Hodgdon High School - Aurora Yearbook (Hodgdon, ME)

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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

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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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THE AURORA -r I 1 II '- from all blemishes. May you so keep it that when you step into the future, as we are now doing, you may be able to praise it and remember it with proud hearts, as do we, the class of 1930. If you lJrat'e trouble with a laugh, lf you do tasks by more than half, lf you afceouzjvlish things worthwhile, And meet all duties with a smile, lf you forget to frown and grieve, If otlzeris troubles, you relieve, If you are kind in every deed, Some day you surely will succeed. MARIETTA NASON. THE RELATION OF CHEMISTRY TO THE ENRICHMENT OF LIFE Man was brought into the world with nothing, and through years of struggle and toil has added little to it. As life is the transformation of matter and of energy, and since Chemistry is the science of transformation of matter, it is easily seen that chemistry is the key to health, livelihood and the enrichment of the lives of the future generation. Since health 'is the most important phase of life, let us consider what the chemist has done for us in that respect. He has anaylized food and stated their contents and value for the body. Thus the healthy and the unhealthy can secure the right diet needed in their bodies. The chemist has also found cures for many diseases that for many years before were believed to be incurable. He has sepa- rated from the habit forming drug the part which causes the immunity to pain, and thus producing the new substance 2 1 proeain, better than cocaine, for it has the same effect, without poison characteristic. He has purihed our foods and drinking water, and as a result has cut down the rate of contagious diseases. Today we may prepare foods by arti- fical fats, which are more healthy than lard. Crisco, one of these artificial fats is made by passing hydrogen gas through pure, refined cotton seed oil. There are many other household products, such as baking powder, baking soda, and oleo- margarine, made in chemistry labarato- ries, fiour is whitened by sulphur dioxide gas, and sugar is decolorized by bone black. The chemist has planned, for the home today an iceless refrigerator, which maintains the same temperature the year around. ' Let us now look into one of our modern living rooms. Is there anything in the room with which the chemist has not worked? There is not a thing, from the tiled ceiling to the covered floor that has not been brought to use by the chemist. Even the books in the bookcase have been brought to use by him. There is also another thing for which the women especially are thankful to the chemist-the production of artificial silk. The working girl of today, when seen on the street. is hardly known from the rich- est daughter in town. The silk which is called rayon is made from cellulose, a chemical substance which is claimed to be the first man-made fibre ever produced. And the only one form of textiles that may be produced that does not depend on crops or animal life. It is already superior to other silks, for the chemist has found a way to produce it at a very low price. Along with the artificial silk he has brought to use the modern dyes. These artificial colors are actually made by the