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

Page 26 text:

the world s history. The destiny of all nations is in his hands. Germany declares that the war cannot be won against her unless the United States can provide food for herself and all her allies. Germany’s declaration in this is true, but her belief that America will not be able to play the part will prove false, for the farmers of our country, realizing their responsibility, are putting forth every effort to produce the food which is needed. Surely the young men, who, realizing the dangers, leave their homes to dedicate to their country their lives which are just opening before them, de¬ serve the name of heroes. And what can the mothers, wives, and sisters of these men be called? These women who willingly surrender their sons, hus¬ bands, and brothers to the good of their country—they are heroes, too. The poor father who patiently toils from morning until night, in order to let his sons and daughters go to college, is he not a hero? His children when they are ready to enter college are old enough to be of great help to their parents. But how many real fathers are willing to send their sons and daughters out into the world when there is any possible way to give them a higher education? Very few. They wish to do their part toward preparing the coming heroes for their great part in the world’s work. They wish to raise the standard of the Hero of Tomorrow above that of the Hero of Today. Every mother who faithfully and patiently cares for her children, who earnestly puts her whole heart into their proper training, who tries to mold their characters into strong, courageous, self-sacrificing and truth-seeking men and women—the Heroes of Tomorrow—what is she herself but a hero? I believe that every self-sacrificing, truth-seeking citizen, who, know¬ ing what is right, unfalteringly follows it and faithfully does his part toward the betterment and advancement of the world, is a hero as great as any whose name embellishes the pages of history. Zelma. THE HERO AS THE ORGANIZER OF OUR INDUSTRIES. l S ,j th f agCS haVC passed the Prophet, the Poet and the Priest have each held the place of hero. Hero worship, whether it is called by that name or by some other, has always been the standard by which the progress of a nation has been measured. The type of hero that the nation reveres always depends upon the ideals which a nation holds. And all progress and the ideals a nation holds and the struggle toward those ideals is what underlies all its activities. The influence of the Prophet and Priest sheds itself upon us from the distant past. The Poet still lives, although in our pursuance of the practical we are less inclined than formerly to listen to his sentiments and songs, yet so long as civilization exists we shall value our poets and be moved to nobler things by their music. The world has at last been freed from its dependence on kings and will no longer support the burden of a foolish and needless monarchy. But the statesman will always be a necessity. His duties have, however, changed. He is not statesman alone; he must also be the servant of the people and interpreter of their wishes. The world has been advancing toward the rec- ognition of the individual. It is now nearer this goal than ever. The working man has always been the backbone of the world’s prog¬ ress. If his work is done faithfully, there is prosperity; if not, there is chaos. Yet he has never been fully recognized or recompensed. This is largely be¬ cause, as a class, he and his fellows do not stand together and cannot gain their rights except under the guidance and rule of some capable leader. j ea er ’ then, the man who so plans and organizes the world’s in¬ dustrial forces as to make it possible for the producer to work to the greatest 24

Page 25 text:

THE EVOLUTION OF THE HERO. The oldest form of heroism, and the one chosen by Carlyle in his first lecture of “Heroes and Hero Worship,” is the hero as Divinity. In this lecture he shows that although paganism was a bewildering jungle of delusions, falsehoods and absurdities, yet it possessed some truths. These people, chil¬ dren in the wisdom of the world that they were, conceived the idea that there is a Greatest Man; that he is discoverable, and that once discovered we ought to treat him with an obedience which knows no bounds. This is the truth of paganism. Their chief error is in their choice of heroes. The primitive nations were simple, open as children, yet with the depth and strength of men. They must find some solution for the great mystery of Time, some explanation of the miracles of Nature. Their solution was that the world was created and controlled by many gods and goddesses, who expected the people to worship them and offer up sacrifices. When the nations had learned a little more of the truth their heroes were no longer the heathen gods, but the prophets, who delivered divine messages or who endeavored to interpret the divine will. The one whom the advancing world next chose as hero was the poet, presenting his ideas in new, harmonious and beautiful forms and teaching great truths and lessons. This beautiful presentation of his ideas appeal to the people and they easily learn the truths he has writtten. The priest, especially consecrated to the service of God and considered as the medium through whom worship, prayer and sacrifices are to be offered, seems naturally to be the one who should hold the place of hero as soon as the people come to a realization of spiritual life. The Man of Letters was one of the chief heroes of the nineteenth century. The whole world followed his teachings. He has performed a duty for us which is ever honorable, ever high. The last form of heroism which Car¬ lyle has chosen is the hero as the King, the Able-man. When the Ablest Man in any country is raised to the supreme place and loyally reverenced and obeyed that country has a perfect government. But the hero of today is not confined to any of these types. With the advancement of the world the standard of heroism has been raised. The hero of today is the citizen; not every citizen, but the one who discharges his duty faithfully and loyally. The farmer, who patiently and diligently follows his plow, uncom¬ plaining of heat or fatigue, deserves a place among the greatest of the earth. He surely shows heroism when he patiently endures the trials and hardships of his daily life. Just now he is playing one of the most important parts in 23

Page 27 text:

advantage and to give the best results; who leads and directs the great mass of laborers; who stands firmly for what he knows is right and for that only, is the man who is worthy of the title of Hero. Labor is everywhere the dominant power. Then is it startling to assert that the man who organizes the workers, who unites them and obtains a coherent statement of their demands, who judges as fairly as he can what their rights are, and stands for what his judgment dictates, who directs the nation’s forces and so plans for the masses as to give them the greatest oppor¬ tunity to enjoy life—is it unfair to assert that he is the hero? If not he, then who is? Elliott. THE HERO AS PRESIDENT. A hero is a man distinguished for valor, fortitude, or bold enterprise; anyone regarded as having displayed great courage or exceptionally noble or manly qualities, who has done deeds showing him to possess such quali¬ ties. Heroes are the leaders of men. They are modelers, patterns, and, in a wide sense, the creators of whatsoever the general mass of men contrived to do or to attain. Therefore, the hero of today is the Able Man, the Man who Can. Some are inclined to look for heroes exclusively in high society, or among those who have had the advantage of a college education. But heroism may exist in the heart of the commonest workingman. Can anyone estimate the good a farmer can do, for instance? With the love for his coun¬ try and the national welfare in view he can accomplish inestimable good. He cannot only produce from his farm, supplies and food products for his fellow- man, but also by his enthusiasm he can inspire hundreds of others to bend their energies in the same direction for the same purpose. Has he not proved himself a hero by exerting a beneficent influence in behalf of the nation in such a crisis as this when every man’s assistance is solicited and greatly needed? There are heroes also among the capitalists. Notice, for instance, Mr. A. C. Bedford, President of the Standard Oil Company, the world’s greatest business organization. He deserves credit for the masterful manner in which he handled the Standard Oil dissolution in 1911. This was done without disturbance to a great industry, and yet increasing the welfare of hundreds of thousands of our citizens. Among the inventors there are two heroes who stand pre-eminent: Thomas A. Edison and Marconi. What wonderful assistance their inventions have already proved. The army and navy no longer go at their work blindly since wireless telegraphy has been invented, for they are able to keep in touch with the whole world. Thomas A. Edison is now working eighteen hours a day in order to perfect inventions which will be of inestimable value to our country. Are not these m en heroes? But who is the hero of heroes? It can be no other than President Woodrow Wilson. He has put forth all his strength, energy and power of mind to guide our nation thus far through this stormy crisis, with a wise and loving hand, restraining the impetuous leaders who would have rushed the nation into war. He dealt with the situation step by step. Planning ahead with his great foresight, he mapped out a course of action. He considered well and calculated the steps necessary to carry the nation successfully and honorably along a path of right, resorting to might only when unavoidable. Now that our President has seen fit to declare war, the nation as a whole is unanimous in its endorsement of the stand which he has taken. Never in history was such unity of thought known. This is entirely due to the wisdom and influence of our President. Vive le President, our hero. Pauline. 25