Hodgdon High School - Aurora Yearbook (Hodgdon, ME)

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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

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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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HODGDON HIGH SCHOOL -if I 13 1 1- destructive distillation of soft coal, which produces tar, from which many gorgeous colors are made. Let us now consider the importance Of a chemical substance. For example: sul- phuric acid. 'Wfhat would happen if the United States government should sud- denly Hnd itself without sulphuric acid? Our country would be in a worse state of affairs than in any Of the greatest panics known in history. For this is used directly Or indirectly in nearly every fm- ished product. NVithout this fertilizer, re- fined petroleum, preparation of all other acids, and manufacturing of all other hardware would be impossible. These are only a few of the things for the produc- tion Of which sulphuric acid is necessary. In fact, sulphuric acid is used in larger quanities than any other compound. Consider now for a moment the waste that would be going on in the world today if it were not for the chemist. Men made cotton but threw away the chemist now uses the seeds cloth from seeds. The for making washing powders, roofing tar, dye stuff, paints, soaps, feed for animals, yarns, ropes, carpets, writing paper, fer- tilizers, and oils. He has saved millions of dollars a year on this one product, which formerly went to waste. From coal he has used every ounce of possible good. Every gas and vapor is turned to use. Perfumes, aspirin, flavor- ings, tar, illuminating gas, fertilizers, and a great number of dyes, from which be- fore had been only a dirty fuel. We can now name no industry which the chemist has not, in some way, made better for the enrichment of life. Let us now turn to the pleasures which the chemist has made possible for us to enjoy. Think of the motion pictures, which form probably our greatest source Of amusements. At present he produces a Elm itself from cotton, nitric acid, and camphorg though to look at the finished product one can scarcely believe it. He has recently thought of bringing to use a type of a non-infiammable film made from cel- louse acetate. The cost of this which is rapidly being reduced is the only thing which has prevented its more common use. VVhy is it necessary to say 1nOre? All of these facts though they are merely an introduction to some of the more com- plicated parts of chemistry are sufficient to show us the important part chemistry plays in the advancement of life itself. VVhere would we have been today, if it were not for the chemist? VVe prob- ably would have been still living in the dark ages. But since he has appeared the great questions now are, what will be the next thing for the chemist to produce? XYhere will it all end? Even a century ago men of science refused to prophesy on this question. But now our highest hope is that they will work with the doctors so that they may achieve the present goal of medicine, as to find a cure for such diseases as tuberculosis, and cancer. In the past and at present chemistry stands leader of all sciences which make for the enrichment of life. Who can fore- tell the future? YIERNA BENSON. PROPI-IECY One day, many years after I had grad- uated from Hodgdon, while I was inves- tigating a strange case, I came across an ancient copy Of the AURORA. What could have become of all my Old classmates,