London Normal School - Spectrum Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

Page 11 text:

MMTOKIAI. STAFF Top row, left to right — J. C. Webster, Editor-in-Chief; G. W. Hofferd, M. A., Consulting Editor; J. Lutton, Form 7, Biographer; J. S. Gemmell, Form. 1, Boys ' Athletics. Bottom row — V. Gregory, Form 5, Girls ' Athletics; M. Mitchell, Form 6, Biographer; L. Carter, Form 2, Jokes; K. Gilmore, Form 3, Literary Society; W. Kincade, Form 4, Poetry. 7

Page 10 text:

Top row, left to right — Mr. J. McEachren, B.A., B. Paed.; Mr. T. Clarke, B.A., B. Paed.; Mr. Slatter; Mr. McKone, B.A.; Mr. White, B.A., I). Paed. Middle row — Mr. S. Pickles; Mr. G. W. Hofferd, M.A., B. Paed.; Mr. W. Prendergast, B.A., B. Paed. {Principal)] Mr. A. Stevenson, B.A., B. Paed. Bottom row — Miss Heffernan, Miss Gahan, Miss Everson, Miss Emery. 6

Page 12 text:

o L NE of the greatest traits ot civilization is no- bility. Since the stand- ards of our civilization must be measured by its ideal ot true nobility, I wish to define as briefly as possible some ot the attributes of true nobility. The highest eulogy which can be paid to anyone is to say that he is noble. No- bility is comprehensive ot all the virtues and all the graces. There is no word representing character and esteem which is so all embracing. For some words it seems almost impossible to secure an adequate definition. The feeling ot their meaning is deeper than any impression synonyms can con- vey. Such a word is nobility. If one were to attempt the substitution of any other word, such as goodness, benevolence, or justice, he would find that neither separately nor collectively do they fully express its meaning. It can only be stated by circumlocution and even then inadequatelv. Nobility engenders sympathy for others. The appeal which is made to a noble person is answered almost before it is presented, because his con- sciousness of the needs of others is so acute that the meaning is compre- hended intuitively. Nobility is the expression not of the intellect so much as of the soul, not merely of the mind, but of the heart. Nobility of feelings involves sympathy with all that is true and good; it raises the standard of our civilization by dissatisfaction with all that is low and degrading, while at the same time it is conscious of harmony with everything that tends to uplift our status of Christian civilization. Then there is also nobility ot character. The feeling has become habit and forms what is known among men as character. This attribute of nobility is often obtained by contact with the highest ideals to be found in our civilization. The truly noble character although acquainted with life in all its different phases, absorbs only that which is best and uses this for character building material. Character is the only permanent thing in life. True Nobility—; . Campbell Webstet Feelings pass; thoughts and imaginations pass; dreams pass; work remains. Only your character goes with you into eternity. We are told that not a sound has ever ceased to vibrate through space, that not a ripple has ever been lost in the ocean. Much more is it true, that not a sincere thought nor a pure resolve nor a loving act has ever gone in vain. They are all built into the solid struc- ture ot character that is eternal. The qualities which must be sought in order to secure true nobility are a lofty purpose, deep sympathies and absolute self-sacrifice. None is sufficient without the others. What then is the purpose which must enter into and constitute a noble life? This purpose must be both general and particular. It desires to make the best of society as a whole and the best of each individual mem- ber. It serves the whole society by serving units of which it is composed. Hence, nobility does not neglect doing good in what seems trivial and insignificant ways. Nothing is too small and nothing is too large for a noble soul to do. This is the truly fundamental method by which society can be benefited, as it is made up of so many interdependent units. True nobilitv is possible to all. One may be truly noble and recog- nized as such though destitute of learning, scholarship, office or rank. It matters little whether one be in public position or private station, in royal palace or in humble cottage, in professional lite or in daily manual labor, there is no place where he will not have opportunity for service. Wherever generosity, self-sacrifice, purity, truth and fidelity are found, there will be that which will tend to uplift the standards of our civilization — true nobility — as Lowell says: — Be Noble! and the nobleness that lies In other men sleeping but never dead Will rise in majesty to meet thine own. a