Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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THE MAGNET 15 of their dear ones. It is the love of country that causes a man to offer the supreme sacrifice of his life in battle. It is the love for his fellow-men that impels the missionary to leave his home and perhaps a brilliant career to give his life in the service of others. In the strengthening and upbuilding of character, sacrifice is of infinite value. Whenever we deprive ourselves of something for a good cause, we unconsciously lay another stone in the foundation of that intangible thing which we call character. Anything that one gains by sacrifice is thereby prized and cherished infinitely more. Does not a college education mean much more to a young man who has had to work hard to pay his expenses and who has sacrificed time and personal pleasure for the acquirement of knowledge, than to one who perhaps has had his diploma handed out to him on a golden platter? The sacrifice of parents for their children is a fine example of true, unselfish sacrifice—unselfish because they ask nothing in return but the love and respect of their children. And then there are countless other sacrifices being made daily in all parts of the world which, though unknown to men and hidden in obscurity, are not lost, for each one sends forth its ray of light for the good of humanity. : “ Think not because no man sees Such things will remain unseen.” Thus we see the value of sacrifice in the developing of character. And the power of a nation lies in the strength of character of its people. The only thing which affects a nation as a whole is war, and so national sacrifice is made primarily through war. We Americans are proud to say that our country has always shed her blood for a principle and great ideals which, when attained, were all the dearer to us on account of the sacrifice that had been made. Do we not have a higher esteem for our liberty and freedom when we remember that our ancestors fought and died for those very things in the Revolutionary War? Think of the hardships undergone by that brave little army of Continental soldiers. Poorly fed, raggedly clothed, and even at times unsupported by their own Congress, they sustained their courage even throughout that terrible winter at Valley Forge, cheered and inspired by the exemplary conduct of their great commander, George Washington. Those men sacrificed dearly for one idea—a principle; and when liberty finally came, the fresh remembrance cof the bloody sacrifice of the Revolution was the means of uniting the exhausted colonies into a weak but single nation. Today we often see the inscription, “ E Pluribus Unum,” one from many, expressing in a simple manner that great event in our country’s history. The sacrifice of both North and South in the Civil War, more recent in our memory, welded another link in the chain of National Unity. Not only was a disgraceful stain removed from our country’s records, but also the hazardous question of State rights was settled forever. ‘“We are now engaged in a great world war, testing whether the Ameri- can nation,’dedicated to democracy, can long endure.” The country is making the greatest sacrifice in its history. The million American soldiers

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- 14 THE MAGNET work of railroads. This has been accomplished especially for the con- venience of Dixi Hoyt, expert agriculturalist, and Edna Harris, the leading stock-raiser of that country. One of these routes brought us to India, and I recognized the Taj Mahal of the Emperor of India. What’s this for? To show me Pauline Norton and Christine Russell living in spinsterhood, having both been disappointed in matrimonial attempts, and who have secluded themselves under the pre- tense of being caretakers of the mausoleum. Hongkong, China. Gladys Barry, attended by a Page, is shown as agent for the Oakland car, and both have done a prosperous business among the yellow people. The screen went black and I heard a voice near me. ‘‘ How was it? Are all your questions answered?” : I blinked and rubbed my eyes. It was Cook who had spoken. “Fine,” I replied. ‘‘ Nineteen eighteen has made quite an impression, I should say. But what became of Harvey Thomas and Florence Spencer?” “ The greatest and least of our weighty number? Well, you step along to the next tent and you'll find out.” I did so. Miss Spencer was acting as a midget in the circus and Harvey—could it really be he?—was demonstrating Esther Jewett’s latest chemical compound, ‘‘ Reducine.” Harvey now weighed only one hundred and thirty-six pounds. I remounted my flyer and was’ soon back in Washington to report to the official secretary, Eva Kerr. I had been gone but three hours and I felt well repaid, for now the world would know of the progress of the class of nineteen hundred and eighteen. 7 WILLIAM H. LATIMER. The Value of Sacrifice to a Nation VALEDICTORY i this momentous period of the world’s history we hear much said con- cerning sacrifices. To every individual in every walk of life is con- stantly coming the call to sacrifice, that this great struggle may be brought to a successful termination. And we are led to ask ourselves, ‘What is sacrifice?” In the largest sense, sacrifice is the voluntary giving up, either for the sake of another or for some cause or principle, something that we value highly, the giving of which results in self-deprivation. Al- though it carries something of the giver with it, yet it brings back ten-fold that which beautifies and strengthens character. Sacrifice is inspired and animated by love. It is the love of parents for their children that makes them toil and sacrifice as they do for the welfare

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16 THE MAGNET in France today represent fully to what extent the country has sacrificed, and there are hundred of thousands more in the cantonments, preparing to do their bit in making the world safe for democracy. There is hardly a home in America that has not been called upon to give some one of its own in democracy’s cause. Besides these, there are many who are sacrificing their time, brains, and energy with the same spirit as those who go “over the top,’”’ but whose fame is not as loudly heralded. Nevertheless, all this sacrifice has been of tremendous value to our nation. It has aroused and stimulated our slumbering patriotism to the highest degree. It has taught us to practice economy and to eliminate waste of all kinds. Before the war we were the most wasteful nation in the world, but we are learning a great lesson in the hard school of necessity’ We are approaching National Prohibition, many States having already rati- fied the amendment. Asa nation we have been awakened, we have be- come more keenly alert, and have attained an efficiency hitherto un- known to us. Would that we might retain these things that harsh sacri- fice has taught us, and may we stand firm in the present crisis, so that, ac- cording to the words of the immortal Lincoln, ‘Government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.” Friends and pupils of the Leominster High School: It is my duty and privilege to say a few words of farewell to you. Wehave come to the crossroads where our paths separate, and as we part from one another, we know not what to say. We have a strange feeling of mingled joy and sad- ness: joy, because we are looking forward to fresh fields and pastures of achievement; sadness, because we are breaking forever the chain of school ties and affections. To you, teachers, I bid a fond farewell; you who have guided and taught us so patiently during our high school years. We thank you sincerely for your devotion and kindness to us, and we shall always remember you with deepest gratitude and affection. Clasmates: As we stand on the threshold of our school life, striving to look into the Future, we are a bit doubtful,—we hesitate for a moment. “For who knows the future? Who has turned its pages, Reading its secrets with divining power? We can look backward through the reach of ages, We may look forward not a single hour.” Though we know not what Fate has in store for us, let us all go forth bravely to meet it, and wherever we go may we uphold the standards and teachings of our beloved Leominster High School. Some may say we are unfortunate to graduate in such a dark hour of our country’s history; but I say to you, classmates, we are most fortunate, because opportunity for sacrifice and service such as never was given before lies open to us. Nine members of our own class have already given them- selves to their country’s service. All honor to those boys who so gallantly