Zhe Chemawa American
PUBLISHED DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR BY THE CHEMAWA INDIAN SCHOOL, CHEMAWA, OREGON /
Volume XLIV
JANUARY . 1944
Number 3
Students See Launching
Religious Director Arrives
A group of 24 Chemawa students were privileged
to attend the launching of the S. S. Pendleton at
Swan Island shipyards in Portland. January 21. The
students went in the school bus.
The launching was a gala affair and had a record
attendance. American Indians in war industries were
honored by the christening, with Princess Melissa
Parr of Pendleton, Oregon breaking the champagne
bottle across the bow.
Many Indians were present but the principals were
from Pendleton. Native dances to the tune of tom
toms was a feature. Indian blankets, arrowcases,
beaded embroidery and sea shell trimmings were
displayed over the launching platform.
Chemawa employees who attended the launching
were Supt. M. W. Evans, Mrs. Evans, Miss Mary
Semanski, Miss Elda Dodrill, Mr. Ernest Butler,
and Dr. McClusky.
Reverend and Mrs. Allen C. Wilcox and family
arrived on the campus January 18. Phey have three
children. Mary Ellen and Allen, Jr., who are in
high school, and Lucia Carol. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox
left Illinois eighteen years ago to be missionaries
to the Indians at Browning, Montana.
At Chemawa they will take over the work done
by Mrs. Kitzmiller anrl Miss Beuglar. Their home
on the campus is in the old chapel building. Church
services will be at the regular time, each Sunday
morning. Rev. Wilcox expects to organize a choir.
Some of the students who are from Browning,
know the family, and so make them feel more at
home.
Dramatic Club Party
The Dramatic Club sponsored a party in the
gymnasium on Friday evening January 8. A short
program of skits was presented by the Club mem
bers to the delight of the audience. Horoscopes
were sold and furnished a lot of fun. Refreshments
were coffee, punch, and cookies.
The Club realized a profit of $39.45 from the
party. This money is used to buy Readers Digests
for use in the high school.
Sponsors of the Dramatic Club are Mrs. Weigle
and Miss Wehunt.
George E. LaVatta Passes
Chemawa was grieved over the death of George
E. LaVatta, son of Supt. George P. LaVatta of Taho
lah Indian Agency. George was a graduate of the
law school at Willamette University and had been
admitted to the bar. He did not practice law how
ever, but went to work in the shipyards in Portland.
He became ill with sinus infection and was admitted
to Cushman Hospital in Tacoma.
Mr. Lavatta is survived by his parents, his wife
and a child.
Chinese Dinner
A Chinese dinner was served to the Girl Reserves
at Hawley hall on January 13.
It was a dress-up affair and all of the gids turned
out in their prettiest dresses.
The first course consisted of raisins, peanuts, can
dy, and some sort of puffed rice candy.
After this course, Miss Beugler told the girls about
some of the customs of the Chinese, one of them
being that when a Chinese girl reaches the marriage
able age her parents arrange with the father of a
marriageable boy for a wedding date. She also said
that during a Chinese dinner the guests have to wait
for tw o or three hours before being served the main
course, while the guests at this dinner party had to
wait only one hour.
The Chinese are very gracious. It is considered
very polite for the hosts to urge the guests to eat
slowly. Yet when the main dish is served everybody
eats with much vigor according to the customs, to
show appreciation.
The main dish of our Chinese dinner was Chow
Mein. Some of the girls attempted to eat with Chi
nese chopsticks.
Appreciation is expressed to Miss Beuglar, Cecelia
Paul, and Harriet Skahan, who prepared the meal;
also to the different committees who helped to serve