Norfolk High School - Milestone Yearbook (Norfolk, NE)

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24 THK MILESTONE. of the patriots who purchased our birthright, we never shall dishonor; but the war upon the invasion of evil and ignorance now is inaugurated in the American home. Industrious armies respond daily to the roll call of drill and development. “All in arms, All plumed like eetridges that wing the wind. Rater! like eagles having lately bather!; Glittering in golden coats like images; As full of spirit as the month of May. Thirty millions of these young hearts, train under the most lieneficent educational generalship in the world. The evolution of the present out of the past bespeaks a forthcoming millennium. With an educational sentiment founded upon the deepest emotions of love and purity; with justice administered as never before; with public favor on the side of right and truth; with a guardianship of Christian truth and character; “Let us believe with all our hearts that out of the high-hearted dreams of wise and good men about our country, time, however invisibly and inscrutably, is, at this moment, slowly hewing the most colossal and resplendent result in History.” Alik I. Johnson.

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THE MILESTONE. 23 the free! The little hand of wearied mariners who stepped to a new l orn land o’er the century washed rock of an eastern shore is now a people of sixty-five millions. The little nucleus of thirteen colonies is now a brotherhood of forty-two states. True to history our forefathers fought a war for possession, whose foe was symbolized by the tomahawk, ami yell of savagery. But we were not our own. An iron rule held us beneath its sway. But, 1776, an old bellman rang out our independence. The inspiration was caught up by the l ople, and, through the most heroic war ever fought for God and country, they sustained their most righteous cause. In 1788 a constitution was adopted, cementing a brotherhood, the United States. But allied with our young institutions, and sanctioned by the government, were the elements of domestic strife. Slavery grew rank in the republic. In 1863, a proclamation was issued. Emancipation was its message, and its fulfillment forever stigmatized before the world, the curse of servitude; and in the American nation was instituted the most illustrious example of the universal liberties of man. Now, America is a great home, a fireside. Her people are the most magnanimous of the human universe. Education, music, art. culture are inmost virtues of the heart. We still are a nation of progression. But whence ooraeth this heritage? What has it all cost? The famed Pericles in Athenian supremacy, standing over the remains of his fellow men said, “The whole world is the sepulchreof illustrious men. Illustrious men. how fresh the memories of their names, where lives purchased an inheritance whose blessing shall live and reign forever. Tomorrow I see a procession; it goes toward yonder marble stones; 'tis our fathers, our mother.!, our brothers and sisters; they carry flowers in their hands; they stop and sing; we hear the notes of fife and drum; they strew their flowers o’er the graves; ah, soldiers are buried there! To them—heroes of our heritage—let the living forever pay their choicest benedictions. Our Warrens and McPhersons are buried there. There are thousands more with resting places unknown. No sculptured marble gives them names, but to them all We pay most hallowed tribute. “We’ll deck their tombs with flowers, The rarest ever seen, And with oar tears as showers, We’ll keep them fresh and green.’ But a new roll of national service has dawned full upon tis. The valor

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YoUtfG America. OUTIOI, CUSS 0? '90. J X 1492. a little band of adventurers set out across the dreaded and unknown A Atlantic. At their head was a man who claimed that the earth was round; and he was willing to risk his life to prove it. In his attempt to do so, he discovered a new world to which people flocked in quest of gold, and of religious and political liberty, until our fertile coast had a population of several millions. Later these people showed themselves truly American by asserting and establishing their independence and framing a government which has ever since been the marvel of the world. Since that time, under the invigorating influence of freedom, these people have continually advanced in wealth and numbers. The weakness of the infant nation has become the proud strength of a Great Republic. Patriotism, Freedom and Progress have made American citizenship a prouder title than ever Roman claimed, and the rising generation of every land envies the reputation for energy, patriotism, and intelligence which distinguishes Young America. Among the characteristics of the American l oy is his love of independence, so well shown at Lexington, Hunker Hill and Saratoga, and so well voiced by hundreds of patriot orators from that time till now. In every crisis of our history, it was Young America who responded with greatest eagerness to the call of his country. It was Young America who thronged the streets of Philadelphia and welcomed with lustiest shouts th1 first peal of old Independence Bell. And is it not Young America who celebrates the Fourth of July, and keeps alive the memory of the founders of our Republic? The American l»oy is no longer compelled to participate in bloody contests for the welfare of his land; the time of foreign oppression is happily