Comstock High School - Corral Yearbook (Comstock, MI)

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12 T h e Owlet Ualedictory By Bernard F. Gaskill The word valedictory was derived from two Latin words: vale, meaning fare- well, and dicto, meaning to say. A special privilege is mine “to say farewell. A true farewell to the friends of our high school days must be sincere, it must show an appreciation of the associations we have had, and it must look forward to new experiences. The word farewell has taken on a sad meaning. This word which originally meant a wish that one should fare well has come to commonly mean “leave-taking. Thus are we made the victim of a word. It is only by remembering the distinction that we can gladly make plans for the future and consider our places as side by side in a new and grander experience. Perhaps the most customary thing to be said on this occasion, if one may judge from commencement speeches he has heard, is that this night marks not the FINISH but the COMMENCEMENT, and. to be strictly orthodox, I should speak about “going out into life. But this is not my message. I would not for a moment under- rate the importance of the years after graduation which have come to be known as “life. But, friends and fellow graduates, it seems as though we have “lived quite a good deal during the last four years. And since education must be a matter of individual choice, self reliance, and self determination, if it is to develop that unity which we call a personality, I must choose to speak on the proposition that SCHOOL IS “ LIFE. The past four years have, in a sense, been unproductive. We have appropriated our earnings and the earnings of others to the accomplishment of our objective. Would not all this seem unproductive when we have nothing material to show for our time spent except a sheet of paper, rolled and tied with a ribbon—our diploma? While what we have learned should have a practical value it is not always evident in a material way. Surely to complete high school requires faith in what the school has to offer, a faith which shall be “the substance of things hoped for and “the evidence of things not seen. In what has been called “life this same faith in our ability and in the goals which we ourselves have set, will mean their accomplish- ment. In school as in “life we help someone and are helped. As did Keats, we may say, Much have we traveled in the realms of gold, And many goodly states and kingdoms seen. Keat’s “realms of gold were found in books and study. The opportunity we have had for studying history, science, literature and the other subjects has taken us into many wonderful realms. And, best of all, we have had comrades,, com- panions on our journeys into these new' worlds, sympathetic comrades, companions with the same purpose as we. There is something elevated and dear in the friend- ship of those who are fellow-searchers for the goodness and the truth of life. Through ASSOCIATION we have learned how we might realize a better SELF. More are attending the high schools and colleges than ever before. Where there was one who attended high school in 1890, now there are twenty-five. Col- lege attendence has increased too, although not so greatly. There would seem to be intense enthusiasm in education today. But what is education? Upon this question everything hinges. To one, education means knowledge of business, to another, how to carry on a trade, to a third how to succeed at a profession, and to fourth it may mean a knowledge of art. Thus the idea of an education varies with the individual according to his ambitions and abilities. Our educations, good or poor are the products of craftsmen and we are the craftsmen. We are ever trying to bridge the chasm between the years of a formal education and the period which we call “life. While in school we are often led to believe that we are “the salt of the earth without which “wherewith shall it be salted. Yet it is one of the most common of jests which refers to the young graduate blissfully starting out with his diploma, and which tells of the rebuff he gets in his first attempt “in the world. Of course these stories are misleading, and any research we might quote on the sub- ject shows that more often he or she who has the formal education succeeds than does the person who has learned wholly in the proverbial school of experience. Still we need to make the transition from one to the other more natural (Continued to next page.)

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T li e Owlet 11 ‘Prophecy By Ralph Kirk Here it is the year of 1937. I must write to my old classmates of Comstock High School and tell them what I am doing, as I promised ten years ago. Six letters in the mail this morning. Who might they be from? Ha! first is from the only girl in the class. Miss Emma Garrison. Let’s see now. She says, “I’m now a popular singer. Recently I’ve signed a contract for $25,000 to sing in the Metro- politan Opera House. If you can remember I first received notice from the public when I sang in the operetta, ‘Rings in the Sawdust.' I am hoping to gain more fame in the near future. Please write and tell me all about yourself. Your old classmate, EMMA GARRISON. Here is a letter from Walter Smith. Now who was he? Oh, Yes! Now I re- member him. He was our pitcher back in ’27. I wonder what he has to say? He begins, “Remember our first baseball game in the season of ’27? I was home with a sprained ankle when the game was played. I heard we lost and I made up my mind when I got back I’d pitch our dear old team to victory. It was as you re- member, a very successful year for me. Soon after leaving High School I received summons from Moriarty, manager of the Detroit Tigers, to report at once. I signed a contract to pitch for $75,000 per year. According to figures I’m better than Babe Ruth. Not so bad, eh? Hoping to hear from you soon, WALTER SMITH. This is sure a queer old world. I wish I were back home with the rest of the family, but wait, maybe there is a letter from home. Ah! there is one. To oe sure—and from Atchison. “Dear brother. Do you remember Mr. Lahr? He was our history teacher back in ’27. When I left High School with good marks in his- tory, Mr. Lahr suggested I go to college and take up a course in history. You have been away from home so long and seldom write, but you remember the class’s last promise. I am writing and at the same time sending you the latest History, “Sel- dom Ferreted Facts, I have written. This is fast becoming popular. Your brother, ATCHISON. Well! Well! A letter from Bernard Gaskill, whom I well remember as the editor of our first High School paper, “The Owl. “Dear friend Ralph: Do you remember when I chose you as the business manager of the ‘Owl’? You said some day I’d be an editor of some noted paper. It has come to pass in the last few years that I’ve taken over the editorship of the well known ‘New York Tribune.' Since I’ve held this office the demand of this paper has increased fifty per cent. I’m glad I took your advice seriously. Let me hear from you, BERNARD GASKILL. These letters are sure a surprise to me. I must read these other two—one from Herbert Mater and the other one from William Roschek. Herbert says he is In Congress at Washington and is now preparing a bill which will be a money saver and a great aid to his celery growers association back in Comstock. He says his first glimpse of politics was back in High School when he was chosen president of the C. C. Club. He also asks if I remember that he was on the debating team when in High School. He surely is glad he took up this subject because it has helped him argue—through many worthy bills. He requests that I drop a line or two about myself. Sincerely, HERBERT MATER. I see Bill Roschek is still alive. I hardly expected to hear from him since he has taken to auto racing.. Now let’s see what he has to say. “Dear Ralph: I suppose you think I am dead and buried long ago, but I’ve certainly met with real luck since I’ve been burning up the tracks. Remember when you and I used to race around most of the time in our old Fords? It was then I first got my idea of driving a speedy racer. I have just completed the world’s fastest car which I have driven at the terrific speed of 3 y2 miles per minute. You might come out some time and I’ll take you riding in it if you still crave speed. Hoping you are leading as fast a life as I am. Yours ever, BILL. Well I must write to the old gang and keep my promise as they have kept theirs. They surely will be surprised to know that I’m out in Weepah, Nevada, prospecting for gold. Maybe they will be glad to know I’ve accumulated a vast amount of gold already. I’m not going to sell my stake as long as I find any gold because I'm hoping to live long and die wealthy. I wonder where my stationery is now? I must write immediately.

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The Owlet 13 C1 a s s Po e m BY EMMA GARRISON A road went winding o’er the hill Passing many a nearby rill. By the sides of the road signs were placed, To remind the traveler of his pace, Of places to eat, of brands to try, Each sign spoke as he passed them by. Every one read what the signs had to say As he traveled along the right of way. Calling their message from the vacai.t lot, He heed them well or he heeded them not. Through many years the signs have stayed Fulfilling the purpose for which they were made. There are signs to be read on Life’s highway fair, For us Experience has placed them there, our Senior class is traveling this way Wo see the meaning of the signs today, We have profited much by the message they brought A worthy lesson each one taught. And we wish to leave this thought with you. May you read the signs by the highway, too. (VALEDICTORY—Continued from preceeding page.) and smooth. We need to realize that SCHOOL IS LIFE and that while a certain good may result from merely attending school and learning facts, there is a greater efficacy in studying intelligently the reason for things. This evening we pause. We consider what the passing days have been and anticipate the ’morrow. In the evening the day is yet near. After the evening shall come the night. And then breaks the dawn, brighter and brighter growing— the morning of a new day. As we have realized that SCHOOL IS “LIFE” may we in that tomorrow realize that LIFE IS A SCHOOL. Thus will we make our lives a continual growth. As Tennyson may we realize: I am a part of all that I have met; Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough Gleams that untraveled world, whose margin fades Forever and forever when I move. So. together, parents, teachers, clcsrmates and friends, may we grow in the experiences of life. May we FARE WELL.