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This newspaper page contains 28 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Muscatine Journal
Location
Muscatine, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Oct 31, 1908
Page
9
Dear juniors are urged to keep on the honor roll by submitting letters and stories. The editor cites suggested topics such as What I Did Hallowe'en, Preparing For Winter, and My Favorite Time of Year and Why.
An illustrated reminiscence outlines Japanese children’s politeness and punishments, schooling on floors with ink brushes, and long gowns with embroidery. It notes prayers, dance and feast rooms, doll and kite customs, and the Doll and Boy festivals, alongside a letter from Miss Pearl Mittmann and several Junior Page correspondents sharing school life in Muscatine Iowa in 1908.
A school girl writes from Jackson and asks about classmates and teachers. She notes moving to Eighth Street, attending Jackson school, mentions Miss Dungan and Miss Kern, asks about Ethel and Olive at Jefferson school, and wonders if a pet kittens have been acquired.
Betty Andersen of 206 East Eighth Street Muscatine Iowa writes that she plans to close her history venture. She asks for a prompt reply and signs the note with a friendly farewell.
A letter to the editor from a junior reader at 1112 East Third Street appreciates the expanding Junior Page and prize stories. The writer plans to submit a story about Japan learned in school and invites responses from other Juniors.
Viola Auten writes of rainy weather and asks the Junior page to send post cards and letters. She plans to reply and keep her name on the Honor Roll as Tf closes.
A seaside of brief notes from Ena Auten and Lutitia Adame dated October 21, 1908 from Alta Vista Iowa and West Chester Iowa. Ena expresses happiness at appearing on the honor roll and hopes juniors keep their names there amid rainy weather. Lutitia plans to write a story and seeks to have her letter printed and her name on the roll of honor.
A 1908 letter from Ruth Ramer in Lone Tree Iowa to Miss Raymond describes writing a brief story about Japanese children. She notes attending school in the fifth grade under teacher Miss Guthrie and identifies herself as a new junior.
A late submission from Celia Ticktin, a new junior, explains her letter and story did not appear in print and notes her name is not yet on the Roll of Honor. She promises to write a story and closes the note dated October 26, 1908 in Wilton Iowa.
Three letters from Wapello Iowa discuss upcoming school vacation and busy times. Everett Anderson writes of three weeks off and growing writing efforts. Orpheus Anderson and Willard Rausch mention keeping their names on the roll and awaiting Christmas cheers.
Eva Maurath from Muscatine Iowa writes asking if her name will appear on the honor roll after the big contest. She notes she thanked the journal for the cash prize and for a pretty postal card received in the mail.
A Miss Davis writes from Muscatine Iowa on October 26 1908 to Miss Raymond. She notes returning to the page and comments on its size and improvement. Bertha attends Washington School in 8th grade aged 12 under teacher Miss Ryan and describes sewing in the basement class each Monday and Thursday. She mentions an upcoming Thanksgiving program about The Landing of the Pilgrims with roles for Pricilla John Alden Miles Standish soldiers Indians and Puritan maidens.
Grace Kemp of Letts writes from Hawkeye school eleven year olds share student names and future answers while Miss Helen Raymond of Muscatine seeks Roll of Honor with riddles about ships cooks aprons fish parts and coats.
A collection of 1908 letters from young Iowa readers to Miss Raymond for the Junior page. Children from Muscatine Letts Wilton and Wilton Junction describe writing habits, ages, siblings, schools, and request guidance on maintaining the Honor Roll while sharing brief personal details and lists of names.
In Muscatine Iowa on October 26 1908 Clinton Davis writes to Miss Raymond about enjoying the local Saturday page and school life He mentions teacher Miss McDougal and that he likes her and his classmates anticipate more letters in the future.
A twelve year old Wilton Iowa sixth grader writes from October 23 1908 to Miss Raymond stating a desire to start a Junior page. The fragment shows a young reader seeking entry or guidance for a school or community feature.
A Junior Page letter collection from 1908 includes a tale about Zane's Island Wheeling and a dream gift, notes from J Paul Tedford Molson Washington, and Jonathan Winn's ranch life tale. Readers ask about Ameri can Boy panels and share riddles and dolls from festivals.
A 12 year old writes to the editor praising good weather and plans a story about Japanese children. She states she has attended school every day this term and has not been tardy.
Gertrude Hill writes from Conesville Iowa on October 27 1908 explaining she lacks time for a story and has company including her little cousin. She notes she does not know how to write about Japanese children and must close the letter.
A letter from Marian Marsh of Conesville Iowa dated October 29 1908 expresses interest in school work and sending a story about Japanese children. Another note from Lena Marolf Wilton Junction Iowa asks to keep her name on the honor roll and mentions school dismissal for the week.
On New Year’s day Japanese children enjoy great joy as Mochi Man visits on New Year’s Eve. Children hunt Mochi, play tag and leap frog, and girls favor battledore and shuttlecock games. Boys kick shuttlecock in football style. The fifth day of the fifth month marks a boys’ celebration akin to a Fourth of July.
Bertha Davis, 12, recounts that Japanese people wear colorful clothing, have straight black hair, and women bind their toes. She notes education improving, famine years ago, and children selling vegetables, weaving, and farming. She mentions beds on the floor and Japanese gardens, preferring a doll if she wins.
A nineteenth century travel note paints Japan as mountainous with volcanoes and hot springs. It notes polite people, clean houses, and customs like removing shoes, with women painting lips red and hair up. Describes climate, ports, schooling, and relatives to China.
The passage describes Japanese islands with brown skinned people and simple home life. It notes polite children, girls’ chores, schooling from sixth to tenth year, a higher school for princesses, 47 letters in the alphabet, brush writing with ink, and the soroban for arithmetic. It mentions dolls and a yearly Feast of Dolls with dolls displayed and covered.
The page lists numerous individuals, including Flossie Helverson Mary Goodman Opah Chapman Vinnie Westerman Grace Babbitt Hazel Phillips Vinnie Reddick and Clinton Davis, among others, as part of a local roll of honor. The long roster includes men and women with multiple family names and affiliations.
The article notes differing child amusements such as dolls for girls and balloons and kites for boys. It describes Japanese children learning with instructional games, map puzzles of Japan and the world, and a poetry quiz akin to “Authors” called “One Hundred Verses of One Hundred Poets,” praised by Marian Marsh.
A letter from an 11 year old describes Native dances and rituals. It depicts torture tied rope dances, steam rock ceremonies, a Bear Hunt game, and a den escape drill as rites believed to ready the people for war.
A Wilton Iowa girl recalls an Indian encounter while her mother fetched water. The children fearfully share items offered by the travelers then the Indians leave. The tale ends with the mother returning and the girl recounting the event.
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