Lee Academy - Crescent Yearbook (Lee, ME)

Page 14 text:

I4 THE CRESCENT example of how transportation is being developed in our large cities. There are three distinct modes: the elevated rail- way, the surface car and the subway. Not only is the ground space utilized to the best advantages but we now use un- derground passages and even the air. If America advances during the next century as she has in the past, what will be the result? She will be the wonder of modern civilization as Greece was of the ancient world. She will be the country to which all people will turn as a model of power, skill and achievement. PAUL W. COFFIN, '11. .,i+-+1.- ADDRESS TO UNDERGRADUATES It may seem strange to you, students and parents, that one so young and ten- der of years as the unoffending victim now before you, should be here to give advice to the undergraduates. But as I have had to put up with a good deal my- self from teachers, parents and sopho- mores, in the last four years, I think it ought to be my privilege to give a little advice to others before I receive my diploma. To begin with, preparatory students should not fall so deeply in love as some have during the last year.' Such affairs 'should not take place until the freshman year at least. Such' Scholars should not take model lessons either until they are farther advanced, for people might offend their dignity by mistaking them for fifth grade pupils. Freshmen you will be sophomores next year, but let me whisper to you :- Don't follow the footsteps of the present sophomore class and think that you are smarter than the seniors. You are apt to get left if you do. Freshmen ought to live in such a manner that they may be able to surmount all obstacles, even Mr. Verrill's Ancient History. Here is something that may be an in- spiration to the sophomores:-Live and learn, you may become seniors some day. To the present juniors-seniors of next year:-Turn over a new leaf, follow in our footsteps and you will find all the hard work and trouble you need. You are small now, to be sure, but cheer up, the senior year is a wonderful tonic. It may be possible, although we doubt it, for you to grow enough in body and in brains to graduate by the hrst of next June. There are a few special students whom I feel it my duty to advise. Please ex- cuse me for speaking to you publicly since it is for your good. Mr. Flanders, you ought to room at the Dew Drop next year. You will find that it will cost you less for board, and much less for footwear. Pearlie, don't be discouraged because you didn't receive any pay this year for breaking the roads between tl1e corner grocery and Sand Hill. I know that it would have been a great help to you, but

Page 13 text:

THE CR ESCENT I3 of the possibilities of a great nation, they did not even know of the boundless re- sources of this country and the glorious future of their descendants. Among these determined people who first settled this wild land, were the fathers and grandfathers of some of the greatest authors and statesmen the world has ever known. Look at our long list of poets: Longfellow, Wllittier, Poe, Holmes, Lowell and Bryant, men who are read by all nations, men to whom the world turns for examples of beauty, ex- pressions of sympathy, and appreciation of nature. This country has also produced some of the greatest statesmen of the world. Every country has its heroes, our list is lVashington, Franklin, Patrick Henry, Webster, Clay, Lincoln, Garfield and Mc- Kinley, men who have come forward when the need was greatest and by whose courage and foresight our country has rapidly progressed. These men saw the possibilities of our nation and planned for its advancement. What nation of tl1e earth can show a better record than America in the up- building of secondary schools, colleges and universities? Our forefathers real- ized that no nation could progress when in ignorance, and so they laid the founda- tions for the great institutions of our land. Harvard University, founded about four hundred years after Cambridge or OX- ford, yet ranks with them as one of the foremost colleges of the world. At one time we thought our boys and girls must got to Europe to complete their education, but since conditions have changed and the countries of Europe are now sending a large number of students to the United States. Each year this country is receiving more and more stu- dens from the countries of the East. Our educational system is one of the best in the world. Even Germany who claims to be hrst in kindergarten work is sending men to this country to study our methods. VVhcn this government was first found- ed it was looked upon with contempt by European rulers. They said that it would last but a few years. Look at it today! It is one of the foremost nations of the' earth. Do the leading world powers now regard this nation with con- tempt? No! they hold it in reverence and look at it with respect. A hundred years ago, we were paying tribute to the Pirate States of Northern Africa that our trading ships might go in peace. VVhat country at the present time dares mention tribute! No country of the globe has surpassed America in the development of great industries. More miles of railroad ex- tend throughout the United States than through all the countries of Europe com- bined. The beautiful streams of New England which were scarcely used by our forefathers now turn thousands of n1ill wheels. New York City furnishes us a striking

Page 15 text:

THE CR ESCENT I5 come back and try it again next year. Perseverance will win in the end. Mr. Houghton, stay in school until you finish your course. Don't get married yet, you are young. VVait a few years. Then perhaps the income of your fox farm will be suliicient to support a wife. Undergraduates, there are matters, not comic, but real, concerning which I consider it both my duty and privilege to say a few words this evening. First of all, get yourself established in a regular course. Do not drop out for a term or a half term and loose your place in the class, because when you come back you will find that you cannot take up the same studies and join your former classmates. You will then feel out of place, and in all probability will be dis- couraged and leave school for good. In after years you will look back and regret that you did not make the 'most of your opportunities to obtain an education. Thorouglmess in the freshman year is the one essential thing, for on the work of this year chiclly depends the success or failure of your school course. If you are careless in your freshman year, you will have to work harder the other three years and then not get as much out of your school work as you would if you had been thorough at first. One of the strongsst incentivesito keep a student in school and to do his work well is to enter with a class in the fall and stay with that Llass for one year. He will then feel it his duty to himself, aswell as to others, to stay with that class until he graduates. It is customary in most high schools and academies to elect class officers at the beginning of the freshman year that they may be preparing to meet the expenses of their senior year. I should think this might be a good plan to adopt here because class meetings and class parties help to develop class spirit and this in turn developes good school spirit, which is so necessary to make a school progressive. Debating and public speaking are things which I think you as students ought to take an interest in. These things will be a great help not only to yourself but also to the school. They will give you self control and enable you to talk to an audience without having an attack ofwstage fright. The boys es- pecially ought to consider the help to be obtained in this way for they will have occasion to express their opinions in town meetings and various other public gatherings, and to be able to express them clearly will be a great help. ' Athletics have an important place in school life. Recreation is necessary to keep the body in good physical con- dition, and nothing will do this better than good clean athletics. Then again a good physical condition will strengthen the mind and enable you to do better school work. Another thing in which you ought to take more interest is church work. Take an active part yourself. Church work