April Fool at the 'Normal'--1885
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| A highlight of life at Sam Houston Normal
Institute in its early days was lessons on Civil Government
by President Joseph Baldwin (above), according to letters
written by one student of that era. He also wrote about
the great 'April fool' of 1885, that did not come off
quite as planned. |
When students at what was then Sam Houston Normal Institute
decided to have a little fun with the faculty on April 1,
1885, they planned a smashing "April fool."
But when it came to having fun back then, the Normal students
were a bit timid--the result perhaps of strict standards of
conduct. Dancing, drinking, and card playing were all grounds
for suspension.
The April fool incident, and other details of campus life,
are described by Ty Cashion in a soon-to-be-completed history
of Sam Houston State University, being written for this year's
celebration of the university's 125th birthday.
Cashion, associate professor of history, uncovered the April
fool story in letters written by J. J. Rushing, a student
from the Shelby County community of Tomday on the Sabine River
in deepest East Texas.
Rushing wrote that "almost every student in school"--which
was about 300 most semesters--decided that when they marched
out of morning chapel services that April 1 they would "march
on home" instead of going to class.
About half of them went through with the prank, but the other
half, including Rushing, backed out. How far the wayward half
traveled toward their boarding houses is not noted, just that
the faculty "took it as an April fool and said nothing
about it."
Others of that era who took other than the prescribed path
were not so fortunate.
When students enrolled, they were required to take a pledge
that bound them to "comply cheerfully with the regulations
of the school." They were also given grades for their
"deportment," which were considered when they applied
for teaching positions.
Minutes of one faculty meeting noted that two young women
suffered "indefinite suspension" for admitting "they
had danced repeatedly and openly" in defiance of their
pledge.
The hot pastime, for some, was skating. Rushing wrote to his
brother, describing what skates looked like and how they worked,
and the effect of getting a group of people on them in a roller
rink.
"It is a great show to see them fall around in every
direction," he wrote, "some time four and five in
a pile, but they will get up and try it over."
Because of all that body contact perhaps, or the falling and
getting up being considered too unladylike, skating was added
to the list of prohibited diversions--for females.
And how did the students back then live under what some today
might consider impossibly strict regulations? They didn't
seem to bother Rushing.
Cashion writes that "his letters projected the confident
enthusiasm of a student who was making the most of college
life."
In one letter home, Rushing wrote
"I never studied so hard in my life as I have been studying
these past two weeks, and I think I have been greatly rewarded
for it...I like my change (of boarding houses) very well.
"I have a good old steady room mate and a church member...We
were visited by the Committee on education this week. Some
of them delivered some very good speeches...We take a lesson
every day on Civil Government, taught by Dr. Baldwin; it is
one of the most interesting studies that I have..."
Another note began: "I am well and as happy as a 'dead
pig in the sunshine.'"
Cashion's book is scheduled for release later this year.
The 125th Anniversary Celebration events include a visit by
Dan Rather on April 16, presentations by historian James Haley
April 20, and a commemorative ceremony with Gov. Rick Perry
April 21.
Sam Houston Normal Institute was created on April 21, 1879,
with the signing of charter legislation by Texas Gov. Oran
M. Roberts. Activities are also planned around the date of
October 10, when the school's first classes were held in 1879.
- END -
SHSU Media Contact: Frank
Krystyniak
April 1, 2004
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
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