The Donaldsonville chief., 1918-06-15
PRIZE WINNING ESSAYS.
D. II. S. Students Discuss Topics Re-
lating to Great War.
By T. S. VICKERS.

D. H. S. Students Discuss Topics Re-
lating to Great War.
By Il. S. vICKERs.
1t was made requirement this
session Of promotion in all grades of
both the grammar and high school
departments of the. Donaldsonville
High School that every pupil should
be able to write a satisfactory COM
position in the presence of his .re-
spective teacher on both of the fol-
lowing subjects: /, Why is our
country in the great European war?
2, What are my duties and obliga-
tions as a patriotic young American
citizen in this critical hour of my
Ecountry's history?
Through the liberality Of Messrs.
Alex. Bloomenstiel and Ferdinand
Lemann two prizes in the form of war
savings stamps were offered for the
best compositions on either of the
two above subjects that should be
written by a grammar grade and a
high school pupil, respectively.
The two compositions which are
printed below were adjudged by
committees Of disinterested parties
as being the best in their respective
departments. These compositions,
although the result of previous study
and reading on the part of the pu-
pills: and previous instruction on the
part of the teachers, were written
without assistance of any kind, in the
presence ofothe teachers, and within
a period of less than sixty minutes.
believe that every one who reads
them will agree with me when say
they are both very creditable per-
i formances.
Why the United States is at War with
Germany and My Duties as an
American Patriot.
4 In the year 1907 delegates from all
the nations of the world met at the
Hague, Holland, and made laws that
all promised to obey. The whole
world was then at peace and happi-
ness reigned everywhere.
i But the fatal day of June %, 1914,
robbed the world of it's prosperity.
/ On this day the Archduke Francis
Ferdinand, of Austria, was killed by
a Serbian; Austria declared war on
Serbia for this, and Russia, thinking
Austria had no right to fight such a
small country, became an ally OF
| Serbia Germany helped Austria,
and at the same time declared war
en- France and later on Italy. Ger
many then passed through Belgium,
1 killing people and destroying every.
4 thing so that the small nation had to
take up arms. England was soon on
/ Frances side Many other small
d Ieountries joined on either side and
/ thus the greatest, bloodiest, and
Icrueiest Waa tile ever
E[seen, begun.
This great war took the United
4 States by surprise. We did not
think that such a civilized world
4 would want such war. We decided
Ito be neutral, but when we heard
Of how Germany swept over Belgium,
and how they were killing women
and children, as well as helpless old
men, it was hard to keep from hating
lher. Our president made procla-
nation, asking the people of America
not to speak friendly for either side.
t But then Germany broke the inter-
national law she had promised to
obey. She began to sink ships OF
neutral countries and even Red Cross
ships. We could hardly believe this,
but still we tried to keep peace IN
This beautiful nation, with it's monu-
ments. skyscrapers, m: rble buildings,
museums and parks. It would be
! sad to think of this country beng
ruined as. Belgium hal been.
H Then May 7, 1915, ] German SUB
marine sunk the largc steamer, Lu-
sitania, which had Ar ,erican passen-,
pers on it. When this news reached
l America the whole nation cried,
I"Warl War;, But our president
said. ssLet us try to keep peace a 1T
tie longer" ;"
But spies and conspirators infested
orr land. blowing up bridges and try
mo 20 corrupt the oi1inions OF, our
nannle in theff own behalf. Then the
neonle began to be su ;picious OF one
another and the who e nation was
1jflled with terror and CONFUSION. !
Then Germany tried ~ get Japan 70
help her and also got Mexico co give
MS trouble at the Mexc border
What country would not have gone
to war? We. would not be respected
# we had not taken up arms - de-
fand our people. Germany even
. tried to corrupt the opinion Of our
naople. So, on April s, 1917, we
declared war on the Imperial def-
: man government
In olden days war was only q com
bat of two armies, but now 1t IS
war of the people. War costs more more
e now because Of the large weapons
That have to be bought, and so every
: one has. to help support the natlon. ',t
: The soldiers in France are dong tf,eii
g share. What are we doing, OF What f
can I do?
: II can Join war savings societies and
: nledge to buy one stamp Week.
n can save money and go very sci
5 dom to moving pictures, soda-Watel e
e stands. and other places that VII
r tempt me to spend my money foolish
'-Eiy. I can be- satisfied to eat war
T. hread and to eat meat only once
+ iay; / can try to get other people K
:, buy war savings stamps and Liberts
+ Bonds. | can join the Junior Ret
Cross, which is an auxiliary Of tht
S Red Cross that helps wounded sol
q diers in France, feeds and cIothe
4 the war-stricken women and children
Is of Belgium, and shows mercy t.
i everyone. | can work in a war
4 garden and in this way help feed tn
h soldiers. These are the things cal
r do to help win the war!
ii co yo11 see that war is not what