Coopersville High School - Zenith Yearbook (Coopersville, MI)

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“The Zenith” 1935 C.H.S. Salutatory There have been countless results issuing from the period in whic h we have been living for the past five or six years, some of which are: unemployment, closing of banks and factories and regulation of work- ing hours by the various codes. These codes have reduced the working hours from sixty hours to forty hours a week. Think how this will leave some people stranded with leisure time. Before the depression, everyone was living in a “hectic whirl,” rushing from oue thing to an- other. Everyone spent money lavishly either for public entertainments, private parties, or any source of amusement which would fill in the extra hours between work and sleep. Today it is an entirely different scene which we view. More people are living simpler, quieter lives because they have no money to spend for outside entertainment. Do we people realize that we are being challenged by Leisure 'l ime? Are we going to accept the challenge, or are we to let it defeat us without a struggle? Let us consider some ways to combat this greatest of all modern problems. First ask yourself: “Am I one of those persons who depend on someone or something to help me pass my time away? Do I sit and fret until my telephone or door bell rings and someone asks me to, spend the time with her in some manner?” It is the peison who has been so busy in the past that must think about this question most seriously. He is the one who has not developed a particular taste for any type of entertainment. 1 le has become a parasite, depending on others to pass his spare time away for him. Let us decide upon some instruments of defense with which to combat and overcome leisure time. Severel instiuments are usually necessary, because the same entertainment becomes monotonous, when used constantly and soon ceases to be entertainment. It is a wise plan to include some forms of outdoor exercise in this program, not only for health’s sake, hut so one will learn to notice and enjoy the ever changing beauties of nature. You may say, “Oh, I do not need to have out-of door sports and walks to notice nature; I can see that when I am driving to the office, or on my way to school.” But, “Do you ieallv notice Narure then? Isn’t your mind filled with thoughts about your day’s work or something of that kind?” It sel- dom happens that you let your imagination take possession of your thoughts then. Another way to spend our time is to choose some hobby. Every- one has something that he or she likes to do best, and it is a hobby whether he calls it bv that name or not. Some of the most popular hobbies are: reading, stamp collecting, fishing, collecting of old and rare coins, swimming, collecting of antiques, sewing, handicraft and making a library. Reading is one of the very best hobbies we can de- velop. You not only receive enjoyment from the reading material, but you also gain some knowledge from what you have read. For those who have a natural love for beauty in art, literature or Page Twenty-nine

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C.H.S. “The Zenith” 1935 to be difficult to trod and often there are obstacles that loom up before us, but, by perseverance and resolve these obstacles are conquered and the goal is reached. At some time everyone is compelled to choose the path he desires and his future will depend on that choice. “We strive until the goal is gained, Then look for one still unattained; Our records point the course we take To greater records we can make— For hope springs not from what we ve done But from work we’ve just begun ” But no task can be started and no goal can be reached with a lack of determination, or if 1 may be permitted to use the modern words, a lack of backbone. Determination is the fixed resolution to reach a certain end and should be the principal object of the work attempted. ithout this resolve from start to finish, the end is never revealed. In the past there have been Inventors, Explorers, Physicians, Musicians, Poets, Writers, Presidents and many others who have each been successful in their own individual art because they studied, prepared and were am- bitious to get ahead and reach the final goal. Each one had to con- quer manv foes and overcome many difficulties, but they chose the true path and unerringly continued to the end. Would we have been as brave as Washington at Valley Forge? Would we have chosen the same course as he? Would we have been so felicitous and full of faith? Edgar Guest describes his opinion in the poem “Washington”: “When one at Valley Forge will stay, Determined still to carry on, Devoted to the cause, that dav Will see a second Washington.” Classmates, it will soon be our duty to decide on the profession we are best adapted to and then to be determined to follow' the exact road and never turn back. Never let anything appear impossible, but find it our obligation to sav “I can.” “Success comes in cans; failure in can’ts.” Ralph Waldo Emerson justly describes duty in youth: “So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So near to God is man, When duty w hispers low , thou must, 'The youth replies, I can.” Tonight, fellow classmates, before we say farewell, it is our duty to give thanks—thanks for the sacrifices of our parents, for the support of our friends and for the help of our teachers, who have stood by us so faithfully through our school days. And now the time has come for us to say the parting greeting. 'This is the last time that we w ill be assembled together and as we go on our way, let us go determined to do our best. Keep in mind these w'ords: “Determination spells success. MINA HAHN Page Twenty-eigft

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C.H.S. “The Zenith” 19S5 music, there will not be much leisure time. These people are busy, unconsciously, all the time. They are thirsty for more knowledge concerning beauty, and when their other work is done, they will read, listen to or create music, and make or view the different phases of art. If you have never been particularly interested in these things, try to develop an interest in them. Some of the authors of English and American literature had very interesting lives and their writings were excellent. If you find that you are not interested in reading, peihaps music will hold an attraction for you. You will find in music an out- let for some of your surplus imagination. Listen to some of the music of Brahms, Dvorzak, Beethoven, Victor Herbert and our own American composers and you will find nearly every mood vividly reproduced. Music is the creator of emotions. This is well expressed in Drvden’s poem, “Alexander’s Feast, or the Power of Music.” In this poem a harpist plays different types of music, such as hymns, wine songs, sad .songs, love songs and war songs, and each type causes a corresponding change in the listener. I cannot guarantee that modern music, per- haps more properly called “jazz,” has the power to create emotions, lest it be only that of disgust and impatience, yet some people find that listening to this music helps them to pass away their leisure time even if they do not profit by it. We are ready now to start the duel with leisure time. As yet we graduates have had very little experience with it, but for those who are not planning to go farther in attaining an education, leisure time probably will be very much in evidence until they have adjusted them- selves to their new surroundings. Lndoubtedly, the graduates who do go on to college, will have some leisure time for the same reason. Therefore, let us take up our weapons and be the victors of this duel. L. H. Page Thirty