Central Catholic High School - Echo Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

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X CENTRAL CATHOLIC .JAMES WHITCONIB RILEY CBy C. A. Harkenrider, '16.J Other poets may soar above you, You keep close to the human heart. In the above lines Henry van Dyke gives us the reason for Riley's honored position among the poets of our country. But you mayask: Why is James Whitcomb Riley Hclose to the human heart? If you have 'never lived in Indiana, but have patience enough to listen to a Hoosier school- boy, I shall tell you. I On October 7, 1849, Riley first blinked at day- light as it came peering through the windows of a little log cabin in Hancock County, Indiana. Here he grew up, a boy whose head- was iilled with dreams of what the future held in store for him, but nevertheless, a boy who wasted none of the golden moments of boyhood. Here he swam in the old swimmin' hole or lay on the bank listening to the song of the 'stream as it glided lazily by. Here he listened to the stories of the Raggedy Mani' or to those witch ,tales about which he speaks in Little Orphant Annie's. His imagination was fed on these tales, and also on the prose poetry that iills the pages of the Arabian Nights. He preferred to sacrilice the delights of a feast on ginger cakes and candy, for the pur- chase of a book of poetry,'fDivine Ehnblennsf' The great affliction 'of his boyhood was a freckled face. His playmates designated him as Spotted Face, little realizing how much he felt the sting of his nick-name. One day, however, his heart was gladdened by the sight of a certain bottle in a drug store window. On the lable were the magic words: Sure cure for moth, tan, freckles. etc. But the price was fifty cents-an impossible one for him. He was determined to get the bottle, but how? A few days after, his father sent him down town to get some sugar-fifty cents' worth, and gave him the .money to pay for it. though it was customary to have such articles charged up. Young Riley was consistent and charged it up, all right, exchanging 'the fifty cents for the freckle-cure. W On his way to school that morning he sought a secluded spot and applied the sure cure gen- erously. Then he started off for school with a light heart, feeling sure that the freckles would be gone when he got there. As soon as he entered the school room there was a general uproar. His face had a regular lemon color, for he had read 'HIGH SCHOOL ECHO , 9 only half the directions and did not see the words, Wash off immediately with salt water, etc. It was too late to wash off now, but the cure was ef- fective-'he lost his lemon skin-freckles and all --before three days. So much for his boyhood. As he grew to riper years, he began to think of the future. He could do many things, but he could not work In his discouragement, he sent some of his poems to Longfellow. A poet knows a poet, and so Longf fellow encouraged Riley, and had the pleasure of seeing the Hoosier's first volume appear- The Old Swimmin' Hole and 'Leven More Poems. Volume followed volume, until Riley became ian- other Longfellow. V And now, that you have listened to me.thus far, I shall let another Hoosier poet praise him. ,Here is the postlude of the Indiana Odei' for the Pana- ma-Paciiic Exposition by the Rev. Charles O'Don nell. C. S. C.: A s Postlude: K To Indiana's Poet. James Whitcomb Riley. Lo, o'er the fields at home now sinks the sun, And with the crickets' hum t The tinkling bells of cattlehhomeward come Familiar tell The dim, tired land another day is done. U And my song pauses for a last farewell D To you, and greeting unto one h , II. NVhose ears Have caught, how many, happy years, . The murmurs, of the music of our speech, A Whose tongue ' ' I 4 ' Our simple days with kindred art has sung, And kept silence where no word could reach. .Him by whose Brandywine . . g 5 First strayed in childhood days thesefeet of - mine, I ' i Brother and friend, m I I hail him as our State's sufficient pride And give him part- , Wliose words, deep-springing from a people's heart, N Home-gathered there abide- In glories of a day that has its end, L As has at length theiiiiigering song ,Qfione Who brought'his dreams to thee, O City of the Sun!

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.. . -.+1rpg- 8' CENTRAL CATHOLIC- HIGH SCHOOL, ECHO ' 1642, and was buried in the Church of Santa Eroce, the Panthenon of Florence. Pope Urban VIII. sent his blessing to console him in his dying hour. Those who knew him intimately regarded him asa genial companion, but he did not make many friends, or rather he did not keep many, because he lacked sufficient tact to keep himself out of difficulties, into which he was driven by his satirical tongue. COLUMBUS DAY. fBy Joseph Wilkinson, '16.'j Over four hundred years ago there . et sail a daring mariner from the little port of Palos in Spain. He believed that by sailing westward he could iinda new route to the Indies, and perhaps discover new countries. As you know, he did not find a new and shorter route to the Indies, but discovered a continent, where he planted the standard of the Cross. Little did he then know that his name and his fame had become immortal, that a grateful nation would select the day on which he discovered America, as a day for jubila- tion and gratitude, that many states of that nation would proclaim it a legal holidayg that an appre- ciative people would pay homage to his memory and -his deeds, that a great Catholic Society un- der his patronage would devote its best efforts to the advancement of religion and good govern- ment. In gratitude to him who added this fair conti- nent to the civilized world, the State of Indiana calls upon us to commemorate the great event which took place on October 12, 1492. If there is any day in our glorious history which deserves commemoration it is Discovery Day-the day on which every country and every people were of- fered a refuge from tyranny and religious perse- cution. Warped must be the mind and small the heart that would refuse to honor the 'great dis- coverer because he held a different religion, be- cause he was a pious Catholic. But, thank God, there are not many who have such warped minds and such narrow hearts. Every man who is a Worthy citizen of the Land of Libertyoconsiders October 12 as a sacred day, a day on which jus- tice fthough tardy justice it cannot but bel should be offered to the name of Christopher Columbus. p , , ,J Not until a few years ago was-Columbus Day celebrated to -any great extentf The city of Bos- ton started the active celebration, by the parading of all Societies and lodges and people of every na- tionality. This celebration was adopted by other large cities. Its influence spread. Today, our people of every nation-Americans, English, Ger- mans, French, Irish, Poles, Italians and Chinese- take an active part in paying tribute to Columbus. Yes, he is honored from pole to pole, from east to west. The voice of justice cannot be suppressed, it will call out until the end of time, Columbus, a continent is your monument. S f Like many other great men, Columbus had a poor chance to acquire knowledge. His parents were poor, and he wasforced to leave school at the age of fourteen. But he did not quite study. He took up navigation and astronomy. His be- lief in a spherical world grew Q stronger. He longed to give tangible proof of it. Time and again he was turned down, but he clung to the old maxim, Try and try again, until he suc- ceeded. His life after his discovery was for some time a pleasant one. Glory's sun shone on him but for a day. We might expect to see aman who had performed so great a deed, honored by all while he walked on earth. But such was not his fate. The possessor of fame has many enemies, and Columbus was no exception. He died-died a prisoner and in chains, May 20, 1506, at Vallado- lid, Spain. , j Such was the mournful end of the man to whom we have dedicated October 12. His youth was one of poverty and perseverance, his manhood one of struggle and achievement, his old age one of sorrow and afflictiong but his whole life was the life of agreat man. To him more than to any other may the words of our greatest poet be ap- plied: , ' Deeds of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And departing, leave behind us , Footprints on the sandslof time.

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10 CENTRAL CATHOLIC OU R GRADUATES tBy R. L. Beuret, '16.J 1. J. STEPHEN WEBER Are you interested in automobiles, real estate, or insurance? If so we would advise you to call at 723 Court street. As you enter, you will see a young gentleman busily engaged pouring over all kinds of ledgers and documents. He receives you with a dignified cordiality and shows himself ready to talk on any subject. After five minutes talk with him you are convinced of his selling ability, his solid education, and his integrity of character. As you leave the office after buying your insur- ance or real estate you are anxious to know more about this entertaining young man. Your curio- sity is soon satisfied, for he is very well known. As you already know that he is the son of Mr. Carl J. Weber, you are prepared to hear good things of him, and you are not disappointed. You learn that he is chancellor of the Knights of Co- lumbus, an exemplary member of the Cathedral parish, and a graduate of the Central Catholic High School. While at high school he showed himself an apt scholar in every branch of study, winning the class medal each year and also the elocution medal in the Junior year. He was gratuated in 1913, and since that time has been in business with his father. As far as loyalty to his alma mater is concerned, we know of no graduate who has shown more interest in the welfare of the school and its students. He has taken an active part in the sports of the school and is always present to cheer the boys to victory and to smooth their dif- ficulties. He has given us an example of what we ought to be when we have bid a last farewell to the school where we are now completing that education which has enabled him to act man's God-like part. And We predict that in future years we can point to J. Stephen Weber as a great man with a great business. .-.1-117. TOM tBy Bernard Byanskie, '17.l William Brown and his wife Irene were seated in the parlor of their roomy residence at 2001 C..urt Street, talking, and from their style of con- versation it could be plainly seen that they were not on the best of terms. HIGH scHool. Ecu-no Why didn't you come home last .night for sup- per? inquired Mrs. Brown, a middle-aged woman who had anything but a pleasant disposition. - Why, said Mr. Brown in a pleasant tone, I had a little extra work to finish last evening, so 1 1ouldn't get home as early as usual. As early as usual, eh? I don't see where the 'usual' comes in. I have suspicions of my own that something else besides work keeps you out late. Just the other day, Mrs. Bowman told me she saw you in Stanford's saloon. What she said is true, but I had only run over and taken a glass of beer for it was terribly hot in the shop, you know, and I thought a cool drink would help me a little. Well, what you say may be true, but all the same I shall hold my suspicions, said Mrs. Brown, hastily leaving the room. ' She had scarcely left when the front door flew open and a boy burst into the room exclaiming, 'iHurrah, father! I've sold eighty-nine extras,' and one 'man gave me a ten-cent tip. Gee! if I do this well all week I'll be able to get that new pair of skates I've been wanting all winter. Then glancing around the room he added, Where's mother? I think she has gone to bed, son, said his father. - Alr'eady? Why, she's generally up until ten o'clock. A I know, but she said she had a headache, and thought that if she went to bed she would have more relief. Well, I'rn going up to say good-night to her, anyway, said Tom, bounding up the stairs two steps at a time. Now, however bad they might quarrel, the Browns dearly loved their son, and kept all knowledge of their differences from him. For this reason, when Mrs.'Brown had heard her husband alluding to her going to bed, she quietly slipped into her room, and when Tom came up she was already in bed. How are you feeling, mother? he inquired. O I'll be all right in the morning, Tom. Did you have good luck with your papers today? Great! And he went on to explain his suc- cess with such enthusiasm that his mother could not help smiling, for she loved to see .her child happy and successful. She did not seem inclin'ed to talk, so Tom kissed her good-night and retired. Next afternoon after Tom had gone to school, Mrs. Brown went over to the poker club she had lately joined, to try her luck with some nickels