South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-08
SCHOOLGIRL, ROUGE
VICTIM, TO FIGHT
Expelled From School for
Using Powder, Miss Seeks
Court Decision.

KNOBEI4. Ark, Jan I.-Io pow
der or not 90 powder
Judicial decision on this delicate
point has again been postponed.
Overwhelmed by press OF litigation,
the CLAW county court has again
deferred the famous case Of Pearl
Pursrey versus the School Board Of
District Number Eleven Miss
Pursley was expelled from high
school here because she refused 10
4 a~in from the use OF face pow
] - and she is now suing 20 be re-
instated in school without prejudice
&c her right OF powdering-
Pending the courts decision the
case is being tried ia the court or
public opinion. And not only this
town but the entire county is riven
I by discussion
]. r. mccoy. J. r. Sellmeyer and
I j. A. Scott are the members OF the
school board Of district eleven, who
Gecreed that "the wearing OF trans
parent hosiery. low waists, short
skirts or any other clothing tending
toward immodesty. or wearing OF
face paint or cosmetics are prohib-
ited." n T.. Hicks. principal OF the
school. carried out this order and
sent Miss Pugsley and two other
girls home during the first part Of
the term when they failed 20 comply
with the rule, and told them TO wash
the powder from their faces.
Hicks. who IS also pastor OF the
Disciples Of Christ church OF Knobel,
declared that conditions IN the
school last term made necessary the
adoption Of the rule.
school 8IOral Affected"
eft has been my observation that
clothing and complexions which the
rule we adopted prevents disturb the
morals of the school" said Hicks.
Hicks admitted that "iust a little
powder doesn't hurt" and Il seems
that the board is somewhat divided
- this point in their rule. But
~sn a meeting OF the directors was
held they stood as one in their
declaration that "now that the rule
IS made we are going TO stand by it,
While the case is pending Miss
Pussley remains out OF school. She
states today. however that she is
making arrangements TO either enter
school at Corning. a neighboring
town. or at Poplar Bluff. Mo.
she stated that on the day Of her
dismissal from school she had very
moderate amount of powder on heI
face.
II had always been taught by my
mother 20 use powder on my face.
she said. Il had used it all my life
and II 7 were dressed up and nc
powder on my face 1 would feel a.
Incomplete as II I were dressed VI
and had no shoes
Mother Defends Pearl.
The Gay was dismissed from
school Mr.. Hicks called for all girli
IN the room who had artificial com
pleXions' TO come up 20 the front
and SIT on the recitation bench.
went up front with two other girls
and. after reading the rule over L
US. he said we would either have e
leave school or go out and wash the
powder and paint from our faces.
told him that / had nothing but or.
binary talcum powder on, and helm.
formed me that made no difference
Miss Pugsley IS a very reserved
tLpe OF girl. She IS about five feel
. inches in height and weighs
Dout 100 pounds. She is pretty
even when the face powder is lack
Ing. She does not wear extreme
clothing nor does she paint.
II would not permit her to paint
her face under any conditions" hel
mother declared. Il have used pow
DER on all three children, even M
son, from infancy. I feel that It Il
my duty TO see that the health anC
served. The Irish blood in my veins
has been boiling ever since Pearl wa.
dismissed from school.
Miss Pugsiey summed up her cred,
as follows:
II am a Methodist, love music anC
believe in powder"