Cloverdale Union High School - Spectator Yearbook (Cloverdale, CA)

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VALEDICTORY. Happiness. In this period of universal woe and suffering, when man is pitted against man, nation against nation, when chaos, gloom and desolation hold sway, it well behooves us to alleviate even in a slight degree a portion of the world s misery by cultivating the divine spirit of happiness. And what is this hap- • piness which we all strive for with yearning hearts as the end and the aim of our existence? Aristotle says happiness is an activity of the soul in accord¬ ance with perfect virtue. This virtue is the mean between the two dangers of excess and defect, in that it aims at a mean in our emotions and actions. Happiness is a combining missionary of every virtue of glory and sym¬ pathy to humanity. In my opinion, happiness comes only in doing good to others and making life less difficult for them. There is only one sure way of attaining mortal happiness—nay, even eternal happiness—and it is this, a sincere and unrelaxing activity for the happiness of our fellow beings. He who diffuses the most happiness and mitigates the most distress during his short span of years on this earth is an inspiration to his own community, to his country and to the entire world. Byron expresses this sentiment most beautifully in his well-known lines, “All who joy would win Must share it. Happiness was born a twin.’’ There is a mistaken idea that wealth is a requisite for perfect happi¬ ness, but we are all well aware that a thousand and one things can occur in the fluctuation and busy scenes of life to bring sorrow ' and discontent to the dwellings of the rich as well as to those of the poor. True contentment de¬ pends not upon what we have but upon what we ourselves are—a tub was large enough for Diogenes, a world, too small for Alexander. There is a greater wealth than a princely income; it lies within us. It consists in a good constitution, a good digestion, a good heart, stout limbs, sound mind and a clear conscience toward God and our fellow creasures. The only way to secure this greatest of all blessings, a clear conscience toward God and our fellow creatures, is an habitual interest for the welfare and happiness of others. A good deed is never lost, for with every good deed we win a friend and nothing can soothe and tranquilize our weary way as can the pure and sublime emotions of true, lasting and virtuous friend¬ ship, for it divides griefs and doubles joys. The secret of beauty is health and the happiness that invariably follows in the wake of health. We can possess a happy visage only by having a happy heart. Time hardens our faces as does cold the face of the water. Let us, therefore, stimulate the spirit of true happiness, love and contentment, for “holy and beautiful is the smile of fathomless and perfect love.” Every defeat we experience in our future life should only spur us on to further combat, for we should come to the realization that though life is beset with trials, it has also its triumphs. The ways of All-seeing Providence are shrouded in mystery often beyond the range of human comprehension, but in every decree of the All-wise Creator lurks a hidden meaning. Every obstacle is only intended for an instrument that furnishes discipline neces¬ sary to our proper mental and moral development. Never allow your moral energies to weaken and stagnate, for then happiness is lost to you forever. Let us endeavor as we go out into the world to have every day distin¬ guished by at least one act of love and devotion, for then, and only then, can we find peace and contentment. When the evening of life is slowly approach¬ ing, with what pleasure can our thoughts turn back upon a vista of years filled with joy and good works. “Memory is the only paradise out of which 13

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It is interesting to study the feelings and hopes and fears which assail the minds of those who are about to enter upon some new experience in life. The interest is heightened when the attaining of this position has been the sub¬ ject of their best efforts for a period of time. There are ten of us about to graduate from high school. This work has constituted the largest part of our lives for some time past. When we left the grammar school we were released from some of the restrictions of childhood and placed more upon our own responsibility. We have had four years in which to learn how our lives and work should be governed and regulated by ourselves, that we may be successful and useful in the world. Mainly upon our own responsibility we have undertaken various enterprises and entered into contests of strength and intellect which have had a broad¬ ening influence on our lives. We have been thrown into contact with people. We have done the things which we would have done in private life, but we have had the influence of the high school to guide and direct us. The path of least resistance is not always the best way and we have learned to dis¬ tinguish and discriminate. It has been so willed that this certain ten should together reach the goal, together we come to the transition period. There is not one of us but feels thoughtful as we are brought to a sudden realization of that which only a short time ago seemed but a remote matter of the future. We are loath to break the close association of classmates, of teachers and of the old school life. The daily grind we will miss—and it is the missing that we fear. As a class we are strongly united. The close tie of friendship which binds us together has existed with some of us since primary grades. We have, in most undertakings, labored and succeeded or failed together, having common joys or disappointments. We have interested ourselves in further¬ ing the enthusiasm for a new schoolhouse, and we leave to the succeeding Senior class our heartiest congratulations that they will be the first to enjoy it. We have chosen for our motto, “Laugh, Labor, and Love.” This seems to express our attitude toward life. The colors of pink and green come from our flower, a pink carnation. 12

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we cannot be driven.” There is a heaven within us all, if we only so realized. Every action, however mean or petty it may seem to our uncomprehensive vision, may be ennobled to a great purpose, especially that greatest and what should be most desired by man, the purpose of pleasing God. Every little effort to further the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves and brings us near our Creator. It will teach us that this world was given to us to enjoy. No matter what our station in life may be, we can find happiness if we but feel that everything that befalls us is a link in the chain that Providence is weaving for the inevitable triumph of good over evil; that everything is for our final uplift. To reach this goal let us follow our class motto, ‘Love, labor and laugh,” for we know that if Browning had never sung another note than that which echoed after Pippa passes jubilant, radiating with perfect happi¬ ness, an inspiration of joy and good to humanity, we should feel that he had given to the world a heritage of marvelous value for reducing into concrete form the lesson that must be learned by us before happiness is permanently attained: “God’s in His heaven, all’s right with the world.” Erminie Wiedersheim. CLASS WILL. We, the terrific and illustrious class of 1917, C. U. H. S., having been pronounced by Drs. Donald and Billings, upon the reception of a $2000.00 fee, to be of tolerably sound mind and bodily strong and robust, not unduly influenced by the non-feared Faculty, do make and publish this our last will and testament, declaring as our heirs and assigns forever the said Faculty, the Janitor, Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen in the following manner: The Faculty: To Miss Pierson, we bequeath our love and sincere appreciation of her patience and the interest which she has shown in our welfare. We also give to her the duty of being the life and inspiration of the new school as she has been of that which we are leaving. To Miss Wilcox, we leave our sober and dignified manner. For use in the Drawing class we have purchased for her three new Caproni casts. They are, “The Perishing Jellyfish,” “Bust of Kaiser Wilhelm,” and “A Cluster of Onions.” To Mr. Harter, we will a volume of “Little Women” by Louise Alcott, wherein he will find much food for thought and contemplation; also, he will find in the Palace of Fine Arts, concealed behind the bust of Caesar, a cer¬ tain ragtime record, to be used under the direction of Miss Wilcox for his consolation in moments of loneliness. To “Stella,” the janitor, we leave a pink certificate for life member¬ ship to our Senior Boys’ Pipe Club. To the Junior Class, separately and collectively, we bequeath our pains¬ takingly acquired and carefully maintained appreciation of Mr. Harter’s jokes. To the Sophomores, we leave a correspondence course in gracefulness and correct carriage. To the Freshmen girls, we will the green burlap drapery in Room 111, that they may design a robe for Caesar. I, Ethel Daniels, leave my powder puff to him who first answers the call of patriotism. Upon this may he pillow his weary head. My guardian¬ ship over a certain Junior boy I reluctantly relinquish to a well-known Fresh¬ man girl. I, E. Melvyn Hall, with all good intentions, do bequeath unto Lyle DeHay my “taking way.” He will find it of inestimable value in the acquir¬ ing of pencils, paper, pens, erasers, etc., so as to obviate the painful necessity 14