Mondovi High School - Mirror Yearbook (Mondovi, WI)

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offer in the purchasing of the machine. At present Mr. Longstreet is staying at the Palace Hotel in this city. “Yes,” said John, putting the paper down, “I went to the newspaper office after we came home and told them of my invention. Although they adder! to the story.” “Why in the world did you do that? You will have this plaee filled with ambassadors and secret agents from foreign governments who will try and get the invention by fair or foul means.” “That’s just what I want.” “What for?” Tom asked. “Wait and see,” said the inventor. Tom left the room in disgust. “Of all the foolishness 1 have seen this is the limit,” he said. Tom had barely reached the reading room when a well dressed man came up to him and asked him if he was John Longstreet. “No” said Tom, “but I’m his friend.” “It is true that he has invented the new machine that is mentioned in the papers ?” “Yes, sir.” The man drew a card from his pocket and Tom read. VOX GLUCK German Military Attache. “Will you lead me to him?” the man su'd “Yes. come alomr.” Then to himself: “Ifere is the first result of all that fool- is1, icss.” After Trm had introduced the strang- er, he immediately went into negotiations trying to buy the invention. John listened politely until the man was done. He said that he would be ready in half an hour to give his answer. He then ushered the man into the next room. A little later the English ambassador arrived. He was followed by the French. Austrian, Russian and Japanese. When the half of an hour was over he called them all together. “Now, gentlemen,” he said, “You all want to buy the new invention. You all can not have it or it would lie useless. And it would he out of the question to sell it to one country. I’m going to keep the invention myself. What am I going to do with it? I invented this instrument for peace and not for war. You can tell your respective countries that unless they disarm their navies and fortifications that I will take a trip over to Europe and blow every navy, fortification off of the map. Then I will give it to the United States as they can preserve peace.” The ambassadors looked at one another in mute astonishment, as if their ears deceived them. A consultation was held and at last they said, “You talk all right young man, but we want proof that the invention can accomplish what you claim.” “All right, come out to the Bay tomorrow afternoon about 3 o’clock.” A few weeks later there was a great deal of surprise in the country, for news had come that all of the European countries and also the United States were disarming. 20

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fZj Le JyTJtJB Js2 Q as to give the crew a chance to leave the ship, then I will give the signal.” Vo one had seen the inventor leave the loom nor saw the bulky package in his inner pocket. .John took his instrument and entered a small room next to the Secretary’s. He then t ok out his instrument and his watch. “I will wait just two minutes before the secretary signals.” The time was flying fast and the inventor was nervous not knowing but what his hopes would be shattered. Eight minutes was up. lie took a small brass button from his pocket and inserted it in the proper place. A noise like the tick of a clock was heard. John took his field glass and kept a close watch on the ship. Suddenly he grew excited and pale. The machine had done its work. Meanwhile in the other room the secretary kept a close watch n the ship. Suddenly he grew excited, dropped his glass and jumped to his feet. “What is the matter,” asked an aid? “Something’s wrong. The ship is on fire and is sinking.” “Fire! Sinking! Impossible unless you gave the signal.” “Vo it was two minutes before the signal was to have been given that an explosion took place and it l egan sinking. There is some trouble and 1 must go and see what it is.” “What is the matter?” said a voice in the doorway back of them. Turning they saw the inventor. “Matter enough, the ship is on fire and is sinking,” said Secretary being somewhat startled by the question of John Longstreet. “I know it because it was I who sunk it.” “You—what! say that again.” The inventor repeated his statement. At this time Tom interrupted. He had become alarmed at his friend’s attitude. “You had better go back to the hotel and rest John,” lie said soothingly. “Oh, I'm not crazy Tom, and anyway why did we come up here?” A sudden light dawned on Tom and he fairly yelled, “Did it work?” “Yes,” said John quietly. The secretary who had been looking on at the two friends in their discussion, grew angry and said: “What’s the matter with you two and what do you mean by such remarks as ‘crazy,’ ‘did it work, etc.’ Did that ride affect you so much or what?” John then told the secretary of his new invention and the reason for coming to see the target practice. He brought the instrument in and showed it to the secretary. As a result another ship was sent out with the same result. “You’re a wonder,” said the secretary, “I might have guessed that you did not come here for nothing. Let’s go back at once to the city and we will make arrangements for the purchase of it.” ‘Tin not going to sell it until it has achieved its purpose,” the inventor said. He then told the secretary his idea. “It may work, but I don’t see how that instrument will put an end to warfare.” “Wait and see,” John said. “Well if you fail don’t forget to look me up.” The next day Tom came rushing into John’s room with a newspaper in his hand. “Look here John, some fool reporter got hold of our trip yesterday and had it put into the paper.” John took the paper and sure enough in blazing headlines he saw. “Extra: John Longstreet, inventor, who just recently gained fame by his invention of the electric driven gun has invented a new machine which can destroy any fortification, battleship for a distance of 50 miles. As the inventor is an American this government will have the first 19

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WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE? A semester of school work is over, one more year of life has gone by, and the year 1916, is before us. What has been accomplished? In the universe at large we find a hideous, almost word war raging havoc with the very foundations of civilization. All attempts to bring the warring nations to terms of peace has seemed to strengthen the belief that peace is farther distant now than it was at the outbreak oT the war. Science and invention have been busy, much has been accomplished. The United States as a nation has prospered and progressed. As a student, what has been your part in your school work the past semester, and what part are you to play in Life’s work-in the future? What has been your attitude? Was it selfish, conscientious, or indifferent? What are your thoughts of the future, or are you drifting aimlessly along with little hope or ambition ahead of you? And have you interest in your school work, or are you just passing away the time? Answer these questions yourself, be serious with yourself and think ahead of the present. Choose an ideal, a worthy one, prepare for that ideal and then strive to attain it. No one will reach higher than his aim. and without a purpose in life no one will make a success. A goodly number of students take a pitiful attitude toward their school work. First of all things, should come school work. It is your business and it should be ymur business to see to it that it is done in the right spirit, and not in the half-spirited, lazy, ami indifferent style characterizing so many students. Let us begin the new year by taking a better attitude toward our school work, let us begin to prepare for the part we are to take in life’s work. The work we do now is the foundation of what our future life is going to be and without a purpose to strive for, without an aim in life, and with an indifferent attitude toward our school work, our part in life’s work will be small. Seniors especially should begin to form some idea of what their life work is to be. What are your plans after graduation? Is your ideal a worthy one? Let us prepare right now for that ideal, do the work that is assigned to us, not because we have to but because it is our business to do it. No matter how easy it to slide through things now, thinking how easy it is to get along without any strenuous effort on one’s part, the extent of one's power is bound to show in the future. We are shaping our own destinies, no one but ourself is the loser. Think it over. Are you content with the present life you are living? Are you satisfied with your attitude toward your school work? No one should be satisfied with the work he is doing. The best of men and the best of students should feel that their standard of work can be raised by further effort and they should continually strive for a better standard. But let us 21