Carl Schurz High School - Schurzone Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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of a realm beyond the mental horizon where colors are softer than the common blare of day. The radiance of a face gives you the distinct thought that you Would like to know more of the soul that could so mould the clay. The perfume of a rose makes you dream that you have existed before this life, and music lifts you into an ideal World Where harmony prevails. These and all other forms of beauty are hinting that it Would be Well for us to keep sensitive, to keep tuned in, lest We miss the message. If your diploma means anything, it means that you can more easily send messages to one anotherg that nature can more easily im- part her message to you g that the men of the past can more easily trans- mit their Wisdomg that your minds are so trained that nothing but truth can flow ing that beauty With its beckoning message exerts a stronger force than it could have done had not these happy years between four- teen and eighteen been spent in the contemplation of spiritual things. W. F. SLOCUNI. Q'W a. .,y c . . c IELEVENI

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we have the representative form called a republic. Lincoln, in the eulogy referred to earlier in this message, said that '4Washington was the greatest name in history, greatest in the Held of political reforma- tion. Do you realize what a tremendous, momentous step was taken when the Declaration of Independence of l776 was uttered in the world? Have you the faith, in spite of crime, lawlessness, and the temporary idolatry of commercialism, that the ideal of self-govern- ment as typiied in the constitution of the United States of America will prevail and slowly draw all nations to its wisdom? One sees often in the public press adverse comments on large high schools. You who have lived together in the largest high school in the world can better judge whether or not the effort to respect the rights of others, the effort to carry on such regulations as will insure the main purpose of scholarship, is not the very best preparation for social contact in those larger groups-our city, our state, and our nation. Let me say, I am proud of the leadership of this graduating class, proud of the absence of flaunting, collective egotism, proud of the quiet adherence to the traditions of the school, proud of the high standard of excellence which you expect and demand, proud of the natural grace of your con- duct toward one another, all of which is a high degree of citizenship, all of which is a capacity to live less hysterically and more sanely as members of an even larger group. Is your radio sufficiently sensitive to make you conscious that you have been living history? Mathematics is mental gymnastics. Grown up people are con- fronted with problems to be solved. We must think logically and not draw false conclusions. With symbols, such as X'l, and lines and circles, we reason and learn to draw accurate conclusions, not permit- ting a false deduction. Best of all, we learn a concentration of mind. No one can go far in mathematics unless he learns to concentrate. Thoughts flow in from some alien source if we concentrate. I am not so sure that our five senses are the only avenues of knowledge. The existence of the radio is more than signiicant. There is a field of vibration about us. The optic nerve, the auditory nerve, etc., may not be the only receiving instruments we possess. In moments of great concentration thought flashes upon us. 'This is the experience of every real mathematician. The theory of the transcendentalists was based upon this idea. Emerson said, ffWhen I perceive the river of thoughts that flow into me from sources I see not, I know I am but a pensioner, and from some alien energy the vision comes. I trust when some one presents an argument to you that you will concentrate to such a degree that the first deviation from a logical conclusion will stir up a violent static on your mental radio. Beauty is trying to speak to us, to utter in its various voices a mes- sage. Generally speaking, it says, f'Come in this direction, just as ugliness says, f'Do not move in this direction. The stars whisper to some, 'fIn my Father's house are many mansions. The sunset hints ITENI I

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C. A. PETTERSEN, Assistant Principal