting stories of her year in eighth grade and completion of her elementary school studies. Enjoy. RAN
Experiencing the Spanish Influenza
During that winter of 1918-1919, our family had an experience with “Spanish Influenza”, an epidemic of flu in its worst form. It began that winter and spread like “wildfire” across the entire country. It was brought into the United States by the armed forces returning from the war in Europe. The conflict was still raging, but there had been sick and wounded soldiers returning to our military hospitals who had introduced the disease into this country. It was so distressfully weakening to the human body, sapping all resistance, until pneumonia was the result of many who were attacked, causing death. Statistics proved that not a great number died of the influenza alone, but critical illnesses infected those who were weakened by the disease. Surprisingly, to many who became ill, they were not afflicted by the common cold, as they were accustomed to in the case of the “grip”. (I believe that a man named LaGrippe had discovered this disease earlier in the century). But, the greatest problem was a lack of knowledge in treating this new disease. Pneumonia could be treated, but until pneumonia developed, other remedies seemed useless. The conclusion among doctors was that the patient should prevent unnecessary exposure, take aspirin, consume a liquid diet and wait!
Ed. note: Spanish Flu or “grippe” links for more information. RAN
https://www.etymonline.com/word/grippe
https://virus.stanford.edu/uda/
The disease traveled through our family, but no one was seriously ill. No causes of pneumonia, some colds. Papa, refusing to stay in bed, sat in the rocking chair, wrapped in a blanket by the heater, deliriously talking, singing, frightening us children, but Mama and Grandma did what they could for him, explaining to us that he always was like this with fever. Fever and a terrific aching sensation did accompany Spanish Influenza.
In the Spring of 1919 we had another epidemic assail our neighborhoods, but only our family and one other were afflicted. Mama was really sick. She broke out in large eruptions on the skin, with fever and vomiting. It was necessary to seek medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment. Dr. Wright from Grandfield, twelve miles away, made a house call, and told Mama she had smallpox! She was not surprised, as she was so dreadfully ill, although none of the rest of us were really sick. Neither Papa nor Grandma suffered any effects, nor did Arthur, aged four. Billy had a breaking out of the skin a few days earlier but went on to school as usual. I had a half-dozen eruptions on my arms which the doctor inspected, and I had been nauseated and vomited the night before. Dr. Wright said that I had smallpox. And that, although a light case, I would be immunized for life. He gave the others the immunization shots, quarantined us for twenty-one days, and left. I don’t know what type of medication the doctor left for Mama, but she was so sick she stayed in the bed for several days.
Ed. note: Smallpox link for your information and interest. RAN
https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/history/history.html
April Fool’s Day
Ed. note: link to April Fools’ Day history for your interest. RAN
https://www.dictionary.com/e/fool/
It was April 1, 1919. Plans had been underway for some days for the student body to play “hooky” on April Fool’s Day. We were planning to gather early and leave the school before the teacher arrived. In addition to this unethical performance, some mischievous students hit upon the idea of adding injury to insult by hanging a bucket of water over the door on the inside of the schoolhouse. When the unsuspecting teacher opened the door, she would be doused with the water!
The smaller children didn’t go with us. Billy, at that time, about ten, and some other children a year or so younger went along. Our planned destination was the Red River bridge some two miles west and one mile south of the schoolhouse. I remember well the thrill it gave me, as it obviously did the crowd, as we made our way along the sandy road on that beautiful spring day! My inner consciousness housed a certain dread and fear of what Papa would do to chasten us, but this trick was so much fun, it would surely outweigh the retribution!
Ed. note: Pearl’s home farm was near the Red River which has a very wide bed, up to one mile wide in places, but almost never full of water. But, it presented quite a barrier for trains, automobiles, and even wagons to cross. These photos from the early 1920s show the Red River’s width and a wooden bridge built in 1916. This bridge was located near Davidson in western Tillman County, about fifteen miles west of Rita School. Red River banks were very sandy with outcroppings of red clay causing the deep red color to the pools of water standing in the bed of the river. RAN
We older students kept watching over the younger ones as they dared to go down the embankment by the bridge to the water’s edge. David, Viola’s young brother, dared some of the boys to jump into the water, clothes and all. I believe we had one who took the challenge, Billy, my brother! Viola and I were thoroughly disgusted with our young brothers! We had all done enough by leaving school and daring to walk the three miles to the river; and now, they had immersed themselves in this red water and silt of Red River! “Would their clothes ever be clean again?”, we asked ourselves.
Meanwhile, back at the school, someone had tipped off the teacher about the tricks, but someone did open the door from the outside to tilt the bucket and spill water on the floor the next morning. I was late for school and so was Ida Mae. Coming from different directions, we arrived at the school at the same time. Fearfully, we asked each other what was happening. No one was outside on the playground, the front door was still closed. A voice from inside called, as we approached the building, “Go around to the other door!”
There everyone was seated in their usual places, some smiling, others with somber faces, all with their eyes fixed upon us. The teacher broke the silence. “Well, girls, as you are late, we will let you clean up the mess at the front door.” That was an embarrassing moment for us; actually, a bit unfair, we thought, but we proceeded to the janitor’s closet and got rags, mops, and brooms, and did as were asked to do. The door was then opened for the air and sunshine to refresh the room. The teacher announced that each of us who participated in the tricks would forfeit our recesses for a week-“stay in” was the ugly term she used! It was no fun to be incarcerated for a week, but, of course, we had plenty of company!
At home, Papa gave us a lecture, commanding us never to do such a foolish act again! He left the punishment to the teacher, who administered it well! Oh, by the way! I heard by way of the grapevine that the idea of the water bucket trick, ugly as it was, had been suggested by older sisters of some of the students. These instigators of the plot escaped the consequences, however!
I was an eighth-grader that year and in spite of illnesses, absences, quarantines, I would graduate with a high average. It was necessary that our school send their students to Chateau School for our eighth-grade tests. Not our school alone, but some four or five surrounding districts came together at this point, three miles north of Rita.
Loyace Hicks family had bought a car, so he would drive to Chateau School and would take Isabell Bowman and me, as we were the only three Rita students to take the eighth-grade examination. I was stubborn about riding with Loyace. He seemed to be always on hand! There was even the time when one past Christmas, I drew his name for a Christmas gift! (I guess I hadn’t related that story). Anyway, I managed to be late as he made a stop at the Harrison Store (formerly, DeFord) up on the road. I knew the time he was coming so I knew I would be late to meet him. Papa walked with me to the store and asked Mr. Lank Bacon if he would drive me to Chateau for the examination. He kindly obliged.
I sat for the examinations with all the other eighth-graders. For some reason, I finished ahead of Loyace and Isabell. I just took my books and my lunch basket in my hand and began walking the three miles to our home. I supposed they would pick me up, but I couldn’t see waiting around for them. Maybe they were asking about the test grades. I was about one-half mile down the road when they came! They questioned why I didn’t come with them, how I got there, et cetera. We stopped to let Isabel off at her home, and I got into the front seat with Loyace. These tests consumed the greater part of two days, so it was necessary to ride with Loyace again. But, this time in spite of my vows never to look in his direction, I swallowed my pride and met him at the store the following morning. I was beginning to grow up, in spite of myself!
The eighth-grade examination occurred some days before the end of school, and as that eventful day approached, plans began for our rendition of the pageant, “Flags of All Nations”. It was a replica of the pageant enacted at Marseille, France, on November 11, 1918, celebrating the Armistice some months before.
We could hardly conceive the meaning of the Armistice and the treaties among nations as they finally came together, signing the instruments of peace on November 11, 1918. But to us, as to the bulk of the American population, it meant the “doughboys” are coming home; our friends and relatives would be finally coming back from the awful war! Husbands, sweethearts, brothers would be home again! My Uncle Charley would come home to Aunt Kate and his kids in Texas!
Ed. note: This link describes the Armistice Museum in France. RAN
https://armistice-museum.com/visit-the-memorial/the-museum/
I cannot reconstruct the pageant in its entirety. I wish it were possible. But, the emphasis seemed to be on the flags; therefore, much of our rehearsal was absorbed in a drill using the many flags of the nations we represented. Mothers of the students were responsible for making the flags of all nations involved in World War I. My flag was of China, some fifteen by twenty-five inches, at that time, constructed of seven horizontal stripes of red, yellow, blue, green, white with two of the colors repeated. I recall that Mama had trouble finding yellow material, so she used copperas to age a piece of white material to a dark yellow.
We rehearsed the flag drills on the classroom stage to perfection, but it always seemed nothing less than a miracle that each flag appeared at the right place at the proper moment, as we made the figure-eight design on the stage! The drills did give us a thrill as we marched to “Washington Post March”, “El Capitan” and other recorded music. I cannot recall speaking parts interspersing the flag drills, but I’m sure there were some-but I do remember the end-the closing speech, which was written for the occasion and delivered at Marseilles, France, celebrating the end of the “war to end all wars, ushering in an era of peace”.
Ed. note: Links to both of the Sousa compositions popular around the end of WW I. RAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzIH7vytjEE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f61GX6xeiIQ
The following poem speaks to this thought, recited by Loyace Hicks. We all listened to the rehearsal so many times, we learned the words of the piece:
“Now peace doth hover near,
The flutter of her wings,
The sweet-voiced hymn she sings,
Brings hope and drives out fear.
Tyranny’s reign is done.
Amongst her brutal hordes,
Her lying, murderous words,
The Peace of Right has won.
Welcome to thee, sweet Peace,
Man’s liberty thy boon,
A world from wars immune,
Freedom that ne’er shall cease!”
So, closed this memorable school term, leading us into a busy summer of 1919.
Editor’s note: In Chapter 28, Pearl is in her fourteenth year. There is an “oil boom” around Burkburnett, Texas which she describes as impacting the broader region. Her beloved grandmother Lasephine Ware Thornton becomes quite ill. Stay tuned. RAN