St Josephs Academy - La Lumiere Yearbook (Prescott, AZ)

Page 11 text:

ACADEMY CHIMES. 9 record in days of peace and of cruel war, and also by keeping a flag on every school-house. We can never show too ranch defer- ence for the flag of our country, that has ever been the symbol of liberty and justice. The New York Times gives an interesting incident of how this truth was impressed on a number of boys. When the American flag is flying in the play-grounds of a certain private school for boys, one notices that all the lads who approach it take off their hats. This pretty custom, which sends a thrill of patriotism through passers-by, grew out of the following incident: During a general frolic one day a young and heedless student threw a stone through the waving Stars and Stripes. His companions started an outburst of approving laughter, which was suddenly hushed by the grave aspect of the approaching principal. Pointing toward the ugly rent he asked in an awe stricken voice: “Who has dishonored his country ?’’ The culpit hung his head. “ I am willing to pay for the damage.” he be- gan hurriedly, w'hen he was interrupted with— “ What price could pay an insult to an American flag?” “It’s just an old piece of bunting,” the boy insisted. The stern gravity of the principal’s face increased. “ An old piece of bunting when it is of red, of white, and of blue, star- spangled,” he said reverently, “becomes the spirit of American institutions. To insult that ‘old bunting’ is to insult your country. When there is no love of country, there is not a good citizen.” As the principal spoke he moved nearer the flag-staff. “Hats off!” he ordered. At once every head was un- covered. “ And now on your honor as good American citizens, let no one of this company ever again approach that banner except in love and reverence.” With it in beauty no flag can compare, All nations honor our banner so fair; If to insult it a traitor should dare Crushed to the earth let him be. Louise McKinney, ’02. THE BEAUTIES OE NATURE. “ The works of God are fair for naught, Unless our eyes, in seeing, See hidden in the thing the thought That animates its being.” nature means “Created by God.” All nature is beautiful in the eyes of the pure, though noth- ing so perfect in form as the human body—this “ Temple of God,” which is the dwelling place of the soul. Its elegance of outline, deli- cacy of mold, and beauty of color dis- tinguish it from all other objects in nature, and also this peculiarity, that man’s reason is placed above his pas- sions to be the director of his will. Nature is to be studied with the eyes of the heart as well as with the micro- scope, and ever so scanty a knowdedge of its laws helps us to feel that the realms of nature are very near to the human heart and its sympathies, and that the truth of nature is a part of the truth of God. How the heart of man blesses flowers. They are wreathed ’round the cradle, the nuptial altar and the tomb. Witness the love of nature expressed by Words-

Page 10 text:

8 ACADEMY CHIMES. “OLD GLORY.” Each nation’s flag appears to be the most beautiful in the eyes of its people, so to every true American the “Stars and Stripes ” take pre- cedence of all other emblems of national existence. The flag that to-day waves o’er the “ Land of the Free,” is made from light material, capable of being extended by the wind, and serves as an assertion of national rights. An insult to a flag is an insult to the nation represented by it. The noble woman who made the first flag under General Washington’s in- structions, when told by friends and neighbors that the Tories might take her life if she persevered in her work, showed as much bravery and patriotism as did Washington or any of our heroes, by completing her task without shirk or fear. Originally our flag had thirteen stripes and as many stars and the plan was to add a new stripe for every State ad- mitted into the Union. This plan was found inconvenient as it would make the flag too large or the stripes too nar- row, so it was decided that a star, in- stead of a stripe, be added upon the introduction of each new state into the Union. In tracing its origin we find that to- wards the end of the year 1775, Dr. Franklin and two other gentlemen were appointed to consider the subject of a national flag. The result was one of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, together with the King’s colors or Union Jack. When independence was deter- mined upon, this representation of the sovereignty of England was dropped. The stars were a natural symbol of the states. The first flag was made in June, 1776, when a committee of Congress, accom- panied by General Washington, called on Mrs. John Ross of Philadelphia, and engaged her to make amodel flag from a rough drawing. This was modified by Washington in pencil, he substituting for the six-pointed star one of five points. This was the first flag ever used on land or sea and, on June 14, 1777, Congress adopted the basis of the existing national flag. Old Glory has furnished a theme for many modern poets and composers. “The Star Spangled Banner” and “The Flag of the Free” are the most familiar. Our late esteemed friend, Rev. E. O’Growney, has awakened popular interest in his translation into the Celtic of Francis Scott Key’s cele- brated poem. The old flag of Freedom! It is the gift of the free. It droops o’er the grave of the hero, whether the mound above him be wreathed in laurels or shrouded in snow. It teaches us that worth alone is royal; that fame and honor open only to the faithful and the brave. Its red should remind us of the blood shed by our nation’s heroes, that we might live in the land of the free. It is an emblem of peace and speaks of defiance to our foes while it tells of valor and courage. The spotless white of the beautiful stars means peace, purity, and inno- cence. Its blue is for truth eternal and is also an emblem of faith. It should keep us true and loyal to our country’s honor. Its stars should enlighten the world and prove to every one that our people can be trusted with the boon of liberty. Its stripes mean justice sure to fall on all offending foes. Children should be taught to love their flag. This is done effectively by telling them its origin and victorious

Page 12 text:

IO ACADEMY CHIMES. worth in his “ Ode on Immortality,” when he writes : “ To me the meanest flower that blows can give Thoughts that often lie too deep for tears.” When the everlasting gates of morn- ing are thrown open and the glorious lord of the day begins his state, the morning glory is the first of the flowers to greet him ; then others come to bask in his smile and remain until the day is far spent. Now the four o’clock opens and remains to receive his good-night caress. Before the return of spring come nature’s darlings, the birds. We wel- come the song-sparrow and our hearts glow with renewed life as he sings to us from snow-powdered trees, for he has many familiar songs in his repertoire. The buds begin to swell and that tells us that it is nearly spring. The birds sing in ecstasy. The trees again put on their robe of green, and the lord of day looks on approvingly, with ever increasing warmth in his smile. The dainty flowers peep up timidly to catch a glimpse of him and grow lovelier in doing so. On summer evenings we love to watch the broad crescent moon drop slowly down into the west, pouring its wierd light upon the sleeping world. How beautiful is autumn ! The time when all the promises of spring are ful- filled ! Apples are growing upon the orchard boughs ; the monarclis of the forest stand arrayed in robes of richer dyes than the fairest hues of the orient. Birds of passage have sought their southern homes; all except the robins, who remain, and even they are strange- ly silent. How tranquil are the days ! Nature’s work is completed and she stands calmly beholding the autumn land ’ere winter, the magician, shall turn her gorgeous landscapes into scenes of glistening white. What si- lence ! The cold has changed even the waves of sound and the new-fallen snow muffles the echoes. How it sparkles in the moonlight like so many diamonds. Nature slumbers under her jeweled mantle while we are celebrating the most blessed of all the feasts—the birthday of our Maker and hers. The new year, which brings us such serious thoughts, we know will bring us the springtime, and neither birds now flow- ers will fail us. The winter books of nature hold as many bright, fascinating and wonderful stories as do the spring and autumn volumes. Let us dwell for a moment on the pleasures created especially to please each of the five senses. First—The grand scenery to delight the eye, the beauties of summer, the dazzling glories of winter. Second—All the musical sounds to charm the ear; the ripple of the brook, the note of the nightingale. Third—The fragrance of God’s flower- garden. What would the rose be with- out her fragrance ? No better than the rose on “ my lady’s hat.” And the sweet violets would lose half their love- liness by losing their delicate odor. Fourth—Touch. How thrilling to lay one’s head upon the mossy bank and listen to the stories the tiny rill tells as it makes its journey to the mighty ocean. Lastly—Taste. There are so many things pleasing to this sense, and the tastes of people so vary, that in view of such facts it is natural to fall back on the trite proverb, de gustibus non disputandum, used by rhetoricians in contemplating taste in its metaphori- cal application. Let us be exquisitely alive to the beauties of nature and whilst enjoying them remember that they are but shad- ows of the glories and joys prepared for us above, for God has said, “ Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man what things God hath prepared for them that love him.” Thus we shall learn to look through nature up to Nature’s God. Nettie Hawkins, ’oi.