Conneaut High School - Tattler Yearbook (Conneaut, OH)

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and architecture we owe to tin inhabitants of that country which was the teacher of the ancient nations of Asia. Egypt, Phoenicia. Persia, and India followed in the main the lines laid down by Babylon. Through the conquering of Babylonia by IVrsia and tin triumph of the Greeks over the latter, the Greeks and later the Homans, came into possession of a vast amount of this knowledge which stimulated their civilization to an unknown extent, and through them we have received the great heritage. Not alone has the eastern civilization of the past proven a powerful factor in our present development, hut it is des lined to prove a factor in the civilization of the future, for everything points to the fact that the Orient is shaking off its lethargy, ami is on the eve of a new era. Whether the eastern nations that figured so largely in the past will ever again play an important role in history no one can say. hut can we doubt that the ‘'Land of the Kising Sun” and the “Celestial Empire” are destined to play an inestimable part in the future progress of civilization? Japan’s rise has been meteoric, and we can hardly as yet comprehend it. That mysterious power, which fifty-six years ago was an isolated race of thirty-five million pagans, is today a world power, ami making the most rapid advances along the lines of civilization that the world has ever seen. She is the most progressive of the eastern nations ami is today the leader of the yellow race in its struggle to lift itself to the plane of the Caucasians. The hope for unity of Asiatic civilization has found its embodiment in the spirit of Japan, a snirit that combines Oriental insight and philosophy with self-control and clear practical vision. She is regarded hv the people of the Orient as the champion that is to lead their cause. But will Japan continue in this position? I’pon first thought the answer may he in the affirmative, but at some fu- Inn time , China, tin Kip Van Winkle of nations, with her four hundred millions, may equal and even surpass Japan in great ness. Ages ago China was a great nation, and we must grant that her civilization, though it affected the world but little, was highly developed. It may seem strange that religion should in any way In responsible for China’s withdrawal from her place among the nations to a place of isolation, but nevertheless religion, together with her ancient notions of theocracy, patriarchy, and writing, which she has retained, and which the west long ago rejected, have thrown her out of the current of the world’s progress. The golden rule of Confucius teaches non-interference with others, and following this rule, China shut herself out from tin world till a few years ago America carried the light of civilization to her door. Since she has awakened and received this, she is fast laying aside her old ideas, and absorbing all that is good and noble in that civilization, but at the same time retaining her lofty ideals and integrity. Will she by adopting what is useful in western civilization lose those sterling qualities that have enabled her to outlast all the great nations of the past? We think not. The future greatness of China is assured, and Japan may well fear her loss of leadership. It must be conceded that China lacks many things that go to make up a modern nation, but there are some features of her civilization that we might imitate. China does not pay deference to wealth. A scholar and gentleman commands greater respect than a millionaire. The aim of Chinese education is to mal e a man a useful member of society, a kind father, a dutiful son. a loyal subject, a good husband, and a faithful friend. Moral training is at the fountain of Chinese education, and mental training stands next. The nature of her civilization is above all peaceful, and Buddhism is the only religion that has never extended its doctrines by the sword. If

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Commencement ©rations THE EAST AS A FACTOR IN PRESENT AND FUTURE CIVILIZATION Tho great mistake is apt to be made by many unthinking persons that the present progress of the world is due almost entirely to Western Civilization, particularly to the efforts of that branch known as the Anglo-Saxon nations. Through ig-noranee or egotism we shrink from admitting that there is any similarity bet wen our civilization and that of such countries as Babylonia, Egypt and China. Prejudiced as we arc, it startles us to read this statement from an authority on eastern questions,-—“The civilization of the Hast is as highly developed as the Anglo-Saxon, but in general, the development has been along different lines.” If we compare our civilization with that of the nations of the Orient, which the research of recent years has brought to light, we shall see how very little has been our original accomplishment compared with that of nations which we either underrate or scorn. Let us consider a few lines of Eastern achievement from which we have profited. The knowledge of India in science and mathematics has always been to scholars a source of wonder and admiration. The Pythagorean theorem was known in India long before the time of Pythagoras; yet the basis of their knowledge along these lines has been traced to the influence of an even older civilization, that of tin Babylonians. Without entering upon the important question of the connection of Babylonia with religious history it may be well to consider the debt we owe to Babylon. All antiquity recognized the Chaldeans as excellent astronomers and mathematicians and their calculations and observations are of practical value today in modern astronomy. In fact, it has been discovered from records that the Alexandrian scientists who were once thought to have instituted astronomy, merely carried on the work of the Babylonians. Since tin cuneiform inscriptions have been studied recently, we arc amazed by tin thoroughness and precision of these people. The method of measuring time which the modern world would la proud to have discovered, we owe to those ancient scientists. The system of weights, parts of which still exist as standard weights in some modern nations, was connected with their systems of measuring time, space, and capacity in a manner the simplicity of which is astounding. Do we not all know the influence of the Roman system of laws on the world? Vet her laws and many of her institutions which have played so large a part in western development. arc directly traceable to tin genius of the Babylonians. Many other elements necessary to man's progress such as writing, fancy weaving, pottery, brick making, a system of irrigation, and the beginnings of painting, sculpture. 30

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the Orient is allowed to develop more fully along these natural lines in a life of peace and gentler human relations, it may in time become the leader in that movement, the greatest the west has yet championed, which will eventually bring about universal peace ami the brotherhood of man. AKA I). PITCHER. MODERN EGOTISM. Historically the nineteenth century and early part of the present will be 1 nown as the era of great commercial, industrial, educational, and mechanical advancement. A review of these years, compels us to wonder how people lived centuries ago, how cities became great centers and how their inhabitants prospered with the conveniences then known and used. Are we not justified in being both proud and egotistical when so much has been accomplished during our short lives? But are we sure that all that has been done should be credited to this age? Have not many of our inventions been made possible by discoveries of those who have lived centuries ago? Let us consider electricity. We are taught that Franklin with his key and kite discovered electricity and recognized in it the basis for marvelous inventions. Still, centuries before Franklin’s discovery, soldiers used electricity to aid in keeping guard. They had rods so fastened to the old castle walls that on stormy nights they could touch the rods with their spears causing an electric Hash to be communicated to the other soldiers. Solomon’s temple, which stood in the open place exposed to peril in electrical storm, is said to have been protected by a device similar to Franklin’s lightning rod Still we say. “Franklin discovered electricity.” When speal ing of steam we proudly tell how Fulton sailed up the Hudson in the first steamboat, and how Watt, watching the boiling of his mother’s kettle, conceived the won- derful power of steam. Yet, in the excavation of Pompeii, have been found paintings of boats, whose machinery had apparatus for the use of steam. Surely the Ancients discovered its power and utilized it. Then. too. tin discovery of glass is supposed by many to have been recent, and the beautiful articles of cut glass that we manufacture seem to us a part of our own originality. Bui in the ruins of Pompeii there has been found a room, filled with beautiful cut ami colored glass of every variety. When Nero watched his barbarian gladiators he used a ring with a gem in it that he might better see and enjoy the festival of blood. So Nero had an opera glass. Mauritus. a Sicilian pirate, used a device which was called a “nauscopite” to scan the whole coast of Africa. Was not his a marine telescope? A Chinese chronicler states that in the year 2283 B. ('. Kmperior Shun observed the planets through an optical glass. Kings have, been discovered with such minute engravings that they cannot be discerned with the naked eye. Surely if it takes a strong glass to distinguish these figures the person who placed them there must have used a microscope. How then can we with any degree of satisfaction receive the credit for these inventions which have been used before our time? The very games enjoyed by our children today are not owing to us for their origin, for they were originated in Asia thousands of years ago, while many of our nursery tales were 32