Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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Sanitary HaLetortnrg IDEALS OF CITIZENSHIP By Edwin Kellogg. Parents and friends, I feel that a great duty and obligation rests upon me tonight, for it has been made my task, yes, and privilege, to represent the graduation class of January, 1918, at this, their commencement. I know that it involves a great re- sponsibility to attempt to portray the ideals and as- pirations of the class, for I surely cannot show all the good and noble virtues of its members, and on the other hand my failure would reflect upon their reputation and good name as a class. 1 have nothing new to bring to you, for at every commencement and leave-taking of this kind the same situation obtains and the same thoughts are expressed. Yet I feel that this institution and these occasions are more dear to the hearts and lives of the towns-folk than they can ever realize. Were this custom to cease, the people would miss it as something that had become a cherished part of their lives. Year after year the older ones of the village see a group of young people come before them to take their formal farewell of high school days, boys and girls whom they have seen grow up from childhood and pass through the schools of the village, those who have grown dear to them and have filled a place in their affections. It is true that some remain here to live peaceful lives in the community, but many pass away into other scenes of activity and perhaps are lost to view forever. So, as we come to you to- night in that old, old way, we hope that you may see the deep significance of it all, a meaning greatly deepened and enriched by the darkness of the times ; and as we go forth, each one to his life-work, may the memory of this glad beginning remain with you as a glistening bead in the rosary of recollection. We look back upon a pleasant past, a past made more dear to us by the tasks and troubles that have been interwoven with the jov and gladness. Every class looks forward to an uncertain future, but a future filled with greater doubt than in years past awaits us, a future that even now sends forth boding of strenuous times to come. So it seems Avell for us, who are about to step forth into the arena of the world’s progress, to con- sider something of what our parts in the great bat- tle of life are and Avhat they should signify, as citi- zens of this great republic, this nation than which none other may truthfully claim to be more grand and glorious. So as we are about to more actively take upon us the duties of citizenship, let us consider the ideals that we must hold before us to become true, useful citizens of the commonwealth. As Ave search for a definition of a citizen, here is what we find, in brief: “In the United States a citizen is one who oAves allegiance and support to t lie govern- ment and is entitled to its protection.” To give al- legiance necessitates patriotism and loyalty on the part of the citizen ; to give support demands that Ave have the spirit of service and of sacrifice. Moreover, each must live efficiently, possessed of that civic and industrial intelligence, that skill to do a needed service, and that high moral sense which the nature of our existence as a democracy is seen to demand. Each person has his OAvn conception of patriotism, oftentimes based largely upon party and politics.

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floor, thus’ setting a good example for our lower classmen. Now that we have, as Caesar did, crossed our Rubicon, we hope to fight a winning battle through life, and feel sure that we will. We have enjoyed our school course. The teachers and superintendents have been our good friends. We shall always remember our days in Medina Pub- lic Schools with pleasure. -jlmtuttry (Class g latistirs By Marian Fisher. To the January class of 1918 is given one distinc- tion of which no other class can boast. Above all other qualities, rises the fact that we are the first class in the history of M. H. S. to graduate in the middle of the year. We are “but seventeen.” of which number seven are masculine and ten are feminine. On account of the swiftness of our march through school we are all very youthful in age, (of course not in knowledge). Five of the girls are seventeen, three can proudly say they are “of age,” one has just reached nineteen, and Lucile Winters, our in- fant prodigy, is just “sweet sixteen.” We also have two boys of that age, Joseph Bartholomew and Royal Brockway, but we fear that epitaph would be too mild for them. One hoy, or perhaps’ man, has also reached the proud age of 19, while the others march in twos, 17 and 18 years of age. Our heavy weight champion is Raymond Bennett, Ki4 lbs., while Louis Bartholomew, at t he other ex- treme, can just pull down 115. Of the girls, two have not reached 100 lbs., and Isabelle Warner, our toothpick, weighs just 84 lbs. The weight of the heaviest girl is 136 lbs. The average weight of the hoys is’ 138, and Royal Brockway comes nearest this average, while Helen Bigelow is nearest 114 lbs., the average weight of the girls. Edwin Kellogg, the tall man, extends 5 ft., 11 in. into the air, while Bud Munson, our pigmy, is 5 ft., 3 in. (Though he has grown, you see he still keeps up his reputation.) Helen Bigelow, the tallest girl, is 5 ft. 8 in., while Isabelle Warner and Lucile Win- ters, by standing on their tiptoes ' , can just reach 5 ft. 2 in. The combined height of the class is 93 ft., or just one yard taller than the Medina stand pipe. We are, of course, a religious bunch, though we have but one religion apiece. We have 9 Congrega- tionalists, five Methodists, two Episcopalians, and one Baptist. . As to politics, 14 of us are Republican, 2 Demo- crats, and 1 non-partisan, but most important, we are all true Americans. The future? Ten of us intend to go to college, but most of us are undecided as to the place. Ohio State, Reserve, University of Virginia, and Spencer- ian Business School seem to be the most favored in- stitutions. Our future occupations will lead us in various channels of life. We shall have one dentist, one capitalist, one banker, two dry goods merchants, one farmer, two physical training instructors, one dietitian, one school marm, one musician, one stenog- rapher, one fair maiden announces her intention of keeping Bachelor’s Hall on Riverside Drive, and wonder of wonders, we will have a “lady lawyer.” We doubt not that in the future, M. II. S. will be proud to claim every one of the class of 1918 A for her own, for “We are little But we are mighty.”

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Doubtless all ot ' us are more or less familiar with the words of Decatur’s immortal toast when he said: “Our country! May she always be in the right! But right or wrong, Our country!” Af first hearing, these words sound brimful of pa- triotism, but to the mind of one whose thoughts are deeper and broader and higher and purer, as he looks upon the folds of that tri-colored bunting, to one who loves his country as did Washington and Lincoln and McKinley, the words do not ring ' true. To such an heart the only true patriotism is that highest and best love of country that has the purest and noblest good at heart, that has a great and lofty concention of what the nation should be and then uses all his power and influence and energy to bring her as close to that ideal as possible. The spirit of service then is a natural sequence of patriotism. What would our nation be today had not the righteous spirit of the two virtues, sacrifice and service, animated our ancestors to accomplish what they have so freely left to us, so rich an heri- tage? That nation may not long expect to endure, nor is it possible that it shall stand, whose people have lost the fire of service necessary to give support to their nation. Without these controlling spirits the soul of the citizenship would be dead and when the people of a republic lose animation, the nation itself inevitably wanes and falls. So we realize the necessity and heroism of the patient endurance of true citizens, though they may be obscure, and the majestic value of those who serve. Dear friends, we who are passing out of high school life into more active citizenship tonight, feel that we have a. place in national life. We must now take up the burden of service in our nation’s vast work, for each has a patriotic work to do and we can’ all have a part in helping to make the nation better and nobler. Our country is passing through a crisis- — a reconstructive period, and we fully realize our responsibilities in this time of trial. Each one of us shall “do with cheerful heart the work that God appoints,” even the laying down of our lives for that which we know is right, that our national ideals may justly be proud. Inheritor of a glorious past, each generation is a trustee for posterity. To preserve, protect, and transmit its inheritance unimpaired is its highest duty. To accomplish this is not the task of the few, but the duty of all. So may the ideals of the class symbolize the principles- of the nation. Let us make loyalty our controlling spirit and in being loyal to ourselves, our class, and our school we will of neces- sity be loyal to our country. Let us show the world that we are the “stuff” that the best citizens and truest patriots are made of, carrying still in our hearts whatever life may bring, the same spirit of courage and resolution and high-minded integrity with which we must now bid each other farewell. Fired with true patriotism, let us go “over the top” and transmit our rich inheritance not only unimpair- ed but better for our having been its custodian dur- ing the time allotted to us. (I thank you.)