Norfolk High School - Milestone Yearbook (Norfolk, NE)

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tup: milestone. 19 and darkness of the night, ferried the American Army across to New York. But perhaps there is no more striking illus- tration of lost opportunity than that of Hull at Detroit. He held a strong fort filled with men confident of victory. The enemy were approaching, his cannon were charged and his soldiers eager to fight. To the amazement of all a white flag was displayed, and men, arms and the whole territory of Michigan was surrendered to the British. At the time Hull was bitterly denounced as a coward and traitor, but it is now believed that he was only weak and lacked the decision to seize his opportunity. The event comes down to us as a surrender, the mo'st shameful in the history of the United States. Not only great military men, but also those occupying high position in civil life have been unable to retain the place they have been called to fill through the neglect of some duty. It is customary on great ocean steamers to take observations to see in what direction the ship is sailing. One slight turn of the pilot wheel might put the ship many miles out of its course. So one error, one neglected opportunity in our life may change the whole plan of our existence. We must then take most careful observations, that we may early discover our faults and neglect of opportunities for improvement. Every failure should strengthen us to greater effort, and with high ideals there is no such word as fail. Then we shall have few remembrances to blight our future happiness. How many of us. some with splendid natural abilities, make no effort toward improvement? We spend our precious time in idly dreaming of honor, fame and wealth. Then when it is too late we awaken from our slumbers only to discover that our talents have been buried in the wreck and ruin of an aimless life. “Oh, the wasted hours of life That have drifted by! Oh, the good we might have done. Lost without a sigh.

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18 THE MILESTONE. Napoleon lived long enough to know that he had excluded a greater power than his own.” Again we see Napoleon, this time on a mighty battle field, it is late in the afternoon, the sun slowly sinking in the west gilds the wheat fields in the broad valley and glimmers through the trees on the water. As motionless as a statue, Napoleon, mounted on a magnificent white charger, was viewing the battle field. Flashing in the sunlight was the cross of the Legion of Honor upon his green uniform. He saw the English lines waver, and said to Marshal Ney: “We have ninety-nine chances out of a hundred for victory.” Then the imperial guard made their splendid charge. Troopers on great gray horses with steel shod hoofs thundered down the valley with colors flying, trumpets sounding and ranks closed. They are lost in the smoke and are next seen on the opposite hill. Before them yawns a hollow road, but they cannot check their headlong gallop. The foremost ranks plunge in and the road is filled up, the rest never faltering dash over their dead bodies on to the awful charge. The English cannot withstand such a tempest, their lines waver and break before the gallant guards. The eagle-eye of Wellington sees this and orders up his cavalry. Had Napoleon at the same time thought of his infantry the result might have been changed, and Bluchercoming an hour later would have met a victorious French army. Waterloo would have been won. We know the sad story that ended at lonely St. Helena. In the history of our own nation many men have lost their one chance for success and renown. At the Battle of Long Island Lord Howe had a splendid army of nineteen thousand well equipped men. During the forenoon he compelled the little band of Americans to retreat with heavy losses. He would have taken all the American forces on the island, had he attacked the entrenchments at once, but he allowed his troops to rest and so lost his golden opportunity. The Marblehead fishermen, through the fog

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20 T1IE MILESTONE. Low that we might once have waved By a single word! Thoughts conceived, bnt never | en'd. Perishing unheard. Take the proverb to thine heart. Take, Oh, hold it fast! The mill will never grind With the water that has passed.’' VALEDICTORY. We have now passed one milestone on our journey of life. It has been a very short and pleasant journey thus far for most of us. We have tried to profit by our opportunities and trust that the ground work of our education has been well laid. We are just stepping over tbfe threshold of our school life and are about to bid farewell to the pleasant school days of the past. We now enter into life’s school which is always in session. May we all be more faithful in the future than the best of us have been in the past. Before we separate as a class and enter the world to battle for place and honor we wish to publicly express our gratitude to the citizens of Norfolk for their kindly interest in our school work. We thank them and say farewell. To the School Board who have given so much time and earnest work, that we might have such a beautiful new High School building, we return our thanks. You have fostered this noble institution of learning in our community which we shall always be proud to remember as our Alma Mater. For your care, aid and interest we are thankful, being honored by it. To you we say farewell. To you. kind teachers, we also must say farewell. We realize how patiently, how faithfully and how devotedly each of you have labored for our advancement. Many times your patience has been tried and your burdens been increased by reason of our neglect of duty. We now sincerely ask your forgiveness, trusting that we may always show to the world the benefit of your instructions and example. We earnestly thank you for the many kindnesses we have received at your hands, and to you we say farewell. Farewell, schoolmates! Farewell! There is always a