Clifton Springs High School - Cliftonian Yearbook (Clifton Springs, NY)

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26 THE CLIFTONIAN GEORGE WASHINGTON ESSAY CONTEST The English I and English II classes were entered this year in the George Washington Essay Contest sponsored by the Literary Digest. The essays, of from 500 to 1,000 words, were to be written upon The Life and Character of George Washington.” The first prize for our local contestants, a gold medal embossed with the head of Washington, was won by Burton Webb. The second prize, a silver medal, was won by George Cost. Following is the first-prize essay: “THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF GEORGE WASHINGTON” In George Washington’s early boyhood, he was pretty well hemmed in with work. His two brothers went away when he was still young, and George was rather overworked. From the very first, George was put “on his own.” He received no help from anyone, if it were not necessary. In this manner George Washington received his strong character, which was his greatest asset in later life. George was a marked scholar. He did not dislike school, and his work was carried on with all diligence possible. He was not, however, one, of the boys who never did anything but study, and he was unusually adept at all sports. Mathematics was his chief study, for he liked it better than any other. At the age of eleven, George’s father died. Life was hard for the boy, for he had the task of supporting his mother. , He continued school until he reached the age of sixteen. He then took up surveying because of his liking for mathematics. He surveyed his own father’s land for practice, and before long his opportunity came. In the company of young Fairfax he set out to survey the vast tract of land which Fairfax’s father owned. Thus we find a young pioneer, unversed in all the ways of life and of people at that time, starting on the hardest track known to man at that time. George Washington’s greatest asset in private life was the training that he had received in early years. When his half-brother, Lawrence, left him in charge of Mount Vernon, he showed such skill in his management that he soon became known as the wisest and most prosperous farmer in the state of Virginia. His honesty was so great that he never came to any difficulty in his business. Washington lived a strong, wholesome life, plain and simple in all ways. He was religious, and well thought of by his few neighbors, chief among these the Fairfaxs, who lived the same life that he did. When at the end of the war, it was proposed that Washington become the ruler of the United States, he showed a touch of anger and reprehended the people for moving this thing without more thought. In early boyhood training and travels, when he was surveying Lord Fairfax’s land, George Washington started preparations for his career without knowing it. In the vast stretches of wilderness, in which he had to live, he met many types of men, and he came to know them perfectly. This was a wonderful preparation for his later life. Washington never left his home country, except on a short visit to the West Indies, but he was probably better fitted than any other man to hold a responsible position among men he knew. Washington, at the age of twenty, became a soldier for Great Britain. He was early given the position of general, but his treatment by General Braddock, his superior, set him against Britain and influenced him towards the revolutionists, when their time came. His stay with the British taught him their methods of warfare, and he used this knowledge in his later battles against them. Washington was given the position of Commander-in-Chief of all American forces, at the first meeting of the Continental Congress. In his military life he was unsurpassed as a leader of men. Whether Washington was greater as a soldier or statesman is hard to determine. The facts of his life would point to his being a better soldier than statesman, and I think this was so. In all his adventures in the war, he showed a marvelous ability to lead men. This was the great factor in his military success, for without this essential he could not have done so well. He showed strategy, good judgment and cunning, all of which go to make up the very finest in a soldier. When he was first put into service, Washington showed his abilities for warfare. In this he was superb, for he inspired his men to such an extent that they almost worshipped him. As a statesman, Washington was truly remarkable, but he could not have been the statesman he was if he had not had his military training as a basis. His patriotism, also, was partly due to his military service, and it would therefore seem that Washington was greater as a soldier.

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THE CLIFTONIAN 25 The following essays, written in English IV class, show how different people have very different ideas on the same subjects. “EYES” The most expressive of human features are the eyes. Through them words can be spoken, thoughts transmitted, inspiration offered. Through them also can be shown hatred, love, coquetry, innocence, faith—in fact, practically all human emotions. In most cases eyes are beautiful. There are few whose organs of vision do not attract attention. Crossed-eyes are fascinating, but in a different manner from that in which a clear-straight-forward eye commands attention. Bright, sparkling, vivacious eyes, alert and wide-open, commandeer comments of admiration no matter what sort of features accompany them. In short, oculistic beauty depends upon alive, healthy eyes, and this in turn upon health. Nearly everyone has eyes. Everyone can study them. We can only express deep regret for those whose eyes cannot function as they should, and hope that perhaps some day they, too, will be able to see gorgeous visions. —HELEN WHEDON. BROWN EYES There are dark blue eyes, light blue eyes, green eyes, gray eyes, black eyes and hazel eyes, but the most beautiful of all are brown eyes. Not a tannish brown or a greenish brown but the real color brown. What is more beautiful than a pair of large brown eyes set in a frame of long dark lashes? The eyes sparkle and reflect the light, so that one can see himself in them. They show the thoughts and feelings, and moods of the owner. When he is happy his eyes seem almost to smile and to light up his whole face. When he is sad they have an expression of hurt which makes one sorry if one has caused it. The eyes seem to know when something very funny is happening, because they twinkle and laugh as though they perfectly understand the joke. When their owner becomes angry they become almost black and flash and sparkle so that sparks of fire can almost be imagined coming from them. All eyes have these moods, but not all of them are capable of showing them, and none of them are as beautiful and expressive as brown eyes. —R. BUCHAN. PENCILS Pencils are used for many things. Of course their primary use is for writing and what a variety of things they do record at the hands of a high school student. They are also used as a sort of teething ring. We see many people going around chewing on their pencils, especially in moments of deep thought or when they are disturbed and have to find some way to show their anger or agitation. Others sometimes use pencils as a kind of decoration. We often see boys with pencils of bright colors in their coat pockets. Most of these that are used for show have passed their age of usefulness but as they still have their clasp can be fastened on the coat and tend to give a prosperous look to the wearer. Pencils give the high school student a chance to leave his desk in study hall, stroll leisurely to the pencil sharpener, sharpen his pencil, gather any late items of interesting news from the students whom he passes, perhaps borrow a stick of gum, or some late magazine, and return to his seat with his recent collections. So you see, although we think that pencils are very ordinary things they really play quite a part in the life of a modern student. —N. QUIGLEY. PENCILS You may never have thought how valuable a pencil is to you, but what would you do without one? Think how horrible it would be for a high school pupil whose head is just crammed with ideas (?) if he didn’t have any pencil to scribble them down with. And just try to imagine, if you can, the plight of the person, who is unable to think unless he is chewing on a pencil, if the pencil supply suddenly ran out. He might even have to start chewing gum and this is not generally encouraged in high schools. Just think what the world would have missed if I hadn’t been able to borrow a pencil just when the inspiration for this—choose your own name—struck upon my mind (very small, if any)! I tell you, the world does not appreciate the value of having or not having (as the case may be)—pencils. —P. WRIGHT.

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THE CLIFTONIAN 27 When Washington became president, his government ran smoothly for a while. Soon, however, the critics began to appear, and they put the man in difficult positions. When a dispute was being held between two parties, Washington rarely decided wholly in favor of either party but held his own opinion of the dispute. Washington’s powers of foresight were strong, and this was the reason for his perfect foretelling of the future. He was prejudiced by no one and he was unhampered by the usual things of presidency which arise. He was impartial in his judging and he could make his own opinions and ideas. Washington wanted to help all the people, not just one class of them. In this he was far above the people, yet on an even basis in actual life with them. In Washington’s life, ideas, hopes and ambitions, we see only a simplicity of nature and a love for his people which is as undying as his name. —BURTON WEBB. -------------o-------------- LIMERICKS (English I-II) There once was a man named Big Bill Who thought he had swallowed a pill The doctor did come But went away on the run When he presented his bill to Big Bill. —George Durkee. A wonderful skater was Rose She could skate on the end of her toes But she tried to show Nancy Some steps that were fancy And landed on the end of her nose. —Mary Thomson There vonce vas a fat little pig Vat vas clever at dancing a jig To the market he vent And there met his ent For the butcher said, “Come mit me, pig.’’ —George Cost There once was a man from Savannah Who slipped on a peel of banana, He fell on his back With a terrible crack Thus ended the man from Savannah. —Francis Walters. There once was a man named Jake Who fell into Seneca Lake He broke his neck And he said, “By Heck, I always did get a bad break.” There once was a man named Sam Who drove an old Ford sedan When he went “43” His Ford hit a tree, And that was the end of poor Sam. —Paul Quigley. -------------o-------------- JUNGLE PEACE “Jungle Peace,” written by William Beebe, is the very interesting account of a scientist’s adventures while collecting specimens in the jungle. The reason that the jungle seems so peaceful to him is that this man has just come from the wax ZOnCHe begins by telling of his experiences on shipboard and the catching of various kinds of seaweeds, and then goes on about several small islands and the Pam-eroon Trail. He tells very vividly about hunting for a queer bird called the Hoat-zin Next comes a description of their wilderness laboratory and the Convict Trail and the work of an army of ants. Before leaving, Mr. Beebe took four square feet of jungle mold and analyzed it and the results are interesting. He ends the book by a very vivid and colorful description of a night spent in the jungle. This book is written in a very glowing and colorful fashion and the author writes as if he were very much in love with his subject. —P. WRIGHT.