Editor’s note: Chapter Twenty Eight ended with Grandma Thornton’s death. That was Fall 1919. Pearl has received news that she did not get into Snyder High School as she had planned. So, Pearl begins Fall term, Rita School, 1919, repeating the eighth grade. This December and January, the community experiences a return of the Spanish Flu with several tragic deaths. Pearl describes a terrible tragedy in the nearby Noel family. And she is mentioned as a “beauty” more than once. Enjoy. RAN
The wait was not long for the letter from Aunt Mag. Disappointing news, however, because of so many students entering high school from the surrounding country as Snyder, the schoolrooms were crowded already. They would not accept her niece coming to live with her to attend school there. Snyder being over in Kiowa County might have made a difference. I know the news was almost as disappointing to Mama and Papa as it was to me. Papa even promised me if we could get an instrument, he would pay Miss Ida Southers, a mile away, to give me music lessons.
There were really extenuating circumstances that brought this thinking about. Following the loss of the cotton gin, the general store, almost immediately, was forced to close. Mr. Tom Harrison, who had bought out Harry DeFord, may have wholesaled some of his stock to another grocer-of that I’m not sure, but the plan he set upon to dispose of his goods was quite dramatic, one that caused a considerable stir in our community. A new piano was purchased by Mrs. Harrison and displayed at the store. Then a popularity contest was launched. The piano would be the prize to the young lady receiving the greatest number of votes. Each dollar spent for groceries and supplies from the store counted as one vote. If you were not connected with any of the contestants-family or friends-you could place your votes on the contestant of your choice. I don’t recall the number of contestants there were, but Papa put my name up as one of them. He hoped that I would win, and he did receive encouragement from his friends that he saw around the store. It was exciting to us, but for only a few weeks.
Papa came home one day from the store and said he had taken my name off the list of contestants! He explained that he did this because he found that the contest was conducted in an unfair manner. There were two contestants. One was a young married woman. The other contestant had many relatives whose extended family owed the store hundreds of dollars each, as they had used their credit there over the past years. Their farms had produced poor crops up to the present time. Now that a bumper cotton crop was being harvested, these back charges could be paid. The back debts would count in votes the same as cash purchases, so that let me out as a contestant! That was a blow, needless to say, but the contest ran the scheduled length of time, the married young lady received the much-coveted new piano, and the country general store, first known as the Jack Allen Store, then the Harry DeFord Store, and last the Tom Harrison Store was no more: it would be missed!
It didn’t take long for me to decide on my immediate future. If I could not go to high school, I would return to Rita School and study the eighth grade again. Papa didn’t protest. Mama thought it was rather foolish as I could learn more about cooking and sewing if I would stay at home. But, I wanted to be with my friends. And of course, I would see very little of them, spending all of the time at home. The reverses were disappointing, but in spite of this, the atmosphere in our family seemed clear and fresh, as though we had gone through a “baptism of blood”, so to speak, and came out cleansed and pure. The terrific strain on us all as we suffered Grandma’s illness and death had somehow left us free and happier. And, too, I personally was going through important changes in my life that were leading into another year of unforeseen developments that would establish bases for the remainder of my life.
Box Suppers as a community event of the day
It was customary for the country public schools to have a pie or box supper in the fall semester of the school year. This event occurred usually in November when the crops were about all gathered leaving the school patrons free from pressing field labor so they could attend this community affair. By this date, too, there would be more money in the pockets of the male population. This item was of much importance because this cash and its owners would be separated when the beautifully decorated boxes and pies came to the auction block. Men and boys would vie for the box belonging to their favorite girl or woman. The men usually bought their wives’ boxes and another one or two to help out the school. This fund, raised on the joyful occasion, would be used for the school Christmas Tree and Christmas treats for everyone.
Ed. note: The link following announces a “box supper” in 1919 Kansas. In the 1940s at Victory High School (where all of my six older siblings completed their public education and I attended eleven years before it was forced to close due to low enrollment) there were box supper auctions to raise money for school projects. I recall my sisters decorating shoeboxes with crape paper and ribbons of bright colors. The teen-aged boys would bid on the boxes for the honor of eating the contents of the box, usually sandwiches or fried chicken, with the girl who owned the box. You could call it “courting” in those days. 🙂 RAN
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10824677/box-supper/
The young men of the community attending the supper had quite different objects in mind. Although the boxes were anonymous, the boys usually found out by way of the grapevine, who owned which box and the fight was on! Sometimes there was rivalry between young men. When a group would collaborate and out-bid a fellow who had a “best” girl, irritating the girl and angering the young man because he failed to get her box. We teenage girls joined in the excitement as there were new fellows present from neighboring schools attending our school’s box supper. In turn, our boys would attend box supper affairs at other nearby schools. Although, not many girls did. Automobiles were just recently making their advent into our rural areas, young men drove them and even the next school districts just a few miles away seemed far outside our realm.
So the Friday evening arrived for our box supper at Rita School. Mama decorated my box and filled it with fried chicken, slices of pie, a couple of apples, and enough food for two people. The Noel girls, Viola and Lona and I had walked to the schoolhouse, carrying our decorated boxes. My brother Billy, age 11 and David Noel, age 10, walked along with us. With the preliminaries out of the way, the auctioneer came to the platform, enlisted two young girls to assist him, and began his chant. We girls all became nervous and giggly. We could see the boys all huddled in a group, doing much bidding, having their kind of fun, as well. I don’t recall who got my box that night in November 1919, but I recall a sense of disappointment to learn it was bought by a man, either Mr. Hammonds or Mr. Caldwell, nice neighbor men.
But the high point for me at that supper was the sequel to the auction, the contest for the prettiest or most popular girl. We girls, of my crowd, always looked on, while a great deal of interest was from among the “big” girls, not always from our school district, but from the surrounding districts, that they were chosen. These contestants were usually already graduated from the eighth grade. Some of these young women were in high school, but most were not in school. But, they had quite a following of seeking young men. Not so at this year’s box supper! To my dismay, my name was put on the blackboard! Why me? I was just one of the “little” girls, not eligible in the least, to be a candidate for the prettiest and certainly not the most popular! I could not believe my eyes as the votes went up and up beside my name! My friends were gathered around me pounding me, rejoicing at what was happening, while I was frightened out of my wits! The girls around me also pointed to the group of boys over in the corner, especially Loyace Hicks, who was beaming with anticipation of Pearl Thornton’s winning the contest, and receiving the box of chocolates! Then, and only then were we aware of who was at the bottom of all this! I received the chocolates, with thanks, but frustrated to the degree that I didn’t even think of passing the box around to my friends! (I wasn’t quite grown up yet, was I?) Viola Noel spent the night with me that moonlit night and after talking and rehashing the events of the evening, she fell asleep. I don’t believe I close my eyes the entire night. We ate some of the candy and I accredited that to my insomnia, but I was so displeased with myself; my ungratefulness and my uncharitable selfishness! I was horrible!
It is my nature to be ungrateful when it comes to receiving compliments; I have always had a problem with that. Although I am proud of my accomplishments, generally, somehow I’d rather nobody notice! Finally, I read an article someone had written on the subject and learned that the simplest manner of acceptance is the best. Just a simple “thank you”, accompanied by a smile is enough. Don’t try to repel it; don’t try to undo it! I’m much happier after that lesson! I will add, that we owe something to others, too.
The second time through eighth grade at Rita School
We had several new families move into our school district that winter. The Kellys, south of the school, moved away to the Loveland Community; a Thornton family, not related to our family, moved a mile and three-quarters from school! A Daugherty family moved into the northwest part of the district; the Garners moved across the road from the Thorntons; the Coopers occupied the house the Kellys vacated, and the Jack Butlers moved into the Hogan place. Perhaps Mr. Hogan moved into town with his family. Most of these families were large, so our school population swelled considerably that year. My returning to school to repeat the eighth grade seemed of no consequence to anyone, except me, maybe. I felt so important and secure; more than I had since I left the Valley View School near Randlett. It was a good, lifting experience for me.
Annie Mae Thornton and I were seatmates. Miss Katherine Caldwell, still our teacher, was having difficulty finding enough seats when we older students were helping her arrange the room. All of the desks were double in our room, but it seems that Annie May and I, for some reason, are yet to be located. Finally, Miss Katherine said, “ I will put you two girls together, as one of you is left-handed and the other is right-handed. That will work out just fine you won’t get in each other’s way.” I suppose she felt we might be a bit crowded in a double desk, even as we were seventeen and nearly fifteen. But the arrangement was very satisfactory-we had a good time together!
We had a good Christmas program that year. I don’t recall any details, but it was always the highlight of the school year. I enjoyed participating in the program and helping in any way I could to prepare for it. We had a larger school, therefore, many new patrons, so it was great fun. Loyace Hicks, “thorn in the flesh” to me, was not in school anymore! There were other large boys, as old or older than Annie Mae and me, but somehow they didn’t appeal to our fancy. Annie Mae was already dating some, so she would talk about boys she knew who were out of school, some she dated and some she would like to date. We would whisper quietly during school, to not disturb anyone, and talk at recess, sometimes. But, more often, I was engaged in our girls’ baseball team or whatever outdoor activity was popular at the time. Annie Mae was not so athletic, as I recall.
The Garners who moved across from the Thorntons had four children in school, and two older boys already out of school. Moody Garner, the oldest of the children attending school, was a cute little guy, younger by two years than I, but rather large for his age. I liked him very much-not really as a boyfriend, but I felt drawn to him, and spoke to him frequently, although, he was very shy.
Spanish Flu returns to our community
That winter, in the early months of 1920, the Spanish Influenza went on another rampage, becoming epidemic, as bad or worse than the year before. Our family was not afflicted this time, as many others were not, who had had the disease. We seemed to be immunized against the scourge this time. Many of our neighbors came down with the “flu”, as it came to be called. Ab Davidson, our friend, a mile and a half away, called Papa one day.
“Pete, you had the flu last winter, didn’t you? Well, tell me how it works. I don’t seem to have a cold, but I’ve got something!” It turned out to be the “flu”. This was earlier on in the season. The Noel family were all down with the disease at the same time. Austin Noel and his wife, Lillie, who lived with Mrs. Noel’s family, were visiting Davidson, Oklahoma, with her mother who had the “flu”, and maybe pneumonia. Mrs. Noel and her children were all sick. Mrs. Noel’s oldest son, Frank, and wife, Lola, lived across the road from her. They were both in bed with the flu. Mr. Davidson, now immune from the disease, walked the three-quarter-mile away to check on them.
Mama was concerned, but she was not robust health herself and had Arthur, five years old, whom she couldn’t take to a sick room. So, one day, I think on Sunday afternoon, Mama sent me the half-mile, down the creek, to the Noels to see if I could help. I went to Mrs. Noel’s house first, and found them improving; all of them were weak, not very hungry, sort of helping themselves and each other. Mrs. Noel sent me up, across the road, to see what Frank and Lola needed. They were in the northwest corner of the living room in a bed together. I recall refilling a water glass for them, but they wanted nothing to eat at this point. Lola was coughing slightly and told Frank that she felt pain when she coughed. I soon left, went back by Mrs. Noel’s for a few minutes, then back home. I told Mama how they were, and she was afraid for Lola, as she knew that she was several months into a pregnancy and influenza was often fatal for women in this condition, especially if pneumonia was contracted, too.
Mr. Davidson came to the Noels later that day and saw that Lola desperately needed medical attention. So, he went home and called Dr. Fuqua who came out from Grandfield. When the doctor made his examination, he found that Lola did have pneumonia. Others in attendance at the two homes decided to move Frank to his mother’s home as he was some better, although, his case was watched closely due to his heart condition. But, in spite of all that could be done, Lola Wood Colyer Noel died on February 11, 1920, on Wednesday following my visit to them on Sunday.
School at Rita was upset and into turmoil as Miss Katherine was down with influenza as well as a great portion of the student body. Then, we received the sad news that our little schoolmate, Moody Garner, had died of complications resulting from influenza and chronic kidney disease. I believe he died on February 12, the day after Lola died.
Ed Note: The second winter of sorrow and loss by Pearl and the community with the return of Spanish Flu. Reading of deaths from the Spanish Flu, many of us can relate to the pain and grief, as we have lost close friends and family in the most recent pandemic of 2020-2022, the Covid-19 pandemic. This link may be of interest to you regarding the extent of the second Winter of Spanish Flu from a 1920 newspaper article on the Spanish Flu. RAN
https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/13030/kt309nd94c/
Miss Thelma Thompson, the elementary teacher was keeping the classes as best she could. St. Valentine’s Day was coming up the following Saturday, so we would have our Valentine Box on Friday afternoon. She and we older girls worked at recess time making Valentines, as no one had been able to obtain any store-bought ones. Miss Thompson taught us to make interesting Valentines from Construction paper, watercolors, and Crayolas, using any and all pictures we could find in magazines. We became quite adept, as we created those Valentines; we even wrote poetic verses on them. There was some joy, but I still feel the heaviness that hung over us was the loss by death of these two who were close to us as classmates and neighbors!
Ed. note: On a lighter note, this link is an interesting history of crayons. Possibly, your children may enjoy it. RAN
https://arthearty.com/crayons-history
At Friday morning assembly, Miss Thompson would favor us with the currently popular songs which we had not the opportunity to learn. She sang, to the delight of us older girls, “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”, “Smiles”, and “Til We Meet Again”, which was actually a war song, but still popular in our area. A few persons in the community had record players. Mrs. Tom Harrison, the country store proprietor’s wife, had one. I recall one day when I, together with some other friends, sat in Mrs. Harrison’s living room listening to some of the new popular songs when a pair of “sweethearts” strolled up to the front porch and asked Mrs. Harrison if she had “Smiles”. She answered in the affirmative, and the two young lovers stood outside on the porch and listened intently, while their heads bowed, to the beautiful love song. They were married some months later. We young girls enjoyed that scene very much!
Ed. note: The links below are 1918 and 1919 recordings of the three songs mentioned by Pearl, in the order mentioned. :). Enjoy. RAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8epPksKZ7U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh9CC-6CmWs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGnhdE3ZI-U
Pearl’s last memories of attending Rita School
Miss Thompson was quite helpful when the time came for our end-of-school program. The two teachers made props for the program’s varied presentations. I believe that was the program in which I played the part of a little Irish mother who wore a hat trimmed with cherries, having twin babies (which no one ever saw), but when the babies needed her, she would hurry to the exit with “I’m a-comin’, me darlin’, I’m a-comin’ .”
A fifth-grade student, Harvey Loveless, amused and surprised the audience by eating a slice of (cardboard) watermelon, made by Miss Thompson, which looked very real; green rind, a three-dimension slice of red and white melon, with black seeds. Even the top of the slice was notched to look as if the performer was actually biting into it. His skilled performance included spitting the seeds to his right and left. To complete the tableau, another fifth-grade boy stood by longingly, as he wished for a bite of the juicy, ripe watermelon. The title of this tableau was “A Watch on the Rind”. (Which sounded like “A Watch on the Rhine!”, and naturally, the audience expected a detachment of military men. A skillful “play on words”!
In spite of the anticipation of a release from the school’s busy schedule and the joys that accompany this release, there was also sadness. This would be the last year for Miss Katherine Caldwell, as she planned to do further study at a college in Colorado. Many of us as schoolmates would not return to school here in the fall. The school board, of which Papa was a member, was working toward a ninth-grade class by fall, which did develop, as we will see when we resume the life of Zula Pearl Thornton Noel.
Editor’s note: In the original hand written manuscript, at this juncture, Pearl moves to a long, thorough history of Frank Noel’s family, especially his growing up and young adult years. I will made an editorial decision and include the time in 1915-16, when the Noels moved into the Cooper Creek community. This will describe how teenaged Frank and his brother Austin, became farmers. And their meeting and marrying their wives in this new community only 3/4 mile south of Pearl’s home. This dovetails into Pearl’s life during the eventful summer, fall and winter of 1920. Then we will return to her writings of the Noel family history following the marriage of Pearl and Frank in early 1921. Stay tuned. RAN