Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR 'M nv 'W Zia-'71 A if 9 455' f Qi 122 llflffffxiii-QT? fivfflv' fl ille- x 3 fffj wx J W eg--. . 'f ,, 3 f 'Q J WIDE p W e 5- A -,vs-- . 0,945 e Q 1, 52 7 Pig 45' ff 5 l ifglix i st A4 ,i 'fl y. '- I - 'Tl' - -E22 e V irggkief f LAZYBONES ' PRING fever seems to be an ailment that every young ' y fellow contracts during the days of late March and throughout April, May and June. It is said that in spring a young man's fancy turns to what the girl has been thinking about all Winter. I cannot vouch for the truth of this statement, but I rather think that it is correct. After all, Why not? Everyone, except those Ll Whose minds are hopelessly immature, seem to need a time for reflection. And it would also seem that unblemished nature constitutes the best surroundings for this. Hence, boys are occasionally deterred on their Way to school. Of course, our parents do not seem very favorably impressed with the idea. They seem to entertain the strange notion that one should get his recreation outside of school hours. On the other hand, many students find that that is the only Way in which they can get long periods of time solely to themselves. One can call it laziness if he chooses. Even playing hookey was not unknown to our elders. It is good to be lazy occasionally. Let one shoulder his knapsack, per- haps even take his camera in his hand, and ramble into the countryside for a quiet, meditative day by a brookside. The unoriginal vulgarians would, of course, add the battered old line, which they have carried down from babyhood, about a good book. Not that one should not read good books, but that the statement is so strikingly, and disgustingly, unoriginal. Fourteen

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THE REFLECTOR ni A I-Y 3 WHY GO TO HIGH SCHOOL? HE desire to earn money immediately has caused many young people to give up a high school educa- tion. They have argued that Lincoln, Edison, and these men had exceptional minds and an active ambition that spurred them on to train themselves. The average mind needs a guiding influence and oftentimes a certain amount of compulsion to develop it adequately for future use. f Ford got along without much education. True, but ig. 5 All professions need a trained mind. One can not be a doctor, a law- yer, a teacher, an architect, or follow any other desirable profession, with- out training. It takes systematic training to develop the mind, and schools are the only answer. Those who have left high school early have not gained as they had thought they would, for few important business positions go to young people with less than a high school training, and the overcrowding of every American university shows clearly that even a college education pays. This is an age of specialists, and unless one can compete with the best in his chosen profession, he must be content with the second best in life. It has been stated that every day of a completed high school course adds ten dollars to the student's capacity for earning. Work with the hands is entirely honorable, but it is work with the head that pays. But money is not the only recompense for an education. The more the mind is developed, the broader and more varied are the interests in life. The richness of knowledge to be gaind by a mind trained to appre- ciate good literature, music, and art is beyond our estimation of value. An education should prepare one to live a useful and happy life. In institutions of learning one makes friends and is taught to get along with those about him. The acquaintances one makes in high school will last throughout life-friends are invaluable to a happy life. In the same class are boys and girls of all nationalities-these contacts teach one to treat all people alike and to respect the opinions of others. We are never happy unless we are doing something-something that is useful and interesting. The high school curricula are so planned that they aid us in choosing a vocation suited to our abilities. We are taught to enjoy reading novels, biographies and other good literature, to appreciate art and music, and to participate in sports and social activities. So we are prepared for a profitable use of leisure time. Why go to high school? So that we may live fuller, more useful, happier lives. MARGUERITE SMITH, June 193 S . Thirteen

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THE REFLECTOR lil X 1 Lazybones brings to mind the picture of a great meadow with a single, giant apple tree, in the shade of which meanders a quiet stream. It is here that one lies, either thinking or dreaming. I do not mean to say that he need build fairy castles, or reflect upon the fundamental nature of things, eternal. The subject of his thoughts may be, especially if he is rather introspective, himself. The thoughts of a lonely person, might easily turn to friends. It is trite to proclaim the scarcity of true friends. By friends I mean friends in the truest, deepest sense. Friendship, as Andre Maurois has pointed out, is unaccountable, inexplicable. Montaigne, when asked to account for the great friendship of his life, could explain it only in the words, Because he was he and I was I. But friends cannot be treated as inconsiderately as one pleases. Friendship must be mouldedg friendship must be a product of tact, gentle- ness, consideration. Hence it may be that, while lying alone beneath the ancient apple tree, one plans a policy of self-forgetfulness, naturally com- bined with consideration, in order to bind still closer a much loved friend. Of course it may be that our dreamer cares little for such topics. He may hum or sing. He may muse upon the actions of mankind, races, cities, houses, or casual social acquaintances. But, however he may be, he' thinks, unless he be a moron or an imbecile. Everyone needs a time for thought, by reason of which I close with the following lines of poetry: i There is a pleasure in day-dreaming, There is a rapture in drifting contemplation, There is a peace of mind in the lazy dreamer's eye That only dreamers can attain. GORDON Ross SMITH, June 1935. Villain Oh Spring, are you a demon in disguise? Are you an angel who would tell me lies? In spite of all your beauty, Do you think you do your duty When you make madness in my soul arise? I love to watch your beautiful display Of yellow-green against the sun's gold ray. I love your dainty flowers. Why manifest your powers And change from brightness to dim, gloomy, grey? Oh Spring, please have some sympathy for me. Please let me keep those moods of ecstasy. Please let me go on dreaming. Can't you keep your brightness gleaming? Must you display all this variety? FRED ROTHWELL, June 1934. Fifteen