Central School - Deeds and Misdeeds Yearbook (Decatur, IN)

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DEEDS AND MISDEEDS BRYCE THOMAS, Principal We were very sorry to lose our former principal, Mr. Brown, who has been with us for so many years. But since the change meant a pro¬ motion for Mr. Brown we could but wish him God speed for we feel that his excellent work for us merited him this substantial advancement. We now have our new principal, Mr. Thomas, who is getting along very well this year. Mr. Thomas is a teacher and principal whom every one likes. Our only regret is that as 8A’s we are privileged to work with, him for only one year. -o- SO THERE! You have heard what sometimes happens to the best laid plans of mice and men. Well we editors had writ¬ ten what we considered an excellent dedication, eloquently stating that this year’s Deeds and Misdeeds was dedicated to our new principal, Mr. Thomas. To our way of thinking there was no other person to whom this honor rightfully belonged. But Mr. Thomas’s being “PRINCIPAL” was the cause of the change in dedi¬ cation. His extreme modesty is known to every one so we were sent to the printers’ to “pull” that article. What else could we do? So we did. EDUCATION Education is not knowing things, but knowing how to do things worth while; how to appear, to behave, and speak so that those with whom we come in contact shall wish to appear behave, and speak so also, and when we have passed, shall want us to come that way again; education is not knowing things, but is a way of think¬ ing; being friendly to persons, open- minded about things, and tolerant to ideas; able to see some good in the poorest specimen, a possibility in the most discouraging situation and beauty of some kind in every outlook. The purpose of education should be to get boys and girls to fall in love —to fall in love with the beautiful things in life, to fall in love with peo¬ ple and the better forms of govern¬ ment, to fall in love with achievement and to look up and fall in love with God. -o- IT ISN’T EASY To apologize. To admit error. To begin again. To be unselfish. To face a sneer. To be con siderate. To endure success. To keep on trying. To profit by mistakes. To forgive and forget. To think and then act. To keep out of the rut. To make the best of little. To shoulder deserved blame. To subdue an ugly temper. To maintain a high standard. To recognize the silver lining. But it always pays you. -c-- ARE YOU AN OPTIMIST? Everybody wants to be happy. The Declaration of Independence says every person has a right to be happy. The question is: what is happiness? Can you look ahead and see the bright and sunny side of every day things? 6

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DEEDS AND MISDEEDS GRACE COFFEE MARTHA CALLAND PAULINE AFFOLDER DEEDS AND MISDEEDS Two years ago, 1929, to be precise, our little annual “ceased to be.” Sev¬ eral things entered into its demise, all of which were beyond anybody’s con¬ trol. The many inquiries that came to us, both this year and last, regard¬ ing the annual has proved to us that the little book was popular with the boys and girls. But it was Martha E. Calland and Pauline Affolder who faced the prob¬ lem squarely and as soon as Mr. Thomas said “go” they went to their job with a recklessness that snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat. It was they who went from room to room and from class to class, telling what it would mean to the boys and the girls as they grew older, gathering pledges and subscriptions until the required number was obtained. To them also, must be given the credit for having written at least nine-tenths of the content matter of the book. In recognition of the excell¬ ent work which they have accomplish¬ ed we dedicate this page to them, trusting that they have learned the truth of the saying that the ultimate source of real happiness lies in serv¬ ing others. Miss Coffee to whom the editors had recourse when in doubt concern¬ ing the agreement of verbs with their subjects, pronouns with their antece¬ dents, et cetra, worked whole-hearted¬ ly as usual for the success of the an¬ nual. —Anonymous. - o- KINDLY ADVICE Not having sufficient space or time we could not record the acts and ac¬ tions of everyone. So if your feats or accomplishments have been over¬ looked and you feel terribly put out— well, arsenic is not painful. If how¬ ever, you have been mentioned in our little repast of words, do not become vain and egotistical because, after all, every circus must have its clown. Now that you’ve perused the ter¬ rible truth this far, may I say that certain members of the staff may now be found in Porto Rico and parts south. Do not let your disappoint¬ ment be too great on not being able to vent your ire on the editor of this little affair, but just be thankful that we didn’t print all that we know. TRUE CONFESSIONS Putting out this book is no joke; If we print too many jokes some peo¬ ple say we are silly, If we don’t print them people say we are too serious. If we clip things from other papers, we are too lazy to write them our¬ selves. If we stick close to the job all day we should be out hunting news. If we do get out and hustle we shou’d be on the job in the office; If we don’t print contributions we don’t appreci¬ ate true genius, and if we do print them the annual is full of junk. If we make a change in the write¬ ups we are too critical, If we don’t we are asleep. Now like as not someone will say we swiped this from some other paper. WE DID. o—

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DEEDS AND MISDEEDS A Frenchman once wrote a drama, called the “Blue-Bird of Happiness”, Two children, Tyltyl and Mytl, left their home on Christmas Eve to search for the blue-bird. They were so certain of finding it they took a wicker cage to put it in. It was a ■(fanciful tale and their wanderings took them to many strange places. At the climax of the story they reach¬ ed the “Palace of Night.” The air was filled with blue-birds. Dozens, hun¬ dreds of them! They caught all that they could and started for home. Dawn, however, revealed the birds limp and lifeless. They could not stand the light of day. Finally they returned to their home and banished the “Bird of Happiness” from their minds. A neighbor child was ill and fretful and, moved by a generous im¬ pulse the children sent their own tur¬ tle dove which they loved dearly. Sud¬ denly they beheld the bird was blue. This story is rich in moral: when we search for happiness it eludes us. When we busy ourselves with some¬ thing worth while happiness flies in at the door. Happiness grows at our own fireside and is not to be picked in strangers’ gardens. Health has a, great deal to do with happiness. Every girl and boy wants to be good-looking and popular. It is hard to smile when you have a tooth¬ ache or be the ‘life of the party’ with a cold in your head. Here are seven good rules of health: 1. Get plenty of fresh air and sun¬ shine. 2. Drink plenty of water. 3. Eat balanced meals. 4. Keep clean inside and ' outside. 5. Work hard and play hard. 6. Get sufficient sleep. 7. Don’t forget how to laugh. Work is essential to health. It exercises our muscles and brain, it gives us a definite hobby or purpose, and for grown-ups is a means of livlihood. “The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit cf work” If you don’t have to work you should have a hobby. It will keep you active and interested. Anyone who has something in life to look for¬ ward to does not have the blues. For heaven’s sake don’t worry! Don’t fret nor fuss. No friends claim a person who has that long-drawn- wild-eyed expression worrying gives. Temper helps too. There’s nothing like a few good tantrums to wreck your sense of humor and charm. A person who has been born with a sense of humor is lucky. However, every one can cultivate one. If you search hard enough you can find some thing amusing to everything. Exercise plays a great part in peo¬ ple’s lives. This is nature’s own pre¬ scription, for a sound body and clear mind. Tennis, golf, dancing, riding, or driving, rowing, and swimming are excellent. When you are walking, walk briskly with a swinging gate. Don’t stroll aimlessly along. This can be taken to extremes, tho. Don’t let any one mistake you for a jumping jack, or an engine in full steam. Last but not least keep up your courage. Don’t think of what might happen, but be brave enough to en¬ ter into things and don’t let an in¬ ferior complex get the best of you. Being cheerful is the best habit one can acquire. Gray days, tho, will come in spite of us. Our best intentions will be misunderstood by our best friends. When this happens just do the best you can — then forget it. Everyone knows that after rain the sun shines. Wouldn’t it be fine if you and I could look upon life’s rainy days as “Just a spell o’ weather?” —M. E. C. Think smiles, and smiles shall be; Think doubt, and hope will flee; Think love, and love will grow, Think hate, and hate you’ll know; Think good, and good is here; Think vice! it’s jaws appear. —Bush — 7 —