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

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school. In future days through this study, we will have developed a keener con- cept, a clearer vision of higher ideals. 1 hus. though we cannot put into words all that we feel, we will let our future lives speak for us. To our teachers all. these years will linger in our memories always. ()ur desires were to climb higher and get our deserved comjiensation. N ou have helped us through these years, keeping us from harsh problems, and difficulties. We de- sire very much to express our thanks in more fitting ways, but our hearts are full, and we cannot put into words the feelings within us. Classmates, the last words must he to you. As a class we have stood united. Together we have jiassed through difficulties and pleasures: Tonight we see other ways beckoning us and we must each journey alone. Through these years our desires have been for high ideals. We have carried this through to our utmost ability. Choose carefully then your desired path of the future. Let it not lead you astray. Think of the ideals embodied in our motto and let them l e your guide. Each has received his just deserts for the things for which he has striven here. However, it is still our desire not to forget Eau Claire High School as we go on through life. Whether our path be difficult or smooth we will travel it and remember that close friends are traveling like ways. Let us. as we part, pledge ourselves to remember the true and lofty desires that have been with us in our work together here and make our lives such as to bring pride to our school and cause our teachers to feel that they had the privilege of teaching us how to choose high ideals. Sculptors of life arc we. as we stand With our lives uncarved before us, Waiting the hour, when, at God’s command. Our life dream passes o’er us. Let us carve it. then, on the yielding stone, With many a sharp incision; It's heavenly beauty shall be our own— Our lives a heavenly vision. —Pf.ari. Kesterke [Page Twcnty-twol

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Valedictory Roltert Browning measured True Manhood in these words: “The world wants men—true men Free from the taint of sin Men whose lives are clean without And pure within. Such is the ideal of the class of '28; such is embodied in our motto Deserve and desire.” “Deserve and desire”—hut what? It is of this I wish to speak. Tonight we are confronted with myriad desires, desires of merit to lie furth- ered and developed, desires of degredation. the very holding of which contaminates and defiles. We must develop the talent we now have in our hands. Why waste time in trying to develop that for which we are not adapted ? 1 hat will bring only the most stilted results So. dear classmates, we should take the desire for which we are most fitted. We want to work to a higher plane in life. Though the path we choose he difficult, the pleasures gained by overcoming stubliorn ob- stacles, the winning out in the face of defeat will prove spurs to help us onward to the time when we shall hear “Well Done.” In this age in which we are living, to be successful means to lie a specialist in your line of work. Therefore we must know ourselves and what we would lie; we must study our abilities and then further them; we must study to show our- selves approved. Never liefore has there been such an opportunity for the wide- awake youth who knows himself, his abilities, and lvis desires. Be your desire whatsoever it may in the scientific field, in agriculture, in home life, or in what not, the successful one is he who strives toward the highest ideals. No desire that springs from some ungodly thought can bring us anything but pain and heart- break. In the Bible it says, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap.” There- fore we must lie careful of where these paths of desire may lead us. Wc can never be too careful What the seed our hand shall sow. Love from love is sure to ripen, Hate from hate is sure to grow. Seeds of good or ill we scatter Heedlessly along our way. But glad or grievious fruitage Waits us at the harvest day. Whatsoe'er our sowing be, Reaping, we its fruit must see. Higher desires will bring higher deserts. I f we struggle on our path and finally win a wonderful reward, we will know that we have sown the seed in rich and fruit- ful soil. We get only what we deserve. If we take a path of desire that leads to vice and crime, we may find ourselves shut away from the rest of the world by steel l ars. We have gained only what we deserved. Our path has led us to this horror, and we must take it as a just desert. So put these desires down and look to those that will leave you free in spirit and mind. We rise by things that are under our feet; By what we have mastered of good and gain: By the pride deposed and the passions slain. And the vanquished ills that wc hourly meet. To the Board of Education, as well as our parents and friends. I would ex- tend the earnest thanks of the class for the privileges we have enjoyed here. We thank you for giving us this chance to know our desires and study them here at [Page Twenty-one]

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Salutatory Tonight we. the largest graduating class thus far in the history of the Eau Claire High School meet to close our career as a class and to join you in your life. As we gather here our thoughts wander hack over recollections of the happy past and forward with hopes yet dreads of the future. Hut for only a moment do our thoughts thus wander, for as we turn to you , realizing the real significance of tonight and your presence here, our hearts go out to you, united in the one word-—welcome. Tonight is to you hut one of many pleasant evenings whiled away in the same or like entertainment; to us it will forever stand out as a gleaming milestone along the journey of life. At this time we turn from one path to another entirely new and strange. This new path may lead to success or failure; it all lies with us, for “life is what we make it.” Now each one of us is determined that his path shall l e the | ath that leads to success, but as we tread it, obstacles may arise which will turn us aside if we are given no courage to forge onward. The reception which you give us as we join hands with you will he the first spark to kindle those quali- ties through which our success is to he attained. Your presence here gives us as- surance that you await us with open arms and best wishes for the future. I his interest gives us courage to conquer all obstacles and win the prize for which each one of us lias set his aim. Realizing all this, we extend to you our last greeting with hearts overflowing with gratitude and welcoming emotions. Yet so inter- mingled are the varied emotions that I can find no words expressive of any single emotion. I only trust that, as each one of you recalls the same or like occasion in your own life, you will understand the situation in which we are placed tonight and, doing so, will liear with us as we review the climax of our happy school life and bid farewell to those who have lieen dearest to us in the time spent here. The forliearance you have exercised toward us as we awkwardly tried to grasp the opportunities placed liefore us; the vision of the happy carefree days enjoyed under your sheltering care; the pride you have taken in our successes; the words of encouragement you have offered when the way seemed rough; and your sym- pathy in our shattered dreams all come pouring in upon our confused minds, and we realize how weak we would have l een without your watchful guidance. We hope that as we enter this strange life, weakened by our inexjierience and dreads of the unknown future, these bits of encouragement will not lie entirely discon- tinued. Sorrows creep in to mingle with the otl. r emotions as we realize that our graduation is the sundering of many friendship ties which have been formed in the four years we have spent together here. I-et the welcome which you give us. as we step by your side, lessen this heartache and give us courage to proceed alone, raising up new friends wherever we are cast. And again I repeat that word in which so many emotions are enfolded—wel- come. —Ethel Laberdy IPage Twenty-three]