February 2011 Chatterbox - Ruston High School

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY Abe Lincoln!!
by Polly Michelle Gwan
Academics Reporter
On February 12, 2011, the United States of America
celebrated the birthday of our nation‘s 16 th president: Abraham
Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12,
1809, in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. His father,
Thomas Lincoln, was a skilled carpenter and little is
known about his mother Nancy Lincoln. He had an older
sister, Sarah Lincoln. He also had a younger brother, Thomas
Lincoln Jr., who died as a baby. Many Americans
assume that Abraham Lincoln easily made his way into the
government, but surprisingly he had a couple of failures at
the beginning. In 1832, Lincoln ran unsuccessfully for the
Illinois Legislature. But two years later, he was elected into
the lower branch of the legislature for the first of four successful terms.
In 1836, Lincoln became a lawyer and met his soon to be wife Mary Todd. Together
they had four sons: Robert Todd (1843-1926), Edward Baker (1840-1850),
William Wallace (1850-1862), and Thomas ―Tad‖ (1850-1862). In February 1860,
Lincoln made his first presidential appearance and later went on to win the presidential
election defeating the Northern Democrat Douglas, the Southern Democrat
John C. Breckinridge, and the Constitutional Union candidate John Bell.
Abraham Lincoln is most famous for helping the U.S. survive during the tragic
Civil War. Lincoln's victory in that election thus changed the racial future of the
United States. It also agitated Southern-sympathizer and Negrophobe John Wilkes
Booth, who began to conspire first to abduct Lincoln and later to kill him. On April
14, 1865, five days after Robert E. Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court
House, Lincoln attended a performance called Our American Cousin at Ford's
Theatre in Washington. There Booth entered the presidential box and shot Lincoln
in the head. The next morning at 7:22 Lincoln died.
Lincoln's achievements--saving the Union and freeing the slaves--and his martyrdom
just at the war's end assured his continuing fame. No small contribution
was made by his eloquence as exemplified in the Gettysburg Address (Nov. 19,
1863), in which he defined the war as a rededication to the egalitarian ideals of the
Declaration of Independence, and in his second inaugural address (Mar. 4, 1865),
in which he urged "malice toward none" and "charity for all" in the peace to come.
Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln!!
ditorials/Opinions Chatterbox
Ruston High School February 14, 2011 Page 11
Nellie Ross: First Woman Governor
by Christian Amos
Sports Editor
On November 29, 1876, America was introduced to a prestigious woman that
would later pioneer many features of the United States‘ government. Nellie Taylor
Ross is foremost known as the first woman to serve as governor in the United
States.
To this date, she remains the only woman to serve as governor of the state of
Wyoming. Ross, the 14 th governor of Wyoming, was also a staunch supporter of
Prohibition during the 1920s. She also was appointed to director of the U.S. Mint
from 1933-1953 by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Besides being deeply
involved in politics, Ross was also a kindergarten school teacher.
After her husband William Ross died in 1924, Nellie Ross was nominated by
the Democratic Party to run as governor in a special election. She refused to campaign
for the seat, but remarkably she won the race and on January 5, 1925, she
became the first woman governor in the history of the United States. As governor, Ross carried out the
policies her late husband established. Also as governor, she pushed the state of Wyoming to ratify a
federal amendment prohibiting child labor.
Nellie Ross was a lady of many firsts while participating in American polotics. Not only did she
build a rich heritage for women everywhere, but she truly shaped countless parts of our nation‘s structure
just by taking charge in times of need.
Mardi Gras Madness
by Patricia Duhart
Social Reporter
Mardi Gras for me was always that time of year where you turn on
the news channel and see ―Another Mardi Gras Madness‖ or hear about
people fighting at a bar. Mardi Gras is also known for the thousands of
people from all over the country who go to New Orleans to celebrate. What about the story
behind the parties, the history in the celebrations, or the constant mask I never knew that
Mardi Gras meant ―Fat Tuesday,‖ where Catholics indulge in various foods before Ash
Wednesday where the fasting begins; this event is the seventh Wednesday before Easter.
Catholics use ashes to remind them of death and the sorrow they should feel for their sins.
Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans since the French settlers arrived in the early
1700‘s. Masks were worn to hide the spirits they weren‘t allowed to express. So, if you ever
wondered why all the crazy parties, mask, and food, now you know.
Bloody Valentine
by Lauren Townsend
Assistant News Editor
When Valentine‘s Day comes to mind, people usually think of love,
hearts, free chocolate, etc… No one ever thinks of massacre. Why
would there be blood and murder on the day of romance Believe it or
not, there is one Valentine‘s Day no one will ever forget; in 1929, Al
Capone ordered a bouquet of slaughter instead of chocolates, leaving
seven dead in a garage on the north side of Chicago. There was not any
―Happy Valentine‘s Days‖ shared during the St. Valentine‘s Day Massacre.
So what exactly happened Al Capone arranged for George ―Bugs‖
Moran, a Chicago mobster, and his followers to be eliminated on February
14, 1929. Al Capone‘s henchmen decided to lure Moran and his
gang to a warehouse on the north side of Chicago, believing that they
were receiving a shipment of cheap alcohol. At 10:30 a.m., Al Capone‘s
men, who were disguised as policemen, opened fire on the unaware men
and killed seven. The among victims were: Jon May, an auto mechanic
hired by Moran; Frank and Pete Gusenburg, who had previously tried to
murder Machine Gun Jack McGurn; James Clark, Moran's brother-inlaw;
and Reinhardt Schwimmer, a young optometrist who often hung
around for the thrill of sharing company with gangsters. Even though
this massacre has won fame in history, the plan was actually a failure
since Al Capone‘s Moran target escaped the slaughter by being late.
Moreover, the mass killing only brought more federal attention than it
did help. This must be how the real mafia spends Valentine‘s Day.
Happy Valentine‘s Day everybody!
Left: Al Capone
Right: George ―Bugs‖ Moran