George E Westinghouse High School - Sketch Book Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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-i i 7 -1? 41 i-i lw W v i ,?Qj Yiil LITERARY The Refugees or long before Napoleon endeavored to conquer the world, my great grand- father was born. His father, Herr john Meister. was owner of a vast estate in Baden. A tall stately man. whose military bearing betrayed the nature of his early training, he liked to ride a fine white horse of Arabic breed, which was as fast as the winds and as tireless. Distinguished, indeed, were man and steed, each with a pedigree that reached back to the Crusades. On his land lived many serfs over whom he held power almost of life and death. His castle, built by a robber baron, stood on a hilltop overlooking a beautiful valley through which like a silver ribbon flowed the Neckar. Fertile grain fields flanked it on both sides until they gave way to great forests, in which the wild boar roamed. Thatch-roofed mud huts of the peasants clustered about red-tiled cottages of the overseers. On winter nights when the ground was covered with snow. the ice in the river thundered like distant cannon, and great limbs cracked from the frost with the report like that of a rifle. Then thc wolves would howl and make quick raids on sheep or on some luckless wanderer. At this season the beautiful valley was as cruel as the sharp claws of an angry tiger, but in spring. summer. and autumn its softer moods made of it a garden spot-a play ground for artists. No more beautiful place could be found on earth with its valleys, hills, and mountains, its forests with towering trees that had stood since Germany was young. Harvest time was a happy season in this old German estate, and this particular .luly day in 1807 began no differently. The sky was deep blueg the fields were fragrant with freshly cut grain 3 and the air was filled with the melody of a German folksong about a knight and a maiden as the workers beat time with the swish of the men's scythes and the clip of the women's sickles. To the family of Herr john Meister on the hill the fields stretching out at their feet looked like a great flower- dotted meadow-so many were the peasants and so gaily were they dressed. Their bright neckerchiefs simulated swarms of colored butterflies. :X picture of peace. oh. so different from the scenes of blood and death and wars of conquest about Eleven ,,.J:--tra.,-r ee gg: e ,fo ai.-To f f -,f

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jg? v, ligv -Qi 'ng L Y v v-:L-1 ,1---41 i v xl Editorial l . THE ECONOMIC CYCLE ERIODS of economic depression have always followed hard upon the heels of eras of great prosperity. lf one will trace his way back through the years, he will encounter, over and over again, evidences of economic cycles. What We style hard times are in reality only the consequent difficulties produced through this round-table in the commercial world. Our first knowledge of the existence of such a condition was gained in 1819, when, after enjoying a period of happiness and prosperity, our country suddenly found itself in the midst of a commercial crisis. Too much money had been floated on the market without substantial backingg people had lavishly in- vested in land and other speculative propositions, banks and other financial houses had extended credit too freely, producers had flooded their warehouses in an attempt to secure high prices. Prosperity's reign had fostered over-confidence and over-expansion. Gradually a decline set in which resulted in scores of bank failures, stock market crashes, and bankruptcies. A terrific unemployment problem was created and men without work were faced by high prices on all sides. A regular panic was produced that, until the natural recovery was started, managed to keep American policies in a perpetual turmoil. Government cooperation was effected through the enforcing of a strict adherence to principles of financial and industrial regulation. The people's confidence was restored, immediate relief was brought about, and, under the regime of a new spirit of achievement, the American nation packed up its troubles and began anew. As we follow the history of our country we come across many difficulties of a like nature-difficulties that have permanently established the rule of economic progress that while in the midst of prosperity we are busily manufacturing our next depression, it is also true that in the midst of that depression we are working toward a greater and more substantial prosperity. Once more American business and industry are at low ebb. A storm of trouble has broken over the commercial world. Political difficulties, caused by a short session of Congress, together with its changing membership, have done much toward causing our present circumstances. Over-speculation in all fields, but especially in the stock market, has again proved itself destructive. Doubt and fear have locked up the vaults in which is stored the capital that will again set in motion the machinery of our semi-idle industries. People are afraid to show their hands, because money that has been hopefully invested has produced only stock-market receipts. The people have lost confidence, and, in doing so, have almost lost their sense of business economics. However, now is not the time for us to debate on how hard it is to get along, or how hard it is to live surrounded by these many handicaps! Now is the time for us to face facts with facts! Have we not triumphed over similar circumstances in the past? Have we not proved to ourselves the necessity of endeavouring to make the most of a bad situation, while struggling to establish better conditions? In order to keep our world prestige, and bring about better conditions among our people, we must strive for cooperation, for, until that is attained, we can never expect another era of prosperity. Let the youth of today, that build the nation of tomorrow, study the present situation and master its problems, so that they may be able to respond instantly if a like difficulty presents itself in the future. Since depression has again and again retarded our struggle toward the betterment of the economic status of our people, it rests upon the shoulders of our coming generation to solve the age-old problem of national progress without economic difficulties. Ten dfmufiw 1.4421 :Lf-fl. ,fl pi' 'V

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iiiifj 3 ll- i Y 11 1- -, If 1' these old hills in the days of the robber barons! All castles have dark spots in their historyg but the present period was one of bountifully filled storehouses, happy contented people, and peace. But that evening the harvest calm came to an abrupt end. A neighbor brought rumors of a war that was to change the current of the life of each member of Herr john Meister's family. The Holy Roman Empire had been dissolved. Napol- eon was conquering Europe. Baden with other southwestern German kingdoms had shamefully sworn allegiance to him. After the rumor had been discussed at length, jacob, the oldest and most impulsive son, announced his decision: Well, the only way for us to ascertain the real truth is for some one to go to the city, and it might as well be I as another. No amount of parental persuasion could change l1is venturesome mind. Early the following morning he rode away. Two months later a cloud of dust arose along the road, harbinger of a courier with important news. Perhaps it was Jacob himself returning, for no word had as yet been received from him! Herr john Meister hastened to the gate. But whe11 the dust subsided, he saw, not his eldest son, but a horseman in uniform, who handed him a letter. Quickly he broke the seal. and his face went White as he read. My children, he moaned, your brother is dead. He was killed three weeks ago in battle. It is true: German kingdoms have sold their birth-right. Jacob was mustered into the French army and was sacrificed for the cause of Napoleon. Issuing orders for the welfare of the courier and his horse, he went sadly into the castle. Here with white set lips he sat and pondered long. His oldest son had gone away to run down a rumor only to, be mustered into the French army in its conquering march upon Russia. How soon would his other sons be called! For defence of the fatherland, he would willingly make the sacrifice. Yes. old as he was, he would again take up arms. But this was different. How could he prevent the sacrifice of his other sons on the altar of Napoleon's ambition! Fondly his eyes rested upon the vast expanse of rich fertile fields. Then he turned his back upon them. He had made his decision. Infiuence and money enabled Herr Meister quickly to carry out his plans to the smallest detail. Not many nights later dark loneliness enveloped his castle home. Dressed as gypsy horse traders, he and his family made their way un- molested to the Rhine. Here at a little fishing settlement thy discarded their gypsy garb and donned that of Dutch fisher folk. Thus they sailed up the river in a chartered Dutch fishing schooner into Holland, where they again assumed the gypsy disguise-this time as musicians. Dancing and singing their way to the coast, they succeeded in boarding an English boat. Then for the first time they dared abandon their disguiseg for England, too, hated Napoleon. From Liverpool a storm-tossed sailing vessel bore them to their goal-America. Herr john Meister was at last content. He had lost to the greed uf Napoleon his estate, his oldest son, and his native country. But he had given his family freedom-a freedom which his descendants fought to extend at a Gettysburg stone wall on a hot July day in 1863. Mildred Mci.1'11m'. Twelve 1-T li Pu H f 1 l J I In I l i if 4 l 1 Jn. Q 41 - -1- Jlf 'ie