Momence High School - Monesse Yearbook (Momence, IL)

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JUNIOR YEAR BOOK. cause of freedom. Why did he do this? What was his motive for risking his life? Some will answer that he did it for selfish motives expecting to gain wealth and honor. But no; in his own country he had been offered higher positions, and could have gained more praise and honor. He was guided only by his great love for liberty and his adoration for the American people. One of America ' s citizens says of him: When the purity and grandeur of his purpose was revealed in his marvellous success, Washington heard the echo of his own mighty spirit, and the people hailed the marquis as worthy to be folded in the same mantle with the man who stood in the isolated dignity upon a continent, with the nations at his feet in their involuntary homage. There is something almost romantic in the bold adventure of this youth, who left his home of luxury and entered the vortex of the revolution, his only guiding law being his affection for free¬ dom. When the American forces became disheartened by their losses, some one tried to persuade La Fayette to abandon his pro¬ ject and return to France, but this noble man made answer: It is especially in the hour of danger that I wish to share your for¬ tune. He won the admiration of all by his ardor for liberty and his zeal in the American cause. La Fayette remained in the service of America until a war broke out between France and England. Then he wrote Congress that, as long as he had been free, he had gladly fought under the American flag, but now, he owed the homage of his services to his own country. Congress recommended him to France as being wise in council, brave in battle, and patient under the fatigues of war. In France, as in America, he was loved by all, and on his return, the fervent prayer of the humblest tenant was that he might never leave the shores of France again. While fighting in France he thought always of America, and remained a devoted ad¬ herent and advocate of America as long as he lived. La Fayette possessed many strong and beautiful elements of character, being a good, honest man, generous, devoted, self-sacr rificing and benevolent. He won the admiration, respect and love of all, and at his death, sadness was spread over all France and many other parts of the world. He passed through two revolu¬ tions and his name perpetually binds together, two centuries and two worlds. Rising more by his virtue than his intellect, he holds a prominent place in the history of France, and, linked with Wash¬ ington, goes down to a greater immortality than awaits any em¬ peror or mere warrior of the human race. CLASS ’06. A studious class of thirteen Is the class of 1906; No other class is brighter, And none can equal it. We ' ve never been unlucky, As our number would indicate, And in getting E ' s and G ' s, We ' re not so very late. We shine forth with such brilliancy, That others are put in the shade; They may not be original, But we are surely self-made. In history and Latin, And geometry too, you know, Few classes of the High School, Can as good a record show. The ladder of knowledge we ' re climbing, Other classes we ' re leaving behind, Some day on the topmost round, The class of ' 06 you ' ll find. The others may ridicule, And say we have our trials, Yet few can truly excel The class of 1906.

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JUNIOR YEAR BOOK. doors. They overlook the leper there entirely, or fling him a coin hurriedly, never dreaming—as Sir Launfal never dreamed—that in him they might find the realization of their hopes. How often people today are made to realize the truth of these words: “Not what we give, but what we share, For the gift without the giver is bare Who gives himself with his alms, feeds three, Himself, his hungering neighbor and me.” Today, in the time of wealth and plenty, it is hard to make people realize that very often it is not so much what or how much we give, as how we give it, that counts. As we learn from the Bible, even the gift of the richest man in the country was not counted so great in God ' s sight as the mite which the widow gave; because she gave of her poverty and with faith and love toward her Master, while the man gave of his abundance, simply as a matter of course. Then may we all be able to say as Sir Galahad: “All arm ' d I ride, what ' er betide, Until I find the Holy Grail.” -........................ | ..— BLISSFUL IGNORANCE . Teacher—(In Physical Geography Class) —“What can you tell of the work of beavers?” Freshman—(very earnestly) — “A beaver is a little river.” Teacher—(amid the laughter of the whole class) — “You ' d better look it up in the dictionary.” Little Tommy—“Can I eat another piece of pie?” Mamma (witheringly) — “I suppose you can.” Tommy—“Well, May I?” Mamma—“No, dear, you may not.” Tommy—“Darn Grammar, anyway.” LAFAYETTE , THE FRIEND OF AMERICAN LIBERTY . BY SERINA JOHNSON. There now and then bright spots appear on this darkened planet of ours—great and glorious examples of human virtue interrupting the otherwise sad history of the race. Patriotism is a rare virtue yet rarer when it causes a man to suffer for the freedom of an¬ other country. This virtue was found in Marquis De La Fayette, who left his home in France to aid the straggling Americans in their fight for freedom. He was not a man of genius, nor did he possess remarkable intellectual powers. He offered his aid to the Americans from motives of the purest kind, unmixed with ambi¬ tion or private views for he was prompted only by his great love for liberty. La Fayette came to America at the age of nineteen, as a mere boy, knowing not what his fate would be, whether he would die in early battle, or live to see the victory of his strug¬ gles. He spent much money in aiding the Americans, and staked his all on the glory of their triumph. His was a wonderful sacri¬ fice and one that will be remembered by the Americans as long as this great nation enjoys the liberty for which he fought. One of La Fayette ' s noble traits was simplicity. He was a titled foreigner, but when he came in contact with Americans he forgot his rank and became one of the plain people by whom he was surrounded, entered Washington ' s poorly clad and poorly fed army and shared every hardship with them. His love and rever¬ ence for Washington was constant and he acknowledged Washing¬ ton as his leader. Washington was not only his leader, but his model, and La Fayette became like him in patriotism and virtue. His name is always associated with Washington and the Revolu¬ tion, and he is ever remembered as the dear friend of America. La Fayette left his family and connections, and, at his own ex¬ pense came to offer his services to the United States, without pension or particular allowance, and there risked his life in the

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A STORY. JUNIOR YEAR BOOK. 1ST PRIZE, BY STANTON VAN INWAGEN. It was my first year at the University. One Fall day I decided to cut my recitations and take a long walk. I put on some old clothes and an old slouch hat, and my appearance was not very charming. Starting out at one o ' clock, I took the road leading west. I soon passed the limits of the city, and as I walked along the dusty road, dogs came from the farmyards and barked loudly, children ran to the houses thinking that I was a tramp, and it was no wonder that they did so. I was a good walker, and after going on for about nine miles, I came to a small railroad station. Here I stopped and went in, and, being very tired after my walk, I sat down in one of the chairs. No one was present, but soon a man came from a nearby house. He was the telegraph operator, and after looking at me a minute, he sent a short telegraph message. I asked him how far if was to my city, and when the first train would come. He fold me if was eighf miles to the city, and that the next train came at seven thirty in the evening. As it was only half past four then, I decided to walk home. I started, and as I left, the man eyed me suspiciously. As I was tired, I took my homeward walk in a leisurely man¬ ner, and after I had walked a short distance, I saw a freight train slow up at the little station. The engineer took a yellow paper from the hand of the operator, and the freight came towards me. I, of course, jumped on, and was glad to get the ride. However, the train was delayed, as there was something wrong with the engine, and we did not reach the city until seven-thirty. As I alighted, I was seized by a big policeman, who declared me to be under arrest. I protested, but he said I was the fellow he wanted. It was now clear to me. The man at the station had telegraphed that there was a suspicious character headed towards the city, and well might I have been judged as such, if appearance had anything to do. A large store in a neighboring city had been robbed, and I was held as the robber. I told the policeman to take me to a certain man to be identi¬ fied. He did so, and I was cleared of that business. It had taken quite a little of my time, and I now hurried to my room, forget¬ ting that I had had no supper. I got out of the business section of the city and came near to my room. Just then I saw before me on the other side of the walk two lines of Sophomores. I knew what they were after, so I put on a bold front and whistled ‘ ' Yankee Doodle. As I neared them I asked: “Say, fellows, have you seen any Freshies around here that haven ' t had a dose of boneyard mud? They answered that they had not, but hoped to find some s oon. I passed on and resumed my whistling. When I reached my room I entered and bolted the door securely, resolving that they would not give this Freshie a dose of boneyard mud—and they never did. He used to send her roses; He sent them every hour, But now they ' re married, and he sends Her home a cauliflower. Freshman, (looking in Cyclopaedia)— “Well, I guess it isn ' t here. Junior—“What isn ' t there? Freshman—“The Rhone river. Junior—“Where are you looking? Freshman — ‘ Tor R-o-n-e. ' ' Junior—“Dunce! Look for R-h-o-n-e.