THE INSTITUTE , MONTHLY .. DECEMBER 1919 Published By The West Virginia Collegiate Institute Institute, W. Va. r The Institute Monthly , Entered as second-class matter, January 29, 1914, at the post-office at Institute, West Vir- ginia, under the act of March 3, 1879. VoL 12 DECEMBER 1919 No.3 '[ EDITORIALS The "Keeping Fit Campaign", or psychic causes, and yet we might inaugurated by the National Public continue to spend our days as a Health Service and introduced by tale that is told; but if in the prep- preliminary meetings thruout the aration for this war, our public entire country the first week of this conscience has been thus aroused month ought to be a clarion call to to consider the debacle of effete duty, to every educated woman, dynasties of less consequence than man, and youth of the nation. the physical regeneration of its To those of you who have read manhood and womanhood, then the sad disclosure of the examin- indeed has good come out of evil. ing boards who passed on the phys- The good arising from this prop- ical fitness of the men who were aganda will not be seen in a day. to defend the flag on land and sea, Venereal impurity is more dev- the increase of enfeebled manhood astating and far more reaching in comes with appalling force. its destructive effects than the In this connection, we are asking Great White Plague. The existing our readers to coin and treasure condition, as regards the Negro, is every word and thought of the compartively of recent considera- speech published on the President's tion' Contact with progressive page of this issue. races, defiled him; ignorance, pre- Future historians may question judice, and an unwise social policy the right of America's entrance has condemned him in spite of de- into (he Great Wor W r, it may sire and an effort to purify himself never be decided cardinal to live in a diseased enviroment. principle for right has been adj ust- White race, Black race, let us in I, ed by this blood orgy, the economist a christian spirit work out this and the psychologist may long diff- problem to the preservation and er as to whether this epidemic of regeneration of womanhood and unrest had its origin from economic manhood of America. 2 THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY The Monthly appeals to the six been touched and inspired by this [[ The President's Page 1 hundred graduates of this school Institution for racial uplift, to to throw yourselves into this work. stand up, and fight for moral ~=============================================~ We appeal to every student or purity, and the things upon which T the meeting of the of human life we know. former student, whose life has it depends. "Keeping Fit" confer- "The social mind of America is ence held in the city of aroused as it has been never be- Charleston, December fore on this question "Keeping Fit." 4 and 5, Pres. John W. Davis of Much that we thought was strong the Collegiate Institute represented in the Negro race, and in the Negro education white race was anything but It will be recalled that this was strong. The war taught much. but one of the nation wide con- Over two and one qnarter millions The 'Value of Friendship ference, called by the United States of days were lost to the American Public Health Service to meet thru army because of venereal diseases. The days grow shorter, the nights grow longer; out the United Stated during the Hospitals, and hundreds of nurses The headstones thicken along the way, first week in December, to concer- and physicians were used to get And life grows sadder, but love grows stronger, tedly launch a propoganda for many of our men fit to fight. For those who walk with us day by day. Keeping Fit. Men of national and This question must be consider- State prominence were chosen to ed by us Americans as a whole. The tear comes quicker, the laugh comes slower deliver addresses. It can not be done in parts. The , ' The courage is lesser to do and to dare; President Davis, whose remarks Negro man can not point the fin- And the tide of joy in the heart falls lower, and suggestions were given digni- ger of scorn at the white man and And seldom covers the reefs of care. fied consideration and comment the white man can not throw the from his excellency Governor first stone at the Negro man. ,¥, But aU true things in the world seem truer; Cornwell, Supt. Shawkey, Mayor Both are guilty. And the better things of earth seem best, Hall, Rabbi Bettan, chairman F. F. "Venereal diseases are commun- And friends are dearer, as friends are fewer, Farnsworth, P. A. Surgeon and all cable. Let me tell this story; An And love is all, as our sun dips west. :lelegates of the conference, was old Negro woman, living on an al- chosen as a menber of the State liey down south, did the washing Then let us clasp hands as we walk together, Advisory Board. for an aristocratic white family And let us speak softly in love sweet tone; In responding to the assignment, living on a main street in the city. For no man knows on the morrow whether, "The condition of the Colored Boy One Monday morning, going after We two pass on-or but one alone. between the ages of 14 and 20" he the clothes, the Negro woman was -Ella Wheeler Wilcox made the following ten minute met at the back door by the lady speech: of the h ruse, who exclaimed excit- "Disease knows no race lines, edly, 'Oh Sally go away at once and has no respect of persons. the docter has at last pronounced The question before us to-day is small pox in our home.' The old one of methods, and immediate ~ egro woman said in a calm voice, procedure and fellowship in hand- 'Dat's all right, Miss Anne. Don,t ling one of the greatest destroyers worry. My nine children has all , 4 THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY THE INSTITUTE MONTHLY 5 been havin that pox for a month, appalling the situation that has "Give him an outlet for his who was scheduled as the feature and de last one is gist now gettin thus aroused the nation. energy through systematic. health- speaker for the Charleston meet- all right.' "Our army lost two and one ful play. Let us not consider this ing, was unable to be present on "My friends we have got to un- quarter million days because of a luxury, but a necessity. Let us account of a request for his derstand, that the fight is on, and venereal diseases. Our economic realize that when this is provided presence in Washington D. C., by that the fight is Ours. You are life gave to the army five sixths for, a decided change III his the president of the United States. 1'1 not safe if there is left one case of of its cases. All this means that thought-life is effected. President John W. Davis, was this dreadful disease among Negro production for the common good "Through education, let us tell the chief speaker for the Parkers- :: boys, and the Negro buy is not will decrease, every power for the the truth, arouse the ministers, burg meeting, and his presence safe if there is one case among workers will be shortened, and the and forget not that Ignorance is there attracted a capacity crowd white boys. great opportunity for America Crime." of both races. "The statistics, taken on one oc- to feed a starving Europe will be The West Virginia Collegiate casion, showed that the venereal forgotten in the necessary conflict Institute faculty had an one hun- rate was almost three times as of providing enough for ourselves. ST ATE TEAaIERS' dred per cent enrollment at the high (31.08 Negro; 10.92 White) "The negro boy is a valuable ASSOOATION Charleston meeting, and this en- among Negro soldiers, as among asset to this state and government. RECORD BREAKING rollment was 12 per cent of the white soldiers. The venereal rate is high among The West Virginia Collegiate Institute total enrollment. There were It may be considered, and is them, Therefore, whatever pro- Represented ninety six teachers enrolled at this worth while remembering, the gram is pursuedfor the whites, do meeting who were graduates of colored boy must not be satisfied this and more for the colored boy. The West Virginia State Teach- this school nine of whom were to account for this high rate in Give him the benefit of all medical, ers Association, held in Charleston, members of our faculty. Trans- terms of his transfer of his en- educational and law enforcement November 27 and 28 was record lating this data in terms of re- vironment. measures. breaking in point of registrants. lative values, forty six per cent of This is a relatively new thing "One of the most serious indict- There were two hundred fifty the entire enrollment were the fac- for him. ments to be brought against us as three enrolled, and this is nearly ulty and alumni of this school, and "He has not been up against it Americans is, the short-sighted- one half of the colored teachers of thirty eight percent was composed long enough to develop a small ness we practice in forcing people the State. of the alumni of this school. statistical immunity. The fact to live in alley,', and in places The colored teachers of North- Professor .