Eastern High School - Eastern Yearbook (Detroit, MI)

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The EASTERN Pagc24 N invleen. Twenty-lhree' W Y stant repair. It is true, we should make new acquaintances and friends, but we should consider quality more important than quantity. Another fundamental attribute demanded by the world, and one closely related to character, is truth. Without truth, the reputation of a person cannot withstand the constant demands which life puts upon it. Truth is absolutely necessary for the continuation of any undertaking, and is the pivot on which swings all the rest of our character. During our years in higlrschool, our character is being strengthened. VVe do not always realize this at the time, but a little thought will convince us that character building did not lack attention. Every day we were shown in some manner the difference between right and wrong. Questions con- cerning the whole school were brought to our attention, and we learned to see the right side of them. In some instances, the time of class periods was used to give us a clearer conception of ideas of right and wrong. In every way we had many an opportunity to strengthen our character. It is possible for a person to enjoy a good reputation for a long time even when he is bad. Reputation is thc quality by which he is known to the world. A far stronger accomplishment is character. That is what a person actually is. And let us always remember that Character is made up of small duties faithfully performed-of self-denials, of self-sacrifices, of kindly acts of love and dut '. WVl?at more could a person wish than reliance, friendship, truth, and character with which to live? Could anything bring him more happiness? Would wealth and social position give him more joy? They could not give a man friends, or give him the pleasant memories of home ties. Who needs tive thousand pounds to live, Is quite as poor as he that needs but five. Riches cannot give us that glorious feeling of being glad that we are alive. They cannot teach us the simple, and yet the loveliest, things of life. They do not help us to appreciate the blue of the skies, or the blossom- ing trees, the brown of the upturned furrow, or the song of the woodland bird. All the gold in the world cannot buy one true and loyal friend-friend- ship is not bought and sold. Truth, too, is a virtue beyond the value of rubies. If one's character is buttressed with reliance and truth, and en- riched with sincere iriends, he has found the Imperishables of life-he has found wisdom and happiness. Giziu-Runs Bscxsk, Valedictorian. SALUTATORY ADDRESS The Race There is great excitement in the palestra. The motley crowd swarming here and there, awaiting the great national event, the Olympic games. Greece held no greater honor for a man than to be winner in these Olympic games. ,Each entrant. eager to do his best in order that he may bring glory to himself, to his family and to his city, is summoned before the king. The young men now offer wines and other sacrifices to the gods from whom they ask assistance in order that they may succeed in their games and races. After these ceremonies, the young men are 05-to win or to fail. In the same manner are we entering a contest after four years of training. lVe are beginning our Marathon race which will test our sinews and demand each ounce of our acquired strength. NVe may be able to make a. ten-yard dash, but this race depends upon our staying quality. This is more than a game whose, sacrifices are wines and rewards are mere laurel wreaths. We

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PngeE'3 The EASTERN N inelecn Twenly-llaree fierce conflicts. In spite of hardships, cruelty, and death it has forged ahead. It has cost all this to bring us to this day. just consider the cost from this awesome standpoint. It is immense in this one respect alone. It is now nearing the time when our worth is to be tried, when the amount of dividend is to be made public. Are we a good investment? Shall we be worthy of the cost? BRUCE Gmuaurr. VALEDICTORIAN ESSAY The Imperishables Suppose you were suddenly given Aladdin's magic lamp, and told you might choose a few attributes and conditions with which to live all the rest of your life, what would you choose? Would you choose wealth, which could give you automobiles, houses, private yachts, and glittering jewels? Would you choose social position, with the opportunity to lead the rich and fashionable society of the world? Do you think this leadership would make you any happier, or the world any better? Would you spend all of your time in frivolous pleasures, in dancing, eating, and drinking, and making merry with the wasters and butterliies of the world? No, if you were wise you would choose the joys of life: the things that moth and rust cannot destroy. You would choose the imperishablesg those enduring attributes and qualities which, like the mountains, the sun, the moon, and the stars, are everlasting. For these imperishables you would strive and sacrifice, you would guard these treasures with your very life. VVhat greater jewels can a man gain than reliance, friendship, truth, and character? These ought to be the immediate jewels of your soul. Wealth and social position are not necessary in life. On the spur of the moment you might choose them, because their glitter pleases, but there is little lasting joy in them. Reliance, friendship, truth, and character make for our own happiness and the happiness of others. Now, you may wonder just how these qualities are connected with school life. The beginning of our high school career is almost as the beginning of a new existence. We are brought closer to real life, and realize more fully what is re- quired of us in that life. Reliance, or responsibility, was greatly increased when we first entered high school. VVe were given lessons to prepare, sometimes refer- ences to look up and give reports on. Perhaps we were not given a detailed ex' planation of some task we were told to do. For what reason? To give us a chance to show our initiative and responsibility. At all times we were en- couraged to use our own judgment. If we were sincere in our work, and cultivated responsibility when a chance was given, there is no doubt that we have a portion of the foundation on which successful lives are built. We might compare our lives to a young and tender plant. You can shape a plant to grow crooked and ugly, or straight and beautiful. Its course depends on the beginning of its growth. Our High School life has also given us another sparkling gem to set in our crown of life. Life without friendship would be like a body without a soul. During our school days, probably as in no other time, we are brought into close contact with many classes and kinds of people. It is then that we have our chance to choose our friends. If our ideals are high, we nat- urally go with people of the same nature. There is always a chance of bettering ourselves, but if our ideals are low, we choose friends who are not worth while. Samuel johnson says: If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man should keep his friendship in con-

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Page25 TheEASTERN Nineteen Twenty-three are entering the game of life-a game which lasts not only one day as did the Olympic games, but one that will be played continually during every hour of our existence. Our sacrifices are greater-much greater than those of the men of the Olympic games. For four years these men have given up many pleasures in order that they may be lit for these supreme tests. VVe, too, have given up minor pleasures during our high school race of four years. More than this, we have needed the sacrifices of others to get us even thus far. We have needed our parents' struggles and efforts to give us this necessary training. We have tried, in our youthful ignorance, our teachers' patience as they taught us. The laurel wreath was the reward of the Olympic winner, but the re- wards which we seek are of much greater worth, even than the honor paid to the Greeks. In this game of life we may attain wealth. Wealth is the medium through which we may enjoy many of the luxuries this world affords. If we do not attain wealth we may consider ourselves winners if we attain the esteem of our friends-esteem is a subtle quality-which wealth cannot buy-which is given to those who have proven themselves loyal and trust- worthy. One of the most valuable rewards that can come to us in this game of life is friendship. It is won by loyalty and devotion to those with whom we associate. To be rich in friends is to be poor in nothing, is indeed true. Our success or failure is not fully determined at the end of a day or two as in the Olympic games, but will be determined after many years have elapsed-even after our lives are spent. The spectators at the Olympic games saw the beginning and the end of the games and races, but the spectators who today see us begin our game of life may already have gone to that undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns before our contest is over. But we shall never be without spectators for we shall meet them all through life. The greatest praise that they can give to us at the end of our race is that We have been Masters of our Fate and the Captains of our Souls. Vroux Tmwn. SENIOR SPADE ORATION The Miners Once more we COIIIC to the school spade. WVe received it looking almost new. But, if there is any of the blade left, it is not our fault. For there is no doubt that this implement of hard digging could never symbolize a class better than it does ours. Why, we have dug early and late! Many teachers here, who have known us for the past four years, will bear witness that we have done our share of hard work! Summing up what we have done in the past four years, we might liken 'ourselves to miners, who dig out the minerals stored in the bowels of the earth. So have we labored in the depths of studies, and extracted the essence of academics. We early learned that the richest gold lies beneath the hard pan, and can be acquired only with great effort, difficulty, and danger. We always wanted this gold, but hated to work for it. Silver,' too, was hard to get, and only the earnest, hard working miner could always get it. Copper was not far clown, so many a miner, who might have had silver, was per- fectly contented with copper. Almost on the surface lay the iron ore, so that mining for iron required little time and small effort. Those who leaned on their shovels and rested most of the time had to be content with the baser minerals. We have been like miners in other respects, for we, too, have gone on