Chester High School - Reflector Yearbook (Chester, VA)

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J ' i-ie Reflector : 192 1 1- 1 The little knowledge which he possessed was transmit- ted only by tradition, as he had no written language. Pro- ducts of the earliest great development are found in the val- ley of the Nile. The pyramids, and collossal statues at Thebes still remain, and show the perserveranee and skill of the Egyption artisans. Greece received light from Egypt and followed in her footsteps. After the Pyramids, the most famous buildings were the gigantic temples of the gods, and in sculpture, Greece has never been surpassed. During the last few hundred years, progress in all lines has been both rapid and phenomenal. The discovery of the art of printing, the mariner’s compass, and the application of steam and electricity to the mechanical arts have done much to prepare the way for universal progress. The Ameri- can Revolution establishing free government on our shores, and the French Revolution destroying a long settled form of tyranny, both contributed to the belief that man ought to think for himself. It was the breaking of the fetters of tra- dition. He, who succeeds, has a certain aim in life. It was once said, “Great minds have purposes, others have wishes.” Lab- or is as necessary, and even more so, in this age of many-sid- ed interests, as it was in the past ; but he, who would now con- quer decisively, must add to his labor, purpose. Cyrus Field, the inventor of the Atlantic Cable, spent many years, in per- fecting this method of communication. Thirteen years of anxious watching and ceaseless toil were his, but think what he accomplished by his untiring energy! Thomas A. Edison is a living illustration of our subject. A large percentage of the inventions, which characterize the twentieth century civi- lization, are products of his unceasing efforts. Be it, then, our duty and our encouragement to live and to labor, ever mindful of the future, but let us not forget the past, for we should see that all ages have lived and labored for us. The earliest and most distant times are not without a present influence on our daily lives. The mighty stream of progress though fed by many tributary waters and hidden springs, derives something of its force from its earlier cur- rents, which leap and sparkle in the distant mountain recess-

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The Reflector : 1 92 1 40 HE WHO LABORS, CONQUERS With my mind’s eye, I see before me a magnificent speci- men of a tree. For many years, it has stood in this particular spot. In the beginning, it was only a tiny plant depending on nature to see that its needs were supplied. Nature did sup- ply the nourishment by putting it within reach, but this tree had to put forth effort to take in food and drink. Years of hardship, bringing with them the blasts and snows of winter and the droughts of summer, followed. The tree grew and each year put forth more effort ; and for its reward received greater strength and stature. So it is with all vegetable life. There is continual effort, followed by continual gain. With- out effort, there is no gain; the gain is in proportion to the effort put forth. I next turn my eyes upon another form of life — the ani- mal. Here is one of the lower forms known as the oyster. From a seed that has become attached to a piece of shell, rock or stick, this luscious bivalve has developed. The currents of the sea have brought to it the nutriment used in its growth, but we know that the oyster has led a busy life drawing its food by muscular effort, and making use of it in the processes of digestion. Its effort has been rewarded. The same processes may be observed in the growth and development of the higher forms of life. The higher an ani- mal stands in the scale of intelligence, the greater is its brain control over its efforts, and in their turn, powers of its br ain are further developed because of these efforts. We have been astonished to observe the evidence of brain development in some of the higher forms of animal life. We call this “in- stinct” in lower animals ; in man it is the mind. Either is the result of exertion — of putting forth efforts of the body and brain. Mental and physical activities have always existed among men. The savage, at first, owned nothing; therefore, it was necessary for him to exert his efforts to sustain life. Know- ing not how to make anything, he depended entirely upon what he could find. He simply took possession of natural products, such as, game of the forest and fish of the sea.

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The Reflector : 1921 12 es, over precipices, among rapids, and beneath the shade of primeval forest. For this reason, in order to have any success in life, or any worthy success, we must resolve to carry into our work a fullness of knowledge — not merely a sufficiency, but more than a sufficiency. A good education is almost indispensable as an aid to one who is struggling to gain a place in the front rank of the world workers. A b c’s now conquered, and hav- ing advanced a few steps further, can we feel satisfied with what we have done, and lay aside our work? No, we must push on, hoping to attain to a higher eminence. Let this be the clarion call, that comes ringing down the ages, for our guidance, our inspiration, and our promise of future suc- cess — “He, Who Labors, Conquers.” —JULIA SANDERS.