Le Roy Central School - O At Kan Yearbook (Le Roy, NY)

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THE OAT-KAN 1912 Valedictory: Kindness Claire Smith S we are assembled here tonight, dear class of 1912, with our parents, friends, and teachers wishing us all success in life, does not the meaning of this great occasion sink deep into your souls? This night, which is so perfectly named Commencement, does not simply mean the end of the school year, but marks that period in our lives, when children no longer, taking up our real tasks, we begin the work for which we were created. Perhaps we do not realize now how important it is that our start into the world should be guided along the right pathg that we should be made to understand, as well as we can, just what in life to work for and just what to avoid. Yet class of 1912, there is a way. Whatever we do and however we live, we must put our ideals far above us, so that our life will be a continual strife to reach up and try to make our- selves as perfect as they. Life without any ideal is barren and worthless, for in carrying out our ambitions we exert the best of our intellect, character and physical strength. Let us look forward into the future. It may bring wealth, which would mean much worldly happiness, it would make us in a measure lords of all material things. But can mercenary joys satisfy the many-sided nature of man? The answer is obvious. Man cannot get away, wholly, from his Divine inheritance, and so he requires the spiritual gifts of love, of honor, of religion and of peace. So, if we wish to get the most out of life in this beautiful world, let us labor with something more in mind than the gaining of mere riches. In working out and developing our talents we may gain such perfection as to place our names among the annals of the famous. Fame, that is the result of labor, can only be honorable and bring much homage, but like every other such acquirement it has its emptiness and illusions. Fame creates for its members a sphere of its own, which bars them from intimate sympathy with most classes of men, so for one, who finds fellowship with all, a happiness, this renown would be a barrier,--limiting his possibilities. We cannot hope to linger in the minds of men for long, - And fear not lest existence closing your account And mine, should know the like no more, The eternal Saki from that bowl has poured Millions of bubbles like us, and will pour. But do not think, Seniors, that wealth nor fame have no advantages in our lives, for they can aid in the great work of service to our fellowmen, which after all must bring the most satis- faction and the greatest harvest. As we go about our daily duties, making ourselves as perfect as we can, we do not fully realize the widespread influence that just our own life can have upon those with whom we come in contact. Everyone with whom we are acquainted exerts some in- fluence, trivial or great, upon our lives. As we go on we realize more and more that we owe, as a duty, an exemplary manner of life to our associates. As some one beautifully expresses it, This learned I from the shadow of a tree That to and fro did sway upon the wall, Our shadow-selves-our influence-may fall Where we can never he. As substances are made up of atoms, so big, broad lives are made up of little things. From day to day, the kind words, the needed services, the willing aids, the sympathy and encourage- ment just given by one person will make many lives happier, braver and stronger. just think what a wonderful place this world would be, if each person thought more about others, and did all in his power to make other lives happier, if each person followed the Divine law of loving others as himself even as did the Great Teacher, then every day would be a generous harvest to the soul, and bring peace of conscience together with heartfelt happiness. The fruits of Such 3 course are so numerous, that only a trial could make us realize them,-but one thing is sure, our friends would be many, our lives happier and our souls uplifted. There are many other courses of life that we might consider, but this last holds good for any that is to be worth while. Let us dear classmates, think over our future lives and decide in a general way how we can live for , 7 You know how little while we have to stay, And, once departed, may return no more. In cur Commencement from the refuge of L. H. S. let us think how best we can live to make

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T H E O - A T - K A N 1 9 1 2 Class Officers VERA ROGERS, President B. FRANKLIN BUNDY, vice Pres AGNES WOOSTER, Secretary FRED R. WALKLEY, Treasurer

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THE OAAT-KAN 1912 her name renowned, and to bring the greatest joy to ourselves and to our fellowmen. And now Farewell-a word that has been and must be A sound that makes us linger-yet-farewell. The Divine Touch Gertrude Murnan T the foot of the hill, and peacefully nestling in the valley, is the little village of Nazareth. The dwellings of the inhabitants are scattered here and there, and the children are run- ning to and fro. A number are playing in the mud, making images of animals, fish, birds, and some, more confident, attempting to mould statues of human beings. One little boy stands apart, and when he reluctantly compares his image with those of his playmates, he always finds their's superior. Still he works on, and finally he fashions a bird, almost perfect, he thinks, only to discover that the work of the others far surpasses his. Sad and disappointed, he slowly goes back to his solitary place. Soon they see coming toward him, in a golden halo, a slender youth with yellow hair, and a face filled with compassionate tenderness. He advances to the side of the silent worker. Laying one hand softly on the shoulder of the little fellow, He takes the bird with the other, pats it softly here and there, and lifting the image to his lip, blows into it. Immediate- ly it dies away amid the exclatnations of amazement of the little group. Delight fills the heart of the little one. His work is the chosen workp his work is the best, it is alivey it has received the Divine Touch. - As it was with the little child of Nazareth, so it is with us of today, so it has been since the dawn of creation. Only that is good which is so perfected. How many have attempted great things! How few have succeeded. We have many poets, but few great poets, many musicians, but few great musiciansg many artists, but few great artists. Hundreds of men have striven to wear the poet's laurel---men who have attained a certain eminence, as Pope with his poetic form, polished to monotony, a Southey, or an Austin. Each perfect in form, but calling forth no smile, no tear--lacking life and emotion. But our twelve centuries of literature are not without its treasures, for we have a Milton's masterhand upon the organ keys, Sha.kespeare's wondrous characters, a Tennyson to give us the very soul of the nine- teenth century, a Chaucer to brighten the dawn of literature in England, each perhaps no greater in meter, rhythm or rhyme than a hundred others, but their work, having received the Divine Touch, is filled with life and soars high, carrying us with them into a clearer, purer atmosphere. But it is not in poetry alone that we find there is something lacking. It is also true in paint- ing. Think of the numbers who have given up home, friends, fortune, yes and sometimes life itselii to try to gain a name for themselves in this careerg to be recorded among the great artists of the world, only to be doomed to failure in the end. But we have a Landseer, a Raphael, a Reynolds, a Millais, a Bonheur, a Rubens. One has but to look at Landseer's Peace to be carried out of one's self by the tranquility of the scene: the flocks dozing on the hillside, the child- ren enjoying their noon-day rest, the dog basking in the sun, the long, level stretch of land and sea. All are as similar things in other pictures, but a mystic silence broods over all, a light here, a shadow there-and the picture is a thing apart. So with the Sistine Madonnag so with Corot's unrivalled trees, and with Millais' work worn figures,---there is something, not in colon not in form, not in setting-it is the Divine Touch. As it is in poetry, music, and painting, so it is in all things. All that was lacking in the, bird, which the little boy of Nazareth fashioned, was the Divine Touch. So it is with the work of man. A chosen few achieve that which is almost perfect. They continue through discourage-- ment and the jeers of the world, and at last the Touch Divine sets a seal upon their work and we- say: Lo, he is a genius. Our part is to work, to strive, to grow, so that our work may be lit for the Master's eye,--and mayhaps He may give to our poor effort that which will send it soar- ing like the bird into clearer skies and higher places, and if we be so rewarded, at least, we may hope for that clear vision that will permit us to follow the flight of others,---the result of the labors of our fellowmen, and understand and appreciate the Divine Touch.