Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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MEDINIAN -President’s Address- WITHOUT A CONSIDERATION OF DUTY, WHAT IS THE IDEAL LIFE y Robert Searles In all ages the search for happiness has been the ultimate aim and desire of human effort — happiness here and here-after. When a common purpose actuates all men, it may seem strange that human life should be so diversified in method and so contrasted in achievement. It is the ideal happiness, however, wherein men differ. To some happiness means fame, to others honor, to others wealth, to others knowledge. Whether it be one or several of these, or something else one must have an aim to live to good purpose. The ideal dominates the life, determines the character and fixes a man’s place among his fellows. THE MASTERS IN EVERY ART of the world and in every moment of time, have been mastered by a noble ideal. They stemmed the current, bridged the stream, tunneled the mountains, and spoke around the earth while other men were driftwood moving with the current. Watt and Faraday and Newton saw dimly at first, but their visions proved to be realities. All great discoveries and inventions all magnifi- cent productions in music, in literature and art have been the result of masterful minds inspired by visions that reached beyond the matter of fact existence and caught brief glimpses of better things. The wonders accomplished by the few reveal the supreme possibilities for all. An ideal is above price. It must be far enough above us to keep us looking upward all the time, and must be far enough in advance of us to keep us struggling toward it to the end of life. Though it may never be obtained we are better for the effort. For in the words of Goethe: Life ' s no resting but a moving; Let thy life be deed on deed.” It is in this way that all true life must be constructed; its activities must ar- range themselves according to a principle, as the stones that are built into a noble edifice are not thrown together at random, but laid one upon another in accordance with the system and symmetry of an architectural plan. The aim or purpose we have should give shape and order to our life work. It is the architect that drafts the plan: and in accordance with this plan must all work go forward, until the capstone is laid amid rejoicing, and the completed structure of life stands forth, its own reward. Every person, man or woman, should recognize the obligation to contribute to helpfulness. Whatever adds even in the smallest way to the world ' s brightness and cheer is worth while. One who plants a flower in a bare place where only bleakness was before is a benefactor. One who says an encouraging word to a disheartened neighbor, gives a look of love to a lonely one, or speaks a sentence which may become strength, guidance or comfort to another, does something worth while. Nineteen

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MEDINIAN Class History Of ’26 Shakespeare once said “To he or not to he” and no douht that was the question that ran through the mind of our dear Miss Ella when she was wondering what could he made from that raw material that was brought into the Kindergarten hy fond mammas on that September morn 1914. Thus started our school career. After two years we were quite proud to enter the third, or highest grade in the Primary Building, where Mrs. Wright so efficiently started us and pointed out to us the subjects which we were to encounter through our school course! Year followed year until finally the great day came when we reached 8A and where Miss Wheatly labored so diligently to prepare us for our entrance into High School. With quaking hearts and shaking knees we ascended the steps of old M. H. S. that fall morning of 1922, wondering what grueling tests the Seniors would put us through. We withstood the ordeal nobly and were soon welcomed by the Seniors to the ranks of M. H. S. after they had learned of our unusual wit and brilliancy. It was with great disappointment that we were denied the pleasure of initiating the new Freshmen that came into our midst. Our Sophomore year ran along very smoothly and we were looked upon with respect by the faculty as well as the Seniors. Days slipped by rapidly until we entered our Junior year, which proved more eventful than the preceding ones. We assisted in the long looked for event of mov- ing into the new High School building which stands on the very spot where the old Primary Building stood. We edited one of the best High School Annuals ever put out — “The Medinian” — which was filled from cover to cover with articles of Historical and Literary merit. Another activity for the year was our first Junior-Senior banquet. In the fall of 1925 we took up our duties as Seniors. We were very proud indeed to be the sponsors of such a fine Lecture Course. Another activity which contributed to the entertainment of the community was our class play “Backbone”, which showed that we even possessed some dramatic talent. Among our social activities were “A Nationality Party” and several High School parties and we are looking forward to the Junior-Senior banquet. In the four years which we have been in High School, we have contributed to Athletics, Debate and Music as well as to our Friday morning Assembly programs. We appreciated the readiness with which the faculty have given their efforts to send us on our way to higher learning and the better things of life and it is with reluctance and sorrow that we leave them and old M. H. S. Kathleen Ziegler Eighteen

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MEDINIAN We never know how small a thing may become a benediction to a human life. “Only a thought, but the wor is wrought Could never by pen or tongue be taught; For it ran through a life li e a thread of gold And the life bore fruit a hundredfold.” Every singer who has sung a pure, joyous song has given something to earth to make it better. Every artist who has painted a worthy and noble picture, or made the smallest thing of beauty which will remain in the world, has added something to 1 he enriching of our human life. Every lowly Christian who has lived a true, courageous life amid trials and temptations has made it a little easier for others to live aright. Everyone who has let fall into the stream of life wholesome words, good deeds, divine lessons, has put into the current of humanity a handful of spices to sweeten a little the bitter waters. It is always worth while to live nobly, victoriously, struggling to do right, showing the world even the smallest fragments of divine beauty. Few are called to do great acts in life, but “He who does the best his circumstances allow Does well, acts nobly — angels could do no more.” Our happiness, strength and ability to rise above the trials, troubles and condi- tions that surround us depend upon our own being in harmony with the Divine. Without the union of the human and Divine, no man can understand his place and work in the world. He may be as rich as Rockefeller, as great as Alexander, and as wise as Solomon, but without this harmony in character he will ultimately be a failure. He must bring out the best development possible of body and spirit, of mind, conscience, heart and soul. This is the end; all else ought to be regarded as the means. Accordingly that is not the most successful life, in which a man gets the most pleasure, the most money, the most power of place, honor or fame; but that in which a man is most serviceable to the race and honorable to his Maker. His sphere may be humble and his deeds unsung but He, whose great roll of honor bears no unworthy names and leaves no true life unrecorded, will recognise and reward such a life. Without a consideration of duty, the ideal life, then, is that which gives the greatest amount of real happiness, contentment and it would seem that there is none that would be more beautiful than that of the Prince of Peace. Those who follow His example seem to be the most unselfish, and the happiest, the ones whose influence seems to give out light and sunshine throughout the world, in and whose presence we seem to be lifted up to a broader and better land. Twenty