Ladoga High School - Canner Review Yearbook (Ladoga, IN)

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l l ECCLESIA sorrow now. At first it seemed only a deep melancholy sorrow, then it became more de- monstrative and rose and fell in big choking sobs. At lengthias if wearied and wom with grief, the strains died away in a plaintive wail. A deep sigh came from the old man in the chair, a sigh of utter content arising from a satisfied soul. For a time the stranger was silent, his thoughts still revelling in the glory and grandeur of the music. With a start he came to himself. Boy! Boy! he cried, tears in his eyes, fame and fortune right within your grasp, aye at your very finger tips. Ah, such improvising, such music, such glorious music! And again the delighted man seemed lost in meditation. Tomorrow, he said, you will go with me to the city and I shall teach you and you shall become a famous artist. Then the man explained to the wondertng boy that he, too, played the violin and told him his name which had even reached their ears. You will go? he continued, why in a year or so the world will be at your feet. Yes, surely you will go. But the boy shook his head sadly. You are kind, he said, and I thank you. Some day l do mean to go to the great city and study, but l cannot leave grandfather, I love my music and my violin, butl also love him. He is very old and feeble and will not live long. My place is with him. The guest was plainly disappointed, but he knew the boy was right. David. lt was the quivering voice of the old man who was now reclining in his chair. David, play my piece now. The lad lifted his violin and began the strains of the song Home Sweet Home. The stranger watched the boy as if fascinated. He had undoubtedly found a diamond in the rough, for despite the grand music it still lacked the finish that is acquired by training. When the last note had been played, the stillness could almost be felt, so oppressive it seemed. Grandfather, called David. The old man did not stir. Grandfather, he spoke louder. E He must be asleep, said the guest, and stepping over to the old man's chair he gently tried to arouse him, but all in vain. David, he said softly, he is asleep. David understood. Several days later a roughly clad boy carrying a violin case accompanied the musician to his studio in the city where he took his first step toward success. ALETHA HAYES.

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Uhr Eng Csrniua N the side of a mountain down in Virginia stood a little rude cabin, un- painted and unadorned, save for a riotous mass of vines which clambered about the little veranda. It was an evening late in August. Day had put on his jacket and around his burning bosom had buttoned it with stars. The moon was shining so brightly that it only served to emphasize the blackness of the shadows. On the little veranda were three figures. One was a feeble old man who was sitting in a low rocking chair, his chin resting on his hands, which were folded over the end of a stout hickory cane. The moonlight streaming in through the openings of the vines and falling in splashes on the bent figure, revealed snow-white hair and a kindly face traced with wrinkles. The other two occupants were standing full in the light of the moon. One was a young lad, probably sixteen or seventeen years of age, tall and slender with light curley hair and a face frank and winning. The other was plainly a city-bred man. His manner, his clothes, and whole appearance marked him as such. There was one noticeable feature about the man,-his hands. They were very white and the delicate fingers were long and tapering. They looked as if they might be the hands of a musician and, indeed, they wereg for this man was known far and wide as a master of the violin. His humble hosts however were unaware of this for when he had come to their door he had simply said that he would be unable to reach the village at the foot of the mountain before dark, and desired lodging for the night. He had been cordially welcomed and now, the evening meal over, they had come out onto the porch. i David, said the old man as he addressed the boy, his grandson, in a thin quivering voice, David, get your violin and play for your old granddaddyf' The boy shambled awkwardly into the house and soon returned with the instrument and bow. The former, a fine old Stradivarius, was somewhat scratched in placesg all indi- cations of stain or varnish had completely vanished. The stranger looked up with interest. AH he said, do'you play upon that. Yes sir, answered the boy, shyly. With loving fingers he tucked the instrument under his chin and grasped the bow lightly. There was no awkwardness now. Every movement, his whole attitude was grace itself. At first he seemed merely to draw the bow across the strings without bringing out any definite sound. Then there began a melody soft and low that rippled out on the night air in little gurgles like the sound of waters trickling and bubbling over rocks and falling in tiny cascades. Then the music changed and one thought of blue skies and green fields dotted with flowers with bees humming about them, and birds whose throats were swelled with song. But soon all the joy died out of the music as the sun fades from the sky when the storm clouds approach. The burden of the melody was :

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i A 15111111 in Migh Svrhnnl Nevins In Bvurlnp Ein Swann nf Idvrannal ilrapnnaihilitg, Wmmfsmssmawm N order that l may prove this to you it will be necessary for me to point out exactly the meaning of personal responsibility . Personal means per- taining to one's own self. Responsibility means reliability. Therefore, personal responsibility means reliance upon one's self. If a pupil will develop this trait, in time it will become a habit and he will do his own work in school. If he does his own lessons he will know what he has gone over, and he will go through high school without any trouble. But let us look at it from another point of view. If he does rely upon his fellow stu- dents it will tell sooner or later. Some day he will come to the examination and no one will be near him who will allow him to cheat and consequently he will not pass. His teacher may have had the impression that this student is doing his own work, but when he finds out it is some one else's work, that teacher will lose confidence and respect in that pupil. Cheating will not only affect him in his school work, but also in his later life. Take for instance the boy who cheated his way through school. That boy will never amount to anything. When he comes to problems in life which are hard he will not have back-bone enough to solve them, but will call on his neighbor to help him. But on the other hand, take a boy who has worked out his own studies in high school, though they be hard, that boy will make something out of himself and be a success in the world, for he had grit enough to stick to it in school until he got itg and so it will be in life, for when he comes to the hard things he will not say, I can't do that, but he will say, l'll try, and he will succeed. So I say it is best to develop the sense of personal responsibility when in the high school, for it will characterize you all through life and you will never regret it. PAUL GREENWAY. WWVW fav CONTRASTJ