Ramsay High School - Rams Horn Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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 Oration MASTERS EE OURSELVES Friends, Ci.assmates: The four years we have spent together have meant much to us. In the future the memory of those yeans of friendship with teachers and with each other will mean even more. During this time, by our association and by having interests in common, we have been unconsciously forming otir ideals which will govern our future. Our success in the future, whether we are in college or in the business world, will depend upon the standards we have raised and striven for in our high school career. The true meaning of success is not only favorably accomplishing what we have set out to achieve, Imt also the leading of a clean and honest life—this is developing character, a character that has self-respect. John Hughes, a contributor to The Spectator, wrote: “Whosoever has a mean opinion of the dignity of his nature will act in no higher rank than he has allotted himself in his own estimation! I t we consider the men and women in history and in literature who arc today our ideals, we find that self-respect has been a determining factor in their lives. They have gained their exalted position in mastering themselves by the pursuit and achievement of strength and wisdom, of skill and power, of honor and righteousness, of nobility am! generosity. In the early Roman times a noble Roman citizen suffered death rather than to sacrifice his honor. Marcus Atilus Rcgulus, a Roman consul during the Punic War. was captured by the Carthaginians. When he was sent to Rome to obtain peace and to exchange prisoners, he refused the opportunity to l c released and he returned to Africa where the Carthaginians tortured him and finally put him to death. Today I hope that each of us has acquired those ideals that will make us have self-respect ; that is. we will have such a high opinion of ourselves that our sense of honor, of right, of honesty, ami of truthfulness will be a power in governing not only our own actions but also those we may influence in our association with them. N'onc can measure up to the standard of a good character unless he possesses efficiency. The success of future business t« lav depends on clear thinking and on obtaining better knowledge. We may well ask ourselves. Have we formed these habits? If we consider those tasks which we liavc best performed in the past, we realize now that pride played a big part in succeeding. Pride gave us the courage and Strength to overcome many difficulties. It was Diogenes who said that no work i% good unless it aims at producing courage and strength of soul rather than of Ijodv. Duty is another important element in forming character. If we arc to be masters of ourselves we must fulfill our obligations. Do you respect those who neglect their duties? Roln-rt h. Lee said: Duty is the Miblimcst word in the English language, and no man must shirk it.” Duty involves not only honor but our debts to others. Mam- of us have exjKrrienccd in the past some little act of kindness, some sacrifice, sonic denial of pleasure by those who love us. Our reward to such friends should Ik the elevation of our own worth. Modesty teaches u not to have a contempt for ourselves, but to measure and rate ourselves by considering the worth of others and by comparing what we have accomplished to. what we might have accomplished and what we hoj»c to achieve. We, classmates, will have the courage to stand by our own purpose and ideals, to possess Mich integrity that will endure the greatest scrutiny if only we remember the advice of Polomu to Laertes: “To thine own self be true: And it must follow, as the night the flay Thou canst not then be false to nnv man.” Then, indeed, we will have a strength of character and know that not to govern others, is true glory. to govern ourselves. —Bex Huck.

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PRESIDENTS ADDRESS (JUNE) Friend . Faculty and Classmates: Sever until today have wc Ixrcu able to realize or to picture with such a vivid imagiua-tion the meaning of the expression, The parting of the ways.” For four happy years we have worked together and have enjoyed the pleasures of comradeship in all the activities of our school. A spirit oi loyalty has prevailed throughout our school career. No one has sought individual advancement, but each of u has worked, side by side, for a common cause— tlic good of all. As we leave this sheltered life and step out into the future of uncertainties, we realize that individual aggressiveness in seeking private gain docs not advance the public welfare. Long ago our forefathers were taught that education was accommodating the future to the past. All action was based on traditions and prejudices. Now wc know that if wc arc to solve our social and economic problems of today, we must utilize the past only as a resource in developing the future. Traditional lore must lie supplemented with experiment. In recent years there has been a marked increase of interest in the study of government. Much has been written about our national government from a newer point of view to give us a lictter jicrspectivc of its development. The public has licconic aware of the fact that a solid foundation for the prosperity of the country can come only through national planning and co-operation of the people as a whole. If we are to face these serious problems and to secure social changes without disorder, we must interest ourselves in social relationships. We may profit much by the mistakes of others. Wc have been busy learning the experiences of the race tor thousands of generations. and now wc must make the application. As we go forth, let us keep lief ore us the ideal of unselfish service. It i' the meaner soul that makes its own success the goal; the nobler spirit rejoices to lie able to help his fellow men. Our greatest leaders have l een those who served mankind best. In an address to a graduating class President Wilson asked, Do you covet honor? Do you covet distinction? You will get it only as the servant of mankind. Perhaps, as wc have studied the lives of those great men and women who have distinguished themselves by their service and accomplishments, wc have despaired that wc could ever lie of great service as we have analyzed our own qualities and found that wc lack many of the things that constitute greatness. The biologists tell us that no one has ever used his brain even to one-third of its capacity, and wc are told that we have reservoirs of powers which few of us rarely tap. Darwin held the opinion that men differ less in capacity than in -cal and determination to utilize the powers which they have. Newton narrowly escaped being an unknown farmer; Pasteur, a tanner; Farady, an obscure bookbinder. There must have been many other men of equal ability who failed to recognize the opportunity of broadening their lives. Hut. friends, easy lives will hardly arouse our dormant powers unless we Have the urge ami determination to press onward. With the leisure time and the financial security which wc hope the new order of things will bring to us, we should make the greatest progress in the arts and sciences that civilization has yet known. Classmates, wc must go forth into this new epoch into which our nation has lieen so suddenly thrust with eager stride, with youth’s pride and hope, and with no fear of the future. 1-ct us accept the challenge that has been given to intelligent leadership to solve the problems of unemployment, economic security for the masses, and the many related problems of which society lias become so acutely conscious since the liegioniitg of the New Deal. They are too big to lie Solved in a day. and the jierfcct solution may, necessarily, l e evolved through the trial and error method. For centuries the principle of industry has lieen rugged or unrestrained individualism, hut in tile next era the keynote will lie cooperation for the welfare of the whole. As this evolution takes place, let us keep the pace and endeavor not to fall behind the march of progress. Bobby Burks.

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Desires God. fwould be bound To the xtriinso ue ft wetness of little things. To the scarlet flash of Cardinal wings. And the radiant miracle of new-born springs. ()! 1 would be forever bound To the verdant smell of uvl, fresh earth. To gabled windou'S bulging girth And ivy clinging gently round An old wall musty, crumbling. To clover-bees' contented rumbling And the quiet murmur of Nature's sounds. Lord, let me not be freet Hut bend my son I in silent glee With these, the gifts from Thee to me. With these, the prayers from me to Theef - Ki.iz.wjetii Zimmerman. AAA I Saw Qod l sat in the crotch of an age-old tree With its xhellcr'ng arms around me. I looked at the tree, and I looked at the sky, Then looked ut the hills that bound me. I glanced toward the earth, and I saw the sod. Then lifted my startled gaze—and 1 saw Cod! —Kj.UAMUH ZlUMINMAN.