Norfolk High School - Milestone Yearbook (Norfolk, NE)

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 “Here endeth the first lesson.” So easy! Wandering listlessly over the beaches—O, those pretty beaches of knowledge—picking up pebbles, some to place in our cabinets, many to drop carelessly at our feet; a few to sparkle ever from their settings, others to be stored away back in the dark galleries of memory, to be used, perhaps, never. Hitherto we have been sculptors making ready our tools. Here is the block of our fortune before us to chisel as we may. In this the introductory chapter to our lives’ scroll are recorded the manifold kindnesses which everyone has shown us. We have had but to stretch forth our hands, and all things have been placed therein. Now shall we firmly grasp the plow handles of our destiny and sink a furrow that shall not easily be effaced by the march of Time. We have walked unsteadily along the almost invisible path of infancy, more boldly as it grew more wide and plain until, lo! today it merges into the highway of life. We are told that we are ready to step out and jostle with that selfish, hurrying crowd, and strive, and stride, if we will, into its very van. The world cannot altogether ignore us. It simply notices us with, “You may come, but you are only a plebeian.” A plebeian! Well, what of that! America’s gentlemen of leisure, (if leisure is the measure of a patrician) are her tramps. Who are not plebeians? Who is so rich that be can bribe Father Time to stay for one hour the sickle, or so powerful “that by taking thought can add one cubit unto bis stature,” or of such noble lineage that bis dust will not one day be wafted on the wings of the wind? And are we not rich in the (Jod given faculties for enjoyment of the beautiful around us, and in

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iny; the work that w: i s I oft undone the day before, and a mutiny: ourselves 1» playing cards, base ball, or boat riding, forgetting to think any more about the Sabbath day, and of keeping it Imlv. We almost ignore the cnmmnndim'nt, ‘‘Honor thy father and thy mother.” W hen it was first given, it seemed a very reasonable commandment, but now 'tis the duty of parents to honor and obey their children. The better part of our parents' lives is spent in efforts to make our lives pleasant and useful, and have they not a right to expect wonderful things of us? How may we reach that high standard except by being pure and noble? W e may in no way do this better than by adhering to the religion given to Hod’s people so long ago. ’Tis only by His help and our efforts that we may be able to overcome the errors into which we have fallen. “Dear God and Father of us all, Forgive our faith in cruel lies,— Forgive the blindness that denies! Forgive Thy creature when he takes, For the all perfect love Thou art, Some grim creation of his heart Cast down our idols, overturn Our bloody altars; Let us see Thyself in thy humanity. —ivriiKL Reit .

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27. tin inalienable right to life, liberty and (lie pursuit of happiness? Are we not powerful in the strength of a determination to make better for our short sojourn whatever sphere we may la called to occupy? When we leave our alma mater it is only to change schools. Whether we enter college or go to some other work, our minds are constantly under the disciplines of that severest of all schools—experience. We shall now have to estimate the advantages and disadvantages arising from the administration of public affairs, and form and act our opinions as to the great moral and social problems that are staring people in the face and demanding an immediate solution. Our resolve is already taken on one thing, to fight the armies of rum until every standard is captured and every stronghold leveled to the ground. There are already too many weather-vanes to he shifted by every breeze of public sentiment. Hemember though, one fire may often fan a breeze, against which the weather-vanes of public opinion can not be moved. The subject of temperance always brings up the subject “cranks.” I admire a crank, for is it not by means of the crank that the pure water of truth is drawn to the eager lips of the thirsty? But the minority are always classed among “cranks.” What is a minority? “The chosen heroes of this earth have been in the minority.” Look at Galileo, Golumbus and Luther! “Grand,” you say, “sublime!” They were leaders; we only follow where others have led. Now although we leave the scenes of our school, with its tasks and its pleasures, its duties and its privileges, we would still hold in grateful remembrance the instructors who have with such patience, kindness and skill cherished and guided our efforts to improve. To you we feel indebted for much that we are or may be, for in you we have found faithful counsellors and friends. As we go out into our new field of action we tender our best wishes and hopes for your future success. To the board of education we would tender our thanks for the many encouragements received, in procuring for us kind and efficient instructors and making pleasant and attractive our surroundings. We hope that in the future you may have the hearty co-operation of the towns-people in the same generous endeavors in behalf of the coming classes as you have shown us in the past. To our successors we would say that although you may hear of the sorrows of school days, we have found the sorrows only diffi-