Mukwonago High School - Arrow Yearbook (Mukwonago, WI)

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1919 THE ARROW 1919 hope, none of ns. A few may have the good luck to keep on with their studies into higher grades, others must pursue their duties into the business world, while others may enter hospitals, be teachers, or stay on the farm. Again, I think of the words, “Where Do We Go From Here?’’ How un- interesting life would be, however, if some supernatural being should predict to us the answer to that cjuestion. It will be far more fascinating to choose and make our own place in the world, guided only by a supernatural love. But whatever may happen, let us not be idlers in this world crisis where there is a place for everyone in the great reconstruction work. In considering human activity, one finds that the spirit which is back of it is principally responsible for its success or failure. If the right spirit is present, persistence along any line of work usually brings favorable results. History is merely a chronicle of what has happened when men were moved by great spirits. The spirit of Christ has made it possible for civilization to ad- vance to its present stage through the agency of Christianity. The “Spirit of ’76” made the colonies invisible and gave us independence. The spirit of de- mocracy inspired the whole Christian world to turn and destroy the perverted spirit of false Kultur. The spirit of childhood has been commemoration in the poetry of James Whitcomb Riley. In, fact, all the fine arts are the results of the inspiration of spirit. Likewise, in our everyday lives the spirit’s the thing. School spirit leads students to make a reputation for their school through personal effort. The spirit of industry brings prosperity to the individual and to the community; while the spirit of romance keeps life from becoming commonplace and gives us ideals. Truly, in the course of human events, it is the spirit in which things are done that counts. The right spirit leads to success and happiness, the evil spirit to disaster and disappointment. Whatever be the outward results of human en- deavor, the all reponsible element is the spirit in which it is done. THE SPIRIT’S THE THING. Page Eighteen

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1919 THE ARROW 1919 THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. HILE WE, as Americans, ought to be giving the plan of the League of Nations our individual support great masses of us, in our impa- tience to see it worked out, have voiced various complaints and seem to have lost faith in the whole scheme. Some have even gone so far as to say that the league is little more than a second Congress of Vienna with no more of the true spirit of democracy in it. Of course, this is gross injustice to the men who have been framing it and who we ought to know are noble statesmen guided always by sound democratic princ- iples. This dissatisfaction may be just an issue of the great American unrest. But may it not enhanced by our old evil—German propaganda? Very prob- ably it is. Therefore, we ought to be patient until the minor details are worked out; for our only substantial hope of a peace that will last lies in the success of the League of Nations. WHEN FARMERS SET THE CLOCK AHEAD. The farmer loses rather than gains when he turns the clock ahead. Farm work, especially in the spring, is controlled by the sun and not by the hands of the clock. With the new schedule of time, on frosty mornings the farmer must wait an hour or more after rising before he can work on the land. Then in hay making time he must wait for the dew to dry. These hours are lost. What is the farmer to do? He can not keep old time, for he is compelled to move with the rest of the world. It is necessary to be on time for morning milk trains; and if he expects to use hired help, he must start and stop work by clock time. Hired men would be discontented if they thought they were working an hour later than city laborers. To the farmer who works, not until the whistle blows, but until the work is done, the change of time only makes the long day longer. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? We are coming to a period of our lives which will prove to be one like we have never before known. Just as our brave soldiers stood on the deck of the sinking “Tuscania,” and sang the song, “Where Do We Go From Here,” before taking a leap into the cold; wide sea, we are standing on the deck of “Child- hood Days,” waiting to take our leap into the cold, wide world where we must shift for ourselves. Good fortune may be awaiting some of us, bad fortune, we Page Seventeen

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A COWARD. T WAS a beautiful day in August The sun was very hot, but the breezes was very inviting. Large crowds had gathered for an after- noon enjoyment. Steve, an invalid, was a favorite among the people, hut especially with Martin Hill, a soldier, who had been at the summer resort for a week. Steve and Martin had taken their afternoon stroll and seated themselves at the river bank to rest. All at the beach were much wrought over the accident of the previous day. A young man while (mating had been nearly drowned. Steve’s idea of a sol- dier was very vague. He, himself, had never been able to do anything in an athletic or adventurous way, but imagining that it was for others. Consequent- ly his conversation led up to the catastrophe of the day before. “Martin, you say you were a soldier, and you did not make an effort to rescue the man who was drowning.” “1 cannot swim,” said Martin. “But you could have tried to do something. I would have made an effort.” “Steve, you are unreasonable, I could not have done any good in the water. It was a very humiliating experience for me.” “Oh, Martin, you said you were a soldier, but you are nothing but a coward.” These words were very painful to Martin, and not wishing to have any argu- ment with his newly made companion, he remained silent for awhile, and then walked to a nearby bench. After he had been gone for some time, Steve dis- covered a peculiar object in the sand. lie reached over and picked it up, and after closely examining it he discovered that it was the Croix de Guerre, on it was inscribed. “Martin Hill.” Steve regretted his treatment to Martin, and brought him the badge and said: “You surely must have been brave to receive this award. Were you hurt?” “Yes, there is a bullet in my side. I was honorably discharged.” Steve said, “You will pardon me please, for calling you a coward. You are the bravest coward I know.” —IRMA MERRY. Johnny was a little boy, And he was sent to school; But he chewed gum all day long Which was against the rule. The teacher said, “Oh, Johnny, dear, What makes you break the rule? Gum is one thing little boys Must never chew in school.” You will never learn,” said she, But always lie a fool.” Johnny took the gum And stuck it on his stool. And afterwards he took it home And chewed it after school. —JAMES GERITY. Page Nineteen