Newspaper Accounts of the First International Track Meet for Women
"South Carolina has Great Woman Athlete"
"Winthrop College Girl Is Believed Greatest Athlete
Miss Godbold Recently Chosen to Represent the United States at Paris Meet---Takes Her Honors With Modesty of True Southern Girl---Records Gathered Up by Charlotte Man."
BY JASPER C. HUTTO
The Charlotte Observer
Sunday, May 28, 1922, page 2.
"Now comes South Carolina with one who may prove herself to be the world's greatest athlete---Miss Lucile Ellerbe Godbold, student of Winthrop College, at Rock Hill, S.C. Miss Godbold already is the champion woman shop-put of America, and, by her work in an athletic meet in the east recently, she was chosen as one of eight young women to go to Paris in August to represent America in the woman's Olympic meet.
In the eastern tryouts Miss Godbold contested as one of 152 young women, representing twenty-two schools and colleges---and she scored the highest number of individual points recorded. Coincident with this meet, other meets were held in the mid-West and the west, and it was after the records of all these individuals were studied that the eight young women to go to Paris were chosen. Miss Godbold scored 17 points, taking first in the shot-put, first in the basketball throw, and second in the 100-yard dash and in the hop-step and jump.
Miss Godbold's greatest fete is the throwing of the 12-pound shot a distance of 35 feet and 11 inches breaking the former American record, held by Miss Frances Jackling of the University of California, which was 34 feet and 7 7/8 inches.
The eastern meet was held at Oaksmere school, New York, May 13, and it was then that Miss Godbold first came into national prominence, though she first broke the world's record shot-put for women in a track and field meet at Winthrop College, April 29. New York and other eastern papers have given great attention to Miss Godbold's work in that contest. The New York Herald pronouncing her as one of the two outstanding stars of the meet.
Miss Godbold and the other seven young women to make the trip to Paris will gather in New York late in July for intensive training before sailing August 1. The Paris meet is to be held August 20 at Pershing stadium. The event is to be known as the international track and field meet for women and is to be held under the auspices of the Federation of Sportive Feminine Internationale.
Miss Godbold is now back at her place at Winthrop college, completing her work in the junior class, of which she is a member. She expects to begin training July 4 and to be in the height of condition when the meet is held in Paris. Miss Godbold is working under the direction of Mrs. Ruth P. Barlett, director of physical education at Winthrop college, who deserves much credit for the development of Miss Godbold in athletic activities.
The world at large had not heard anything of Miss Godbold until the annual track meet, April 29. It was on that day that she broke the shot-put record. And while the world had not heard of Miss Godbold, those who attended that track meet soon found that she was the object of admiration among more than 1,200 students of that institution. When it was time for an event to be fun off, everybody stood back and Miss Godbold's admirers called to "Ludy", by which name Miss Godbold is known to the Winthrop girls, to "Come on, Ludy."
And that eventful day Miss Godbold set seven new track and field records for Winthrop college. Here is what she did that day in the matter of breaking records: 50-yard dash, 6 2/5 seconds; 75-yard dash, 9 1/5 seconds; discus throw, 96 feet; 100-yard hurdles, 15 3/5 seconds; hop-step and jump, 33 feet 5 inches; running broad jump, 14 feet 10 inches; shot put, 35 feet 11 inches.
Just as a matter of good measure, she threw the basketball 88 feet, which lacked a foot and 10 1/2 inches of coming up to her own previous Winthrop record. And as a result of that field meet, Miss Godbold now holds eight of 15 records that are tried for in each annual meet at Winthrop.
To cap all of this, Miss Godbold has made all of her running, hurdling and jumping records while wearing ordinary tennis shoes. Just since the New York meet has she begun to train in regular professional styles of athletic shoes. It is believed by her friends that the better track and field shoes will enable her to make more wonderful records in the Paris meet.
Miss Godbold is an athlete---a great athlete, without a doubt the greatest women athlete the south has ever known. She has good prospects of proving herself America's greatest woman athlete---and even the world's greatest athlete. August 20 means much to her.
And Miss Godbold is not being spoiled by it all. At Winthrop she is the idol of the student body--and she holds this position with a modesty and shyness that is to be commended. She takes her prowess as something just to have lots of fun out of and something with which to playfully entertain her friends. She is just a natural South Carolina girl. The writer, serving as a judge in the Winthrop April field meet, was standing near Miss Godbold when she threw the shot which broke that American record. A shout went up from the big crowd. Miss Godbold girlishly laughed about the matter and lost herself in the crowd which gathered about her.
Really, Miss Godbold's athletic star is just beginning to rise---if things go well with her. She is six feet in height, weighs 140 pounds and is 21 years old."
"Olympic Girls Hold Workout in Big Stadium"
Chicago Tribune European Edition
Paris, France
Thursday, August 10, 1922, page 6.
" After a day of rest, sightseeing, and shop-visiting, the thirteen American girls of the Women's olympic team from the United States had their first European workout at Pershing stadium yesterday morning.
Regular practice begins today. After this morning the members of the team will be so busy preparing for the big international test that little time will remain for other pastimes.
Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. William Jay, Mrs. Batson, Mrs. Mead and Mrs. D'Angola, are with the girls as chaperons.
In Paris the members of the team are stopping at the Hotel Montreal."
"EARLY-TO-BED HARD TEST FOR OLYMPIC GIRLS"
Chicago Tribune European Edition
Paris, France
Friday, August 11, 1922, page 6.
"We're Confident," Says Capt. Batson
by Lorimer Hammond
"With the thousand fold attractions of "Gay Paree" tempting them out into the bright lights, the girls of the American Women's olympic team are showing a true Spartan spirit in living up to training rules.
Except when attending evening functions in a group, as they did a performance at the Opera on Wednesday, the entire team goes wistfully up stairs to bed at 9 o'clock. "It's terrible," said one of the team's juveniles to a Tribune reporter yesterday, "we younger one have to go to bed first just as if we were still in the nursery."
Two of the girls, Miss Maybelle Gilliland, who will appear in the sprints and high jumps, and Miss Nancy Voorhees, who will do both the high and low hurdles are only sixteen. Miss Elizabeth Stine, also entered for the jumps, is 17 and Miss Esther Greene, high and broad jumper, is 18. The other members of the team range in age from 20 to 22 and 23.
Captain Now Better.
Miss Florida(sic) Batson, the team's captain, who sprained her ankle during practice on Wednesday, was able to use the injured leg yesterday, although Dr. Stewart, the girls' trainer, and Dr. J.A. Riviere, who is attending them in Paris, have announced that it is not yet certain whether Miss Batson will be able to enter the contest Aug. 20. Speaking of the American team's chances for carrying off the international honors, Dr. Stewart was confident, although all the girls realize, he said, that the European women have had the advantage of much longer experience in organized athletics. "We certainly are going to win if hard work and trying can do it," was Miss Batson's comment.
British, French Equal.
That Great Britain and France will have about the same number of entries as will America, was the statement of Dr. Stewart. A possible new entry has been gained for the American girls in Miss Maud Rosenbaum, their manager, whose showing in the shot put yesterday placed her well near the lead in that event.
Miss Rosenbaum is the world's champion woman basket ball thrower. Although not on the program for the games, the basket ball throw will be demonstrated by the American team."
U.S. Olympic Girls Hold Soft Workout
Chicago Tribune European Edition
Paris, France
Tuesday, August 15, 1922, page 3
"Back in Paris from a tour of the battlefields, the members of the American feminine Olympic team had an easy morning's workout at Colombes yesterday that was interrupted by frequent showers. Dr. Harry Stewart, the team's physical director, is making an effort to effect a change in the arrangements for the games to enable more than two girls to enter each event. If the present ruling is maintained not more than ten of the thirteen girls forming the American squad will compete."
"U.S. GIRLS ARE ALL READY FOR BIG MEET TODAY"
Coach H.E. Stewart is Confident of Good Showing
BY Don Skene (Tribune Sporting Editor)
Chicago Tribune European Edition
Paris, France
Sunday, August 20, 1922, page 1.
"The eyes of the athletic world will be focussed today on Pershing stadium, where the best girl athletes of five nations-the United States, France, Great Britain, Switzerland, and Czecho-Slovakia--will match their skill and strength in the thrilling tests of feminine Olympic games.
At 9 a.m. preliminary heats of the field events and the 300-meter run will start. The four best girls in each of these events will meet in the afternoon in the final trials which will start at 2 o'clock and continue until the entire program of eleven events has been run off.
America's chances of winning the athletic classic seem excellent. The American team is composed of girls of the lithe, clean-cut, slim type. The average weight of the girls is slightly less than 120 pounds, and most of them are not yet 20 years old. The representatives of the United States will form a striking contrast to the heavy girls of the Swiss and Czecho-Slovakian teams, which will depend for victory on brawn in the weight-throwing events, rather than speed in the races.
Team is Well-Balanced
"I would rather not make any predictions about our chance to win, but Americans can be assured that our team will be well in the front and fighting hard in every event on the card," said Dr. Harry Eaton Stewart, coach of the American team, last night. "We have a wonderfully well-balanced team. We may not have as many individual stars as some of the other teams, but every girl in our squad can be counted on to do her part well. We are relying on nerve and American grit to pull us through." A visit to the Montreal hotel, where the American athletes are staying, gave assurance last night that the young and pretty Amazons were in the best of spirits and "on edge" for the crucial tests.
Girls Fete Chaperone
Thoughts of high jumping, hurdling and flinging the javelin were banished last night while the girls honored Ms. Stewart, their chaperone, with an uproariously jolly birthday party. There were bright-colored paper caps and a big cake with candles, speeches, and songs and all the time-honored trimmings. "I told them they could eat some candy and cake," said Dr. Stewart, explaining the training diet of his squad. "It looked awfully good, but we didn't touch it," said Miss Floreida Batson, team captain. "We've just got to win the meet. But tomorrow night---well, we're going to cut lose and just stuff on sweets."
To Compete Despite Game Ankle
Miss Batson will enter the meet under the handicap of a weak ankle, which suffered a severe sprain ten days ago, but she will run tomorrow with the hope that it can stand the strain. Laughing, joking, and skylarking, the girls were sent to their rooms before 9 p.m. for a long sleep. Their laughter may have been a little nervous, but a coach likes to have his charges feel like that just before a big contest."
"British Girls Gain Victory in Paris Meet"
12,000 See Contests; American Team is Second
BY Don Skene (Tribune Sport Expert)
Chicago TribuneEuropean Edition
Paris, France
Monday, August 21, 1922, page 1.
"America's best girl athletes went down in glorious defeat before the brilliant and well-balanced British team in the first feminine Olympic games at Pershing stadium yesterday. A colorful, cheering crowd of 12,000 enthusiasts from many nations saw seven world's records for women broken.
Great Britain captured the big track and field meet with a total of 50 points. The United States was second with 31 points, France third with 29, Czecho-Slovakia fourth with 12, and Switzerland fifth with 6.
In spite of the overwhelming victory of the British girls, there was glory enough for all. Great Britain won first place in four events, the 100-yard dash, 300-meter run, running broad jump, and relay race, breaking three world's records. The Americans smashed two world's marks, and also captured four first places--the 100-yard hurdle race, running high jump, shot-put, and standing broad jump.
France Stars in Middle Distance
Victory and a new record in the 1,000-meter run went to France. Czecho-Slovakia made a similar showing in the 60-meter dash, and the Swiss took first honors in the javelin throw. Americans have reason to be proud of their fair athletic representatives for an excellent showing. The United States was beaten decisively in total points by a splendid team that was forced to fight for every point. The brightest star of the meet was Miss M. Lines of Great Britain, who was the highest point winner. She captured two first places, a second and a third, and broke a world's record.
New Jersey Lass Shines
Miss Camelia (sic) Sabie of the New Jersey State Normal school, was the "ace" of the American team. She scored 12 points, broke the record for the 100-yard hurdle race, won the standing broad jump and took third place in the running broad jump. Miss Lucile Godbold, a tall, smiling girl from Rock Hill, S.C., made a record-breaking throw in the shot put and scored points in three other events. The other American points were scored by Miss Elizabeth Stine, with second place in the running broad jump, Miss Maude (sic) Rosenbaum in the shot-put and Miss Nancy Voorhees, who tied for first honors in the high jump. Miss Floreida Batson, U.S. team captain, gave a remarkable exhibition of gameness, and sportsmanship. She entered the competition with an ankle that had been seriously sprained during training, but managed to break the world's record for the hurdle race in the morning trial heat.
Congratulates Winner
In the final race, the strain told on the weak ankle, which gave way under her in the middle of the race just as she was clearing a hurdle. She fell, but got up to finish the race, bruised and bleeding. Although heart-broken, she flashed a beaming smile and congratulated the winner. Miss Maybelle Gilliland, fastest sprinter on the American team dislocated her knee in the 100-yard dash. Her absence weakened the American team in the relay. The only unfortunate event of the meet was a lively dispute which developed after the relay race. The British team had crossed the finish line first, with America second, Czecho-Slovakia third and France fourth. The judges ruled, however, that because of a foul committed when a French and Czech runner collided slightly, the official finish should be Great Britain, France, Czecho-Slovakia, and the United States, in the order named. After a lengthy argument with French officials, Dr. Harry E. Stewart, head American coach, and the Czecho-Slovakian coaches announced that they would both enter formal protest against the ruling to the international federation.
Play National Anthems.
Ideal weather conditions prevailed at the stadium throughout the meet. An impressive feature of the program was the playing of the national hymn of the winning country after each event, while spectators of every nationality stood at attention, the men with bared heads. The American team broke training last night, which means that many pastry and candy shops were looted peaceably by the youthful athletes. The team will sail for home today on the Cunard Saxonia. "We're certainly not downhearted," said Dr. Stewart last night. "The best team won, but we're coming back for revenge."'
"Our Ludy Comes Home"
The Winthrop College News
Volume X, Number 5 Rock Hill, SC Friday, October 20, 1922
"On the morning of Saturday, October 7, Chapel was going as usual. President Johnson was standing where he has stood all these years. The hymn was announced, the Scripture read, the Lord's Prayer was repeated as usual, and then the announcements--but just as Dr. Johnson had begun to tell that the movie that night would show "Our Ludy" in action at the Paris Olympic, the marshals with their beribboned staffs appeared in the rear, and with their entrance a roar, a storm, a thunder storm, of applause swept down the student crowd. It was deafening, overwhelming. The newcomers, especially on the platform, wondered what it was all about, but soon someone said, "It's Ludy!" And so behind the marshals there came a tall, graceful young woman, tastefully dressed in dark blue, and evidently overwhelmed by her roaring reception. And how did they roar! They would have roared more had thirteen hundred girls possessed other means of roaring besides feet, hands and lungs.
Finally, the marshals reached the platform, where they presented the heroine to the President, who seated her in his chair and then with his masterly directness and terseness told of his trip to Paris, of the Olympic contest, and of the Winthrop victories. "It's good to see 'Ludy' in the movie," concluded Dr. Johnson, "but it's far better to have her here in the flesh, so it gives me special pleasure to present her to you this morning."
As the modest, self-possed young woman stepped to the front the storm again broke loose, the storm of twenty-six hundred hands trying to tell in one volume the welcome that was stirring in thirteen hundred hearts, but it was trying to say something that after all could never be said, even by twenty-six hundred hands and thirteen hundred hearts. When the storm subsided, in a voice full of individuality, "Our Ludy" began to speak and her is what she said, but as you read put in roars of applause at every telling point:
"Dr. Johnson, Faculty and Students of Winthrop College: Before I began talking about myself I want to take the time to thank each and all of you, as well as those students who finished at Winthrop last year, for the most wonderful and most pleasant trip of my life. Not just because you people raised the money to cover my expenses, but the way in which you did it and knowing that you wanted me to enjoy my trip as well as represent Winthrop College at the first international track meet for women. I shall always think of you people and Winthrop College with pleasure. To you I owe a debt greater than I can ever pay, not a debt of money, but a debt of love and a debt of thanks. There is no finer college, nor finer people in all the world. I am proud to say that I have been a student of the South Carolina College for Women."
"Now, as I had to get up before five o'clock this morning because I had to leave Columbia (where I am teaching gym at Columbia College) on the 5:10 train, I'm not exactly myself, and I'm going to ask all of you to put up with what I say, whether it's interesting or not. If you get bored, please don't do anything worse than yawn, stretch, torment your neighbors or raise the roof. You had better get 'fixed' for good, too, because I'm going to talk till sunset. You know, people who get up in time to hear dawn crack are long-winded, and remember that when I got up this morning I met myself going to bed."
"As you know, early in the spring, Winthrop had her annual track meet. At this meet I broke the American record in shot put and as a result, at the suggestion of Mrs. Barlett, our physical director, you raised money enough to send me to Mamaroneck, N.Y., to take part in a 'try-put' track meet which was held to select a team to compete in the International Meet. I had the good luck to be chosen as a member of this team.--(In New York she broke the American record in shot put, came first in basket ball, second in hop-step-jump, and second in the hundred yard dash.)"
"Then you raised the necessary money for my trip to Paris. I was told to practice four events, shot put, javelin throwing with both hands, the 300 meter run and the 1,000 meter run. I came to Summer School and got up early every morning before breakfast and practiced these events. It wasn't so much fun practicing by myself with nobody for company except the dew and the birds that used to sit up on the grandstand and laugh at my attempts to throw the javelin. However, I stuck to it and after I had broken a couple of javelins and run 'round the track field so much till I could shut both eyes and run around backwards. Then the time came for me to go to New York."
"We stayed in New York about a week, going over to Newark, N.J., every day to practice, We had a grand time in New York, and the members of the team got to know each other before we sailed. There were thirteen girls in the American team, girls form New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Louisiana, Florida, the Canal Zone, and South Carolina."
"On August 1 the team, with coaches and chaperones, sailed form New York on the Aquitania.It took us just six days to cross and we had a wonderful trip. We enjoyed it so much that we hated to leave the ship. We got up every morning before breakfast and practiced on deck, one of which the Captain let us use. To practice the 1,000 meter run I had to go 'round the deck three times, which gives you some idea of the size of the ship. Right here, for Mr. Coker's benefit, I'll say that a meter is a little over 39 miles---inches, I mean.
On August 7 we landed at Cherbourg, France. We had a time getting through the Custom House. They wanted to know if we had any tobacco or cigars in our baggage. Of course, they wouldn't take our word for it, so we had to give our clothes a coming-out party. I had a funny experience. I got a porter to carry my baggage and when he put it down I gave him a tip. Then he began jabbering some kind of lingo at me, and after a time he got me to understand (Bright "Ludy!") that it wasn't enough. So, wanting to see the last of him, I tipped him again--and once more he started jabbering. I told him in very good English that if he thought he was going to get any more money from me he was having a dream. Both of us would have been standing there yet if I hadn't turned my back on him and walked off. It made no difference how much we tipped a French porter he would demand more. I soon learned to give a certain amount and walk off."
"We went by rail from Cherbourg to Paris. We were in France two weeks. Every morning we would go to Colombes where we practiced for about two hours each day. In the afternoons or at night we went sightseeing or to grand Opera, etc. We saw everything that was worth seeing and a heap that wasn't. We took a trip to the battlefields and visited different cemeteries, and saw Quentin Roosevelt's grave."
"We went to Versailles and went through the palace where the peace treaty was signed, and saw the flower gardens that are said to be the most beautiful in the world. After seeing all the beautiful things in Paris, the cathedrals, Notre Dame, the Louvre, etc., one doesn't wonder that certain French kings put France in bankruptcy."
"The night before the Meet I walked to the hotel, and whom should I see but Dr. Johnson! He looked good to me! Have you ever been away from America a good while without seeing a soul you have known, and then suddenly come across somebody from home? Well, it's a grand and glorious feeling I'll tell you. The Meet was to be [the] next day and seeing Dr. Johnson and knowing that someone from Winthrop would be there to want me to win out certainly did me a heap of good. I couldn't see him for long, but the next morning before the Meet began, I talked to him a while."
"The Meet was held in Pershing Stadium, and began early on the morning of August 20. In the morning we had the preliminaries. Only six of our team were chosen to be placed in the events. There were ten in each preliminary, because there were five countries represented and each country was allowed to have two contestants in each event. In the morning they were cut down to the four best. I placed in the shot put, javelin throw, the 300 meter run and the 1,000 meter run."
"The meet was run off very much like our track meets, but on a larger scale. Everything was announced in French."
"We had lunch, and Dr. Johnson ate with us. The Meet began right afterwards. Just before it began each team marched around the field, with one member carrying her nation's flag. I was chosen to carry Old Glory, and believe me, I was proud to lead that American team around the track. There were about 20,000 people to see us. The Americans were seated in the center of the Stadium, and I could see Dr. Johnson very well. It was a grand sight to see all those people from five countries yelling in five different languages."
"My first event was shot-put. I knew the French woman who held the record was going to give me a hard fight, so I was all keyed up, so to speak. I was taller than the French woman, but she was husky as an ox. She looked as though she could put that 'iron pill' over the moon. Believe me, I was scared. If you had seen her, you would have been scared, too. Everybody knew she would win first. her record with both hands was over 18 meters."
"When I stepped into the circle our coach, Dr. Stewart, shouted, 'Now, 'ol South Carolina Mountaineer, show 'em what the South can do!" I put the pill and broke the world's record. I put it at twenty meters and more, twenty-two with both hands, and that is sixty-six feet. This beat the French woman's record by more than six feet, six inches. She looked as though somebody had pulled a chair out from under her kind of sudden-like. But she was a good sport, shook hands and congratulated me. The American flag was run up and the band played the 'Star Spangled Banner' twice. I was one happy mortal!"
"The announcer took me around and introduced me to all those thousands of people (in French). He might have been cussing me out for all I know, but as everybody clapped, I reckon it was all O.K."
"I can see those Americans yelling now. They opened their mouths so wide I was scared to death for fear the sun would warp their ribs or blister their tonsils."
"Then when I looked up I was shut in by a circle of men with cameras, about four million of them, as it seemed to me. I almost cast a fit. I grinned like a lunatic, and tried to make believe I was used to it--but you know better."
"The next event was the 300 meter run. My coach told me I was just to trot around the track because that would give me fourth place, anyway, and he wanted to save me for the 1,000 meter race. I couldn't picture myself not running my fastest and I urged him to let me do my best, but couldn't budge him. Worse than a balking horse! Before he finished if he had said the moon was green cheese I would have agreed and thrown him a biscuit to eat it with. That race was the hardest thing I ever did in all my life. The rest started off at a rapid rate and I had to just jog along. I thought about Dr. Johnson and got tickled. I knew he must think I was crazy. Why anybody slower that Balaam's donkey could have gone faster than I did. I don't believe the judge knew whether I was last in that race or first in the next."
"In the javelin throw I came in third. I wish you could have seen the 1,000 meter race. Near the finish when you are supposed to speed up, the girl just in front of me fell sprawling. The big hunk of mud! I could have murdered her. I was going pretty fast, and if somebody had offered me a million dollars to stop I could not have done it. I leaped over her (leap-frog-like) and in a leap there of measured my length on that track of cinders. I thought I was through with this old world. However, I dragged my carcass to an upright position, coaxed my bruised bones to work and took third place. That gave me two more points."
"In the whole contest from the first it was a tight race between England and America. We stayed ahead until two of our team were knocked out. Then England got ahead. She won first place, we got second, and France third."
"After the International, the American team had a meet of its won to present some events that were not included on the regular program. I took first place in hop-step-jump and second in basket ball throw. I did not get points for these because the other countries did not go into them. Just our thirteen girls tried. If I had gotten points for these two events I would have had nineteen together, which would have been the highest number. After this those who won first places were given huge bunches of flowers. I thought I was a corpse."
"We had lots of fun at the International banquet that night. Imagine five countries speaking five different languages, and you will get an idea of the fuss we made at that banquet. While in training wee had to cut out all sweets, drinks and so on, but at the banquet we turned loose. Did I drink wine? Can a fish swim? I ate so much French pastry I thought I would pop. In fact, I ate until there was no more."
"A member of each team made a speech which was so much Hebrew to me. The cup was awarded to England. After we had eaten, the medals were awarded. I got six, three more than anybody else. Each time a name was called--all in French--a girl went forward, got her medal and some other article, from pictures to dishes. I am thinking of starting a hardware store."
"The next morning we got up early and caught the train to Cherbourg. We sailed August 21 on the Saxonia. Who can keep from being seasick on a ship that thinks it's a cradle? About the third day out we got in a little gale and we began getting six meals per day--three going and three coming. One day I was leaning over the rail sightseeing, when a dumb-bell of a man came along and asked if I was waiting for the moon to come up. I told him I had seen everything else, But I didn't remember drinking any moonshine."
"Speaking of dumb-bells, there were some on that tub. They thought Rex Beach was a bathing resort and Babe Ruth was a motion picture actress. Reckon they thought Billy Sunday was Easter Sunday's brother!"
"On the Aquitania I had a room to myself, but coming back we existed four in a room. Our room was so small that half the furniture was painted on the wall. We had to back out in the hall to turn around and go on deck to even change our minds. As long as we stayed on deck it was all O.K. I cultivated the deck, and my deck chair and I were stonewall buddies. I read so much I couldn't remember when I wasn't reading."
"After creeping along for twelve days we got in sight of New York. Believe me, I was as glad to see the Goddess of Liberty as a Carolina mule is to see Sunday."
"I didn't expect anybody to meet me, and when I saw Mrs. Bartlett I almost fell off the boat, I was so glad. I had to have my baggage searched, and I brought each of the men element of the faculty a bottle of champagne straight from Paris, but I'm sorry to state it was taken away from me at the Custom House. After I had finished there I saw my father. Of course, I was tiked to see him, and after Mrs. Bartlett had seen that I got my picture taken by everybody that asked me for it, we said good-bye and she went back home. My father and I stayed in New York a day or two, and then we went to my home, Estill, S.C."
"The people in Estill were very nice to me and capped the climax by inviting Governor Harvey down and having what they called a Harvey-Godbold day. We had quite an exciting time. It was the first time a governor had ever spoken in Estill. I felt quite honored. Governor Harvey talked as though I had saved the country from smallpox, or some such animal. Everything was decorated in garnet and gold and we had a lovely time."
"Before closing I want ot say once more how much I appreciate all that you people--the girls who finished last year, the faculty and officers, Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Bartlett--did in connecrtion with the trip to France. Especially do I want to thank Mrs. Bartlett before all of you for the part she played. If she had not been a regular live wire, had she not kept up with what was going on in other parts of the country, I doubt if I would ever have gone to Mamaroneck to take part in the try-out meet in the spring. I have much to thank her for."
"As I said once before, what I did was done not for myself but for you people and for Winthrop, and because South Carolina and the South were looking to me to do my share in helping the U.S.A. win all she could in the first international meet for women. And after all that's what counts in all phases of life, knowing that there are people who want you to win out in whatever you undertake, whether its's doing track work, teaching or anything else worth while."
Possibly never before in its history did the old Chapel ever see such a scene as followed "Ludy's" talk. In the thick of the thundering applause, Miss Mattie Sue Wofford stepped to the front of the stage and led the entire student body in singing the Winthrop Alma Mater Song and "Ludy Child." They sang out of one body and soul. Class demonstrations followed, entrie classes rising spontaneously and in one way or another expressing their enthusiasm. And so it went, making an indescrible scene, which can occur only at a time of supreme exaltation.
Dr. Johnson then introduced Mrs. Bartlett, saying that "it was to her training of Miss Godbold that we owe the victoires at Paris, that Miss Godbold had taken to Paris with her the spirit, the attitude and ideals which should always be characteristic of true athletics, where were at all times brought out here under the direction of our department of Physical Training, of which Mrs. Bartlett is head." Mrs. Bartlett then told how she met "Ludy" in New York in response to a message from Dr. Stewart, who had a special message for Dr. Johnson and Winthrop, which he wished her to bring--it was that Miss Godbold was by far the best all round athlete at the Meet and that she established the morale of his party.
Mrs. Bartlett told of how when the boat docked every one was asking and looking for Miss Godbold--that dozens of camera men were there trying to get pictures of her--that from the goodbyes of the party themselves it was not hard to see which was the most popular member of the American team. "But, best of all," said Mrs. Bartlett, "Ludy has come through world honors and is the same unspoiled Ludy." She ten showed to the audience the six medals "Ludy" had won, also the suit which she wore at the Meet.
Dr. Johnson said, in conclusion:" Ludy has brought great honor to Winthrop and us all. Every leading newspaper in every civilized country in the world has made mention of her. We want to honro her"--but the students with their usual keeness, catching what was coming, drowned out the announcement which the Preident was about to make--and whcih he did make: "That today we will suspend work and celebrate in Miss Godbold's honor as 'Ludy Day!'"