Boys High School - Epitome Yearbook (Reading, PA)

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4-6' THE EPITOME direction is easy to find and easy to travel. In the beginning it is level, but gradu- ally it leads down grade. There are many attractions which entice the wanderer to travel South to a land seemingly full of enchantment. Along the road many beautiful flowers and luscious fruits may be found, which may be had for the picking. Sparkling springs and murmuring brooks alleviate the thirst of the wanderer. Trees of rich foliage beckon the weary and the indolent to rest in their shade. Brightly plumed birds Hit through the trees and bushes and sing the wan- derer to sleep. But as he slumbers the miasma of life's tropics envelopes him. VVhen he rises to resume his journey he is weakened in body and soul. But that is not the worst. As the wanderer continues on his journey, everything about him is changed. The beautiful flowers are faded. The sweet fruit turns to bitterness in his mouth. The springs taste of poison. The song of the birds has turned into the croaking of the ravens. No tree invites him into its shade for slumber and rest. Feverishly the disenchanted pilgrim hastens on, seeking an exit from what has now become to him a deadly jungle. But weakened as he is, enfeebled in body and mind, he stumbles and falls again and again. And then the true char- acter of the Land of Pleasure reveals itself. The beasts of the jungle attack the hapless wanderer, birds of prey rend his body, insects burrow in his entrails till only the skeleton is left, a mute witness to the life here ended. But not for long. The fetid vegetation of the jungle covers the bones and decay eradicates the last vestige of the gruesome tragedy. The Land of Pleasure is the land of death and decay. Turning to the East, an imposing spectacle meets the eyes of the pilgrim ready to set out on the journey of life. Far in the distance rises a mountain glittering and glistening in the rays of the rising sun. It appears to be made of pure gold. The road that leads to it is the road of riches. And behold, there are millions who are hastening to reach it. But not every one may take this path. He who wishes to ascend the mountain of gold must first barter away his God, the love to his fel- lowmen, his friends, his honor, his conscience and many other things dear to the heart of man. Yet there are many who are willing to pay the price. However, of the millions striving to reach the mountain but few succeed. Most of them fall exhausted by the wayside, unable to continue the mad race or to overcome the difficulties of the ascend. The few who really do succeed in climbing the mountain are no better off than they. As the sun of life sinks in the West and the shadows of night appear, that which they thought to be pure gold turns into cold and worthless stone, fool's gold. Dcspairseizes them, for that for which they have sold everything forsakes them and mocks them in their last hour. . The road to riches leads not to a mountain of true gold, but to death and despair. . To the North another mountain meets the gaze of the wanderer. It is ex- ceedingly high, its sides are steep,while the top, crowned with eternal ice and snow, is almost inaccessible to the foot of man. The majestic grandeur of this moun- tain is in keeping with its name. It is the Mountain or Honor. The road leading to this forbidding-looking mountain is not traveled as much as that leading to the East or South. The difficulties of the road and the almost impossible ascend dis- courage most pilgrims. He who desires to reach the pinnacle of the Mountain of Honor must travel light. He cannot be encumbered by unnecessary companions on the way. He must forsake his God, trample on the affections of' his family and friends and quench the spark of love and conscience within himself. In every century of the history of the world but one or two succeed in reaching the summit. Most of the travelers on- this path fall exhausted before coming any-

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THE EPITOME 415 Earralaurratv Svermun BY REV. ROBERT H. ISCHINGER, Pastor St. John's Lutheran Church. Sunhag, Zlannarg 15111, 1927, at 11 A. BH. John 6:68- Lord, to whom shall we go ? My Dear Young Friends: Among the Mohammedans there is a-belief that once in life to each individual comes a day on which every desire of the heart may be fulfilled. The only re- quisite is that one be wide-awake and ready to take advantage of this day of miracles, for it will never return again. There is but one Day of Days, as it is called, in every life. Today the world lies open before you. Having finished such an important lap in the journey of life as indicated by your approaching graduation, your Day of Days is here and brings with it the promise of fulfillment of every desire cher- ished in your hearts. Q Natural abilities and personal preferences coupled with the circumstances of life and environment in which you find yourself will largely determine the profes- sion you will choose for your life-calling. However, to make a success in this it will behoove every one of you seriously to consider what course to pursue in this life and to lay your plans accordingly. VVhen a vessel leaves the shelter of the harbor on a journey across the ocean, the first thing its captain will do is to lay the course the ship must take to reach its destination. Having left the shelter of the school in which you have prepared yourselves for the journey through life, it is most necessary that you determine now the course which is to bring you to your destination. e livery well equipped mariner possesses a compass, which will keep him and his ship true to the course he has decided on. The wanderer through life has a similar compass. Its needle, however, is not made of steel, nor is it guided by the force of magnetism. The needle of the compass of life is the will of man and its guiding principle is his heart's desire. Unlike the needle of the magnetic com- pass, it will not point constantly to the North, but its direction will vary as the desire of the heart may direct the will of man. It is well for any traveler to know the character of the country towards which he is journeying. Knowing the dangers and difficulties of the road, he will have an opportunity to prepare himself so that he may reach his destination safely. For this reason our young men and women will be well advised if they will cast their eyes over the geography of life before attempting to continue their journey. As you stand today on the pinnacle of 1ife's first success the world lies open before you. There is no one to hinder you from going to the East or the XVest, the North or the South. It is for you to decide which direction you are to take. Probably the most traveled and easiest route to pursue through life is that to the South, to life's tropics, to the Land of Pleasure. The road leading in this

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, THE EPITOME 47 wheres near the top, and they perish, forgotten by the world. The few Who do reach the summit reach it alone. And there, in the chill atmosphere of eternal ice and snow, they meet their doom. The path of glory leads but to the grave. T here is one more direction in which the wanderer through life may go. It leads towards the West, toward a mountain, the top of which is hidden in the clouds. Its slopes are bare and unpromising. There are no shady dells inviting the pilgrim to rest, no veins of gold to rouse his cupidity, nospraise or honor to spur him on. It is the Mountain of Self-sacrifice and Service. Of all the four roads of life the one leading to this mountain is the least frequented. Millions go South to the Land of Pleasure, millions hasten East to the Mountain of Gold, thousands strive for honor and glory and travel to the North, but only the few choose the road to the VVest to dedicate their lives to self-sacrifice and service. And yet, though the way be weary and the ascend heart-breaking, the mystery of the mountain top hidden in the clouds of eternity ever attracts faithful souls who strive to reach its summit. Those who have ever seriously attempted this path are strengthened miraculously to keep on even under the most trying circum- stances. There is an unseen hand that guides them safely past all pitfalls and snares. A mysterious power strengthens the Weak and the weary. And no mat- ter how feeble the wanderer may be, how little his strength, it is always possible for him to assist another brother or sister on this path and keep them from falter- ing. He who seeks the mystery of the mountain top of self-sacrifice and service out of love to God and his fellowmen will not fail to attain his goal, for Jesus is with him. And, ah, what a miracle when the veil of clouds has been pierced and the summit has been reached. Life's setting sun, as it goes down in the West discloses to him the beauty of paradise, the unsearchable riches in the heart of jesus and the honor and glory of fellowship with God. Having spurned the pleasures, riches and honors of the world, the pilgrim on this path at the end of his journey, instead of meeting with disillusionment, despair and death, finds God and life eternal. Then Jesus said unto the twelve, XVill ye also go away ? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. . '27 Feb. Class Song GVords and Music by LeRoy E. Snyder-Q A clasp of the hand. a tear-lit eye, That is all as we say goodbye, XVe go into the wide world to win Fortune, fame, success. Our days were filled with joy and song, But now those days are gone 5 Whether we win or whether we lose, XVe'll ne'er forget old Reading High.