Des Moines Technical High School - Engineer Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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1921 COMMENCEMENT NUMBER-THE TATLER 1921 out of chaos, comparative order possessed the land, till this twentieth century dawned upon our nation in as free and settled a state as might fairly be achieved. Then in the memorable year 1917, the foreboding clouds about us gathered and the storm burst. The rallying roll of the drum again summoned our people to battle's stern arrayg our flag, unfurled to the blood-tainted breeze, spurred them on to glorious death or victory. The air was charged with a patriotic fervency before unknown. The thought of the time, the talk of the time, was centered alone in the progress of the war. The press, literature, drama, art, music, indus- try, the entire scope of 1ll3,Il,S activity, was dominated by the war. '40 Mars, the mighty Jove himself Uneasy is when o'er the land you stalk. Our brothers, our friends,'the fiower of the land, leaped up responsive to the martial call. And can you wonder that our boyish hearts longed to join that manly throng, to fight with bomb and bayonet the bar- barous forces whose sinister power threatened the established civiliza- tion? That same instinct which in childhood prompted us to stirring snow battles and clod fights, cried out in this crisis for expression. Yet to the vivid appeal of the glory, the glamor of warring on the field of battle, we had to give answer No, we fought our own fight in pursuance of education, hard though it was in such spirited times to keep the even tenor of our way. For four interminable years the world stxuggle continued with its hideous devastation, its degradation and degeneracy. But as Right must ever triumph, so its united defenders emerged from this titanic conflict victorious. Freedom was retained, saved from the bestial sovereign who would have worked his evil will upon the world. Aye, freedom is ours! Yet must we recognize that this freedom achieved is not an end, but merely a means to an end,-that it was not alone for freedom but for the achievements which freedom makes possible, that so many of our heroes gave the last full measure of devotion. Peace, at least for us in America, was ushered ing victory was ours with the attainment of that freedom. And some of the youths, deep down in their hearts were a little despondent, for it now seemed that there was nothing remaining in life that might call out their strength, their courage, their manliness and heroism. They had longed to enter the fray that they might test their mettle, try their strength against another's, glory in the dash and daring of the struggle, that they might be brave in the face of danger and fearless in the face of death. But now, with the advent of peace, it seemed that there was nothing left to fight for. As the livid flames from the battlefield faded out into the purer light of peace, life seemed drab and almost futile by the contrast, to youthis imagination. The monotony of the commonplace, toil, and the daily rounds, seemed colorless, indeed. But oh, could we all but realize the great challenge, the fierce struggle, the keen demand upon the heroic stuff we are made of, that this peace hurls at each one of us! Everything noble, everything 1I'1I0'O''II'lf'lI'O lf'Ol'l0O0O0OMO0O0O O0OUlWl0l'4 l O7'0 'l''OHCUIHI O O O O0lCI-IHIUOI-Olfllvll

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1921 coMMENcEMEN'r NUMBER-THE TATLER 1921 Class Song QWords and Music by Marjorie Needhamj I Dear old West High We have longed so for the day, That would crown our efforts here, Send us on our destined way, Prepared to meet Life's sorrows and its joys And the hardships that befall us With a purpose strong and brave. May the class of twenty-one Never cease to do the right, And keep up the reputation Of our Alma Mater dear. So then it's Dear old West High, To you a fond farewell May God send his richest bless ings To the school we love so well. II Dear Old West High We regret to leave you now, We have been so happy here With our schoolmates, teachers dear. As we go forth To ascend life's rugged hill, May the lessons learned at West High Be a guidepost to us still. May we aim with sturdy will, To perform our tasks with skill. Let each one do his duty In being ever prompt and true. So then it's Dear old West High, To you a fond farewell May God send his richest blessings Tothe school we love so well. The Wars of Peace N EARLY childhood we loved to play war with martial pomp and show of infant valor. With what zeal we donned a paper hat plumed with a jaunty rooster feather, and with a gleaming dishpan as shield, charged the ramparts of the doughty knight next door. And over the din of the conflict came the cries of encourage- ment from the fair ladies, arrayed in big sisters' long skirts. O dash- ing, impetuous youth! Deeds of daring told in rousing verse or prose formed the most dearly loved treasures of our literature. Who was not thrilled to vibrant response on first reading Scott's immortal lines: Breathes there a man with soul so dead Who never to himself hath said, 'This is my own, my native 1and!' Who has not known the delightful torment of mounting the school platform to deliver Browning's Incident of the French Camp ? No music so charmed us as the martial Marching Through Georgiaf' no art so impressed us as the vivid scene of Washington Crossing the Delaware. That lust for combat early asserts itself in the normal youth, those childish struggles and instincts are but the earliest expression of a quality which is one of the richest inheritances left us by the races which for centuries maintained their prestige through instrumentality of war. It was due to the continuous struggle of weak versus strong, right versus wrong, inspired by that combative urge, that eventually 0 0 o o o c o c 1 o Q 9-4.4..g..g..g.-a..u..c..g..g..g..g..g..g..g..g g........g..g..g.g g 9 g Q ,..g..g..g..g..g..g q 9 16

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1921 CONIMENCEMENT NUMBER--THE TATLER 1921 worthy for which to put forth our strength lies before us. The wars of aggression waged with weapons of steel and iron for spoils of land or goldg Wars fought by the people for the aggrandizement of the ruling fewg wars of destruction and carnageg wars entailing famine and deathg Wars which have borne man from the fields of civilization and progress to a state of fiendishness and barbarity, are, please God, no more to enter our lives. With all these behind us, let us look for- ward and acknowledge the challenge of the wars of peace. For the peace in which we find ourselves today is bristling with battles to be fought, teeming with opportunities for each to prove his valor. The old idea of the peace of which the dove was a symbol is found unsus- tained and inadequate in view of the present situation. No time in all the centuries has summoned with more imperious call the man of brains and brawn, will and courage, to fight its battles. No wars of all time have yielded such rich returns and benefits to the victor, as these mighty wars of peace,- Wars of science against superstition. Wars of courage against cowardice. n Wars of knowledge against ignorance. Wars of wealth against poverty. WVars of health against disease. Wars of hope against despair. Wars of faith against doubt. Wars of right against wrong. Wars of all that is fine and deserving against all that is crude and base. The wars of peace! With what clear voice their trumpets summon us to the fray. Let us answer the call shoulder to shoulder on this great battlefield, supreme under the leadership of God! Goidon Johnston. Senior Closing Out Sale! Moving to other parts. Wish to sell cheap! Bargains in everything. The greatest auction in the history of Des Moines. Signed: R. Rosebrook, Auctioneer. FOR SALE A small chummy roadster ijust for twolj. Shaded a beautiful red, with shining wheels. ln perfect condition. Has only been slight- ly used. For further information apply to owner, S. Marquardt. A high-chair for use in cafeteria. Freshmen will be given first chance. Guaranteed by Harold Coulter. Two thousand volumes of advice on How to get 1's from West High teachers. Entirely new. Never been touched. Will sell cheap. Juanita Lau-Publisher. .g..Q.-0--on-0--M-if-lv-0-'O--l--0--0-0 0 l Q 0 om--0--I--0--of-Quo--0 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 O-l--0--0--Q--0--0--Q--0--on-is 1 8