Boys High School - Epitome Yearbook (Reading, PA)

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52 THE EPITOME the wayg he remembered only that he was doing his duty. He strapped the mes- sage over his heart and set out. It was, indeed, a dangerous task. Rowan was compelled to travel on foot, for there were no other means of communication. He had to traverse a hostile country. If he had been caught, he would have had to pay the penalty of a spy. During part of the trip he journeyed in an open boat. The land over which he had to travel was marshy and disease-breeding. But Rowan delivered the mes- sage successfully and returned to this country. Let us change these characters into abstract beings. Let us make President McKinley play the part of Opportunityg Garcia the part of Success. Let us think of Rowan's route as the road to Success, and let us pretend that each one of us is Rowan. But Rowan was so unlike us. He never had a High School edu- cation as has been our opportunityg yet he had made companions of abstract things, which enabled him to take the message, strap it over his heart, and over- come the difficulties which lay in his way. As we journeyed through High School we should have made companions of these same abstract beings. Tomorrow Opportunity will challenge each one of you to carry a message to Success. Your most important companion for the trip will be Incentive, for he is the one who will set you out on the Road to Success. VVhen Opportunity comes to you and asks you whether you will carry the message, it is then that your little friend, Incentive, will spur you on. I-Ie will tell you that he will get his brothers and sisters to help you overcome your ditiiculties. He will show you how wonderful and glorious it is to carry a message to Success. He will make you so enthusiastic that you. like Rowan, will strap the message over your heart and set out on a run down the Road to Success. Your road, like Rowan's, will be iilled with obstacles and difficulties 3 but if you have made companions of Incentive's brothers and sisters you will be able to overcome your handicaps. You will need Incentive's two sisters, Integrity and Inspiration, and his two brothers, Intelligence and Industry. The Road to Success is straight, but it is a continual ascend. Soon you will see a cool, shady nook on the way. You will be tempted to stop and rest, for you will be tired and footsore. Your little friend, Industry, will prevent you. He will tell you that this is the place called Rest, and that men who travel on this road must not loiter. He will say, Great and successful men do not know what rest is. I have told you so often, but I will tell you again that 'The heights by great men reached and kept W'ere not attained by sudden Hightg But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upwards in the night' Your little friend, Industry, has saved you from the place where Laziness and Slothfulness abide. Industry's advice has given you new life, and you again start on the climb upward. The further you go, the more rough your way will become, and soon again you will begin to tire and grow weary. Your spirits will soon brighten, for ahead you will see that the road forks. The one road is smooth, while the other one is rough. As you come to the parting of the Ways, you will turn to go on the smooth road, for on the sign-post you will see the words, A Short cut to Success. Integrity will grasp you by the coat sleeve and say, I have helped you many times before and here again you have need of me. This smooth road is no short cut to Success, for there is no such thing. Those who would reach Success must take the long and rough road. You will continue on the rough road, and soon Despair will throw her shadows of gloom about you. You will be ready to turn back, when you will see your little glowing friend, Inspiration. Inspiration will furnish you with light during this period of Despair.

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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

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THE EPITOME 53 The light will finally overcome the shadows, and again it will be day. You will then pass through a land where people will attempt to turn you from your path and rob you of your message. Your friend, Intelligence, will-asure you that he will save you from these crafty people. In this land, many people will attempt to deceive and outwit youg but each time Intelligence will come to your assistance and you will pass on without any difficulty. You are nearing the top of the ascent. You will soon see a man whose hair is gray, but you can see that he is the man you have been seeking, for his Whole being shines with an indescribable brilliancy. You will say to him, Here is the message Opportunity gave me to deliver to you. Success will answer, As a reward I give you this key. This key unlocks the door to happiness, peace, and contentment. You have made friends of my children, whom I send among young men and women as helpmeets on the road. Take this key and enjoy the fruits of your labor. My classmates, many of us have failed to make companions of Incentive, Inspiration, Intelligence, Industry, and Integrity. But it is not too late to make their friendship. Tomorrow, when we go forth, let us make companions of the children of Success. They walk with us, they work with us, yet many of us have failed to know them. It is only with their aid that we can successfully carry il message to Success. f Let us make these companions and print indelibly upon our thoughts Long- fellow's lines, when he says: ' ' Trust no Future, how'er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,-act in the living Present! Heart within and God o'erhead! Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fateg Still achieving, still pursuing, , Learn to labor and to wait. Sketch of Compaagn-cement Speaker Hon. I. XVarren Davis, the'Commencement speaker for the Class of 1927 Feb., is a well and favorably known Judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, situated in Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. Davis is a graduate of Bucknell University and Crozer Theological Seminary. He has also been a student at the University of Chicago, the University of Leipzig, and the University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the New jersey State Senate dur- ing 19I2-13, and as such introduced and led the iight for much of the progressive legislation sponsored by President VVilson, who was at that time Governor of New jersey. Mr. Davis was appointed United States Attorney for the District of New jersey in IQI3, in which position he served until 1919, when he accepted the appointment as Judge of the United States District Court of New Jersey. He held this position until 1920, when he assumed the duties of his present position. Our class is particularly fortunate in having a man of such calibre deliver us the parting message as our school life ends and the real tasks of life begin.