Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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MEDINIAN ficial or very detrimental. It has been truly said that the best books are those which most resemble good actions. They are purifying, elevating, and sustaining; they enlarge and liberalize the mind; they preserve it against vulgar worldliness, they tend to produce high-minded cheerfulness, and equanimity of character; they fashion, shape and humanize the mind. Biography exerts a great influence on us. The records of the lives of men in- fluence our hearts, inspire us with hope, and set before us great examples. A noble life put fairly on the records acts as an inspiration to others. It exhibits what life is capable of being made. It refreshes our spirit, encourages our hopes, gives us new strength and courage, and faith; faith in others as well as ourselves. It stimulates our aspirations, rouses us to action, and incites us to become co-partners with them in their work. To live with such men in their biographies, and to be inspired by their example is to live with the best of men and to mix in the best of company. It would be difficult to over-estimate the influence which the lives of the great and good have exercised upon the elevation of human character. The influence, exerted by both dead and living authors and thinkers, through the medium of books is incalculable. Our reading should consist of books by authors who are of high moral character; for an author’s self and sentiment are revealed more clearly in a book than by per- sonal contact with him. One should ask before reading a book, “What is the char- acter of the author, mentally, morally, religiously?” “Is the man or woman one whose personal influence is to be dreaded, who would not be admitted to personal friendship, whose conversation would be shunned as a contamination?” Such ccvisid- erations should guide the reader, for a book more or less embodies the writer’s char- acter, and extends his influence. In reading a book one holds converse with a person through a comparatively perfect medium, for the reader subjects himself to an as- similating power. All associations mould character, whatever be the medium of their impressions; and because books are the means of our becoming like the authors, the same law applies to our choice of books as to our selection of friends. The task of securing good literature is becoming daily less difficult due to the in- creasing number of libraries and to the efforts of the schools who, in their supple- mentary reading courses, are opening to the youth of America, a vista of the enjoy- ment to be derived from good books. We must not, we dare not, underestimate the value of good literature in the development of character. It is imperative that we make every effort to provide suitable literature for the youth of our country, not the cheap trashy kind, which is written for one generation only, but those masterpieces which have withstood the test of centuries. Olive Davis Twenty-Two

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MEDINIAN The Influence of Good Literature On Character Although many of us enjoy reading as a pleasant pastime, but few realise how important a good book can be in the formation of character. Any number of examples however, may be cited of famous men, who were guided by books which they read in their youth. There are a great many of us, who, after reading a book, have felt that we would like to imitate some character who had particularly charmed us. Fortunate are they who carry out this ideal; providing, however, that they secure their character from a good book. The library of any man is often an index of his character, for it shows his literary friends of all ages, and reveals his intellectual and moral sympathies. Good books are among the best of companions, and by elevating the thoughts and aspirations, they act as deterrents from low associations. “A natural turn for reading and intellectual pursuits”, says Thomas Hood, “probably preserved me from the moral shipwreck so apt to befall those who are deprived in early life of their parental pilotage. My books kept me from the ring, the dog-pit ,the tavern, the saloon. The close as- sociate of Pope and Addison, the mind accustomed to the noble, though silent discourse of Shakespeare and Milton, will hardly seek, or put up with low company and slaves.” “While books are among the best companions of old age, they are often the best inspirers of youth. The first book that makes a deep impression on a young man’s mind often constitutes an epoch in his life. It may fire the heart, stimulate the enthu- siasm, and, by directing his efforts into unexpected channels, permanently influence his character. The book, in which we form an intimacy with a new friend, whose mind is riper and wiser than our own, may thus form an important starting-point in the history of a life. It may sometimes, almost be regarded in the light of a new birth. Many great literary careers were begun as a result of reading the masterpieces of others. Keats and Cowley, noted poets, were inspired by the reading of Spencer’s ’Faerie Queen. Coleridge was greatly influenced by the poems of Bowles, a con- temporary. Scott was moved to collect and compile his ’Border Ballads’ as a result of the perusal of Percy’s Reliques. James Fenimore Cooper, upon reading an Eng- lish novel, remarked that he could write a more interesting book than that, and then started his career as a fiction writer. We may use or abuse books. If they are made a means of educating, expanding, ennobling the character, these very results become a reward. If literary associations be of so low a character intellectually and morally that their influence is to cramp and cripple the mind and corrupt or poison the heart, the retribution comes by a natural process. The way of those who transgress, either intellectually or morally, is hard. Books exercise an influence that is positive, and must be regarded as either very bene- T wenty-One

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MEDINIAN ■ ' Senior Class Poem Too soon for us has come the day When we must leave our school-mates dear, And deep in our heart it leaves, Memories of our High School cheer. We hardly know what we will do, Or where our future lies, But we sincerely hope and pray, It will not break these ties. The future holds in store for us, Things we do not know, For some of us will plug along, And others make a show. But High School days are over, As far as we’re concerned. And we do surely hope and trust Our courses we have learned. Our tasks are here before us, And now we must begin, Let us obey the call we hear, For vict’ry we must win. So here is to our High School, That we truly do adore, We hope that she’ll succeed As she always has before. Clayton Bate? Class Song Tune: “When You and I were Seventeen” — (Key of E flat) Not at the top but climbing is the motto of our class, We’ve striven hard to do our best in every deed and task, The memories of our dear old school will ever be in view, We hope to always think of her in every thing we do. Richard Warner Twenty-Three