Milford High School - Oak Lily and Ivy Yearbook (Milford, MA)

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18 THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. But progress has not always been made through the efforts of men united for one purpose. Individuals, alone in their ambitions, actuated by an undying faith in themselves, have brought about the advance of civiliza¬ tion. Kipling in his poem If wrote the following lines to show his attitude toward self-reliance: “If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you; i|: 5|c 5jc Yours is the earth and everything that’s in it. And—what is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!’’ Self-confidence, according to Kipling, is the making of a man. Without it, world progress would have ceased. For example, anti-slavery leaders did away with a harmful institution because they had confidence in themselves even when others ridiculed them. Nearly all men of genius were scorned, but belief in themselves held them to their tasks. Columbus was believed to be mad when he advanced the theory of the sphericity of the world, but now he is revered as the discoverer of America. Pasteur, one of the greatest men in the field of medicine, did remark¬ able work for mankind by his research in bacteriology. Even though his efforts were ridiculed, he continued experimenting, and thousands have bene¬ fited by his remarkable contributions to the medical world. If Robert Fulton had not trusted in his own ability, he would not have given to the world the steamboat, which has done so much in bringing the continents closer together. Most of us remember that when Lindbergh started out on his memor¬ able flight, he was called “the flying fool.” In spite of this attitude toward him, his flight was successful and aviation advan ced through his efforts. Hundreds of other men could be mentioned who withstood the ridicule of the fickle majority only to win great acclaim by some remarkable feat. To-day we are benefiting by the ingenuity of past ages and by the achievements of outstanding men who have sacrificed time and effort for woild progress. Therefore we should not stand back and gain advantage from other people s toil but should strive to reach the heights so nobly set forth in Carl Sandburg’s poem Prayers of Steel :— “Lay me on an anvil, 0 God. Beat me and hammer me into a crowbar. Let me pry loose old walls. Let me lift and loosen old foundations. Lay me on an anvil, 0 God. Beat me and hammer me into a steel spike. Drive me into the girders that hold a skyscraper together. Take red-hot rivets and fasten me into the central girders. Let me be the great nail holding a skyscraper through blue nights into white stars.” Pauline Smith, ’ 31 .

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THE OAK, ElliY AHD ivy VOL. XLVI. MILFORD, MASS., JUNE, 1931. No. 1. Published by the Pupils of the Milford High School. Under the Supervision of Miss Marion A. Ryan of the English Department. BOARD OF EDITORS. Editor-in-Chief—Pauline E. Smith, ’31. Business Managers— Marco A. Balzarini, ’31, George L. Murray, ’31. ASSOCIATE EDITORS. Sabina T. Burns, ’31. Maurice E. Day, ’31. Richard L. McGinnis, ’31. Henry L. Iacovelli, ’31. Louise F. Cenedella, ’31. ASSOCIATE BUSINESS MANAGERS. Genevieve M. Broderick, ’31. Allan S. King, ’31. Lillian F. King, ’31. Lavelle M. Macuen, ’31. Business Management of this Magazine under the Supervision of Miss Lillian L. Egan of the Commercial Department. Single Copies, 15 cents. Address all communications to Oak, Lily and Ivy, Milford, Mass. EDITORIAL. PROGRESS. As we look about us, we see many proofs of the growth of the world’s civilization in the comforts and safety we enjoy to-day. Locomotives, auto¬ mobiles, airplanes go speeding by us. At home we listen to the radio or read by the light of electric bulbs. Yet in spite of the numerous evidences of progress, few of us realize fully what a remarkable age is ours in com¬ parison with past epochs. If we think of prehistori c man, we smile at his crude mode of living; yet with him began the development of the world. He made the first strides in invention. The necessity of protecting himself against wild beasts led him to devise crude yet helpful stone weapons. Later he substituted metals for stone. As his mind developed, he realized that by uniting with other families into groups, protection could be more easily secured. As crude as this union was, it was the first step toward organized government. Since that time progress has been made in all lines of endeavor and to¬ day we are in a highly developed state of civilization. People are organized into communities and take part in governmental affairs. Systems of educa¬ tion enable everyone to develop his mental powers.

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THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. 19 SALUTATORY. In behalf of the class of nineteen thirty-one I extend a most cordial welcome to you all. We wish to thank our parents and teachers for their co-operation during the past four years and we desire to express our hap¬ piness at their presence here to-night. THE PHILOSOPHY OF SHAKESPEARE. The title of the foremost writer of English literature of all time is possessed by a man who lived more than three hundred years ago. The fame of that writer, William Shakespeare, has spread through every civilized country and to every generation. The plays of this remarkable dramatist are still read because of their dramatic power, their poetic beauty, and their philosophy, for Shakespeare was a philosopher as well as a dramatist. As a philosopher Shakespeare showed a profound understanding of human nature. He has filled his plays with everlasting truths. He wrote about human ideals and ambitions which are always the same in all ages. The tragedy Julius Caesar is, perhaps, not so popular as others, but, nevertheless, it contains some of the great man’s moral truths. The real hero, Brutus, had worthy ideals which influenced him to murder his friend Caesar. These ideals are now embodied in modern governments. Brutus wanted a democracy and in his own words we read, “I slew my best lover for the good of Rome.” Hence, even though the people of a democracy can¬ not sympathize with the brutal murder of Caesar, they do sympathize with the motives of the noble Brutus. Brutus was loved deeply by his wife Portia. She was a fine type of woman who was at all times loyal to her husband. To give proof of her devotion she said: “I have made strong proof of my constancy. Giving myself a voluntary wound Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience. And not my husband’s secrets?” There has been no nobler example of friendship than that between Antonio and Bassanio in Shakespeare’s popular comedy. The Merchant of Venice, Antonio was entirely unselfish, and he even exposed himself to the utmost danger to lend Bassanio money with which to journey to Belmont to woo Portia. Bassanio, in turn, tried his best to save Antonio from Shy- lock’s scheme of revenge. Antonio attempts to console Bassanio with his cheerful farewell words: ' ‘Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well! Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you.” The folly of racial prejudice is forcefully exposed in another scene wherein Shylock points out the similarity of Jews and Christians. Fired with indignation over the abuse heaped upon him by the Christians merely because he is of a different religion, Shylock exclaims: