Chat Chatter

February,1939

Enrollees "Swing out" at Successful Camp Dance
Company 1995, Chacolet, Idaho held their first Company dance of the year at Plummer, February 11, 1939. This dance was held as a Valentine dance, and the hall was especially decorated for the event. From a slow start, the dance ended in fine shape with the crowd estimated at about 300, attending.

We want to thank Pete Beck and his committee for the fine work they did in making this dance a success. The orchestra they got, the Melody Makers from Tekoa, Washington, furnished excellent music to please everyone.

Special credit should be given to the excellent manner in which the CCC boys conducted themselves while at the dance. As such a good time was had by all, another dance is being planned for the near future.

Mr. Hume, a Proud Father
Our superintendent is "papa" to another little girl. As this goes to press, Chat Chatter has had no word of the new arrival's name. It is rumored that Mr. Hume is going around these days with the good deal of smile on his face, since the little lady arrived just in time to knock a fair chunk out of the super's income tax.

Read This and Smile
Mr. J. B. Sargent and his wife are visiting their son in Oakland, California. While on their vacation, they are giving the Golden Gate Exposition the once over. A card received by the E.A. States that the weather is perfect, or as JB states, just like spring in Idaho. Jim is taking in some of the Pacific Coast baseball and basketball games.

The National Park Service has just started a new nursery bed project. The general purpose is to usethese beds for a place to transplant shrubs and small trees which have been taken from some other part of the park. At such time as these trees and shrubs are needed for roadside beautification, they will be replanted from the nursery bed.

Former Enrollee Visits Old Friends
On February thirteen old-timers of Camp S.P.-1 had the pleasure of renewing their acquaintance with two of our former enrollees; Bud Hadley and Harry Clapp.

During his enrollment Bud held a leader's rating under Mr. Hume. He also worked Mr. Sargent doing surveying and map work.

After receiving his discharge in October 1936, Bud spent six months in California later returning to Sandpoint to accept a position with the Red & White store in Sandpoint. He has remained in their employ since that time.

Harry Clapp, being a very versatile man, held a corner on several of the better jobs in camp. During his enrollment of nearly two years he held positions of Canteen steward, Acting first Sergeant and camp mechanic. Later he was transferred to Emida and became Supply Sergeant in that camp. In May 1937, Harry received his discharge and he, too went to California. During his stay there he contracted remodeling for the Federal Housing Administration.

Illness of a sister, Mrs. Carlin, has called him back to St. Maries for an indefinite visit.

We appreciate the fact that while Harry was visiting our camp he made a few adjustments in the wiring of the Educational Department which goes to show that the spirit of SP-1 lingers on.

Doctor Discusses Influenza Epidemic
The epidemic of the so-called influenza which we had during the past week is apparently the same type which is sweeping the country and which many of you read about, having occurred in Chicago just a short time ago.

If this is a true influenza it may exhibit three waves such as that in 1918 and previous epidemics. The first wave is a mild disease that affects a large proportion of the population but no one is very ill. The second wave less people become ill but many contract pneumonia and many die. In the third wave the number of people affected is less but the disease is still severe and the fatality high.

May the second and third waves of influenza not follow.

Habit of Concentration Must Be Developed
The power of concentration is not something that is inherited, at least we've been led to believe that. Which gives you something to think about. Why is it that many of us waste fully half of our time in the accomplishment of the thing that we set out to do? We sit down, for example, to do a lesson. At the end of the period we're only half through. If we were called on to tell just what we did with our time, most of us would have to admit that a part of it had been frittered idly away. Why?

The answer is obvious. We are people of habit, and all our habits aren't good ones. "We are constantly looking for an opportunity to be interrupted". Consequently, it is a very simple story. There are a million and one things to interrupt. Half of us tell ourselves that we should be better, and let it go at that.

A few of us, on the other hand, have developed that power of concentration that is so important to accomplishment. We take a great interest in any job we take a great liking to possibly through habit, and we get the job completed. I think we're a happier group for reasons we may not enumerate because of space.

The only way we know to develop these abilities is by constant practice. Have your objective in mind and just don't allow those little interruptions that steal your time.