Norfolk High School - Milestone Yearbook (Norfolk, NE)

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THE MILESTONE. 25 of liberty. By instilling truth and justice into the hearts of her boys and girls, she has raised a generation which made her a power among the nations of the world. In its widest sense education involves all the agencies by which a man is influenced for good or evil from the cradle to the grave. “His feelings are to be disciplined; his passions are to be restrained; true and worthy motives are to be inspired; a profound religious feeling is to be instilled and pure morality inculcated.” This culture makes the hand mobile, the touch sensitive, the nervous system vigorous and active, and the mind strong. Long ago did manufacturers discover that intelligent, educated workmen are more profitable to employ, even at higher wages than the uneducated. Among the girls in a large weaving room in the east, was one who was well educated. Long arms and strong muscles are advantageous in weaving, yet this girl though short and slight always wove the largest number of pieces and drew the largest pay. What made the difference? Was it not the mental culture that taught her how to save her strength, how to concentrate her thoughts? Is there an employer who does not prefer the educated man? The extra amount of work done is not the only respect in which an intelligent workman is superior. Will he not be able to more fully understand his business? This being true, how much better will he execute his duty to his employer. Then there is a satisfaction of being surrounded by inquiring, active, thinking minds.

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The Touchstone. Centuries ago there lived a king who was very fond of gold. Although his coffers were full, he was always wishing for more. At last Bacchus granted his wish which was that everything he touched would become gold. How delighted he was as he walked through the castle to see everything he touched change instantly into gold. His little daughter t ame running to meet him. How horrified he became when upon taking her in his arms she was immediately transformed into a golden image. He hurried at once to the god imploring him to remove the golden touch. This was done, and the king was happy once more in the possession of his living child. The ancient (Ireeks believed that somewhere in their country was a buried stone having the power of changing into gold anything with which it came in contact. Diligently they searched through many generations, but the wonderful stone remains a hidden treasure unto this day. What is the touchstone of to-day? Has not America solved the problem by establishing her free school? Our fair Columbia realized that education is a safeguard

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THK M1LBSTON K. 2» How impossible to enumerate the advantages resulting from the employment of intelligent men. If this cannot be done, how vain must be the effort to describe the gain to the workman himself. The increase in wages is the least and lowest reward of mental culture. The whole being is enlarged and exalted: the scope of view is widened; the objects of interest are increased; the subjects of thought are multiplied; life is more filled with emotion, and man is raised in the scale of creation. Too many have the idea that to appear well on the stage of public life, a man must spend a certain number of years within the walls of some college. This is an accomplishment not a necessity. A man who has spent his best years in pursuing classic lore, lacks that common information that he can get only by association with his fellow men. He must stand shoulder to shoulder with the honest, wide awake, noble-minded man who is struggling with the trials and temptations of the world. Only by communicating with others do we know ourselves. For “there is no school which so trains and disciplines the mind as contact with mankind. A life of solitude is a life of selfishness. To every human being belongs his fair share of manful toil and human duty. Can this be neglected without severe loss to the individual himself? He must go out into the world, find his particular sphere of duty, and then work. In so doing he will educate himself in that patience, diligence and endurance which shapes and consolidates the character. Adversity is the touchstone of character, and as we deal