Concordia College - White and Blue Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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ST TS nk nti oer nr RR ARR RARE ITA Ae AN RSENS SRA RNA RRA I ER HN SRE ARRAYS es = HITE @ AND BLUE Sy Kelertions of an Essay Cup The paths of glory lead but to the shelf. Thus muses what not long ago occupied the very storm center of a great contest, but now stands upon the lone prominence of an office safe, with no war cries ringing about it and with a long uninteresting future to look for- ward to. A great honor, of course, it 1s to bear the illustrious title of a grand trophy, but when some crack competitor cinches you in the sec- ond round, and then sticks you up in a cor- ner for the rest of your long life, the sweetness of the honor soon begins to px ll. To confess, it was a moment of rapture, when out of a long row of glittering mugs this was finally chosen to become the silver loving-cup in that great intercollegiate contest. Who would not be Literary Trophy elated to rise to such prominence in the literary Z ater Rss Co 2S a : 2 : . m “eae - eee world, with sixteen hundred brilliant young on Vv 2 . = Oakland. California, in 1920 men fondly casting their Cyes upon you and by Milwaukee in 721, ’22, ’23 z six big colleges vieing for the honor of your p SSESSI( nr Often in the dull moments of the present, memory reverts to those glorious times of the past, to the thrills those first combats afforded. Feverishly, but grandiosely, the plumed thoughts were arrayed on the feld of action. Proudly they dashed together. A din of slashing pens re sounded. The issue hung in suspense. Then with a mighty shout the knights from far off Oakland carried away the victory. Pleasant and sunny were those days spent in the castle by the sea, but they were not to last. A year went by; the contest was resumed; and then the pedestal of fame in the west had to be abandoned, as the triumphant portals of the Cream City opened to receive the emblem of victory. These new victors proved to be ardent and devoted lovers. Resolutely they again entered the lists in the following year and in a decisive battle renewed thei claim to victory. Fears now began to arise. Would the dominion of these warriors be permanent? Would the caresses of other champions be unrealized? The romance of it all waned suddenly as such apprehensions stalked into view. The interest of other challengers secmed to be quelled by the jealous hold of the present captors, Still, a goodly number rallied their forces for the next and, as it turned out to be, the final conflict. One circumstance on the eve before this battle for a moment promised to change the entire situation. The fighting spirit of the victors had sud- denly ebbed. Their strongest leader lay on the sick pallet. Outside forces Page Fifty-two

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SSH eet retin Wr tt 8 Sone rm RO NRE A SRR RAE Ste ah taame nen ian oes nis inthe hd Dade nema daatane ae ch oaaaen tae ek coteaete oe eee —— 3 { Fees Sera yon eave meme rein ieinetova niin agence SSO erg question yaaa pat a POM NUH a earn MURR IN OY WZ THE UT HITE @ AX ND BLUE AN) =n when we err bids us clean the slate and begin again; which reveals to us the “soul of good in the show of evil,’ and which diffuses through our entire being a feeling of bliss, contentment, and fellowship. “And so let us be cheerful without regret for the past, with contentment in the present, and with strong hope for the future’—the more so since that greatest message trumpeted from the skies to the fearful shepherds on the plain is also: BE Ore GOOD- CHER. “Set the stage for cheerfulness all about your home; Shift the scene for happiness, and more of it wili come. Throw away the somber stuff, leave no place for gloom ; Coziness is stuffiness—let the light have room! Moods are from environment, not from deeper things- = Who can nurse a grievance in a living room that sings? Set your stage for happiness; write no cues for frets i Cheerfulness, invited in, will never send ‘regrets. From Words By : By GRENVILLE KLBISER KARL MARK WORTH e gre erate EE Ve = Mle gro Mod os - 3 = = = 5 3 = oe a If the weather looks like rain, Laugh it off! Laugn it off! } If life seems to ifs seems jeal = Laugh it off! Laugh it off! ; Ss feed age hice aca 2a == When you feel you must complain, Laugh it off! Laugh it off! Drown your sorrow in a song, Laugh it off! Laugh it off! Do not sit and nurse your fears, o your work with smiling face, Lotito Waste no time in useless tears, oe your faith in resent ani cheers, Laugh itoff! Laushit off! Look ahead ani keep the pace, winner in the race, Laughitoff! Laugh itoff! serie Serer =o oo steep tat pts! Page Fifty-one

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(z= PANS noemcmainieota enema dain let vn eH ag inninioa Manned PANRINSIRNINAAAA NNN Sear Serena wpm vse atnere senna A WR Ri HARARE TARA al ee hee LD ohn DE ent al to eee nnt Deen ied NJ ie SUEY AIA ermnab aan nat ace enehia naan detain erent dari e dda ne Das co demos OD Co eed N — Qu? WZ HE WHITE @ AND BLUE NJ 3s Ce were carrying on a disheartening siege. The general sentiment was in favor of capitulating. It seemed as though that which had been won would be given up without a fight. These t thoughts, however, were soon dispersed, as several loyal fighters banded together with the resolution LOVCAGyaOnero.tie@eidael eit spirit roused the afflicted leader. Arms were lifted, the battle undertaken, and, as the issue proved, with success. They won the final victory. Dreams of glory in other realms, in Flourland, in the Field of Saints, in the Southcountry, in the Fort of the Hoosiers, in eastern Gotham, all were shattered completely. Here the pedestal was fixed forever. Of course, one cannot expect fame to flit about forever, ultimately it must settle somewhere, and here was as good a place as any. Neither ought one grudge so zealous a champion his reward. Still when a contest is unevenly matched, too much of the pleasure it could afford is lost, too soon it ends. Even then, if the favor and attentions of the victors would endure, this early termination of the path of glory would yet have compensations. But alas! too true is the saying: Possession dulls the luster of the brightest gem. Far be this from accusing the victors of lack of appreciation. Their exultation over the. tri- umph, their proud boasts, their admiring glances, their careful handling, all has testified of their regard. Ah! yes, fondly the thought returns of a scene, one concert evening, when hosts of admiring visitors gathered around. Generous were their praises. But of all the tributes those gleaming eyes of one who quietly watched from a distance, one who had been greatly instrumental in winning this trophy, had Deenrva leaderesaidsthe most. Unforgettable also is a little incident happen- ing later that same evening when ail Thal gone home. A lone figure neared (whether by chance oy not is left to conjecture), passed with a sidelong look; then, secing the scene deserted, paused a nd returned. It was one who also had fought, but in the background, supporting those in front. As he stood there, scarcely daring to touch this precious object, he chanced for the first time to see his name forged on the surface. It held his gaze for a moment and lit up his eyes. Just to be a third-place name on this trophy of the contest was honor enough. How much such little evidences tell of appreciation. 3ut still, gradually, slowly, neglect is creeping in, the more so with the passing of the leaders. After the first victory no place was good enough to hold the pedestal. In the spacious dining-hall, in the eyes of all, it finally was set, tae to remain there an object of high esteem. But in time rever ence grew into familiarity and that into Pgticce est, until finally careless eae were ‘tempted to make the open bowl of this, their grand trophy, a mark for missiles, turning it soon into a container of waste and necessitating a removal to a more protected environment. For this nothing else but the sanctum of the Director would suit, a privileged place, indeed. Here it will long be ad- mired until some other place, even more suitable, is found, or until some other trophy usurps the throne, banishing this to things of the past: unkept, un- dusted, and unsung. Page Fifty-three