Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR Crowns ROM time immemorial, the crown has been an emblem of authority and of attainment. In all ages, it has represented the height of power, the goal of achievement. Let no one take thy crown is an admoni- tion heard since childhood. And while it usually has fallen rather lightly from the lips of the speaker upon ears that listened somewhat inatten- tively, fascinated merely by the sound of the words themselves, it deserves a far greater depth of thought. There are many crowns in a lifetime for which all should earnestly strive if one would lead a worthwhile existence. The crown of health. How often do we trample beneath our feet this diadem and make little or no effort to obtain it, or, having obtained it, to keep it. Exuberant physical and mental health is indeed priceless. The sacrifices and deprivations necessary to maintain a healthy mind and body are well worth the effort. The crown of health! How it glitters on the brow of the wearer. And how much more can be accomplished with it than without it. The crown of character. This is the most precious of all possessions. When lost, it is well-nigh impossible to regain it. Therefore, it is impor- tant to begin early in life to develop a character of which all can be proud. Cultivation of a desire to possess a good character is the first requirement. With that seed planted in the breast, great progress has already been made. In the age of improvement in methods and development of the mod- ern machine, we sometimes get the idea that newer methods in character- building should also be developed. Strange as it may seem, such is not the case, for the same spiritual and natural laws remain in force as when the world began, and the young man or woman of today would do well to remember that Nature still exacts her toll from him who disobeys her laws and that God still rules the Universe and demands of men obedience to his mandates under penalty of serious consequences. The crown of character can be won only by constant effort, but it is a crown of pure gold. The crown of success, that crown which all seek and which so few obtain. While environment, selection of companions and friends, and other things play a large part, success in life depends for the most part upon one,s self. If one of these things is hampering your progress to- ward the goal of success, try to eliminate the obstacles. Remember that you have a right to yourself, to do with yourself what you feel sure is right. You are the captain of your ship, and it is you who are respon- sible for the result when life is finished. Others may help you win the race, but when decisions are to be made, when battles are to be fought, it is you and you alone who must stand the test. Eight

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T H E R E F L E C T O R are simply wasted. Few hear what cheer is to be given, naturally few respond. What we need is organization! What we ought to do is get together, open our mouths, and announce to the wide, wide world that we come from Clifton High and are proud of it! Let's get organized, let,s get out behind our teams-and Yell! A Depression HE world has, in the last few months, overworked the word depres- siong nevertheless, I am going to write about it again today. Have you ever stopped to think of the occasional depression we have in our school? I think it is especially noticeable on Mondays. Friday afternoons we go home from school with all our books packed under our arms and the very best intentions of doing our homework. That evening we usually think, There's no use doing homework tonight. I've two more days to do it in. Saturday morning we sleep late, and after lunch there are usually some friends to visit or a football game to see. Saturday night we sit down with our books. Then the telephone rings and some friends asks, Bob for Bill, or Maryj , there is a dandy picture at the theater down town. There's a crowd going. W'on't you come, too? We grab our hats and meet our friends. Our homework is still undone. Sunday morning, if we get up early enough, we go to church. In the afternoon we go for a walk or a ride, because the weather is so fine. Sunday night, friends of the family drop in for a visit. We could not be so impolite as to ask to be excused to do our homework Cwe might miss somethingj. That night we go to bed with our books still unopened. Monday is the day of depression. In our Hrst period, English Class, We receive a zero for not being able to recite Qhow can we recite if we have not looked at the lesson?D . Next period is our history class. We remember a little of the lesson from Friday, and we rate a fifty for the day. Third period comes gym. We forget our troubles of the day and enjoy that period. Fourth period is lunch-there is no depression there. Fifth period is algebra and, of course, the teacher calls on us to put the first example on the board fit has never been known to be any differentj . We have to explain, with some embarrassment, that we have not worked out the problem. There is no need to explain what that means. Sixth period in French class we cannot take the vocabulary test or conjugate the verbs. More depression. Seventh period, our study class, is the period when we think of all the zeros and poor marks we got during the day. They are going to cause a depression in our weekly average. We then decide for should decidej to do our assigned work and help do away with depression in C. H. S. Seven

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f ' ' Q 1 ITEIZFITVIZE Romance of 1150 jungle 'QThen, I dare you!,' And, I accept your dare!', A group of people on the little veranda of the only decent house in Baucho had been discussing various things, among them the secrets of the jungle. These people, young and old, were all adventurers. Some were there in Africa merely for the sake of seeing and boasting of having visited the dark continent. One or two were there on business, but only one or two. Even they, business men that they were, forgot all else in the excitement of the moment. A young woman, Betty Lavors, had arisen from her seat and was shouting loudly, And now, he'll most likely go back on his boasts. Oh, yes, he could fly over the jungle and over to Okanga safely in his plane. Oh, yes, I think not! It might be safe and all that, but you'll never catch Ralph Linton risking his neck, even for a thrill. Now if I had the nerve, which he hasn't, I'd go with him, just to show you that I mean what I say. The young man, too, had jumped to his feet and was himself shout- ing, addressing his sneers to Miss Lavors. Oh, so you think I wouldn't, do you. Well, I'll show you a thing or two. But, I'd sooner hang than fly with you. So that's going to be your excuse, is it? You have no one to go with. We,ll fix that, no fear. You can take--. She looked around, wondering who would do. Then she cried she had found the very one. Take Eileen Waters with you. She'd make an excellent com- panion. But perhaps Eileen, too, is afraid of the jungle, even in a plane. Oh, hum, these people that brag. Miss Waters snapped back at her, So this is your way of backbiting! But then, it's just what I'd expected of you. And another thing, I'm not afraid of that old jungle, in or out of a plane, so there!,' Then, I dare you! Nine