100 years ago in the Saratogian
Saturday, June 15, 1918. A cornerstone of a new building for St. Faith’s School for Girls, named after founder Eleanor A. Shackelford, is laid this morning, The Saratogian reports.
“The day was an auspicious one for St. Faith’s, with perfect weather conditions,” a reporter writes, “The occasion must have been one of the keenest pleasure to Miss Shackelford, who has seen the child of her vision grow in stature until now it requires additional housing facilities.”
Dedicating the cornerstone, former state senator Edgar T. Brackett offers a belated apology to Shackelford. Back in 1890, he recalls, “When she had the vision of this school I did not have any faith in her accomplishing it.”
Shackelford changed Brackett’s mind eventually. “It is not given to many people to see the consummation of their vision and their toil in such a grand success as has been given to the founder of St. Faith’s,” he says.
Rev. E. S. Pearce of Rome gives the commencement address a wartime theme. “Today people are beginning to have new meaning for the word sacrifice,” he says, “and the Cross of Cavalry is being interrupted today as it has never been interpreted before. Education must be created with a new vision unsullied with materialism if we are to accomplish the saving of the world and of Democracy.”
Dentists’ Convention
The annual convention of the Dental Society of the State of New York wraps up at Convention Hall this afternoon with a screening of documentary footage showing “how a piece of bone taken from a man’s leg may be used to give him a new jaw.”
Major Fred H. Albee, an army surgeon, presents the films of procedures he performed on injured soldiers.
“It is by means of this modern branch of the surgeon’s profession that many men from the battlefield of Europe who would, without its aid, become physical wrecks are reconstructed and given a chance to live and move as nearly as well as before their injuries,” The Saratogian reports.
Today’s paper includes excerpts from a fiery speech given last night by Dr. John Gally, a member of the staff of Colonel W. H. G. Logan, the highest ranking dental officer in the U.S. Army.
“Dentists have a great responsibility today because of the people of all classes with whom they come in contact,” Gally said, “It is their duty to spread Americanism and to discourage all talk of peace, until our aims have been accomplished.
“Strangle the man and shut off the woman who tries to talk peace,” he reiterated, “We can have no peace until we have triumph.”