Nappanee High School - Napanet Yearbook (Nappanee, IN)

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Hen.tamin Franklin By ANNA jijljHKTnER we approach him as a statesman, diplomat, scientist, pldloso-H plier, Inventor man of letters, or a great business man. Benjamin Franklin impresses us not merely by what he did but by what he was in himself. He was a man of great practical ability and singularly diversilled talents. He was venerable, kind-hearted and full of a humorous appreciation of the weaknesses of others. Even Washington is hardly so real and living to us as is this Philadelphia printer, although Washington and Lincoln will always be named before him because in certain achievements they stand altogether alone. Franklin though greatest in no one thing was great in many things, and his qualities were made valuable by his practical sense, lie was interested in nothing unless lie saw in it some use. and he found use in almost everything. His practical nature made him a typical American citizen. In his public career Franklin was a typical American patriot rightly placed beside Washington as one of the founders of the Republic. In his humble origin, in his oft-told story of his rise, through his own push and industry, from the tallow-chandler's boy to the man honored in two continents and successful in hundred varied enterprises, we see the great example of our national hero, the self made man. who worked his way through every social stratum. He was virtually unassisted in his efforts to advance himself. It is said to l e the highest merit of a democracy that it offers a free chance to all the men of ability in the community to turn their talents to good use. and Franklin showed us what a man could do for himself in a free country as ours. “No one,” writes a French critic, “began lower than the poor apprentice of Boston: no one raised himself higher, by his own energy than the inventor of the lightning rod: no one has rendered more splendid services to his country, than the diplomatist who signed the peace of 17h:{ and secured the independence of the United States. He was the fifteenth child of a poor tallow-chandler and soap-maker, and received all his public school education before his eleventh year, but in spite of his early struggles we see him in his later life the Idol of the French court, pleading for the struggling American colonies and gaining what lie sought a Typical. American NEWCOMER almost as much by his social tact and charm as by the power of his well trained mind. He did not lead men. he managed them. This was shown in the French court where he in his unadorned and solid manhood, moved as the representative, even to many of the I’arlslans. of a better order of things. It was the style in his life time for men of leisure to study and to play with electricity but Franklin notonly studied, but made practical use of his knowledge and gave us the lightning rod. devised systems of ventilation for buildings and suggested that white since it absorbs the least heat is the best color to wear in summer. As a man of letters his reputation rests on his journalistic work, essays and correspondence, and Ills autobiography, which has been called the corner stone of American literature. Poor Richard’s Almanac was one of Franklin's great business successes in which he printed year after year those familiar proverbs which he regarded as the best practical rules for the conduct of life. He founded the first literary club in America. He was the first to illustrate a newspaper and point out the advantages of Illustrated advertisements. He founded the Philadelphia Library, the “mother of all the American subscription libraries.” He was not in the finer sense a literary man hut his practical genius confined his literary style to clearness, simplicity and directness. Franklin's greatest work as a statesman and diplomat, was shown during the Revolution when his labors in France were proven to be remarkable. His virtues negotiated for him ami before the second year of his mission expired no one conceived It possible to refuse fleets and armies to the countrymen of Franklin. How did Franklin make himself so effective a man? How did lie succeed where others failed? The secret lies In his practical philosophy of life. Some of his most pithy sayings are: “Diligence is the mother of good luck. “He that can have patience can have what he will. Heaven helps those who help themselves. Ills maxims are worldy wise butare sound rules of conduct and lu employed them toserve not only himself, but his friends, Ids neighbors, and Ids country. ly

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SciiiLLiiR's Idealism By HILDA BAER .CHILLER one of the greatest of German poets has written the most truly artistic ami U-autiful poems of German literature. His thoughts were noble, lofty and pure admitting of nothing common or ordinary. He was innately a poet of freedom and sympathy with his patriotic enthusiasm conspired with admiration of his poetic genius to make him more and more popular toward the close of his life and after his death. People called him an idealist and a visionary. He was indeed possessed by ideals but these were so true and so powerful that they insisted on being converted into realities. Thousands who fell on the battlefield carried with them into the struggle the enthusiasm kindled by Schiller’s poetry: his songs were on their lips and his spirit fought along with them. He studied long and deeply esteeming his vocation more than his earthly life, he was crowned with more than the admiration with the love of ills people and he died as he touched the goal. His thoughts were far above the sordid things of life and so lofty was the poet’s notion of culture that lie made it though not a substitute for morality a most important aid for the renovation of society. The influence of a sincere and idealistic literature is wanted to soften the contradictions which exist between our poetry and our actual life and to promote such a literature the man gifted in this way must add to the power of imagination the virtues of fortitude and patience and this endeavor to be a good man as well as a great poet made Schiller noble. Schiller’s drama, “The Maid of Orleans, is an example of his idealism. The secret of the influence of this heroine is found in that unwavering conviction of Divine guidance through which she roused the courage and kindled the sentiment of the people. It was this idealism in her character that spiraled to Schiller. With genuine poetic intuition he availed himself of the romantic temper of the fifteenth century and with the highest art. the poet makes the idealism which transformed the shepherd lass into the heroine of a nation stand forth in the setting of an age of superstition that could not comprehend her. Under ordinary circumstances we question the supernatural manifestation of the power of this young girl in leading her army so victoriously but when by his own deep feeling the poet lifus us above the ordinary plane, reveals to us the prophet’s vision, then our scruples are forgotten and we permit him to use any means he will to fulfill the purposes of his art. Schiller's aim is to show the triumphant victory of Joan’s idealism and at her appearance we accept her supernatural power and her heavenly visions as natural and proper to bring out in dramatic action, the spiritual enthusiasm that inspired her and her followers. Some of the most noted examples of his lofty Idealism are, Die Toiling der Erde, Das ideal und das Lel en. Die Hoffnung and his famous apostrophe to the maid of Orleans, in which he says: “To degrade the noble image of mankind ridicule has dragged Thee Into the deepest dust. Wit wages eternal war against the beautiful, It does not believe in angels and the gods: The heart it would rob of its treasures, it opposes fancy and does violence to faith. “Vet even as thyself from a childlike race. Even a pious shepherdess as thou art. Does the art of poetry extend to thee her divine rights. Ascends with thee toward the eternal stars. Poesy lias surrounded thee with a divine halo; The heart lias created thee. Thou shalt live eternally. “The world loves to bedim that which is glorious And to drag the sublime into the dust, Yet fear not! there still exists beautiful hearts. Which are aglow for the lofty and t lie sublime. The spirit of sarcasm may entertain the loud market: A noble mind loves nobler tilings.” Thus with liis sublime and beautiful idealism Schiller pictures tlie maid of Orleans only as a pure souled and patriotic representative of her people and her memory is cleansed of tlie tilth with which Voltaire sought to detile it. Schiller’s life was as gentle and blameless as ids ideals were pure and lofty, and remembering that he died before lie was forty-six one cannot but marvel at tiie greatness and brilliancy of ids achievements as a poet and scholar.

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This Signific ance of tiii By BELLE ’ jjfT Is just one hundred and three years ago since Livingston. Monroe ami Marbots signed the treaty by which France ceded ILouisiana to the Flilted States. The actual signing took place on May 2, but the document was dated April .'to. This event In the history of the Fritted States which is worthy to rank with the Declaration of Independence and the formation of the Constitution was the resultant of three long continued forces in American History, the advance of pioneers toward the ffest, the struggle between France, Spain, Kngland and the 1’niled States for the possession of the Mississippi Valley and the rivalry of these powers over the Empire which Spain had established in the New World. Although other nations might temporarily get possession of the Mississippi River it would be easy to believe that in the long run the vast interior would be under the control of the American government. The vast American population alone insured this idea. At several times the Mississippi Valley narrowly escaped being the seat of conflict between the I’nited States and the powers of Europe. If such had been the case the F. S. would have been involved as an ally to one or anotner of these powers and European interests would have dominated the fortunes of the New World. At the beginning of the Fnion the West was more Interested in opening the Mississippi River than in the newly made federal government, and this fact would make it easier for an European power to gain possession of the River and hold it If they treated the settlers with liberality. At the close of tlie Revolution the Fulted States had established settlements along the Ohio and its tributaries between two great Indian confederacies which wen anxious to check the advance of the Fulled States. The great stream of settlers which poured into Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio in the closing year of the confederation found their industrial life blockaded by the Spanish closure of the Mississippi. Then in the face of many difficulties the I’nited States attempted to hold her own. At tlie close of the year 1792 France determined to enrich herself at the expense of the Spanish Empire In America and win hack her lost American provinces. Rut fortunately the Reign of Terror in their own country com. pel led them to look for their own safety. Had they regained their possessions, affairs might have taken place which would have changed the whole History of the Fnlted States. After various conflicts Napoleon appeared on the scene. On the last day of September he made a treaty with the Fnlted States and the next day Spain retroceded Louisiana to France. Napoleon gave Spain the promise nev- : liOl ISIANA PUU’HASK WILT cr to alienate tin- province. Peace was acquired with England by the treaty of 1801. Rumors of the transfer of Louisiana readied the I'nited States in the summer of 1 sol. President Jefferson, in the spring of 1802 wrote to Livingston, our minister to France that “the day France takes possession of New Orleans fixes the sentence which is to restrain her forever, within her low water mark. It seals the Fnion of two nations, who in conjunction can maintain exclusive possession of the ocean. From that moment we must marry our selves to the British tleet and nation.” The closure of the Mississippi River gave the the Federalists an opportunity to demand war with France and Spain. Jefferson made earnest efforts to check their military spirit, but in this way he could do nothing. So he sent Monroe to France. March 2,1803 to purchase New Orleans and the Floridas. and if necessary to grant France her territory beyond the Mississippi River. Jefferson, it seems, was willing to take merely the right of navigation rather than have this territory cause war. “Peace is our passion.” was his maxluin. While Jefferson was preparing to send Monroe to France Napoleon had informed his ministers that he had decided to relinquish the Louisiana territory. While Livingston was bargaining for a little strip of territory at the mouth of the River one of the ministers asked him what lie would give for all of loulsiana. A week passed in decision of t lie price to be paid. Few people then realized the importance of the vast wheat and corn lands, cattletiekls and mines which Napoleon was ready to give over to us. Even Livingston himself did not realize this fact, and this was the cause of the delay insetting the price on the territory. At last for a consideration of $15,000,000 Louisiana was secured to the United States. The effects of the Louisiana purchase upon America were profound. Politically it resulted in strengthening the loose interpretation of the Constitution. It laid the foundation for a readjustment of sectional power within the Union. The purchase not only worked a revolution in the constitutional doctrines of the strict constructionist but it also made certain a change in the conception of state-hood. Tile old idea of state-hood could no longer exist when the fruit of tlie Louisiana Purchase was made manifest. Tile area of the purchase furnished the issues which resulted in tlie Civil War. The Missouri Compromise, the Kansas Nebraska Act, and the Civil War in Kansas were the prelude to the Civil War. When the details of American History arc taken into consideration it is