Norfolk High School - Milestone Yearbook (Norfolk, NE)

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12. spring. We can never improve if we have no model hut ourselves to follow. So. we may learn much that is good from the lives ol others, especially from the lives of good women. It is the real, practical, every-dav life that chiefly moulds our nature, enables us to work out our own education, and to build up our own character. Those who live in our daily sight, as well as those who have handed down illustrious names for our emulation, are the most valuable, practical teachers. If you will inspect the lives of a few, you can not fail to notice that their success is due as much to zeal as to ability. When Mr. Frank Leslie died, he left a pretty, petted wife, whose only dowry was a poor magazine, much in debt. u know what she is now, the manager of some ten magazines, who has redeemed her husband’s bankrupt business from an enormous debt, and placed herself as a recognized leader in all circles. How did she do it? By doing whatever she did, the best she could, taking the duty lving nearest, and, putting the flame of resolution to her soul, she kindled a fire which only death can extinguish. Determination is omnipotent. Persistency will not he baffled or discouraged by opposition. Look at her, oh ye men! who solemnly predict a modern Minerva, a female suffrage advocate, striking terror to all hearts, or the reform-dressed, unlovable being, if woman is allowed to fit herself for a business career. Does she call to mmd any such being? But we are not Mrs. Frank Leslies—more’s the pity we are girls, but we can every one be a heroine in our own small way. Remember, it is not the world’s applause and commendation which makes us great. As the world grows better and wiser, woman’s sphere” is widening. There was a time when the only trades a woman could follow and be “respectable”, were dress-making, millinery and teaching. Now times are changed. Almost every door is thrown open and woman is entreated to enter. Does she not deserve it? Look in all directions. You will find woman ranking as high, and often higher, than her brother. Come with me and take a bird’s-eye view of the woman of today. In our own country we now enjoy nearly all the privileges formerly granted only to her brothers. We are classed with young men in college, and compete with man in the marts of trade. One of the most noted of all astronomers is Miss Maria Mitchell, professor of astronomy in Yassar College. Her discoveries are

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C V N SV- H OO ? There are few prophets in the world, few sublime—beautiful women and few great, widely-known heroines. We can easily give our love and reverence to such rarities. It is the nature of woman to worship something above her; something good, something great, something so far above her that she must level the “critical telescope” at the great luminary before she can comprehend what manner of being it is. I am a worshiper—an intermittent worshiper. if you please—of saints; but I have an ineradicable belief in the common, every-day women—those heroines “shy ami quiet, sitting in corners until needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the little sacrifices till the cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sun-shinv presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.” There is not a girl in America who has not “hitched her wagon to a star.” That is right. If you have resolved to be great, stick to vour resolution, and do not weakly try to compromise by loitering on the corner where the streets of Bye-and-Bve and Never meet. “If you have the abilities of all the great men, past and present, you could do nothing well without sincerely meaning it and setting about it.” It would be well if all would adopt the motto of David C'opperfield: “Whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; whatever I have devoted myself to, I too have devoted myself to completely. In great things ami in small, I have, too, been thoroughly in earnest.” This is the rule which the truly great follow, the rule which made them what they are, and the one which can make us all we hope to be. Of all the truly great persons I can think of, the greater portion were once poor, ignorant, but thirsting for the waters of the Pierian

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equal to those made by any man of her time. She.is a fine teacher, an excellent woman, and ranks high among the scientists of to-dav. Miss Marv Lvon is the founder of the Mount Holyoke system of education, conceded by all to he the best now practiced. If you would have an example of indomitable energy and perseverance, you must read her life. When her thoughts first matured, tliev were scoffed at by the public; she proposed to found a college for a poor class of girls. She has won, and today stands first among educators. Kinina Abbott, Gherster and Adelina Patti are gifted women. Their talents alone did not give them their present fame. Emma Abbott sold her beautiful hair that she might take her first lesson in music. What modern painter has acquired a more deserved renown than Kosa Bonheur? Her beautiful landscapes and life like pictures of animals, place her on a level with any artist of recent time. In sculpture, we find few women. This is to be expected, for the heavy implements used do not seem adapted to woman’s delicate physique. Notwithstanding all this, Harriet Hosmer has demonstrated what an American woman can do in marble and stone And when you ask for a business woman you can find them in vour own city. Of late, women are being appointed postmasters, mayors and eouncilmen. There is nothing she has attempted and failed except to be president and vote for herself. That seems to be a very trivial matter to me; when the time comes, woman will enjoy equal suffrage with her brother. We can wait for that time. These examples of illustrious women show what has been done. Now what, may she do with advantages her elder sister had not? The solution of that problem rests, in a very great measure, upon US) the school girls of this and other countries. We have “a new and unattempted problem to solve, perchance of the happiest nature that ever bloomed.” Although not always true, I think the slightly paraphrased motto, “What woman has done, woman can do,” holds good. But Oh! don’t be content with doing “what woman has done.' L)o all she has done an l do what she has ne er done. No man, no woman lives or lias lived, who can ever begin to guess his or her untried capacity. It is immeasurable as the universe. Trust it as you trust God, and launch yourself unflinchingly upon its vast possibilities.” The past is our inheritance; the future our birthright, to use as we will. Put it out at good, sure, paying interest, and build up our capital still more. With an in-