Holbrook High School - Echo Yearbook (Holbrook, MA)

Page 9 text:

THE ECHO 9 Franco-Prussion war caused a loss in stature to the succeeding generation of one and one- half inches. What will be the effect on posterity of the killing or maiming of more than half the physically perfect men in Europe? Is this ques- tion to be lightly considered when we are judg- ing the effects ofwar on civilization? In the short time allotted to me I have en- deavored to point out the dangers which de- set the civilization of the world through the persistance of the institution of war. I have shown that war is wasteful and injurious, is a test of strength not of justice, has a harmful effect upon morals, and results in the physieal deteroration of mankind. Is it not time that we all gave our thoughts to devising means for its prevention and thus reap the full benefits of existence not only for ourselves but for future generations? Eva Skilling Class Prophecy. Living in the twentieth century has certain advantages. Aeroplanes, ten-cent stores, add- ing machines, slang, forty-eight story high buildings, dictaphones, gypsy moths, and a Panama Canal make, of course, this period famous in the world’s history. But, for myself, I confess a certain lingering disappointment not to be living in the age when future events can be foretold by consultation with the gods. All the Greeks were obliged to do when they wished to know whether a certain undertaking was to be successful or not, was to send a commission bearing costly gifts, to the Delphic Oracle, which would listen to the responses. Think of it, no momentous questions to be solved by oneself. Iva, desiring to know whet- her to become an authoress or a college presi- dent, would merely deposit a costly ring at the shrine of the Oracle and hear the leaves sigh, “Neither is great enough, be the first woman president of your country.’’ All Leonard would be obliged to do — but on thinking it over — he ought to hire a sooth-sayer by the j ' -ear. It cer- tainly would be inconvenient for him to be ob- liged to travel to an Oracle every time that Cadillac becomes stubborn. But, alas, those days are over and in order to foretell the future of my classmates’ tonight; I shall be obliged to answer an advertising circu- lar which I received this morning. Perhaps you would like to hear it. Ingelow Arel Station. June 22, 1915. Class Prophet of Sumner High School, Town Hall, Holbrook, Mass. Dear Madam: We have recently opened what is known as “The Delphos Prophetic Agency,’’ situated at the Ingelow Ariel Station. The future of your classmates will be revealed to you b)’ telephon- ing to us on the night of your graduation and calling number 1915. Yours for service, “Delphos Prophetic Agency.’’ That sounds promising. Here is a telephone which I may use. “Hello, give me Ingelow 1915. Is this the Delp- hos Prophetic Agency? This is the class prophet of the Ho ' brook High School. I received your letter this morning and as this is the evening of our graduation, I thought I would call up. Thank you very much. Whom would I like to know about first? Tell me about our class baby; it is customary to ask for the youngest first, is it not? Yes, rather small. She is now a nurse in Harwich Hospital, Baltimore. I am very glad to hear she likes her work so well. You don’t mean it!’’ Eva is engaged to one of the leading doctors in the city. The agent has told me how Eva met her husband; perhaps you would like to have me repeat it. Eva had been training at the Hardwick Hospital only a few months, when the following incident happened, one day the head-doctor told her to go down to the reception room and bring up-stairs a gentleman

Page 8 text:

8 THE ECHO of ambition for a world empire, we have never had the need of a large navy and a costly standing anny. But in Europe the situation has been vastly different. Even before the pres- ent war the burden of taxation arising out of the policy of armed peace had become almost unbearable. We can scarcely conceive how im- measurably these burdens arc now being in- creased by the present enormous loss . of life and property. The vital question therefore is, will civilization stand the strain if such con- ditions persist? Will not the breaking point sometime be reached ? Will not the day arrive when an overburdened humanity will either throw off the curse of war or succumb to its baneful effects? It is because of a realization of these questions which present world condi- tions suggest that I have chosen to discuss the relation of war to civilization in its vari- ous stages of development. War is probably the oldest institution in the world. We have but to read the history of all peoples both ancient and modern to learn that fighting has been the principal occupa- tion of men from time immemorial. But prog- ress has been made in warfare as in other things. Prehistoric n.an overcame his adversary single handed seeking no other justification for his action than the expediency h’s own deed afforded. “Then might made right.” Now na- tions seek to justify their entrance into war on moral or humanitarian grounds. This shows that there has been a change from fist right to law right. Although progress has thus been made still nations continue to settle their differences by an appeal to arms. Although there may have been justifiable wars in the past, wars in which the only way of gaining the right seemed to be by fighting for it — such was our own civil war — yet is war as an arbiter always to be relied unon? May not an unrighteous cause be backed by great strength? Any nation though its cause be just maybe conquered by a stronger force used for unjust purposes. Many of the powerful nations of the world in carrying out their desires for expansion have trampled justice underfoot. Can it be said in such cases that war is a test of justice? Is it not rather merely a test of strength ? Whatever our sympathies may be in the present war and however it may end it will be strength and not justice which will decide the issue. Therefore let us reject war as an arbiter and turn to reason. For not un- til nations agree to settle their disputes in this way will right always prevail. There is another phase of war which bears directly on civilization. War is now always wasteful and injurious to the victors as well as the vanquished. Frequently the loss of life and property is equally heavy on either side. As many as four nations in Europe admit that the war has already cost them nearly five billion dollars each and about a million and a half men. Nor docs this measure the total economic loss to the world for the bus- iness of neutral nations is also adversely affect- ed. It is estimated that during the nineteenth century the world has spent forty billion dollars on wars. Is teat the best investment that the nineteenth century could make with forty bill- ion dollars? Some think that the investment was worth while because it is claimed that wars develop courage, bravery and self-sacrifice as no other human institution. But is the courage that kills other men the right kind of courage to develop in a sane civilization? Docs not modem civilization afford much better fields for the exercise of courage and bravery and self-sacrifice which does not mean des- truction of the social order but constmetive social service? The world calls for a new kind of heroes; moral heroes, heroes of science and philosophy, heroes who shall have no brass bands and flags to lead them on. Let us now consider the biological results of warfare. The Darwinian theory teaches us that race development and improvement depends upon “the survival of the Attest.” In early times warfare resulted in the survival of the strongest of therace, for then man met his adver- sary in personal combat and the weak were al- ways overcome by the strong. But in modern warfare it is the unfit that survive and the fit that perish. Modern engines of destruction and the insistance that only the able bodied be sent to the front to be killed make it inevitable. Can this result otherwise than in the physical deterio- ration of mankind ? Statistics show that the

Page 10 text:

10 THE ECHO who was to be operated on that day. Of course E -a went down and found the gentleman as the head-doctor had said. She escorted him up to a room and began to prepare him for the operation, saying that the doctor was now busy but would operate on him very soon. ‘ Is that so,” said the man wnth a twinkle in his eye, ‘‘I hardly believe the doctor will oper- ate on me - not to-day at least.” “Don’t you know that I am Doctor Lawrence and that I came here to witness the operation the doctor is now performing?” he asked. Eva did not know what to do or say, but she had the pres- ence of mind to escort him to the operating room. Sometime afterw ' ard Dr. Law ' rcnce told Eva that one reason he liked her was because she obeyed orders. You see she got her training in obedience from carrying out Earle’s instructions in class meetings. Now I suppose that she is happy obeying Dr. Lawrence’s orders. Well, I guess I’ll try Elizabeth now and see how she is progressing. “Give me 1915. What, the line is busy?” I’m sure of one thing, any- how, she w on’t be a public speaker. My, but how she hat.d to give her graduation essay. El ' zabeth was the only blonde in our class and r.ally, I never heard of a girl having as many nicknames as she did. “Liza,” “Lizz ' ie,” “Lid ’ “Bessie,” “Blondie.” and “Angel Face” were a few’ of them. Guess Til try again. “Hello, 1915 pk ase. Is this Ingelow? Please say that again. Elizabeth is a domestic science teacher at the Holbrook High School. I do remember how she used to bring to school many different kinds of cake that she had made. Didn’t she used to tantalize Mitchell, who sat in front of her? I am really surprised. Hold the line, I must tell that story,” One day Elizabeth was show- ing a class how to broil lobsters. (She always did hate crawling, wriggling things in the biolo- gy class and she used to be, oh so afra ' d, of even a tiny mouse. Well, to tell the truth. I’m not really fond of mice myself.) To resume, of course she had to take up the lobster and it w’ouldn’t do to let the class know that she w’as afraid of such an insignificant thing. But, alas, the lobster reached for her fingers and didn’t she scream! It affected her so that she was taken straight to the teacher’s office. It looks as though Elizabeth w’ould be obliged to omit lessons on eels, frog’s legs and clams hereafter. Anyhow, I am glad she has a position that she likes even if she does have an accident now and then and I’m sure the pupils like her. “Oh, Central, please don’t cut me off. Hello 1915? Now I would like to know the future of our one lone “puer”. What! you haven’t any trace of him? I wish you would send one of your agent .s out in an aeroplane and try to find him.” Earle was our class president and was the most studious boy in the whole class. I should- n’t be surprised to find him editing “Midsum- mer Night’s Dream” for high school pupils, as he was particularly fond of English. “What? The agent has returned?” Why, this is so exciting. He says that he noticed that a great race was about to take place and naturally stopped to see it. It was a very close contest and when the winner’s name was announced it proved to be Earle Leonard, now a well-known auto racer, and builder of the “Nonoperis” car. “Just a moment, Ingelowc” “Nonoperls,”- that sounds like Latin Well, here is where my Latin can be useful. “Non” means “no” and “opens” is the genffive of “opus” meaning “work”. Aha, “No Work” I wonder why he didn’t call it the “Earle” car. Perhaps he thought “Nonooeris” and “Earle” were synonomous. It must be a car which starts itself, fills itself, oils itself, runs itself, and ruins itself. Well, I wonder whether it pays for itself. I don’t suppose that worries Earle, but it interests me. I can remember when Earle first learned to run a machine. He was a senior at school when his “papa” bought a car, and Earle soon learned to run it. He always took the boys to the ball games, but never the girls. “Now I would like to know about the smart- est girl in our class. You know whom I mean, I presume. Yes, that is her name, but her mid- dle name is L-e-w-i-s-e, not L-o-u-i-s-e. Don’t ever say “Louise” when she is around. Yes, I know that Iva graduated from Boston Univer- sity. So she is the author of the book you mem- tioned. A volume of her poems was sent to