Catholic Central High School - Banner Yearbook (Fort Madison, IA)

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carrier of all diseases, especially the typhoid fever germ. Th mosquitoes carry the germs of malaria and yellow fever. Thorough screening of houses is one of the easiest and most efficient ways of preventing these diseases. We now come to the study of birds. Birds are wholesale destroyers of weed-seeds and harmful insects. Many birds, especially those, of the larger groups, have beautiful plurnage which is used in decorations the world over. There are also song birds such as the beautiful canary, which is kept in captivity precisely on account of its wonderful song. One of the most peculiar and most interesting traits of birds is their migration habit. Sometimes birds fly great distances with incredible speed. Man has domesticated some birds, which we call chickens, turkeys, and geese. The flesh of these is used as meat, their eggs as food, and their feathers for pillows, etc. Better citizens are the result of the study of Biology, because by the study of Physiology, which is included in Biology, they learn to control their environment more easily. In order to have health the rules of sanitation and of hygiene are studied. They learn to respect the advice of the municipal health agencies and municipal quarantinesg they realize the need of a pure water supply, of proper sewerage, proper supervision of the milk supply, and the necessity of the best care of other foods. Biology also teaches the value of the conservation of natural resources, such as the forests. Much inspiration is given through the study of the work of scientists who have been the world's greatest benefactors. Some worthy of mention are: Pasteur, Darwin, Meudell, Burbank, and Harvey. All new discoveries have been made by men and women who were once just boys and girls as we are, with possibly no notion of the way in which they' were to help to make this world a better place to live in. Everyone of us is anxious to do some little thing to improve the conditions under which people live. There is still much to be learned about the relation of plants and animals to man, and some of us should prepare ourselves to take a part in this great work. -CHARLES DE COURSEY, '3o. A CLOUD I saw this cloud hov'ring so low, It seems as though it'd almost mow A slim white mast Athe wind did guide. And some times seemed almost to hide The stern deep lines of the straight bow. It dipped across the landscape so It seemed to rule the waves in tow. And then again in swiftest stride, I saw this cloud. It stretched across like darkened floe And seemed like icy breath to blow. Onward it went and seemed to glide Until it reached the heavens wide. I saw this cloud. -ROSE GOCKEL, '25. NINETY-FIVE

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B OLOGY WHY BIOLOGY SHOULD BE STUDIED IN THE HIGH SCHOOL One may wonder of what value the study of Biology is to the high-school boy or girl. Since Biology is a study of all living things, it treats of the structure of plants and animals and gives special attention to their relation to man's com- fort and happiness. There are thousands of varieties of plants, from the gi- gantic trees of the forests to the tiny mass of plants we call mold. All these have a very delicate and a highly specialized structure. Green plants furnish us with clothing, trees can be made into lumber. Of course, there are also many harmful plants such as the weeds of the garden which check the growth of the vegetables, the brush in the pasture lands, and the dense thickets which prevent sunlight from reaching young trees and other plants in the woodlands. These harmful plants might be destroyed if everyone would join in the battle against them, by mowing them down before the seeds become ripe, by preventing the killing of useful birds, that eat weed-seeds, and by clearing brush from the woodlands. Now let us consider the animals. Of all the animals, the insects are the greatest in number of species. Pollination in many flowers and fruit trees could not be carried on without the aid of insects, especially the bee. This in- sect also makes honey which we use as food, and bees-wax which finds many uses. There are harmful insects too. The corn borer and the codling moth de- stroy hundreds of crops yearly, and the woolly aphis is a deadly pest to sheep growers. Insects are also spreaders of disease. The house-fly is a common NINETY-FOUR

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Mathematics PYTHAGORAS WHY MATHEMATICS IN HIGH SCHOOL . To every boy or girl of high school age no incentiveito study is more forceful than the all-around usefulness of the study. Why, he asks, should I study alge- bra and geometry when I k1lOW so much of arithmetic? True, he does know the fundamental principles of arithmetic, but knowing these, he will find that there is still more to master, a greater interest, a greater pleasure, and a greater satisfac- tion of useful knowledge to be acquired in the pursuit of mathematics, a step or two removed from arithmetic. Whereas arithmetic primarily concerns itself with numbers and the four fundamentals of addition, subtraction, muliplication and division, algebra embraces a wider field because of its systematic use of both numbers and letters and the application of these to some of the common problems of daily life and business. Entering upon the study of geometry the student will readily see that geometric principles play an important part i11 every day life. No matter what occupation he may choose, he will find that two of the greatest helps in life are clear think- ing and sound reasoning. In geometry, the student receives a. knowledge of pure :argumentation and of sound reasoning and learns to appreciate the force' and value of concise statements. The study of geometry brings pleasure and increased capacity for enjoy- ment by developing an appreciation for the beauty and utility of architecure, of art, and of engineering constructions. It enables the landscape gardener to devel- op plans for magnificent pvarks and public gardens. It also forms the basis of all civic improvement plans for making cities more sanitary and attractive. The foregoing are some of the reasons why mathematics in general, and geom- etry in particular, should be studied by those who wish to obtain a generous cul- ture, a broad outlook, and a mental development characterized by logical think- ing and clear expression. -Richard Scholtz, '30, NINETY-SIX