Central Junior High School - Reflector Yearbook (Saginaw, MI)

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THE ANNUAL Rsrnacron Success as Experienced by Successful Mcu ' Some letters about that subject received by Jack Shaler from men promiorent both in and out of the Natiorfs capitol. THE VICE-PRESlDENT'S CHAMBER Washington, D. C. March 15, 1929 My Dear Mr. Shalcr: I have your letter and thank you for sending me a copy of your school paper. I am enclosing herewith a pamphlet which will perhaps give you the informa- tion you desire. Thanking you for your kind congratula- tions, I am, Very truly yours, CHARLES CURTIS Vice-President of the U. S. From the pamphlet inclosed in the Vice-president's letter I selected the follow- ing quotation: I would sooner take the word of Curtis then the sworn oath of a good many other men in the capitol, Senator Norris of Nebraska, recently remarked, I never knew Curtis to fail his word. U The word of Curtis is his bond, is the way they speak of him around the na- tion's Capitol. It is just the outstanding trait that has made Curtis a power in 'Washington Men knew, or soon discovered they could trust Curtis and his word. One tribute here may not be amiss. UNITED STATES SENATE Washington, D. C. March 12, 1929 Dem- Mr. Shalerz I have yours of the 6th enclosing a copy ofthe school paper of Central Junior High School of Saginaw. You say in an early issue there will be a discussion in your publication concerning success and its qualities. I understand that as Editor you are to contribute a manu- script on this important subject that has been the basis for much discussion in many school papers. You want to get the opin- ion of those who have attained success and for that reason you do me the honor of requesting me to write you for the purpose of saying to what I attribute such suc- cess as I have had. There are so many different kinds of success and undoubtedly they are attained in many different ways. For example, a mathematician may be a success and that success may be attained through great study and without having to have much,if any contact with the world. Another kind of success is the kind of success which you undoubtedly give me credit for and that is where you have to get out into the world and combat all sorts of obstacles and be ready to accept opportunities that may present themselves. Obviously there is no formula for obtaining these results. However, to be personal I will have to state that at eighteen years of age I was car checker for the Michigan Central Rail- road at S40 per month. It was mostly night work in all kinds of weather, a con- dition not conducive to desiring to stick to the job. Other boys came out, tried it and quit but I stuck to the job and while I claim no particular credit for it, as I needed to support myself, yet I attribute to the fact that I did stick to the job as the basic reason for what success 'I have had. In other words, it had always seemed to me that men in position to promote and advance others observe that sort of faith- fullness to duty and when opportunity comes to promote or advance workers in any way most superior officers will pick that sort of man. In any event that is how Igot my start, although I did not have in mind what the dictionary says, Attainment of a proposed object. The dictionary says that success is That which comes after. That which comes after really no one can say in advance what it will be. It may not be what the dictionary says, Attainment of a pro- posed object. The dictionary says that suc- cess is that which comes after. That which comes after really no one can say in advance PAGE TWENTY-I-'OUR

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I I l THE ANNUAL REFLECTOR Gum cLUBs Salavador. He made four trips from 1492- 1502. On his voyages he reached South America, Central America, and Porto Rico. Then the news came that Vasco Da Gama had found the long sought water route to India. In 1505 Columbus died heartbroken little knowing that he discovered a new land. Some other explorers were Balboa, Mag- ellan, Cortes, Pizarro, John Cabot, and Francis Drake. There are other explorers too but these are the most important ones. Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean. Mag- ellen was first to circumnavigate the globe. Cortes went to Mexico and got many jewels and riches. Pizarro went to Peru and got 357 ,000,000 in gifts and again as much by force. John Cabot discovered Labrador, he received S50 to do so. On his second voyage he and his boat were lost. Francis Drake was another important man and he was the second to circumnavigate the globe. He plundered boats and took so much in gold and silver that they had to throw it over- board so the boats wouldn't sink. We then changed the sand table to the United States. We have some lv g cabins of the pioneers, forts, stocks, Mayflower, for eats, Plymouth Rock and manyotherthings. We are now studying about the founding r. and settling of Colonies in America. We will finish up to the time of the Declaration of Independence. George Herrmann CIO-ID A Little Star Twinkle, twinkle little star Way up in blue so far Above us all so far or near Shining through the blue so clear. Ah! through that deep blue sky, I see you there with my naked eye, Resting there so peaceful, Beaming upon us joyously, You are a wonder little star, I wish I had you in a glass jar, So that I may always see Your beaming happily upon me. Helen Darger U I U An absent minded man and his wife were just returning from a theater. When they reached the door of their home he said: Look, wife you would have forgotten your umbrella if I hadn't carried your's and mine both. Wife: Why neither of us had one. i'I, 'f'PAu E rwaN'rv-'rl-msn - l

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Ti-is ANNUAL RsrLEc'roR what it will be. It may not be what the dic- tionary says, often having attained wealth. position, or the like. You may have suc- cess without having attained any of these but you may say that that is not the gener- ally accepted understanding of success. I think that would be correct but 1 think it is unfortunate that success should be so generally interpreted that way. I do not know that this letter answers your purpose but it is written because I did not have clearly in mind just what you interpreted success to be. Briefly, therefore, faithfulness to the task at hand, conscientious feeling of responsibility, sacrifice of personal plea- sures and enjoyment for the purpose of doing the work well, is in my opinion the greatest fundamental in attaining the success such as I think you interpret it. Thank you very much for you sincere congratulation for the success I have had and for the opportunity I will undoubtedly have in the next congress. Sincerely yours, JAMES COUZENS, us. seminar from Mia-ivan and chairman of the Inter- state Commerce Committee of me seams. UNITED STATES SENATE Washington, D. C. March 12, 1929 My Dam' Young Friend: I am in receipt of your letter under date of March 5th, in which you say If you would write and tell me in few words what you attribute your splendid success to, or what main factors are necessary for suc- cess. Now leaving out the personal feature of the question, l do not object to making a suggestion to you. 'Ihere is nothing which interests me as much as the plans and pur- poses and possibilities of success for young people. In our later years we all look back and think of how many mistakes we made and how we might have done many things much better than we did. There are many things, of course, which enter into the question of succes in life. But there area few fundamental things which ought always to be kept in mind. First, it was Thomas Carlisle, I think, who said that, genius is an immense capacity for work. Never overlook that. Application, definite and well-defined aims, courage-these things will overcome all the ordinary obstacles of life and in the end insure success. There have been a few, and very few, scattered through the pages of history who have seemingly been able to accomplish a great deal without study and intense application. But they are the exception which prove the rule that we must work for what we attain in this world. The competition is too severe for the loiterer to succeed. The indifferent, or the neglectful, are soon crowded out of the line of march. Another thing, seek to be the master of your own place and the captain of your own soul. It was Emerson, I believe who said: Trust thyself. Every nerve vibrates to that iron string. I am perhaps not quoting him exactly as I am quoting wholly from memory. But if you are not farmiliar with the quotation, farmiliarize yourself with it. You will find it in his essay on Self Reliance? Again he says in this wonderful essay, which you ought to read once a week for the first twenty years of your life: It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinions. It is easy in solitude to live after your own. But the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. Here againlmay not be verbally correct. There is a vast amount of joy and pleas- ure to be had out of life and these things you ought also to enjoy. But do not permit them to interfere with the main purpose and aspirations of life, that is, to succeed personally and to be of some service to your fellowmen. Very respectfully, WILLIAM E. BORAH, Chairman of the Committee on 1-mags Relations in the united States Senate. Continued on page 33 PAGE TWENTY-FIVE