Reading High School - Arxalma Yearbook (Reading, PA)

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18 THE RED AND BLACK INDIFFERENCE-THE CRIME OF CRIMES ' FACULTY ORATION BY BRUCE E. HOWDEN sades against crimes of every d scription, yet little, if anything, is being done to conquer the greatest of all modern crimes-the crime of indif- ference. We are all reluctant to let our- selves believe that indifference is a crime, for all of us are to some extent guilty of it. But I belive that it is a crime, for it is criminal in its effects. All of the pres- ent day evils and crimes are either direct- ly or indirectly the result of indifference on the part of someone. The don't care - wait till tomorrow spirit has eaten its way into the very heart of the private, so- cial, political and moral fabric of society and is even now tauntingly destroying, in the very face of modern reformers, the results of their patient labors. Even the physical and recreational spheres of Life have not been free from this blight. The problem of indifference should be of vital importance and interest to every- one. Few, indeed, are those who do not indulge in it. No one is free from its in- fluence. The existence of this great crime is not the imagination of some deluded pessimist but the- fearful truth. This growing danger is too ominous to be over- looked and it's everyone's duty, your duty a.nd mine, to contribute toward its elimi- nation. Indifference is a broader term than it may at first thought, appear. It is merely a convenient and comprehensive term for a lack of patriotism and brotherly loveg for a deficiency of ambition and faith in a Higher Power. It is, in short, a waste of the opportunities which Providence daily grants us, and a habitual disinterest in the welfare of ourselves and our fel- low-beings. ODAY the world is engaged in cru- There are many various causes of indif- ference. This crime is not infrequently the result of indecislon. Some persons seem to find it hard to make a start, to strike out for themselves and rely upon their own strength. They do not have de- cisive characters. They are notf positive and lack the initiative traits of the suc- cessful man, Naturally nothing has charms for such folk and they treat every. thing indifferently. While they are plod- ding up the winding stairs of Indecision the other fellow takes the elevator of Op- portunity and reaches the top floor of Success in time to see the indifferent one on the first landing. The stern world is now, as ever, looking for men of decision-men who can think and act Quickly-to brave its storms and face its crisis. Men, in whose character indifference has usurped the place of de- cisiveness, must fail. Then there is also the indifference born of procrastination. It seems to be the fixed policy of some people to put off un- til tomorrow what they could do today, forgetting that tomorrow never comes. Suppose that Providence would become indifferent of our Nvelfare, and defer the showers or sunshine or some other requi- site of the crops of the land. Can you imagine the 'suffering and want that would result? One can never tell how much good each act may do for the world and so the important thing is not merely that the act be done at the right time. Today is the right time for today's work and therefore, as the old maxim has it, Be sure you're right, then do it Www. These traits, combined with the listless- ness and lack of fixed purpose so preva- lent in our day have bred the universal spirit of indifference which has long since attained the proportions of a crime. This spirit, which is so universal, has probably shown itself most potent in shaping, or rather misshaping the destinies of the young. How common a thing it is to see men who have wasted the golden hours of their youth and are powerless and withered because they failed to imbibe the dew of opportunity in the Springtime of their lives! How prone we are, as youths, to treat with negligent indiffer- ence the talents given us, only to bring upon us discouragement, dissatisfaction and ruin in later years. Youth is the sea- son of opportunities and if we let them slip through our fingers they are gone- lost forever. The fact that we are living in an age of opportunities is, by no means, a guarantee of success. All the opportuni- ties in the world are worth nothing unless they are seized. Beneath the tough shell

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LITERARY 17 of voting is a crime against society and the means whereby corrupt men gain power. Any man who deliberately neg- lects the highcst function of citizenship is not worthy of the name citizen and should be deprived of his civic privileges. And last of all, a man must vote honestly. Ignorance and indifference in exercis- ing the duties of the ballot are but sins of omission and may not be censured too severely. But dishonest voting is a most dastardly crime of commission and is de- serving cf the severest censure and pun- ishment. It is one of -the greatest crimes in the exercise of governmental powers. A man who knowingly sells his birth- right for the proverbial mess of pottage is a traitor to the state and is deserving of the ignominous fate of a Benedict Arnold. He who betrays the sacred charge en- trusted to his care must pay the penalty for his crime and must eventually sink into the sea of oblivion, Uunknelled, un- coflined and unsung. But for him who intelligently, faith- fully and honestly exercises the high priv- ileges of citizenship, there shall be a re- ward, not measured in material things, more precious than flashing jewels and shining gold, the high reward of service- the joy of duty well performed. But the true citizen should fit himself for even greater service than the duties of the home and the exercise of the bal- lot. Every man should train and prepare himself that the state may not seek in vain when, like Diogeues of old, it seeks for men, men who will intelligently, courageously and honestly perform the duties of office. The crew that mans the noble ship of state should be men with hearts of iron, nerves of steel and the courage of their convictions. A man should be thus capable that the oiiice will seek him and not he the ofiice. Faithful and loyal service to the state is the highest kind of patriotism. All honor and reverence to the warrior who bleeds and dies in the heroic struggle for his country and his flag! But there is a still nobler patriot, the patriot of peace, unadorned by the glamor and glory of warfare, who conscientously and courag- eously pursues the stern path of duty and under the banner of truth and justice wields the sword of authority and con- viction against the liarpies of vice and greed. With such men, loyal and true in the service of the state, valiantly fighting against the countless hosts of its foes, shall advance to that goal whither man has ever directed his course, vanquishing the hosts of vice and greed and confining to an awful oblivion the forces of evil and corruption. We shall strive until the time when the ship of state will be freed of the barnacles of greed and corruption, when justice shall reign instead ofrgoid, and when truth and honor shall be writ- ten in letters of light in the hearts of all men. But this motto has a peculiar signifi- cance for us, both as a class and as in- dividuals, standing on the threshold of a and greater lifei We must appreciate utilize our privileges and advantages, that care the sacred charge entrusted to our may be strengthened and not abused. In our hands will be placed the control of af- fairs, and we must determine the destiny of generations to come. Therefore let us fully understand our responsibilities. Let us here earnestly resolve, at this commencement of a new era of our lives, to manfully and courag- eously bear the burdens, surmount the obstacles and endurelthe suffering of the life before us. And when the state sounds its clarion call for service, let us respond with stout hearts and willing hands. Let us make our lives, lives of service, our creed, the gospel of service, and our motto Ich dienf' For to him who serves faithfully and well there shall be a reward like unto no other in mortal life. He shall experience the joy and satisfaction of duty well performed. And there shall be an even greater reward, the reward of the life beyond. On that great day when the good and the evil must part for all timeg when the grain will be sep- arated from the chaff on the threshing- floor of God, then, will the true and will- ing servants reap the rich harvest of their toil. For they shall dwell in the abodes of the blest, in the mansions of glory and light. They shall gather about the awful throne of God with the hosts of the cherubim and seraphim, there to pour forth celestial anthems of praise and ado- ration to the Mighty Ruler of the Uni- verse, whom all true men must serve.

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H , , LITERARY 19 of a nut lies the delicious kernel. It is only by breaking' the shell that the meat is gained. So our talents and opportuni- ties, kept from us by indifference, are worthless. Once improved, however, they are instruments of power and strength- a. rich reward which is ours for the try- ing. How often we hear some, one complain that success never came their way! Ah, my friends, success is not a gift nor is it an inspiration. It is an acquisition, gained only by those who seek it-and justly so. We all start Life's journey at the crossroads of Indifference and Appre- ciation of our Opportunities-the former leads to Ruin, the latter to Success. The way is ours to choose. Do not expect to succeed by going indifferently through life relying upon the assurance that the world owes you a living. This time-worn motto of the idler is true enough, but it must be remembered that we owe a debt to the world. As long as we, through in- difference, refrain from bearing our part of the world's burden we cannot share its joys. This world of ours is run on a purely business system. The moneyed do-nothing who runs an account of indif- ference in the Bank of Life, draws out nothing but dissatisfaction and indiges- tion with an occasional moment of real enjoyment, by way of interest. Do not expect the world to be sollcitous for your welfare if you yourselves are indifferent toward it. The youths of today are indifferent to- ward the educational advantages given them. Instead of seeking to procure all the schooling they can they take only as much as they must. Old age brings real- izations of their folly but it is too late. Oh that all the young would realize that the Present is the seed time for the har- vest of the Future! Show me the boy who seeks to prepare himself for known future and I will show boy who is bound to succeed. It is the indifference of the younger generation that will make the world of the future unprogressive. But we must the un- you the The fly flew up the flue and the swallow swallowed lt. Why did the fly fly? Be- cause the spider spied 'er, which joke made the flea. flee.-Exchange. not blame the youth too much for, as Joubert says, they are more in need of models than of critics. It-is oftentimes the indifference of parents that engenders a like spirit in the mind of the youth. But whether it be in the case of parents or children, old or young, rich or poor, the law is ever unassailably true: Sow a seed of indifference and you reap a har- vest of failure. Again, the youth of today is indifferent to good advice. Where is the man who is not sorry that he turned an indifferent ear to the warnings of those who knew better, when he was young? What a modern Utopia the world would be if there were no indifferent youths and therefore no indifferent men and no lost or wasted opportunities! What would become of the evils and sins of the world if everybody were interested in their elimination? What need would there be for strikes, for wars, for jails, if every one were interested in the welfare of everybody else? It is the duty of every good citizen of the world to quell the rising tide of in- difference. A crime of such great propor- tions must be studied, controlled and counteracted as quickly as possible if the world is to 'suffer no further detriment. Since the crime is a personal one the rem- edy must be self exerted. Examine your- selves. Search your hearts and if you are indifferent toward anything apply this remedy: Make the best use of all the tal- ents, and seize all the opportunities, which your beniflcent Creator grants you. Take the world at its best, interest your- self in everything worth while and thus get the best out of life. Be decisive, act today and have a fixed aim toward which let all your energies be devoted. Be pro and con on all subjects according as your convictions deem them good or bad. Show the world that you are interested in lt. Fight indifference, my friends, every- where and forever, in youth and old age whether it be indifference toward the school, country or church and Success cannot be indifferent toward you. On the great clock of time there is but one word--NOW. as at 1 Electric wires are now made of steel.