Hartford Public High School - Classbook Yearbook (Hartford, CT)

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272 THE CHRONICLE of industry, and is now about to graduate from the Hartford High School? WOl'k, we have found, will bring anything within reach. Deference, a fuller realization of the value of industry,-what else have we gained? For the past year we have gained greatly in one thing, namely, self-reliance. There was a time when we entered our classes in fear and trembling. In such a state were we, that it was impossible to express our rightful opinions. Our teachers may have thought it was because we had failed to learn our lessons, when, in many cases, it was due to the fact that we lacked courage or self- reliance that we failed. What a difference it makes whether we state our views in a self-reliant manner or in a mincing, hesitating way! Let us not forget that self-reliance counts for much in the big world, even as it does in school. There have been many failures because of the lack of courage to go on when we were disheartened, because some one made fun of us, or on account of the numerous hard knocks that we have had to endure. But we must be brave, strong, self-reliant, and have courage to go on, as many have already done. Finally, there is something which I think is the most important thing of all that we have acquired during the four years--our sense of the value of loyalty. NVhat kind of class would we have been, had we not been loyal? A class without a spark of school-spirit is like a man without a country. The individual who knows not the meaning of loyalty is cursed. If we are not loyal, people will not trust usg and to be unworthy of trust is to be almost beyond reclamation. Loyalty! Vlfhat field of business, of social activity, of school life, of friendship, of play, even, but demands it! In business? Wliy, the business world wouldn't exist, if it were not for loyalty. Those of us who are entering into such a sphere will especially realize the force of the word in such a sense. In social activities we must show our loyalty as well. For what spirit would we show in a club, say, the meetings of which we did not attend simply because we didn't want to go? Certainly not the spirit of loyalty! In school life, who doesn't know what it is? Here we oftener call it school-spirit, and we all know what school-spirit is-especially if we have attended one of our school games. Of all our loyalty, though, isn't it most necessary to be true to our friends? lfVe have made friends and friends and friends while in High School, but which friendships are the ones that last? You know, and I know, that they are not the ones in which there is the I

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THE CHRONICLE 271 receiving a passing mark. But are the fundamentals of these branches all that we have gained? Have we spent four long years merely to acquire a store of useful information? Let us see. Looking back, we find that we had many crude ideas when we entered High. For instance, we knew that long ago there lived a man by the name of Shakespeare-an Englishman. But what did we think about him? VVhy, he wrote poetry that didn't rhyme-that was full of thee's and thou's -and actually became famous for itl NVe haven't that opinion now, though, we rather wonder at the beauti- ful way in which his poetry reads and at the greatness of the man who had such ability. Things strike us differently now. Books that we once found unbearably dry have changed and we can pick out hu- morous spots here and there, we can understand the deeper under- lying truths. On the other hand, our used-to-be favorites seem meaningless and silly. We have learned to distinguish between the weak and the strong, we have learned to respect the great and the good-in a word, to appreciate. It is just a beginning that we've made, here, in the art of showing deference where it is due-some- thing, let us hope, that we may learn more about and improve upon in the future. Nor is it for the dead and gone alone that we have learned to show deference, we find we respect what is good in people that are living,-good breeding, charming manners, fine character. Deference toward our elders and betters: that is one thing that we have gained. Of equal importance is the impression we have received of the value of industry. We have all noticed this value, if not in ourselves, then in our neighbors who get all A's while we receive much lower marks. In the majority of cases, too, this success has been brought about through the determination to succeed. plus the willingness to do hard work. We've tried ourselves, using determina- tion and concentration on our lessons, and what were the results? VVhy, we really felt as if we had accomplished something worth while. It's a pity that the little demon called Laziness or Procrastination has to thrust itself in frequently to hinder our progress, but that is what we have to guard against. A few have learned the real value of con- scientious work, while others have that troublesome little pest to conquer even yet. It has been very apparent to us, during our course, that those who know the value of industry are the ones who succeed, while the others are, to the best of their ability, striving to follow in their footsteps, else why such a class here, which is the very essence

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THE CHRONICLE 273 slightest tinge of disloyalty. VVhen we shall have graduated and passed on into the vicissitudes of life, it will be loyal friends that we meet who will bring back the pleasantest memories of High School days. History, language, science-yes, we have studied all these during the past four years, yet you will agree with me that we have learned many a lesson not directly associated with the courses displayed in the catalogue. Are we proficient in all these extra branches? If not, whose is the fault? Not the teachers' by any means! Deference, in- dustry, self-reliance, loyalty-these are qualities, or habits of mind, gained only through personal effort-effort which is not confined to classroom, nor to school, nor to school years. This is Class Day. Soon it will be Graduation Day. VVe are laying aside text-books, yet let us bear in mind that our education is but barely begun. H. LOUISE BLAIR. HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1916 s. ESTERDAY morning, as I was sitting beside my window with a copy of Dante in my hands, a most miraculous scene and occurrence was revealed to me: The day was calm and clearg liquid fragrance floated and eddied around me. Suddenly the type on the page began to grow dimg my eyes closed languidlyg in my ears I heard the soft, dreamy twanging of Orpheus' lyreg to my nostrils came an odor of divine aetherial fragrance-my memory left me and I seemed to Hoat lightly upward. The air grew cool and the light winds played gently with the folds of my long robe-Zephyr whipped about my temples and with light lingers moulded my hair into wavy sculptures. I passed lightly through the silken fleece of the great clouds and continued my heaven- ly journey-ever upward, higher and higher. There came a sudden dazzling glare of light, I felt around me the bustle of a royal multitude: I opened my eyes and-behold! I was standing in an enormous hall-great marble pillars rose majestically and supported the gracefully curved canopy oyerheadg great arched windows sparkled and gleamed with the blinding. bril- liance of a thousand colors, rich hangings of royal purple studded