In the age of computers, penmanship has largely been rendered obsolete.  Where we once wrote letters and sent postcards to our family and friends, now we send emails and text messages.  When was the last time you mailed a handwritten letter or postcard?  100 years ago, people practiced their handwriting skills to perfection.    

On Friday, April 21, 1922, schools in the parish participated in a handwriting contest.  When the points were tallied, Arcadia High School had won the prized fountain pen.  Lee School won the fountain pen in the competition between the “graded schools.”  Below is a list of points earned by each school.

Do you recognize the names of all of the schools?  

High School Scores

School	Total Points
Arcadia	304
Jamestown	214
Castor	200
Ringgold	158
Saline	82
Gibsland	78
Hope	70
Bienville	66
Bryceland	28

Rural “Graded” Schools

School	Total Points
Lee	257
Brown	249
Oak Grove	81
Mt. Olive	74
Bryan	52
Bear Creek	37
Taylor	34
Friendship	30
Madden	25
Black Lake	23
Center	18
Smith	17
Ebenezer	17
Eldorado	16
New Ramah	14
Sailes	11
Jackson	11
Danville	11
Alabama Line	10
New Enterprise	6
Zion Hill	4
Ridge	3
Liberty Hill	1
Holder	1

Source: Bienville Democrat, May 4, 1922, p.1.

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