Machias High School - Margaretta Yearbook (Machias, ME)

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THE MARGARETTA 13 only in warfare and government but in industrial and social development, Today we can hold our own with any nation in education, literature, and invention. We are now an industrial leader of the world. As the United States developed into a great and rich nation, her leaders found themselves faced with many serious prob- lems. The farmers were calling upon the government for relief. The railroads were making money by unfair means. People in many parts of the country were loudly demanding a better tariff system. Labor and Capital were at swords points and their quarrels were making coopera- tion impossible. Government positions were being awarded to incompetent peo- ple. Several of the leading cities were being robbed by dishonest politicians, Courageous and honest statesmen and public spirited citizens have helped to right some of these wrongs. We still have some of these problems today but they are rapidly being ironed out. Soon another problem of Freedom arose, freedom of Race, This brought on the Civil War when the South and the North parted. It seemed the end of the Union was near. Finally, the war over, this big question arose: should the South be punished or treated as though there had been no war? The latter was decid- ed upon. Today, no matter you are, you are equal to all whether white, black, or yellow, In the last eighty years we in two world wars, defending our own freedom and helping other people to be- come free. Now some men predict a third world war. If there is, we will do as we have done before help other people regain their freedom, and protect our own. We are up against one of the biggest what race other men have been trials of our career. Can we down Com- munism? Without a war? In the earlier days of our country, the United States was more or less isolated from the other countries of the world. It took months to cross the Atlantic Ocean in vessels and this was the only way of traveling from one continent to another. Today a person can go from one contin- ent to another in a matter of hours. This was what brought on the big problems of world peace. More and more nations have come to realize that war has no place in a civilized world. The death, destruction, and suf- fering involved more than off set any gains in riches and territory. The desire for peace is growing constantly and in recent years the leading nations have been working together to eliminate war as a means of settling disputes, Throughout all countries, people are watching the efforts of the peace-makers with intense interest. The United Nations is striving for world peace but, up to the present time. they have not had enough authority, The United States will help for world peace and will go more than half way, but if any country tries to overcome us, we will light. Many nations have patented their Con- stitutions after ours and probably many more will. We want to spread democracy as we are doing today to people behind the Iron Curtain and if these people want to adopt our way of life, we will help them attain it. ln the years before us, the people who come after us will uphold this tradition. As long as our freedom is threatened, the American people will defend it. REBECCA CARROLL '52

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12 THE MARGARETTA win. They asked each other, How? We were a new nation, untried, without an army, navy, or enough supplies. Only one thing stood in our favor. We were fight- ing on our own ground. It was men like George Washington, Thomas jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, who believed we could gain our freedom, who carried us through. Finally on july 4, 1776, the Liberty Bell rang out announcing to the people of Philadelphia the signing of the Declar- ation of Independence. It is hard to take a group of people with different interests, living in different parts of a country, carrying on different indus- tries, and bring them together to work for a common cause. How much more diffi- cult then must it be to band together a group of states! Though the earliest attempts to unite the American colonies failed, the fact that each attempt came nearer to success spurred on the Coun- try's statesmen, and led at last to a glorious success. The Articles of Confederation were tried and failed. Since this gave Con- gress no power, each state could do as she pleased. The individual cared nothing for the weak government represented by the Articles of Confederation, All he was in- terested in was his own state. Soon it became apparent that something would have to be done. In 1786, some of the most brilliant men in the land met at a Philadelphia meeting, known as the Federal Convention. Washington, jeffer- son, Franklin, james Madison, and Alex- ander Hamilton were there. It is well that such strong-minded men attended because they had important work to do. The sessions were stormy and progress was slow but each agreement reached brought the men a little nearer their goal-a practical government for the United States. Those men accomplished in a few weeks what has governed the people of the United States for more than a cen- tury and a half-The Constitution of the U. S. Then came the problem of getting all the states to adopt the Constitution. Within two years nine states had joined. Soon afterward the other four states joined and all thirteen states became a single nation. Long years after the Atlantic Ocean had been crossed and the Atlantic Coast of the United States built its civilized and progressive country, the adventurous spirit of the pioneers lived on. Westward their descendents went leaving the com- fortable cities and towns of the East, to advance through forest, and deserts, over mountains and across rivers, to push the frontier ever farther into the wilderness. This great western migration was sure to have important effects on the new nation of the United States-and it did. From a little group of thirteen states spread along the Atlantic Coast of North America, the United States had grown into a mighty nation of forty-eight states, extending across the entire continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It took suffer- ing. and sacrifice, and daring, and im- agination to gain under a tremendous strain. How it was done, and how the investment has yielded a golden harvest, make a most inspiring story. Within two years the Constitution was amended ten times. These Amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, and guarantee certain privileges to the citizens. Now came the struggle of proving our- selves to thc other nations of the world. This was not easy. It took bravery and a fight to gain the respect, and honor of these nations. However, this respect was not long in coming. We proved ourselves equal not

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THE c1,Ass oi' '51 Thcrc's a class at M. H. S. That cannot be outdone, And this brilliant group Is the class of '5l. The accomplishments are many, ln this group of thirty-five XVc can always think of something To keep the rest alive. VVe entered in September In the year of forty-seven. Of one thing we are certain VVe'll all end up in Heaven. Mr. Hayward is our teacher He is a wonderful guy, He puts up with our foolishness VVith seldom even a sigh. Our president is Laurence He is a lively boy, XVe think his favorite pastime ls trying to annoy. Then comes Alma Merrill For A's she can't be beat. She always has a smile, She's friendly and she's neat. jean WVilliams is our pianist Ami boy! how she can play! But now her heart-and Tinker Are many miles away. Say, Alma, who's that junior boy VVc sec you with so much? Alma seems to have a knack Of always being Hin Dutch . New Betty just can't keep her mind From Lubec, by the sea. Oh, Betty, won't you tell us please VVho the lucky fellow could be? Then, of course, there's Greta VVith a giggle and Let's go . I know for sure she'll never forget The corner of the P.O. Robert is our artist, You should sec his work. For the Margaretta , He was not one to shirk. MARGARETTA Next in line is Pat, She's friendly and polite. Youlll find her writing to Alvin Every single night. Then therels Roma Geel With the best personality. VVe know she'll marry Russell, And live beside the sea. Barbara's our debater, She loves her history. VVe know she'd probably make some lf she ever got a UD . That brings us up to Kenneth, The clown of our class. His future is already planned By a Sophomore lass. Of course you all know Donnie With his friendly, carefree ways. He plans to be the president Any of these days. Richard is the Romeo Of our class of '5l. There's a little sophomore girl NVhose heart he has won. Helen is so fickle, She can't make up her mind. But we know that someday She'll find just the right kind. Then there is Bernice So quiet and so gay. She has quite a long walk, But she makes it every day. Keith is so quiet VVe hardly know he's here. We wish him luck and Happiness, Success and lots of cheer. Madeline comes from Whitneyvilleg A pleasant girl is she. She always has a smile for you NVherever she may be. Now we're up to johnny, An imp most certainly. But you must agree he takes His teasing cheerfully.