Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

Page 10 text:

8 THE MAGNET HERE comes a time in the life of each one of us when the future seems al a thoroughfare along which all activities move toward a common goal: success. With education our most valuable asset, we go out into the world to become independent citizens, our minds fixed upon one ambi- tion to which all other aims and hopes are subordinated—a consuming desire to achieve some great purpose in life. This craving for achievement influ- ences all our efforts and guides us on and on,as the lost hunter in the woods at night is guided by the star which will lead him out of the wilderness. The unsuccessful would have us believe that the Road to Success is dark, rough, and jagged, filled with obstacles that can be surmounted only by the herculean efforts. On the other hand the fortunate ones, who have labored faithfully and long, tell us that it is a broad, open way leading straight onward to that star, Success, whose rays make it a path of light. Why, then, are not more successful? If the Road to Success is so easy to travel, why do not more reach the goal? The first few miles on the Road to Success are level and we run at top speed. Then some of us, out of breath, sit down by the wayside to rest, “Tt will be easy, after we get our second wind, to make up for lost time,” we say. But, alas! some of us never get our second wind. Others go on more slowly, perhaps, for the road begins to be stony and to slant slightly upward. On each side of the road are branching paths, bordered with flowers; every few miles appear attractive sign-boards festooned with gay colors with a hand pointing always away from the path we travel. Many travelers stop, saying, ‘‘Why not see all there is to see while journeying alongr” They turn in and never come back. Others are able to detect the false light from the true star and turn back to continue in the main highway, trying to overtake those who have gone steadily onward. The Road to Success is not difficult to travel if we are willing to toil, but to overcome the temptations to depart from this road calls for the best that is in us. A few fortunate ones, favored by opportunity and influential friends, go rapidly on their way, as in a speed car, but the rest of us plod along, thrown upon our own resources, gaining ground by our own efforts. We must take care not to establish ourselves in a rut; we may travel, first on one side of the road, then on the other; we may adopt new ideas, with caution, for rashness often leads to destruction. A wise man once said: “ Be not the first by whom the new is tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.” But whether Fortune smiles upon us or we are forced to struggle hard, let us, my fellow classmates, remember that “‘ He conquers who labors;” let us keep our eyes upon that one star and travel the straight road, the only road that leads to ultimate victory. AGnEs M. Bemis,

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THE MAGNET Vol. XI. LEOMINSTER, MASS., JUNE, 1018. No. 8 Entered as second class matter at Post Office at Leominster, Mass. EDITORIAL STAFF Epitor-In-CHIEF, MorcGAN M. WHITNEY, ’18. Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Lucia WARREN, '18. Business MANAGER, EVERETT G. RICHARDSON, '18. Assistant Business Manager, Ray BERGER, ’IQ. Exchange Editor, Trressiz ComEau, ’19. School Notes’ Editor, Epwarp F. Knapp, ’18. Alumni Notes’ Editor, NormMAN FAsseEtTT, ’18. Jokes’ Editor, Kz=rmir Mappev, ’18. Athletics’ Editor, WINCHESTER F. BLakg, ’18. Critic Editor, HELEN Connors, ’18. Published monthly during school year by pupils ef the High School. The Road to Success SALUTATORY AND ESSAY ARENTS, teachers, friends. In behalf of the class of nineteen hundred and eighteen, I bid you welcome to our graduation exercises. . First I bring greeting to you, our friends; for you have played the important part of urging us ever onward to do our best, and you have al- ways been ready with words of encouragement when we were down-hearted. Especially do we greet the teachers; you who have labored long and patiently with us during our high school course and have been ever ready to help us over the hard places. What is more fitting than that you should be here to witness the closing chapter of this part of our education which you helped to begin. Gladly do we greet our parents, for it has been due to you alone that we have attained this end. You have struggled and have denied yourselves much that we might reach this goal. We realize that whatever we may accomplish in the future worthy of praise, will be due in large part to the unfailing sympathy and support which has been given us during these years. Once again, in behalf of my class, J bid you all welcome. 7

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THE MAGNET 9 Class History EPTEMBER, Ig14, about 140 little Freshmen wandered into the High School building and after much anxious questioning were seated in the Assembly Hall. Here we received our program cards and listened solemnly to the little talk Mr. Clarke gave us on the necessity of studying at least two hours every day. Alas! howsoon we were disillusioned! Soon after the opening of school we were assailed by excited strangers demanding that we sign petitions for class officers. The only difficulty was in signing less than six different papers for the same office. A few days later we stared blankly at a ballot on which was printed a list of unfamiliar names, and carefully voted for the ones that looked the best. The fortu- nate result of this was that Dixi Hoyt was elected president; Robert Hull, vice president; Canzadia Cook, secretary; Gladys Barry, treasurer, and Octave Leclair, marshal. Soon we were thrilled by the announcement that the Freshmen would have a class meeting after school. When we had assembled, our president displayed a variety of pins, and we finally agreed upon one. Then various class mottoes were suggested. After some debate the following was chosen; Vincat gut laborat, ‘‘He conquers who labors,’ which was to guide us all through our High School life. Unfortunately most of us forgot it the next day, recalling it only on special occasions like the present. However, the spirit of it has remained with us, as our teachers can testify. When the question of class colors arose, we followed the usual custom and took those of the preceding class, purple and white. After these exciting events had taken place, our noble class lapsed into obscurity until April 9, when a marvelous vaudeville performance was pre- sented. The star number on the program was a circus by our talented mem- bers. The ringmaster was Kermit Madden, who displayed the genius of his classmates in a most entertaining manner. Marian Pierce was invited to be the Fat Lady, but declined the honor, preferring to be the less sub- stantial voice of the Calliope. Dixi Hoyt took the part of the bear in a most realistic manner. Albert Cook gave a very good imitation of a monkey, while Everett Richardson and Lawson Hiltz distinguished them- selves as clowns. The enormous weight that the Strong Man, Charles Currier, could lift was truly astonishing. But the crowning event of the evening was when the talented tight-rope performer, Madame Butterfly. otherwise Rena McCarthy, walked a plank a foot wide without losing her balance. The next September those of us who hadn't wearied of the High School life came back again as haughty Sophomores. How tiny and insignificant were the Freshmen of that year compared with the brilliant class which had entered the year before. Truly the High School was going to the bad!