Batavia High School - Batavian Yearbook (Batavia, NY)

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the Way they will enjoy extraordinary opportunities of advancement. Therefore we must open wide the doors of our Alma Mater. We must better our educa- tional systems and unity the nations on the plane of moral and intellectual aimsf' Let us, then, make ready the way for the coming of the Angel of Peace. Let us use our education to this end even as the boys over there are using the sword. - Now, at the close of our school course, when we the class of '18 ar lea ' . . , ' e vin B. H. S. and going into the world, may this thought be uppermost in our mindg that we are educated and more is expected of us in this crisis than of ds, une u- cated people' and may we prove that E, H S has been I . , , ' ' - - .Vullz Sec d .- None-in her teachings. HH I Second to -FLoRENcE DARRON, '13, , l24j ' a

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Qllaaa 3' sang-E. E. Sv. sinh this Ililar America is at war. WVC see a cloud, hanging low over our gr-eat country. See, in that cloud sits, not the Angel of l'eace as before, but mailed Mars, in whose hand is a tiery sword, with which he dir-ects the armies of the world. He flashes his sword and lol the earth is shaken by the terrible shock of battle, There is the flashing of swords and screaming of shots. Clouds of smoke and dust rise toward the heavens and through the mist we see drawn up against the distant horizon the vast armies that are to decide the great question of right-the ques- tion of freedom of mankind from the oppression of the mailed list. How long is this great struggle to last? VVe know not, it may be months, it may be years before the sword of right conquers the sword of might. And, it will not come entirely through the efforts of the soldiers in the trenches. No, th-e Angel of Peace will come only when the hearts of men are ready to receive her. And how can this be better brought about than by the universal teaching of the doctrines of peace, and th-e question of right and wrong? Wie want our land to be the home of the free and how better can we realize our ideas of fr-eedom than by instilling them into the minds of our youth? This couldn't be done without education. Had we no schools, aside from district and grade schools, we would be a crippled people. France and England have seen this now, when it is almost too late, but they are picking up the threads where they were broken and trying to remedy their folly. Had Russia put education above everything else, would she be the pitiful wr-eck she is now? No, she would still be tighting and her people would not have given up their beautiful countr ' without a struggle. Because of ignorance, due to the lack of schools, 3 bb b the Russians were caught in the trap that Germany set for them. Then shouldnlt boys, attending school stop and enlist in the service of their country? Certainly-if they feel that the trenches are calling to them, if they see the Belgians stretching forth their hands to them for help,-certainly they must go. lt would be cowardly not to. Many of our own boys have heard that call and have answered it nobly, sacriiicing everything to light for right. Far away on a foreign battle field they are lighting bravely. But we, who do not feel that We are called into such service, must stay inischool and work harder than ever before. We must see that ignorance does not stalk in our streets and enter our homes-ignorance that would be more detrimental to our grand, glori- our country, would do more to make us haul down Old Glory than many trained armies. The first item of our mission, then, it to safeguard the country against ignorance and its train. Then secondly, a war presents new and hard problems which take a keen, educated mind to handle efficiently. During the war educated people Will be called upon for extraordinary servic-es. Duties which the unedu- cated people cannot do, will eventually fall upon the learned. Incidentally after T231

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Qllama ltluvm This morn l saw the Sununer Sun Rise o'er the hilltops highg I lcucw that erc it rose again, XVc must say the word Good-bye For now our course here is endedg XVC take our place in life, To follow the thread ol' our destiny Amid the world's mad strife. But let us each remember this :Xs we bid these scenes adieu: We end this period of our lite But to enter upon a new. For though our work seems nnished, 'Tis really not begung The world lies wide before us W7ith many a task not done. The world is ever waiting For those who want to work, But is too busy to take account Cf those who love to shirlc. If at first we're not successful, Let us dispel our fears, Remembering that success will come To him that perseveres. In after years when we come back And are alumni, Wie shall always support and boost Qur dear old Batavia High. THQMAS H. l25l DOVVD, 118