This is going to be one of those (?) 'cuffs. When I sat down at the Smith-Corona, that little typewriter which is filling in for the old Underwood, it decided it would be stubborn and cause trouble. It must have been taking lessons from that daggum coronavirus which seems to be taking another shot at us and all the world. It wasn't the little portable that was causing trouble; it was this old 'cuffer who decided changing the ribbon was long overdue. You who, in years past, had to change a ribbon know what I mean when I admit it's a put-off job, for as long as possible.
After almost an hour trying to get that ribbon through those little whatever-you-call-'ems, I emerged with nice clean hands and a smile on my face. Yeah, you know what color the hands were, and it wasn't exactly a smile but the remnants of a frown and snarl. So now I sit here pounding away and I can't tell much difference in the typing. Oh, there are just as many misspellings and strike-overs but, if you are a knowledgeable typist, you'd tell me the machine needs a new roller.
Let's get on with the 'cuff. There are several topics I've made a few notes on and I'd bet that quarter you know the rest of this paragraph. I can't find most of those notes and the rest? You guessed it; I can't read them. Time to confess my penmanship was fairly legible until I learned to type. Yeah, I know, that learning is long gone. This just ain't my day. But here goes anyway.
Since the virus and all of its ups and downs make many of the stories on the tube, a thought began to jell. And aren't you thinking, "He's thinking"? I began to think and wonder how the good people who resided in "Eagle Observer" country a hundred years ago managed to survive during that pandemic flu, "Spanish Influenza," that swept through the country. It must have been a terrible time for them. No hospitals, few treatments except home remedies and lots and lots of unknowns. Can you imagine the worrisome thoughts that went through the minds of parents of little children? And today we complain about a mask over part of the face and standing a few feet from others, which are pretty simple things to worry about. I'm not saying corona isn't a huge problem, but we have much to be thankful for in reference to this menace from the far east.
So, I did a little research in some old papers, the "Gravette News" of 1918 and was surprised at what I found. Those old papers, barely readable and very fragile, had stories about how the area was growing, that there was a good apple crop and the evaporators were running at full speed, and canning the tomato crop of a hot summer was getting underway. Stories were about Wallace Township getting way over the top by purchasing more than $20,000 in Liberty Bonds. (That was during the summer before the end of World War I when many of the men from the area were on battlefields in Europe.)
There were several stories about Capt. Field Kindley and his shooting down German airplanes. In one of his letters, Field wrote, "I am ever the 'school boy' from Gravette." In the spring of that year, the 18 seniors made up the school's largest graduating class. Compare that with local classes today. There was an editorial in one issue about socialism which was being battled in Europe. Americans were being urged to limit the use of sugar (remember it was rationed during World War II) and there was a story about a meeting with Coin Harvey from Monte Ne. He was promoting the improvement of the road from Gravette to Bentonville. (It later became U.S. 71).
There was also this saying: "The difference between a patriot and a profiteer, one upholds the government and the other holds up everybody" and when that war ended there were stories about fireworks, shooting shotguns, religious services thanking God, words "Peace on Earth," "Democracy triumphs" and "No more men will be called to serve."
But what, you ask, did the papers say about the Spanish flu?" Very little. The first mention I could find was on page four of the Sept. 27, 1918, issue which reads: "Spanish flu has gripped America and is moving west rapidly. Yes, and not only is it coming, but it is right here in our system and we no longer consider it 'Spanish flu.'" That horrible flu took the lives of millions of people throughout the world and estimates are that as many as 650,000 Americans died.
In an issue during November, there was a short one-line paragraph: "Beaty School closed, thirty-eight students have the flu." Another story read, "It was reported (no names) a family of three, mother, father and baby, apparently died from the flu. They are recently returned from Pittsburg." Finally, the Dec. 20 issue reported, "Dr. J.S. Thompson (a local doctor), chairman of the local health board, after conferring with other authorities, ordered Quarantine against flu is in effect until further notice."
And, just below that was a notice by the city, which read: "There are several new cases in Gravette and vicinity. No school, no church services, or other public gatherings will be permitted, and strict orders against congregating on the streets, in public places of entertainment and no public gatherings at the post office and the railroad depot." The notice was signed by Mayor W.W. Frazer, Wm. Hunt, J.R. Dunagin, W.N. Foster and T.F. Chrane, with this addition, "It is likely the ban will be on until after the holidays."
I found other information in several papers following that notice. But I have heard stories told by people who lived during those days that there were lots of funerals and sadness until the end of the pandemic, which continued until early in 1920.
I'm sure people who lived in Gentry, Decatur and other communities and in rural areas were similarly affected and fought the flu with everything available and, certainly, lots of prayers. Today's coronavirus is not the only similar disease that has reached our country during the past hundred years and undoubtedly there will be others to follow. Work is progressing at breakneck speed to develop a vaccine to fight this pandemic situation. The words we so often hear are "we will survive" or "it'll be over someday" or "do your part by wearing a mask and stay at least 6 feet away from others," and, and, and....
I wonder what types of columns and stories will be written a hundred years from now? What will they be watching instead of the tube? Maybe we will get reports from our men on the moon. Seriously, I wonder how our handling of our crisis will be compared with the problems and their solutions in good old 2021.
Maybe the next 'cuff will be about a totem pole and the coming dry, hot summer, a new name for the postage stamp garden, or ... who knows what? Perhaps, I will have found those missing notes. Remember, a smiling hello will be welcomed through a mask as we meet each other in these boring and frustrating days.
Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the "Gravette News Herald." Opinions expressed are those of the author.