Hodgdon High School - Aurora Yearbook (Hodgdon, ME)

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THE AURORA -1 I 10 I 4' A success in spite of overwhelming diffi- culties, her lot makes us feel that our trials are small. Success is something that we have to strive for. No one can give it to us. We build our character and make our friends every day. George Richardson has put my thought into words better than I am able in his poem 'joy of Living. JOY OF LIVING Life is what you make it- It's useless to complain. If you miss the blessings, You've just yourself to blame. The world is full of pleasure So give up strife and care. Enjoy the things God gave you. They are scattered everywhere. There's a lot of joy in living, If you'll only find the way. It comes by helping others whose Lives are dull and gray. Handing out a little aid when one must cross a ford Oft' brings a satisfaction, Which is its own reward. 1 Look around for someone A trifle out of gear. Show them you're unseliish, y Let them know you're near. It may be they are troubled, And need a friend's advice, Or the smile which you can give them At a very little price. This job of scattering sunshine, May never get you fameg But it brings a heap of pleasure To those who play the game. At least you'll sense the joy of Having done your share In lifting someone's burden And ridding them of care. INEz TURNEY. ADDRESS TO UN DERGRADUATES Members of the Junior Class: In be- half of the seniors who are soon to set sail on the sea of life, I offer you praise and congratulations, for you are about to be promoted to the position for which you have so eagerly strived these last three years. This is an honor. It is also a re- sponsibility which should be accepted by you as a torch thrown to you from the Class of 1930, a torch to be carried on with courage and steadfastness through all difficulties. We leave the underclass- men under your guidance, and hope that you will try to give 'them help when they ask you. Members of the underclasses: After much thought and consideration, we have decided to leave you under the leadership and guidance of those who shall take our places in the future. We have every con- fidence that they will guide and direct you as we have endeavored to do to the best of our ability. We hope that you may take their advice in a kindly way. Schoolmates all: We find that school life is not all pleasure and sports. There are studies which must be mixed in with these and there are many difficulties. Often, we as seniors, have been nearly ready to give up. We thought that the goal was hardly worth the effort. Now, how- ever, we understand that most of these difficulties were things which made us better able to meet the obstacles which will loom up in our future. Now the tasks of High School are finished and We have conquered. The goal which we have now attained, repays us in full, for all of our efforts. I hope that each one of you, my school- mates, may meet few difficulties. But

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L 'r What must we have to build a good character? Several things come to my mind. First, I think of kindness. If we expect our lives to be successful we must have regard for someone else besides our- selves, and not be afraid to put ourselves to some inconvenience to help someone in need. Kindness never harms one. It may seem sometimes that we do not get much thanks for what we do but we get a secret satisfaction that is worth more than all the vocal praise could possibly be worth. For example take Abraham Lin- coln. VVhen he saw a pig stuck in the mud he was unable to go on, conscience clear, until he found means to get it out upon solid ground again. His inborn kindness makes him dearer to the hearts of Amer- ican people than all of his executive skill. Next comes honesty. Honesty to one's fellow men and to oneself. If a person gets in the habit of not being strictly honest in everything, if he lets little things slip and thinks that they are of no ac- count, he will soon find that men do not trust him. But on the other hand, if he proves true in every test, he will be looked upon as one who will not fail even in small matters. He must also be honest with himself. If when he does something a bit out of the way, he lies to himself and does not pay attention to what his conscience tells him, he will soon not hesi- tate to do other things which would tend to weaken his character. Let us take heed of the story of George Wasliiiigton and the colt. He obeyed the dictates of his conscience in even this, a matter of seem- ingly so little consequence. His is a model for honesty. One of the foundations of character is reverence, reverence to man and to God. The fruits of such reverence are many. F rom reverence to God we get an appre- HODGDON HIGH scHooL l 9 l Qu ciation of the values of life, and a calm confidence in the Supreme Being which helps us over the troubled seas of life. To revere man, means to respect his laws, to respect our obligations to him as a brother. In short reverence to man is only a sense of deep responsibility on our part to always do our best, in things both great and small. Such reverence begets respect, honor, friendship, character. The road to character is not an easy one. There is no elevator to lessen the steepness of the way. We must plod on, day by day building our characters with each deed we perform, each word we speak, yes, and even each thought we think. It is a difficult task. How many fall by the wayside with the self-excusing phrase, What's the use ? The cement of all things worth building is perseverance. High ideals are but empty air castles if we have not the perseverance to pave our way to them. Many must have been the hours when only perseverance led Thomas Edison on. VVhat have been the fruits of his unwillingness to give up? The electric lamp which illuminates the world, the phonograph which binds us to- gether by sound, the whole world over. To be a real success, one must have built a strong and fine character. But the coin of success is the golden nugget of friendship. Quantity cheapens the value of anything. Real friends are priceless, they are few. 'fLike diamonds they are, both precious and rare-false friends are like autumn leaves, found everywhere. Can we find a better example of success than Helen Keller? I think not. Kind and reverent she has won her way, though blind, through perseverance, to the pin- nacle of success. She possesses the respect, admiration and love of the world. Her purse of success is filled with real friends.

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HoDGDoN HIGH scHooL -r L 11 1 1- when you encounter them, overcome them by earnest effort. High School is a place of sports and studies. Through these we build our char- acter and form the habits which go with us through the rest of our lives. Through sports we may learn how to mingle with our fellow men. A clean athlete is always an outstanding character in any school. An honest student always commands uni- versal respect. Some of the lower classmen may ask, VVhy do I go to High School anywayu? This question is often heard among stu- dents. A president of a college, who has held this position for eleven years says, Go, because it will do for you in four years what no other experience can do. It will build your character, and fit you for life. Why should we build character? When a subject is discussed in these modern days, it always seems to lead to the ques- tion, Will this position pay me in money ? Another important question, which is not asked so often isg Will it pay me spiritually ? Let us see if a good character will pay us anything. First, let us look at the material side of it. A good character wins us friends. How empty is a life devoid of human friendship. Character commands the re- spect of our fellowmen and when we have gained their respect, we may also acquire their friendship. A man with a character usually appre- ciates responsibility, which is one of the chief qualifications needed to hold a worthwhile position. Yes, it pays a man materially to build a good character. To be able to command re- spect, and to efficiently discharge respon- sibility means larger opportunities. A well built character is a good dollar and cent investment. Spiritually, character is a wonderful profit to us. A person of good character usually has a healthy body because he naturally re- frains from those diversions which might injure his physical strength and mental ability. Health is necessary in life to ob- tain a position, and to keep it. Without health the richest man is poor. Character makes us stronger mentally as well as physically, for a healthy body is usually ruled by a clear mind. A noble character grants to man self- confidence, assurance, and peace of mind. He has self-confidence because he is al- ways sure that he has done no wrong. He has assurance because his mind is clear and he can very readily make decisions. VV hen he goes to bed, he has a peaceful mind. He can quickly go to sleep. No worries or misgivings trouble his rest. We spend about one-third of our lives in sleep. Is it not important, then, that we have restful sleep? Character pays us in spiritual coin. A person with a clear mind is able to prop- erly appreciate music, and the beauties of nature. These are a part of our religion. A person whose mind is mixed up with petty thoughts is unable to drink in the things that are worthy of attainment. Most important is the fact that char- acter needs no advertising. People see it in our conduct. Our habits show our char- acter. Let us all, therefore, schoolmates, in- vest in character. We are sure of gaining something materially and spiritually. I now bid you farewell, Juniors, un- derclassmen, and schoolmates all. I leave you with the greatest confidence that you will hold the standard of Hodgdon High School high, and will keep it polished