Eau Claire High School - Beaver Tales Yearbook (Eau Claire, MI)

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VALEDICTORY AND CLASS PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS “The Call for Men” Uncle Sam has a big job. The whole world is in need of men for every kind of work and it is up to him to furnish them. The recently ended war across the sea has killed or disabled several million men. It has destroyed many million dollars worth of property. In France alone 6,000 square miles of terri- tory, the home of 2,000,000 people was rendered useless by the tools of war. It will take $5,000,000 to give these people a place to live and $8,000,000 more to start them at work. This is one phase of the reconstruction work. Another is along the educational line. Many soldiers are so disabled that they must be given a good education to be able to support themselves at all. In Europe many schools were destroy- ed and many instructors killed. All this calls on the man power of the United States. In addition to foreign aids we have a big job at home. We have a hugh war debt to pay and we must prepare for a great commercial revolution in the next decade. Germany also looks to us for aid, and if we are to remain true to what we fought for, we must give it. If Imperialism, the great enemy of Democracy, is to be no longer a “menace” to the peace and freedom of the world we must aid Germany in establishing a democratic form of government. This is not the first time the United States has needed men and she has always found them eager to help. During the “Critical Period” which followed the revolution the United States had great need for statesmen and Washington, Hamilton, Patrick Henry and many other no less noted patriots stepped forward and showed their great statesmanship, thereby saving the nation. Again in 1861 our country was in grave danger and President Lincoln called for 75,000 men and they offered themselves three fold. This is the same country that answered Lincoln’s call and we proved it by putting 3,500,000 men where Germany said it was impossible to do so.

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 An oratorical and declamatory contest was held in April; Edward Bakeman represented the class, giving an oration en- titled “Americanism” and won the contest. One of the most interesting subjects of our Junior year was Chemistry, for this was introduced when our new laboratory was completed in the fall. As Juniors always have the pleasure of helping at Commence- ment time, this we did. Thus ended our Junior year. Oh! the joy when we again entered school as dignified Sen- iors, and with the lucky number, thirteen. American History is one of our pleasures as well as Chemistry. In October Edward Bakeman volunteered as a mechanical en- gineer and George Birkholm in the Officers’ Training Corps in California. The same month a party was given at the Merritt home in honor of two former graduates, who entered the S. A. T. C. at Kalamazoo. A marshmallow roast was the feature of the evening and everybody reported a good time. The saddest event that ever happened in our High School life was when our school building bur ned January 9, 1919. Although the structure was destroyed, the spirit still remains in every mem- ber of the class of ’19. The highest honor of the class fell to Lawrence Clark, vale- dictorian, and George Birkholm, salutatorian, received second honors. One more social event was a party for the Seniors at the home of Miss Lora Thumm. We finished our high school year in the Christian church. Thus ends our high school life, a class that will not graduate again for ninety-nine years. LORA THUMM EUGENE MASTERS ARDELLA HOCHBERGER

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Now has come another time for the men of the United States to show their colors. The world must be fed another year, large tracts of waste land must be reclaimed, new homes must be built, in fact 3,000,000 people must be given a new start in life and Uncle Sam must furnish everything to do this with. With this fact in mind everybody must do his best. It is just as important, if not more so, that we get a peace that secures our aims in entering this war than the fighting itself. This war has caused a great revolution along every line. In industry, commerce, agriculture and even education there have been important changes and still more important changes are to come. So it is up to every man to be prepared to answer his with the best and highest talent he possesses. Preparedness for work is a kind of preparedness that even Mr. Bryan will concede is a good thing. With these things in mind let us think wisely before we act, but having reached a decision, throw ourselves body and soul into the work and bring it to a glorious conclusion. Friends and schoolmates: We have met at an important milestone in our lives. Over the entire world, momentous things are taking place. The world has reached a great milestone on the road to Democracy and we have reached a great milestone on the road to success in life. It is the duty of eveiy one to be a success in life. By this I do not mean that every one must be a great financier or statesman. One can be successful along any line if he wishes. If day labor is his life calling, let him make a good day laborer and he will be a success. We, the citizens of tomorrow, have a great responsibility rest- ing on our shoulders. We must help meet this call for men. If Uncle Sam is to be able to furnish these sorely needed men, each and eveiy one of us must make ourselves ready, for, to be a pat- tern of success for anyone else, each must first be a success him- self. I close with this plea “Prepare.” LAWRENCE CLARK ’19