Hastings High School - Saxon Yearbook (Hastings, MI)

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Wc are having today some new heroes of our civic struggles. The men who are standing against graft and who hear for a time the penalty of un- popularity and abuse, are spiritually in the company of the battle-scarred. We are in debt to the men who are giving their lives to the lifting up of high ideals for the individual and the nation. It means much to be solicitous, day by day, for the welfare of hundreds of thousands of men and women and little children. How often, in your own present life, you do something critical, insignificant, involving personal risk and sacrifice to yourself, and something which is meanwhile so inspired by the love of your nation “that you have neither eyes to sec nor tongue to speak.” There is no question but that William Jennings Bryan is a great man. Recently Mr. Bryan showed proof of real greatness in his advocacy of moral issues which would make enemies for him. He has not stepped down and out on that account. The world admires that kind of a man, and appreciates his courage and convictions, when he does not shrink from personal sacrifice. Mr. Bryan has sacri- ficed himself for the sake of his moral principles. In the opening years of the twentieth century a man of remarkable character and ability stood in the center of the historic stage, with the world's eyes fixed upon him. This was Theodore Roose- velt, the most famous advocate of peace and prog- ress. Aside from his few days of fighting, his life has been one of a struggle against graft and dis- Commencement Parts Class Oration honesty; a battle with politicians and law-making bodies for reform; a demand of equal rights for all men; a square deal for high and low, for rich and poor alike. Others before Theodore Roosevelt have fought the same fight, and yet have not been heard of beyond the boundaries of their own countries. The patriotic spirit of this man has set the world agape, put his name into every mouth, made his proposed quiet visit through Europe a phenomenal ovation, in which millions crowded to see and cheer him as he passed, and the greatest monarchs were eager to greet him as a favored visitor, a man their equal in rank. “This simple patriotic American citizen, without rank or power, stands in the lime-light of the world’s applause, the Halley comet of the political skies.” Evolution is a process of growth and there is no question but that patriotism has evolved. First we had freedom of government, then freedom of commerce, and a firmly united nation. But look at our great patriots of today. See how Bryan and Roosevelt are standing by unpopular causes and are engaged in opposing civic corruption. Truth- fully. I can say that the present century is more patriotic than those past. Train yourselves for the quieter heroisms, and you will not fail if the bugle should ever call you to war. Engage earnestly in the social and moral contests which mark the polit- ical life of our own day and you will be a real and true patriot. 1VAH sell RAY.

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Commencement Parts Class Oration “Evolution of American Patriotism. Standing here amid the sacred memories of the bygone centuries, on the golden threshold of the twentieth, I ask: “Is the present century as patri- otic as those past?” I believe it is. No country can lay exclusive claim to patriot- ism. Judea had her David. Greece her Aristides, Rome her Agricola, England her Hampden, and America her Washington. The patriot of one coun- try is admired by all nations. But upon the youth of America is conferred the noblest birthright in the whole world. The stars under which you were born beam with the brightest promise and kindle the most heroic patriotism. Even though it may seem wise and right to change somewhat the emphasis of history and to glorify more distinctly the achievers and achieve- ments of normal and peaceful times, the conscience of the race will not allow the battles of the past to be discredited. We are distant from the dramatic scenes of war that make such strong appeal to child- hood, as well as the more mature. The War of Independence, which gave us freedom of govern- ment, came in 1776. Think as you may, it is plain that the nation was purchased by this great strug- gle. Within thirty-six years, in 1812, there came another war, and the national spirit was once more bred into intensity. The victories of our small navy, and the heroic operations continued on land for more than two years, increased the national confi- dence, and made us more independent from the politics of Europe. We then began to move with speed toward the Civil War. Up to this time patriot- ism was more of a state feeling. After this four years’ struggle the nation was delivered from slavery, united as never before, and confident as never before in its resources and its stability. It sent a mighty throb to the hearts of both sections of the country, and it left the question of national unity deeply settled as it firmly joined the North and South together. We have no right to assume that war is the only means to make people heroic, for aside from military patriotism we have civic patriotism. But when the storm of battle blows darkest and rages highest, the memory of Washington shall nerve every American arm, and cheer every American heart. However, his patriotism did not cease with the Revolution. Samuel Adams was not a war- rior, but his work was in evidence in the critical period of the first great struggle. Abraham Lin- coln had been a soldier in the Black Hawk war, but his fame rests not on the fact that he carried a sword. The great Civil War, with its quickening effect on the national consciousness, has been removed from us more than a generation. At the present time the emphasis must be shifted from the heroes of war to the achievers of peace. Along with the stress placed upon military service and sacrifice, a new and equal stress shall be placed upon other types of public usefulness.

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Commencement Parts Clou Will We, the Senior Class of the Hastings High School of the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and eleven, being stricken with the dread disease of graduation, and realizing that our lease of school life is but a span of a few hours, being about to cast aside all things childish, but knowing these to be necessary to all under-graduates, and being of a beneficent spirit and liberal turn of mind, and wishing to be remembered by succeeding classes as great benefactors to our Alma Mater, being assured that the coming classes can find no higher intellectual standard and no worthier exam- ple than that placed before them by the Class of 1911. do hereby confer and bestow as our last will and testament, all that which we possess in and around said Hastings High School, from our right m the furnace in the basement to our interest in the hands on the clock, and we do hereby revoke any and all other wills made by us. 1’irst We will and direct that all our just debts and commencement expenses be paid in full. Second—To the four classes jointly we will the three long flights of stairs leading to the assembly room, up and down which they may pass as many times a day as impulse suggests and strength per- mits. and we also do hereby will to these same classes all the remnants of the most interesting and most used book of this school. Webster’s dictionary Believing that childish minds can best be edu- cated through the medium of object lessons, we do hereby devise and bequeath our collection of play- things to the Freshman class, and we also will to them the front seats in the assembly room upon the following condition, enjoining upon them its strict observance, that they occupy their childish minds with no more strenuous mental action than is re- quired in persistently flunking in four classes a day. The name Sophomore, meaning “Wise Fool”, bespeaks for this class our liberal indulgence; therefore we do devise and bequeath unto them the sole right to magnum caput, or, in more ordinary phraseology, “swell-head , and we enjoin upon the other classes that they refrain from all encroach- ment upon this, the inalienable right of the Sopho- more. To the Junior class we do hereby will and be- queath our dignity, our scholarly deportment, our harmony in class meetings, our energy, our enter- prise, and our noble example. We also devise to the aforesaid class those jewels of scientific research and investigation, those classic outbursts of knowl- edge, namely the physics note-books of the class of 1911, whose value will be more keenly appreciated when the class shall gather after school under the despotic sway of Mr. Hinckley. Also upon the Junior boys wfe do bestow the right to as many class honors as have been w'on by the boys of 1911 and likewise to as many addi- tional honors as they may prove themselves entitled to in fair and open competition with the girls of 1912. To the silver-tongued orator to be chosen bv the Junior class we devise and bequeath the inesti-