Hobart Senior High School - Memories Yearbook (Hobart, IN)

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. 27 THE. MAID OF ORLEANS. RUTH JOHNSON. HERE are few things in life which hold such a charm, such a fas- cination for us, as does the mysterious study of greatness. The world never wearies of digging in that mysterious soil in which is hidden the wonderful secret. Every great person is a mystery, but it is doubtful if History has produced a more mysterious per- sonality than that which was incarnate in that inexplainable child of nature, Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans. More than four centuries ago, in a peasant cottage of Domremy, the wail of a helpless infant floated on the air. Eighteen years passed by — years of toil to that lonely girl on the edge of that old French forest. It is fourteen hundred twenty-nine. France is engaged in a terrible war with England with, seemingly, no chance for her to win. Her uncrowned king, Charles VII, is idle at his court. The nobility, torn into many factions, yield him no support. France is in sore extremity. Her principal cities are besieged and in many of them already is heard the wail of famine, the cries of hungry children. If the king can not save his country, who, then, can save it? And it came to pass that, as in a sunny meadow near Domremy, this peasant maid watched her flocks, saints came to her in vision. They com- manded her to go to Orleans, the great French stronghold, whose surrender to the English seemed inevitable, and relieve it, to drive the oppressors from France, to deliver her king and country from the terrible war then raging. But what could she do, poor, superstitious maid? She knew nothing of war; she had no friends, no influence. To the eye of worldly wisdom her resolution was perfectly absurd. But she did not hesitate. Decision of mind, like vigor of body is a gift of God. It can not be created by human effort, but it can be cultivated and everyone of us has the germ of this quality. The shores of fortune are covered with the wrecks of men and women of brilliant genius, but lacking in decision, courage, and faith. There is no calling, no walk of life in which these attributes are not vitally important to him who would conquer. She needed no urging. Her heart was with her country. Its destiny and future were hers. In a short time she was on her way to the nearest camp to get help. But they refused to listen to her. She traversed one hundred fifty miles of territory infested by the enemy to plead her cause with tin governor, lie, too, refused to listen, refused to give her any help, and she was compelled to return to her humble home, but with resolution

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26 HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. higher things. Taking all these things in mind and in order to keep in line with other schools the faculty of the II oh art High School have encouraged the pupils in every way possible. In basketball there was a boys team and a girls’ team. Out of eleven games played this season, the boys won two. In the games lost some of the scores against them were quite large. Taking the team as a whole the average weight was much lighter than that of the teams they played. Although there were not any stars in the team all of the boys played good ball. About the middle of the season a nearly different team had to be organized, one quitting school and a few not being in shape to play, but the season was finished with better playing than before. Although they were not successful in many games, they had something to do during the winter. If all of the boys remain in school next year, they ought to have a pretty good team, as there is plenty of good material. But the girls made up for the defeats of the boys by winning every game they played. They played six games and hold the championship of Lake County. The teams played by Hobart are as follows: Boys Wheeler, 2; Valparaiso, 2; Gary, 2; Crown Point, 2; East Chicago, 2; Hammond, 1. Girls— Crown Point, 2: Gary, 2; East Chicago, 2. 1 he tiack team is not very strong this year, as material is wanting in many events. We are about sure of first place in the sprints, for in Wallace Watson we have the best sprinter in the county. Last year, in the 100 yard dash, he was robbed out of first place, but he made up for it in the 220 yard dash, winning by a large margin. A great loss was felt by all the members of the team when Earle Kohler, the long distance runner, quit school, lie expected to take first place in both of those events and that would have been a great help to the team here. However, we still have some good men in those events. In the weights we have one or two good men, who ought to get a place at the meet, A few dual meets were scheduled, one with Crown Point May 1st, but on account of bad weather it had to be postponed. On May 8th we sched- uled a triangular meet between East Chicago, Whiting and Hobart, at East. Chicago. Of course, the Hobart boys were pretty sure of winning the meet but East. Chicago was just as confident. The weather was nice during the early part of the afternoon, but the latter part of the meet was run off in a drizzling rain which made it very hard for the boys. The track was another handicap for the Hobart team. Nevertheless, Hobart won the meet. The number of points won by each school was as follows: Hobart, 57%; East Chicago, 3414; Whiting, 16. Of Hobart’s 57% points, Watson won 25, captur- ing first place in five events. On account of their showing at East, Chicago the boys feel cheerful as to the outcome of the county meet.

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. 28 unabated. The lives of the truly great ever have been marked by a marvelous capacity for hopefulness in the face of discouraging circumstances. How have they attained the honored position they hold? Not by rank, for many were of lowly birth. Not by wealth, for the inheritance of not a few has been poverty. But the battle was won by having one dominant aim in life, unceasing energy, and patient perseverance. The days went by. At last she could no longer resist the call of her country and again sought the governor. There seemed to be something so honest, so strange, so persistent about her that he sent her to the Dauphin, the uncrowned king. lie, too, was cautious; but as Orleans was at the point of surrender and things were coming to a desperate pass, he allowed her to have her way. And so, on an old white charger, bearing the banner of France, at the head of a strange, enthusiastic, and formidable army was Joan, ready to win or die. Through the walled towns and encampments, gathering up whoever would follow her, she passed until she arrived at Orleans. The battle is over! The first victory won! The passion of liberty thrills her! A vision of France once more free! Ah, and peace! Peace! So, against the other fortifications of the English, she carried on her holy war. The voices, the same voices that inspired her at first, ever led her and faithfully, faithfully did she follow them. From battle to victory, through war to peace, they were ever before her. And above the hissing of the shot, roaring of the cannon, the groaning of the dying is heard the voice of Joan cheering her men on to victory. Cheering, encouraging, stimulating the soldiers to daring deeds, making them eager to fight! Eager to die! For France! for Freedom! Town after town is theirs once more. In vain the English attempt to mend their broken ranks. Slowly, but surely, they retreat and leave France victor- ious. Her country, her France at last is saved! The king wished to heap great rewards and royal honors upon her. But no ! Her only desire was to see him crowned king at Rheims. So, urged on by her, in spite of incredible difficulties, with great reluctance he entered the recaptured city and was crowned by the archbishop in the cathedral there. Her mission was accomplished. Her promise was fulfilled. She had given a king to France and France to its king. Not by might, not by power, but by undaunted courage and perseverance had she done it. She asked no other reward for her magnificent service than to be allowed to go back to her father and her humble home. Marvelous indeed was it all. Can ever such unselfish- ness, such heroism, such patriotism be forgotten? The title of great has been given to Napoleon, but he was instilled with a greed for conquest; the title of great has been given to Wellington, but he had the best marshalled, the best equipped army that ever appeared on the battlefield. But the Maid of Orleans ?