Charles Burchfield, Journals, February 24, 1911

At last - at last, I have said my oration. Hurrah for Taft and all his adherents!  In the morning I said it over to Louise and at noon toFrances. In English Miss Tate prepared us for it by having all of us go up in front of the school and read some compositions we had written. I got a little nervous but not much.

Then came the fatal hour. On the ringing of the bell Bill and I rushed for front seats in Room 7. Helen Murphy gave her essay first, during which time the blood kept rushing to my head and I could almost hear my heartbeat! Suddenly Mr. Lease said: “The next will be an oration “Washington’s Claim to the title “The Father of his Country” by Charles Burchfield”.

All on my nerves, I went up and started. At first, I hesitated, but after I got started I got thru (sic) pretty well. When the ordeal was over and I sat down amid the perfunctory clapping, Bill said “That was all right”, Burchie. Of course, I knew it wasn’t, but it cheered me in my misery.

Then came Mabel Coy with a recitation, which she gave fine. King was next on the program and did best of all. After him came Bud and Vesta, both of whom had perfect control of themselves.

Joe and Bill are off for Oberlin. We met Bill on the way down to Joe’s, as we were coming up Garfield. We said goodby (sic) hil­ariously and cautioned him on his behaviour (sic).

It is more like Spring to-day. The sun came up in a clear, but still not so cold a world as yesterday. Much snow melts in the warm sunlight and when we came out of school it felt warm and springy. Down in the office, I watched the sun go down in yellow clouds which gradually turned to burning flecks of orange. While I was watching two trains, shot past in quick succession, leaving a trail of black smoke against the glowing sky.