Lyman Hall High school - Singer Chronicle Yearbook (Wallingford, CT)

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THE CHRONICLE. V. portunity, they enter with all their might upon what interests them, and make a success of their new tasks because after years of wandering the work appeals to them. Throughout all history it has been the men of cool daring, men without fear, men who sacrifice self to attain a desired end, who have accomplished great things for their country and humanity; it is such brave men that the world honors, renowns, and will remember forever. Methods of warfare are continually being changed as science and invention advance, but the leading men of every war are of the same type, even though they may lead in different lines of work. They are the men of strong courage, having a valiant disregard for danger to themselves, though thoughtful of others. Such a leader was General Grant, who rose to fame in the Civil War. Grant’s boyhood had been of a happy, care-free nature; he enjoyed the sports it afforded. He was rather reckless; breaking in horses was a favorite pastime of his, because its excitement appealed to him. When Grant was appointed to West Point, he did not want the honor, and was consoled only by the thought that it would give him a chance to see the world a little, especially New York and Philadelphia, where he tarried for many days to see the sights. Grant’s opportunity came to him at the outbreak of the Civil War, when he volunteered and rose rapidly to the position of General of the Union Army. Even after success and fame rewarded him, he was quiet and unassuming, and was called “the man of silence.” Grant’s greatness was recognized as General in the Civil War and later as President of the United States. Another striking example, who lived more recently, was Admiral George Dewey, a leader in a different line. Dewey commanded the Navy during the Spanish War, and was noted for his coolness and bravery. His love of mischief, while young, was astonishing. Later. George Goodwin of New Hampshire remarked about him, “George is sort of reckless sometimes, but hang me if I can help liking him. He’s honest and full of grit, and he’ll be heard from one of these days.” Surely enough, George was heard from and will never be forgotten. After Grant, a hero of the army, and Dewey, a hero of the navy, came a man, not unlike them in character and ability. This man was Raoul Luf-bery, a hero of the air. Like Grant, he wanted to see the world, and was a silent, unassuming man; like Dewey, no one could help liking him, and like both, his memory will live. At an early age, Lufbery fearlessly set off alone to see the world. Being of a restless nature, fond of excitement and adventure, the life of a wanderer appealed to him. Traveling offered a variety of experiences which Lufbery dearly loved. He was, indeed, a “soldier of fortune,’’ and once said that if he ever settled down, he wanted to do so in Egypt, for there the climate was suited and attractive for vagabonds. He visited many foreign countries, and while in the Philippines, he enlisted. There, for two years, he served his country. When first he beheld the aeroplane, he saw an opportunity to render service and, at the same time, have some excitement. When this war broke out, as Fate would have it, he was in France. Here was his opportunity. He was willing to turn his abilities to the good of humanity and at once offered his services to France to fight for the freedom of the world. France could not claim him except as a righteous cause claims

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IV. THE CHRONICLE. dom and careful consideratian. Yet this policy of suiting the action to the deed, Mr. Wilson’s critics have defined as lack of policy; having a courage of his convictions sufficient to persevere in it, they have termed vacillation. “Too proud to fight” is the attribute given a man who has placed his ideals above his feelings, his country above his popularity, but who has at no time placed peace above honor. In every way within his reach he proved himself first in peace, as long as peace was possible, but no one was more prompt to take action when more vigorous measures were necessary. While such a president is with them, the American people should never fail to show their appreciation for his leadership. In 1916, Mr. Wilson was re-elected to his office, a sign that the voters of the country approved of his first administration and that in their eyes he had made good. There was no mystery about this popularity, it was merely the result of everything he had done. Among the reasons for his success are his boundless activity, his efficiency, and his statesmanship. Though he has had enough duties as president to discourage an ordinary man, such is the efficiency with which he works, and so well does he apportion his time that he is always ready to show his interest in any patriotic movement. The Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, relief committees, all have found him a willing listener to their appeals, and a devoted worker in their behalf. However, not in his untiring energy, not in his marvelous efficiency, but in his statesmanship, his admirers say he has proved himself greatest. At all times he has placed before the people his plans, his inten-tentions, his principles in simple, forceful English—English alike comprehensible to the school boy and the Congressman. Through his speeches, clear, concise and to the point, and through their widespread circulation by the committee of Public Iinformation, it has been possible for the average man and woman in this country to know just why the United States is in this war, what the nation considers its duties as a belligerent and how it intends to fulfill them. In sharp contrast to the individual knowledge of the average German citizen concerning the war is the condition of public understanding and independent thinking in America. For this maintenance of a free spirit in our democracy we have the statesmanship of our president to thank. A man who stands for America first, who is every inch an American, but who can look beyond the borders of his own country and see the need and suffering of others, a man who is giving his all for the support of a noble cause, a man who is first in peace and first in war and should also be first in the hearts of his countrymen. Now, if ever, there should be unity in essentials. This is no time to question why of a man who has already proved his worth. It is our duty to get behind the president and stay there. Catharine Keeler ’i8 AMERICA’S LATEST HERO—MAJOR RAOUL LUFBERY It is said: “There are souls that cannot be anchored; no haven can hold them long. They must ever be off for new experiences. For them, every day dawns as the invitation to go forth to fresh adventure. Such are the ones who make our great achievements for us.” In their youth, perhaps, these men have not shown that they would some day be famous, because of their love of fun and adventure, their roving spirit and delight in trying something new. Their adventurous, care-free minds are often interested, at times, in some great object. Grasping this op-

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VI. THE CHRONICLE. the sympathy of a just man and Lufbery, always athirst for adventure, and wishing to aid France, offered that country his services as an air fighter. There is a certain chivalry in this warfare, for in the air, foe meets foe on equal terms, and the conqueror overthrows his antagonist because of superior skill and courage. Lufbery’s was the nature that could appreciate chivalry. Lufbery was loved and respected by his comrades and all who knew him, and soon acquired fame because of repeated victories, winning for himself several medals for bravery. His undaunted spirit as he fearlessly brought down so many enemy planes was admirable. But with all these victories and the honor which so justly came to him, Lufbery remained modest and unspoiled. He cared nothing for display, and would rather face twenty Boche planes than attend a banquet given in his own honor. When the United States entered the war, Lufbery offered his services to his own country and was given the rank of Major. A few weeks ago, Raoul Lufbery died, as he had lived, fighting heroically. His death was mourned not only by his own country, but by all the allied nations. He was deservedly regarded as our greatest air fighter and a brave hero. No American has distinguished himself wtih more valiant deeds in this war. Having served with the French for so long, France recognizes what this man has done, for he was one of the Americans who served from the beginning of the war. As the body of Lufbery, after years of wandering over land and sea, was laid in its final resting place, while the planes of his comrades swooped down from above and dropped flowers on the grave, a French general paid this tribute of words to the fallen hero, showing not only how the French regarded Lufbery, but their esteem for the United States. What he said is this: On behalf of my comrades of the French army, I wish to pay respectful tribute to one of the heroes of the air, who was victorious eighteen times; a son of the noble and generous republic which came to our assistance to save the liberties of the world. “Rest peacefully, Major Lufbery, close by the martyrs to our great cause. Your glorious example will inspire in us the spirit of sacrifice, till the day when humanity’s enemies shall be finally vanquished. “Good-by.” Mary Loomis i8 AMERICAN IDEALS From the time of the Revolution there has always been a tendency in America for the fusion of the interests of North, East, South and West. With this Great World War, came the hour of ultimate fusion. When the United States declared war against Germany on April 6, 1917, the American people rose as one man with one heart and one mind to assert and protect their common ideals—the ideals of all America. The underlying principle of all American ideals is liberty. By that we do not mean license or lawlessness, but liberty according to the definition given by Stuart P. Sherman: “The ideal of the American is external freedom and inner control; the individual looks after his conduct, and the government looks after his liberty.” Upon this principle the life and vitality of our democracy depends, and in turn, the strength of this principle depends upon the spirit and integrity of American ideals. A great factor in American life to-day is the morale, the social and religious ideals of our nation. In enumerating our social ideals, we must not