Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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Class History 1923 By HELEN RIEGGER The fall of 1910 marked the entrance of the Senior Class of 1923 into the realms of knowledge and books, when a group of round-eyed, eager boys and girls im- portantly entered Kindergarten. During this year under the guidance of “Miss Canavan” we learned to sing “Good Morning to You” and “Good Morning Dear Teacher,” to make wonderful designs of bright colored blocks, pegs and sticks ; to skip up and down aisles, and most import- ant of all, learned to obey. The next fall we had reached the proud position of first grade. From there on except for, occasionally losing some members, often adding a few to our number, our struggle to the eighth grade was not marked by any special event. By the time we had reached our eighth year of school the flu epidemic came along causing a great deal of confusion. New members joined our group, a few were left by the wayside, until at the present time some of us are not able to account for our presence here. Our Freshman year was spent quietly as becomes strangers in a foreign domain. But with our Sophomore year our journalistic ten- dencies struggled up. We published “Broadway Times ' ' thus achieving for our class the distinction of being the first class in Medina High to bring out a school paper. Our social activities were rather limited, — (I think we had two parties). The second edition of “Broadway Times” appeared during our Junior year. Then too, we added to our lit- erary fame by publishing “Memories of M. H. S.” — The High School Annual. By this time we were paying more attention to social affairs, chief of which was the Junior-Senior Banquet, held at Chippewa Inn. A special feature of this affair was the presentation by the Juniors of “A Mock Graduation.” Senior class activities are generally wider and our class has proved no exception. We have conducted this winter a lyceum course consisting of five numbers. We found our treasury in ruins and to pay debts and square ourselves with the world financially, we sold tickets for “The Storm,” a motion picture, thus receiving commis- sion on proceeds. The third number of “Broadway Times” came out in the early part of our Senior year. Concerning class parties, our aim seems to have been “Few parties, but good ones.” As we look forward to June 7, our day of c ommence- ment, a feeling half sadness, half gladness is uppermost. Of one thing we are confident, that, as we go out into the larger school of life we shall take with us happy memories, and bits of wisdom gathered from Medina High. T went )-one

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You will observe that we have selected for the motto of the class of 1923, “Build for character.” In so doing it is with the realization that moral qualities spring from the heart, not from the head ; that they are rooted in conscience and moral purpose and not in the intellect, and that scholarship and integrity, intelligence and virtue are not synonymous terms. As we go forth from high school, each to his own work, we realize that henceforth, each must build for himself. We hope that in the years to come we may build into our lives the virtues that are truly worth-while and that whatever else we may pro- cure as a result of our efforts, we may possess integrity, initiative, a sense of responsibility, reverence, and such other qualities as will enable us to achieve life in an abundant measure. If we, as a result of our high school education, can go forth into the world and prove our- selves to be real men and women; prove ourselves to be successful as human beings, then, indeed, shall we prove ourselves worthy of the honors conferred upon us tonight. Once again in behalf of the Class of 1923 I bid you welcome. T toenly

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Valedictory — By RU ' Never before in the history of the world has there been such a universal cry for world peace, — for a warless world. All the nations of the world desire it; yet many of the thinking men of today believe that another war is near. On this very day, in every great country of the world, including our own, great numbers of skilled, edu- cated, and industrious men are planning in the most minute detail the utilization of our boys, and others like them, in the next war. What a tragedy to civilization this would be. There were 35 million men in the late war, fully one-third of whom were killed ; and an equally large number have perished from the effects of the four years following the war. The results of another war would be even more disastrous than that of the last; for more terrible inventions and devices have been made, and the destruction to life and property would be greater. Civilization is in greater danger of collapsing than it was at the crisis of the world war, or than it has been in a thousand years before. It behooves those who seek a remedy to face the situation squarely and frankly, however unpleasant the facts may be. The blind Ameri- can belief that such things will come out all right some- how has no application to such a condition. They will not come out all right unless they are remedied by con- scious, heroic and intelligent effort. America in the past never hesitated to declare its principles and stand up boldly as an advocate for peace, but is it doing so now? Is it remembering its principles or is it standing aloof watching the other nations struggle? Graduates of today, we of the coming generation who are to be the men and women of tomorrow, it is to us that America must trust and we must not fail her. We must take our places in the world and help carry out her ideals. It matters not so much in what manner we do this, whether through one plan or another, but it all re- mains that a warless world must be established. “Let there be no more battles; field and flood Are weary of battle blood. “World Peace’’ NICHOLS Even the patient stones Are weary of shrieking shells and dying groans Lay the sad swords asleep; They have their fearful memories to keep. And fold the flag; They weary of battle days, Weary of wild flights up the windy ways. Quiet the restless flags, Grown strangely old upon the smoking crags. Look where they startle and leap — Look where they hollow and heap — Now greatening into glory and now thinned, Living and dying momently on the wind. Bugles that have cried on sea and land The silver blazon of their high command — Bugles that held long parley with the sky — Bugles that shattered the nights on battle walls Lay them to rest in dim memorial halls ; For they are weary of the curdling cry That tells men how to die. And cannons worn out with their work of hell — The brief abrupt persuasion of the shell — Let the shrewd spider lock them, one by one, With filmy cables glancing in the sun ; And let the bluebird in their iron throats Build his safe nest and spill his rippling notes, And let there be no more battles men of earth ; The new age rises singing into birth! Classmates, — as we stand here tonight at the meet- ing of a happy past and an unknown future, we have come not to the end but to the commencement of our lives. Let us remember our high school with gratitude, for many of us the education we have received these four years will be the only capital we have in beginning life. Great things await us ; but the time has come to part, so with steadfast loyalty to each other, undying love for Medina High School and hearts set on high things and broad enough for all, we go forth — and God-speed. T toentv-lwo