Fosdick Masten Park High School - Chronicle Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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THE CHRONICLE 9 llllllllnnnunlIllnnllIllIllIuInnnsInlnnlllnululnunl nnnnu Q Quant Awarha A The Honor Award Committee of lVlasten Park High School, ap- pointed in the spring of 1921, by Dr. Fosdick, has, indeed, accom- plished its purpose in rewarding those who have excelled in the daily routine of lessonsby successfully performing the duties assigned to it. Even though this committee has lost its former chairman through the absence of lVlr. Penniman, its work has been steadily advancing under the guidance of lVlr. Coffran, who was recently appointed to fill that vacancy. On Class Day, 1923, the fruits of the efforts of the committee were apparent, for bronze pins, in addition to the honor certificates, were awarded to fifteen students, whose standings on the Star Roll 'were '95 and over. Lack of funds prevented the presentation of silver and gold pins to those who had attained positions on two and three Star Rolls, respectively. At this time also, special awards of handsome silver medals were made to recognize those who had brought singular honor to lVlasten Park in interscholastic contests along intellectual lines and similar medals were ,presented to certain Seniors who had been neither absent nor tardy during their high school course. On April 16, 1924, the honor studentsonce more had the distinc- tion of being the guests of honor on lVlasten's third Honor Day. The athletes had always had their special days of recognition and Debate, Music, and the countless other activities, which make high school days memorable, had been greeted with applause, so those who had distinguished themselves by their intellectual ability enjoyed the honor not only of occupying the center section of the Maud , but also of hearing their names read from the platform. Many were the thrills when they heard their own name or those of their friends read from the wonderful list! The speaker, Rev. lVlr. Broughton, also con- tributed to the success of the program by his most inspiring address, in which he made a most earnest plea for an all-round development- Nothing to excess, as the Greeks expressed it-and most sincerely urged the students to seek the higher intellectual training offered at college. Extracts from Roosevelt's Letters to His Children also added the weight of influence and then the Spires of Oxford, that charming poem, portraying the invincible spirit of service in the ap- parently careless college boys at Oxford during the war, echoed through the auditorium and a program, thoroughly enjoyed by all was over! The afternoon school, too, was not without its Honor Day. Their speaker, lVlr. Rich, based his theme upon the five dangers to civiliza- tion as recently pointed out by the Pope: Excessive pleasureg Dis- gust with hard work, Hatred: Lack of respect for authority, and lack of interest in spiritual things. The speech provided food for thought for both teachers and pupils. Through the efforts of the Honor Awards Committee Masten Park may some day succeed in establishing an honor society, not unlike the Phi Beta Kappa of the colleges. MARGARET FABER,

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8 THE CHRONICLE nun 1n1anninnnlnlllunnlnnInInll:lullnnulllllnnlnln 3 3' Br. 1Hn5hirk'5 Mirthhag There are many gala-days at lVlasten Park, but ask any group of lVlastenites what day stands out most in the whole school year, and in chorus they will answer, Oh, Pop's birthday! That day has always been one of great rejoicing, for each eleventh of ,March stands for another year of the service and love which have characterized the life of the great man at the head of our school. We love it because it is the red-letter day of one whom we love and esteem, and it en- dears him still more to us. The alumni, too, join in paying him homage. This year, on the eighth of lVlarch, two hundred attended a dinner given in his honor at the Statler l-lotel. Young and old graduates were there, including many distinguished people. The Rev. Dr. Holmes made a speech congratulating him and naming him one'of the biggest assets of Buf- falo. At school, Dr. Fosdick was showered with flowers of every kind, until his office resembled a veritable greenhouse. They poured in from studyrooms, classes, sororities, fraternities and individuals. Con- spicuous among these floral gifts was a basket of hyacinths from the Senior Class. There was a celebration in I I2. on Wednesday morning when the Junior boys in song, speeches, and poems told him of their love and loyalty. They then presented him with an automobile kit and a Kodak book. I-le received a unique bronze vase from the Junior girls, and a Roycroft set from the lnter-Sorority Council. On the night of the eleventh the faculty entertained Dr. Fosdick at a party given in our new lunch-room. Twelve tables were laid, each representing a month of the year, and appropriately decorated. Each teacher was seated at the table which represented the month in which her birthday occurs. Later they withdrew to the girls' gymnasium, where they concluded their celebration with music and stunts. So, through the co-operation of faculty, alumni, and the student body, Dr. Fosdick's seventy-third birthday was, indeed, made a happy one for him and hundreds of other folks. All honor be to him! lVlay he enjoy many more birthdays, each one happier than the last, and continue to drink from the fountain of perpetual youth, the students of lVlasten Park, so that he grows younger every year. CORINNE DENNENY.

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I0 THE CHRONICLE r I he Stamina nf the Immigrant Prize Oration in Columbia Oratorical Contest. There are many subjects in regard to which' there exists a great diversity of opinion. One of these is immigration. Since the begin- ning of our national existence, people have assumed three distinct attitudes toward the subject. There are those who oppose all immi- gration, those who advocate the open door policy without any re- striction, and those who believe in moderate restriction. The last course is the one I would recommend for the following reasons: I invite you to consider the experiences of the past as they bear upon our immigration policy--lest we forget. The services that the immigrant has rendered are invaluable. During the Revolutionary war he fought shoulder to shoulder with his more Americanized brothers, to free us from EngIand's despotic power. In the war of 1812 he fought with equal courage and fearlessness to insure the free- dom of the seas. In the Civil war he proved his loyalty and patriot- ism by combating that most undemocratic institution, slavery. We point with pride to the accomplishments of our nation in the past fifty years. The great west has been opened and settled. Who made it possible to develop our great farm lands? Who was it that made it possible to build the railroads which penetrate every part of our domain, our trans-continental railroads, our canals, and all the great public works of every imaginable variety, which have contrib- uted so greatly to the progress, prosperity, and development of this nation. It was the immigrant! What induces the immigrant of today to come to this land of opportunity? Europe and America 1 compare theml The one, old and crafty, the other, young and virileg Europe, bur- dened with the crime of centuriesg America, active with her future, clear of conscience: upon one side the privileged classesg upon the other, reward of merit. Europe, seething, raging with po- litical strifesg America calm, dispassionate, with a government as strong as Gibraltar. One is frantic for warg the other imperturable, admirable in both peace and war. Upon one side, there is despairg upon the other, hope. I-low unlike the two! Europe persecutesg America tolerates. The one in want and misery, sunken in aflilictiong the other in plenty, overflowing with wealth and prosperity. Could there be any other choice than America? What are the arguments lodged against the immigrant today? The immigrant is poorg the immigrant adds nothing to the wealth of the nation at the time of his arrival. It is true that he is poor: but were those who came to this country during the past century rich? Did they bring anything to this country except stout hearts