Eastern Michigan University - Aurora Yearbook (Ypsilanti, MI)

Page 9 text:

Ah, but cherc is lovely music beyond the door, cried Youth, only give me time and a few tools. I will make a key! It the Maker of the Hall had intended man to enter, he would have provided a key, declared Age solemnly, and he hurried Youth into a room which was full of music, brilliance and laughter. But when Youth perceived that the brilliance was that ot gaudy decorations, that the music was not true music, and that the laughter covered a restless desire for unfound happiness, he turned away disheartened. Soon, however, he came to a massive door bearing a heavy knocker and an inscription in a strange tongue. After he had marveled for a while at the excellence of the artist ' s workmanship, he put forth his hand to lift the knocker. But Age, greatly alarmed, prevented him: Fool, can you not see the cobwebs that cover this door? No one has ever entered. To do so would be to go against the excellent customs which I, who know, am handing on to you. So saying, he took Youth into a room lull ot people who were so intent upon what they were doing that they looked neither to the left nor to the right, nor did they know whether or not they were happy. Then Youth looked about him and observed not only that most ot the open rooms were overcrowded, but that some of them were ugly, some over elaborate, and some, once lovely, were now in need of repair. And he pointed these things out to his companion and said: How is it that you have dwelt so long in this Hall and have done nothing to make it beautiful for those who inhab- it it now, and for those who shall come to it in the future? And Age replied, I have made myselt what I am without grumbling about the Hall. The kinds of success that I have won, are they not good enough for you — they and the ways by which I won them?

Page 8 text:

oretoorb Youth and Age walked together through the Hall of Lite. And Youth was light of step and eager-eyed, for the short time that he had spent in the Hall had promised well for the future. He had played with his friends in the cozy rooms near the entrance — rooms so delightful that it was only recently that he had asked to leave them for the loftier and more distant ones he had heard about. Age had granted this request with the greatest reluctance, for he had thought in his heart, Alas, as Youth explores the rooms of the Hall, I fear he will lose his awe of me. But aloud he had said, Very well, you may go; but I shall guide you; my ad- vice will be invaluable, for I have walked far down the Hall; I know its laws and customs. So they had started — Youth, sclf-conhdent, alert, ques- tioning; Age, ever watchful, ever fearful of that questioning. Along the passageway in which they walked were in- numerable rooms, but despite the crowds which thronged the Hall, few of these were open. And it was always into the most crowded that Age guided his charge. The room we just passed so hastily seemed unusual and very interesting. Why did we not visit it? queried Youth. Unusual, yes, replied Age, but the few people who frequent this place do not conform to our ideas. They are freaks. We have nothing to do with them. Let us hasten. But Youth soon paused before a closed door, beautifully ornamented, and examined the lock, which was contrived with great cunning. Age hastened to say: There is no key for this door; we cannot enter; let us go on.

Page 10 text:

letutcttton Between Age and Youth there is a constant struggle. The one strives by wheedling and authoritorian device to assert and maintain an ascendancy that years alone have given it. The other, resisting con- trol by the ideals, traditions, and customs of former gen- erations, attempts to break away from established rules or conduct, to open the doors upon unexplored realms of possible thought, and to live according to new ideals. The success of Youth in this contest is of vital importance to the race, for therein lies our only hope of progress. But the foundation for our hope often seems unsound, indeed. For Youth, absorbed in its rebellion against the restraints imposed upon it by Age, does not realize the necessity of forming new restraints of its own. Revolt, to be significant, must not only be against something; this negative aspect of revolt should be guided by positive objectives. In its eagerness to open the doors to truer Truth which Nature and Tradition have kept closed, Youth is indeed glorious. But this eagerness is not enough; being undirected, its ener- gies are soon squandered. Only when Youth knows what it wants, only when it has set up definite objectives, justified by Science, can it, with the aid of Science, open the doors that will make possible finer, truer living in the Hall of Life. It is, then, to a splendid, purposeful, valiant Spirit of Youth that wc dedicate The Aurora of 1921 h