Fryeburg Academy - Academy Bell Yearbook (Fryeburg, ME)

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8 THE ACADEMY BELL Eiterarg Emi. SALUTATORY 'l'he day is here to which our class of ISVH has been looking forward for four years, I1 is gt day of happiness to us and we are indeed glad to have you present to share that happiness with us. Trustees, teachers, parents. friends, and undergraduates. we ex- tend to you most cordial greetings at these our commencement exercises. Your help has made possible the four happy years and so, without your pres- ence. this occasion would not be com- plete. XYith our grateful appreciation of that fact, accept, today, our heart- felt welcome. Many years ago one of America's poets wrote the story of a youth who lost his life in the search for an ideal. ln the poem. l2xcelsior, Longfellow pictured the journey of a young man towards the realization of a vision. As he went on his way towards the moun- tain top, great temptations and dis- couragements were thrown in his path, but he foiled on that he might realize his ambition. In the story he was un- successful and died before he attained his goal, but the spirit that inspired him lives on. Our great explorers and adventurers have been touched with the same ambi- tion as l.ongfellow's hero, who sped on. crying. lCxcelsior. They, too, have disregarded personal safety and financial success and have thought only of the goal set before them. Columbus set a goal before him and determined to reach it. Only through great difficulties was he able to dis- cover the New XYorld. llad he not been greatly determined he would have turned back in answer to the sailors' warnings and pleadings and we. who are now free .Xinericans, might be hud- dled in liurope or Asia. Other early explorers or discoverers might he mentioned who suffered many privations because of the goals they set before themselves. but they felt satisfied. knowing that they were helping to advance the knowledge which would benefit the world. Among those who charted the north- ern seas and lands is one whose sum- mer home is not far from Iiryeburg. General Adolphus Greely. General Ureely, in the employ of the l'nited States government, had for his object the establishing of a series of posts for the furthering of Arctic exploration. As he was performing this duty his boat was sunk and many of his food sup- plies lost. Cold and hunger began to take toll of the little party. and. one by one, many of them died. A relief expedition was sent in search. since nothing had been heard from them for some time. XVhen, by a lucky chance they were discovered. neither he nor any of his men were recognizable. A member of the rescuing party leaned over him saying, Ulireely. is this you? Yes, said Greely, in a faint and broken voice, hesitating and shuf- fling with his words, Yes-seven of us left-here we are-dying-like men. Did what I came to do--beat the best

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THE ACADEMY BELL 9 record. The motto of this intrepid explorer was Excelsior, and he was. fortunately, more successful than the hero of l,ongfellow's poem. Another Arctic explorer, who had for his motto Excelsior, and who is of particular interest to Fryeburg people, in that he once lived here, is Com- mander Robert E. Peary, the discov- erer of the North Pole. After eighteen years of almost continual work in that region he realized his ambition, and in doing so, gave the United States the honor of being the hrst to reach that long sought-for goal. His health was undoubtedly undermined by his many Arctic trips and he died in mid- dle life. but he must be regarded as eminently successful. The discoverers of the South l'ole. .-Xnmntls-en and Scott. were men of the same type. No discouragemeut or dis- appointment kcpt them from their goal. and though Scott met with the same tragic fate as l.ongfellow's hero, yet he succeeded in attaining his ambition. A graduate of the .Xcadetuy in the class of 1884 made a record as an explorer, which is well worth our attention. Dennis N. Cole and a com- panion, making surveys and explora- tions iu Labrador, discovered the Great Falls. They met with many mishaps and nearly lost their lives, but all through Mr. Cole's life it was a great satisfaction to him that he attained his goal. Of the present day explorers we should not fail to mention Donald li. McMillan, whom many of us have heard speak in this church. Ile is now making important explorations in the Arctic regions. Excelsior has always been his motto. A band of daring mountaineers is hoping this summer to conquer Mt. Everest. lN'e may soon hear that they have attained their goal, and they will have a thrilling story to tell the world. These explorers and pioneers were successful because they had one end in view. and, of course. the driving power of one aim is just as impelling in other lines of activity. To take just one ex- ample of this let ns look back at those days when our constitution was framed. After the Revolutionary NVar Con- gress sat in Philadelphia with the defi- nite view that the United States should become one of the leading nations of the world. This was their goal. After many reverses they saw their plan be- gin to function, and is not the United States now what they hoped it would become? llid they not realize their vision? What shall be our final estimate of the value of the work of men like these? XYould they have contributed more to the world if they had thought only of financial success and personal safety? Not all adventurers can be equally successful, but every person who is willing to make the sacrifices necessary for high ideals. adds some- thing to the sum total of the world's wisdom. There are always some who criticize a man who will not compro- mise, whose motto is Excelsior, The search for the Poles. the mountain