Boys High School - Epitome Yearbook (Reading, PA)

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50 THE EPITOME concerning Austria-Hungary and the immediate vicinity. When the pupil reached the age of twelve, his public school education stopped. There were higher schools outside of Cherevich, but the tuition and other expenses connected with them were beyond the poor man's means. I attended the school regularly, taking advantage of its humble gift. Wlieii I had completed the live-year course, my teacher persuaded my well-to-do uncle to finance my higher schooling. I enrolled as a private student in the nearest high school fabout twelve miles awayj. VV e bought the necessary books there, but I studied at home under the guidance of my grade school teacher. Every semester I went back to the high school for examination. This plan, however, was destined to be short-lived. The deadly influenza came with all tragedy. My .tutor became critically ill, and my father passed away. There was only one th-ing to do now- choose a trade and then become an apprentice. Otherwise I would become a laborer, like my father before me. But though my education was limited, it was extensive enough to give me a glimpse into the future. In that moment I had a vision of myself, a human creature, emerging from the dim places where the torch of knowledge had never been, to a new sunny land in the NV est, where one is judged by what he can do and not by what he has. There I decided to go. I-Iastily I wrote my brother in America, informing him of my desire and asking his advice concerning the trade that would be of most advantage to me in America. He answered that since I was determined to come sooner or later, the best time to come would be at once, while I was young and most eager 5 that America is the place to prepare for a life thereg that he would furnish the necessary expense, amounting to about S200.00. Light ahead! My heart beat with joy as I ran with the letter in my hand to break the good news to my mother. But lo! her smile vanished. My purpose, however, could not be changed. I felt that this was the turning point in my life, and the opportunity might never come again. A few months passed in preparation. I-Ioary winter found me on the ocean on my way to my new horneg the New Year set me on its very threshold, New York City. On the 5th of January I came to Reading. Since no one knew when I would come, there was no one at the station to meet me. Alone I made my way up Penn Street until I met a man, who, after I showed him my brother's address, took me by the hand and led me to the street car station at Sixth and Penn, paid my fare, and explained to the conductor where I was going. I had been in Read- ing but ten minutes and had found a friend! ' Shortly after my arrival I was taken to the night school for foreigners. The teacher, smiling, shook hands with me and welcomed me in words that I could not understand, while I stood there smiling back. From the night school the kind teacher transferred me to the day school. The kindness and patience of those teachers and the friendliness of all who surrounded me made a lasting impres- sion upon me. In every room the American Flag hung on the wall, and every day the pupils salute it. I, too, stood up and saluted my new Flag in words of my native language: O moya nova zastava, moya nova zemlya-tebe pozdravlyam Q O my new Flag, my new land-thee I salutenj until I learned to say with them: I pledge allegiance to my Flag, And to the country for which is stands. One nation, indivisible, - With liberty and justice for all. Six years have passed. I have made many devoted friends, who have led me out of a state of obscurity into an open sun-lit field, where obstacles have thinned and opportunities have crowded to meet me.

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THE EPITOME 4-9 VALEDICTORY The Old and The New JASPER K. ELMER Out from a human seething mass Of Ellis Island's gates I come, A Pilgrim groping in the night Of foreign tongues, A Pilgrim searching for the light, Released from woes, Released from fears, That selfish kings thru countless years Have heaped upon the land I loved And once called home. Out from a land despoiled I come. O teach me my new nation's plan To live a True American. I can, O Starry Flag, I can! Jugoslavia is a new name for an old country. When the name is analzyed, it means the land of the southern Slavs. Before the country received the name of jugoslavia, one-half of it was known as Serbiag the other half was called Croatia and Slovenia. The Serbians were continually menaced by the Turks, whom they finally drove out only a few years before the outbreak of the tragic W'orld War. The incessant struggle for freedom, naturally, hindered Serbian progress. The Croatians and the Slovenians, on the other hand, were under the yoke of Austria-Hungary, a government which made little effort to encourage their progress. The Serbians, the Croatians, and the Slovenians speak the same language, for they are one people 3 but, due to various inliuences and the lack of adequate communication, a religious difference rose between them, the Serbians belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church, the others to the Roman Catholic. With this general and brief background, we are ready to look at conditions in' my home town, Cherevich, which, a decade ago, was located in the Austrian territory, along the southern bank of the Danube, near the boundary of Serbia. Both Serbians and Croatians dwelt in the town, making the total number of inhabitants about four thousand. Unfortunately, the two people could not live together peacefully. Their respective religions made them enemies instead of friends. Today most of the inhabitants are peasants. There are only a few artisans: blacksmiths, shoemakers, tailors, carpenters, and the like. Many of the people, especially the older persons, are illiterate and ignorant of the world outside their immediate vicinity. It is only natural that they should be primitive, that their wants should be simple. ' Into this town a school made its way, but because of its slight influence it failed to illuminate the darkness that existed around it. The course, lasting five years, consisted primarily of reading, writing and arithmetic. In the fourth and fifth grades the pupils were taught some of the simpler Bible stories, a few of the beautiful events in Austro-Hungarian history, along with a little of geography

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THE EPITOME 51 Opportunity! America, this is thy priceless gift to rich and poor, to native and foreign-born alike. My friends, I, who but yesterday stood at your gate a stranger, thank America for the opportunities which she has bestowed upon me. These privileges, my friends, have ever been yours. Love them, cherish them, defend them as a rich heritage. . I have caught something of thy spirit, Americag I have grasped thy great ideals. Tomorrow I shall join with you in My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing. Our fathers' God, to thee, Author of liberty, To thee we sing. Long may our land be bright VVitl1 f1'CCdOl11,S holy lightg Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King. V To the Superintendent of Schools, the Assistant Superintendent, and Mem- bers of the Board of Directors: VVe, the Class of 1927 February, wish to ex- press to you our sincere appreciation of the splendid educational opportunities which you have provided for us. VVe thank you most heartily and bid you farewell To our Principal, our Vice-Principal, our Faculty Advisor, and Members of the Faculty: Our words cannot express, much less repay, our debt to you. Your lives have been dedicated in our behalf. Your immortal influence upon us as molders of our character will become more deeply ingrained in our hearts as time goes on. Ere we go forth in quest of the ideals which you pointed out to ns, we linger for a moment to grasp your hands, express our heartfelt thanks, and bid you farewell. Fellow Classmates: Today each one of us stands, as I stood a few years since, on the threshold of a new land, a new life. Time bids us enter. As we journey along, let us ever carry with us those ideals, those bonds of fellowship established among us at the old Reading High. Farewell! SALUTATORY Companions on the Road to Success LE ROY E. SNYDER Ladies and Gentlemen: Speaking for the faculty and the Class of 1927 February of the High School for Boys, I bid you a most hearty welcome to these our Commencement exercises. Prior to the outbreak of war between Spain and the United States during McKinley's administration, it was necessary to secure the co-operation of General Garcia, the leader of the Insurgents in Cuba. There was a message to be sent, but President McKinley found it difficult to secure anyone competent to perform this exceedingly dangerous task. The President was told of a man named Rowan, who had the ability and skill needed to deliver this message. Rowan was sent for and was given the necessary instructions. He did not think of the dangers along