Page 6
THE FEDERATION JOURNAL
January, 1954
NEW BUILDINGS AT
THE GIRLS’ SCHOOL
The remarkably fine dedicatorial exer
cises at the Girls’ School in Kinston re
minded me of a story entitled “From the
Cobbler’s Hut to the King’s Palace.” There
was something that suggested a magician’s
wand, an Aladdin’s ring, or a magic car
pet. We touched the ring, aroused the
genii; we said, “Efland go! Dobbs Farm
come! Come new buildings! Come fifty
transformed girls! Come the finest super
intendent in all the states! There they
were all of these and a glorious, never
to be forgotten exercise of dedication that
filled all our hearts. The buildings are
things of beauty and they will be objects
of our eternal pride and gratitude.
Miss Mae D. Holmes has put her whole
heart in this great enterprise of redemp
tion; and her success is written from the
entrance gateway of the school, to the
remotest corner of the farm. Dormitories,
residences, office building, library, dining
room, rest rooms, indeed, the program
itself, the luncheon, the excellent music—
all had as someone said “the Holmes fla
vor.” It is a wonderful work that has been
accomplished at the Girls’ School. Thanks
to Miss Holmes and her staff; thanks to
the peerless Mr. Leonard; thanks to the
good old State of North Carolina; thanks
to the Federation of Negro Women’s
Clubs; thanks to the early leadership of
Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, and thanks
again to Mae D. Holmes. The Federation
sent a dozen beautiful American Beauty
roses as a wee token of our great esteem.
Alas, there are not enough roses in Pic
ardy, nor orchids in India to express the
full measure of our deep admiration for
and unbounded appreciation of the splen
did service Miss Holmes has rendered
during her stay at the State Training
School for Girls at Kinston, N. C.
MRS. LILLIE B. GIBSON
For several years Mrs. Lillie B. Gibson
of Shelby, North Carolina, has worked
most diligently as our Junior Organizer.
This year she is none the less earnest than
in previous years. Indeed she seems to be
working with even more zeal and enthusi
asm. Her programs rendered at the con
ventions, her initiation of the annual ob
servance of Girls’ Week, and her general
efforts toward promoting a program for
finer womanhood through the junior clubs
should be an inspiration to our Federation
leaders throughout the state. “More clubs
and better clubs for the young women!”
That is our slogan.
DAUGHTER OF DORCAS CLUB
Continued from Page Two
for others, and she’d always want to be
associated —• in fact, she asserted she’d
never give up her membership.
At this point all gathered around and
partook bountifully of sandwiches and of
delicious and delightfully cold fruit punch
from a gorgeous punch bowl placed on a
lovely lace cloth. Pleasant mingling kept
all lingering and it was hard to say “Good
Night.”
Mrs. Cotton and her committee were
thanked over and over for so pleasant an
evening. Miss Ruth Rush had been,
among others, a “right hand” to our be
loved late President, Mrs. C. S. Moore—
and when it became necessary, she was
unanimously elected President. She has
given meritorious services and congenial
companionship, always giving her best in
guiding wisely in the interest of all.
How greatly we shall miss Miss Rush!
Surely she carries with her the highest
regard, the prayers and best wishes for
Along the Road with
Our Juniors
A pleasant thought can do so much
To brighten up the day,
And fill with friendly atmosphere
Whatever words we say.
It conquers wrath and prejudice;
It lightens every care;
And, it is something everyone
Should have the grace to share.
A pleasant thought is rich as gold.
And yet is always free;
And it provides, by far, the most
Enduring memory.
It gives us inspiration in
Our struggle for success.
And leads the way to dreams of love.
And lasting happiness;
So why invite the faintest frown.
Or bear the smallest strife.
When just a pleasant thought can do
So much to brighten life?
her continued success and happiness of all
the members of the Daughters of Dorcas
Club of Durham, N. C.
BE THE BEST
by NAOMI WADDELL
So often seeing young people of my
race miss the mark of becoming success
ful, I take this opportunity to tell you a
few facts about being the best of what
ever you are.
When a boy or girl goes to college for
maybe one or two years, and then drops
out giving some lame excuse, such as, “I
don’t like it”; well, how can one expect
to be carried to heaven on flowery beds
of ease? No, to succeed a student must
stick to his studies whether he likes them
or not.
If we really want to be someone worth
while we can. It is up to us. Many people
now holding outstanding jobs worked
their way from the bottom up, because
they were determined to be the best of
whatever they were. Consider students
who work as caddies, cleaners, shoe-shop
helpers, maids or waiters. This is honest
labor and better than loitering along the
streets, walking idly from place to place.
Is it your ambition to have a high school
education and future training? This can
be secured by persistence and by doing
whatever work is necessary in the very
best way possible. This will prepare you
for a better job, will give you dignity, will
guarantee you a higher standard of liv
ing, will give you the opportunity of
meeting fine people. So let us not miss our
mark; let us begin with the small jobs and
do them well, and not be content to be
good, or even better than someone else,
but be the very best of whatever you are;
as the poet says:
“If you can’t be a pine on the top of a
hill.
Be a shrub in the valley, but be
The best little shrub by the side of the
road
Be a bush, if you can’t be a tree;
If you can’t be a tree, then just be a bush.
We all can’t be captains; some must be
crew.
There’s work for us all here to do.
If you can’t be the sun; then just be a
star.
But be the best of whatever you are.”
Cabiness Named Head
Of Business Division
For Negro UF Drive
Mrs. Lillie B. Gibson
Division Chairman
Warren G. Cabiness has been named
Negro Business Division Chairman of the
Cleveland County United Fund campaign,
it was announced this morning by J. D.
Kibler, Jr., Chairman of the Negro Divi
sion.
A complete list of workers for the divi
sion is being compiled by Cabiness and
will be announced when completed.
Mrs. L. B. Gibson, Shelby Nesro Divi
sion Chairman, will head the house-to-
house drive locafiv and is also preparing
a list of her workers.