Norwell High School - Shipbuilder Yearbook (Norwell, MA)

Page 16 text:

Page16 THE SHIPBUILDER Oo-4-Q-o-o-404 even his practice will become cob-webby. His contentment will hinder his own progress. It would seem nearly incongruous for a mod- ern business man to lean back in his chair, smile, and say, Oh, yes, I'm satisfied, perfectly satisfied! In the time he would take to say it, he would lose sight of his associates: they would prefer to go on without him. A pros- pective employer would also overlook him, be- cause the employer, as a perfect business man, would want an employee who would advance the business by advancing himself. Other em- ployers might recognize it as a form of laziness. That satisfied man will remain b-ehind, alone, and there will be one less person to progress with the world. For anyone at all, it would be a pitiful ad- mission to himself, it would show that he ad- mits defeat, and one who admits defeat shows that mentally he is unwilling to make the effort. The world will continue to rush onward as it is bound to, and such a person might as well be deadg he has closed his mind to progress. In preference to being self-satisfied, it is better to worry continually, because that would denote an interest in the world: it would show that one is not satisfied with the present. Con- trary to popular fancy, perfect contentment can not last, because the contented person is not doing anything about it,-he is passive: on the other hand, there may be nearly perfect happi- ness, if one keeps going, if one has sufficient will to get ahead. In fact, it is better to be unsatisfied than to be dissatisfied. There is a very fine distinction between the terms: dis- satisfied signifies passive distaste, unsatis- fied signifies distaste in that the subject is searching for something better. For example, a man who is dissatisfied with his job merely dislikes it intensely: one who is unsatisfied with his job dislikes it because he feels that he is capable of one better. Now to get back to earth for the final word. It is easy to see that contentment was the cause of this last depression. The United States must admit that it was quite satisfied with its prosperity: that satisfaction has im- peded the progress usually made in the period. Contentment hinders progress: the content- ment of a man is like a stone upon which he may rest for a while: but if the stone is great, it will take so much longer to move it. Thus. the greater your contentment, the longer it will retard your particular progess. J. Franceschini. SALUTATORY The Great Nickel Adventure How often have you heard that expression. Oh, how thrilling it must be to ride in an aeroplane! After several aeroplane rides, do you have the same romantic feeling? Perhaps, and perhaps you do not. This new means of locomotion is indeed very popular but being celebrated so much makes it conceited. Of course there is some romance in an aeroplane ride. From the time the plane slowly lifts itself from the ground until it reaches the lofty clouds and then gradually descends, one is really thrilled! During this time, the pas- senger first loses sight of the vast plains and the hour' appear like little dots, then the large clouds surround the machine and if it is dark. stars are obvious. lflverything is both pictur- esque and dangerous, yet it is not near so ro- mantic as a ride in the subway, even if the sub- way may not be so well ventilated or comfort- able. Remember, a little discomfort is worth accompanying adventure. Unseen dangers are far more thrilling than seen For example. let us think of the subway. Can you imagine anything romantic about it? Perhaps not immediately, but think hard. Why. of course! There is a sort of charm in it that draws the passengers and guards to think of recklessness. But why? The working man. after working all day. hurries to the subway and never thinks any danger may delay him. It never occurs to him that his life may be lost while in one of these underground trains. In truth. what is the difference between an acro- bat being shut in a hollow ball and tossed across the circus ring and a man shut in a box and shot through the earth I' Neither has any fear because they have faith in both cases. What if we were to think of a subway in the olden days? Of course this is 1931, but do we not often consider ancient history? If a man ever said that underground transportation would be used sooner or later-that we would 9 6 0-000000-0-0000006 QQQGQOQQOQQOOOQQQ 0009000000 0000-0-0-0000000000-0-0-00 00 o++o4-9+-Q-0-Q

Page 15 text:

0-O-OOO 00009 OOO O0 0-O-00000--O4-OC-09-0-O-0-009-C THE SHIPBUILDER Paqeli . 'POQ 0G?QQOCCG90000OOO0OQ44 VALEDICTGRY CONTENTMENT HINDERS PROGRESS One of the essayists of the class of 1837 spoke on Contentment Hinders Progress, showing that then, as now, it was a recognized fact. That it is acknowledged now, and stressed even more, is an interesting point. The subject is universal, however, it fits any time, any place, and any person, it has been proved by Roman history, when the most highly civil- ized nation rotted, it is being proved at the present time, in the United States, where ter- rifying unemployment has followed prosperity, it is being proved in the lives of those about us, and often in our own. In the nineties, the people seem to have recognized the fact that contentment hinders progress, and that one cannot be satisfied with himself and still keep up with the world. This view was limited to a certain extent, however. filled with mar- The preceding year has been velous inventions, that fertile period of Amer- improvement in ican growth had brought an evcry line, Bell made it possible to speak and be heard beyond natural earshot, by means of his telephone, Morse made it possible to send a message half-way around the world without having to wait for mailing conveniences. by means of his telegraph, Watt made it possible to drive engines without the use of man or ani- mal power, when he invented the steam engine. These men, along with many others, had made such rapid progress in such a comparatively short time that the world was convinced that further progress was impossible. For these reasons, that maxim was used as advice that was meant to have been taken seriously, but was given with little prospect of actual appli- cation. It is possible, too, that it was a gener- ality, because the people were not fitted yet to cope time. In 1931, at the present time, that sentence has come to have unlimited meaning. So much more unbelievable progress has been made since the days when it was deemed impossible that the world is prepared for anything, and it even hopes to see more inventions. The ap- plication now is as widely physical as it is mental. As a beginning, the application of the fact that contentment hinders progress will be made to the average household. Daily one sees new appliances that will surely revolutionize house- work, often they are successful, more often they are not, yet, they show that many hundreds of people are not content to drudge. and so, these people by their small in- ventions add to the progress of the world. with the increasingly rapid pace of the The housewife wants the newest, so now many new things are being manufactured daily. lt has become the custom in late years for the owner of an automobile to turn his in each year for the latest model, the average man is not satisfied with the same old car, and the same old conveniences. By the creation of this demand, the automobile manufacturers have to strive to meet it. They can not be content to keep the same old place in the field of auto- mobile manufacturing, if a concern makes a car that is not the best, that concern must strive to put out a car that will excel all others, another that may make the best, has to struggle to keep its reputation. Thus progress is brought about, the manufacturers can not be content because satisfaction would hinder that progress. Everyone worries about the air- plane, the many accidents, the great loss of life. But pilots are not satisfied, they can not afford to be satisfied, because it is inevitable that regular air travel will be accepted in the future. In the larger field of medicine, re- search workers are not content to allow the pneumonia, cancer and the tuberculosis germs to remain a mystery: witness the progress made in the isolation of the pneumonia germ. These doctors can not afford to be content, either, the health of the nation is at stake. In plain lan- guage, this is the spirit of keeping up with the Jonses, so ridiculed by Europe. But it is the source of America's prosperity, the reason for her progress. But, then, to what does all this lead? Merely to the proof that mentally, too, content- ment hinders progress. Had those men-Bell, Morse, Watt, and the others,-been content. perhaps we should still have had to run across the street to talk to a neighbor. to rely upon postal service to deliver messages, or to de- pend on animals to carry us to our destinations. Each of these men stands out because he has advanced so far ahead. Were he far behind, he would stand out, too, but he would not he noticed because it is more natural to look ahead. Perhaps that is why God put our eyes in the front of our heads. In every walk of life, l'm satisfied is a danger sign. Pronounced by a professional man, it shows that he has none of the essential love for his profession. It signines that he has no desire to know what the pioneers in his pro- fession have found, that he does not care par- ticularly to get ahead and to keep ahead. Should a doctor give the least hint that he is satisfied, his ofiicc. his tools, so to speak. and CQCOQOO0O90000QCOQQOO000000

Page 17 text:

THE SHIPBUILDER Paqc17 be able to go under the ground from one city to another, would he be considered sane? Yet that is the truth. Now, why is the subway so democratic? There really is no definite answer to this ques- tion, but every one has his suspicions. Maybe it is the sharing of faith. But have you not heard that expression, Look before you leap? Why do we not follow such advice? It wouldn't be a model world if we did. What one person can do, others can. Although all roads lead to Rome, no one seems to choose a differ- ent one from his neighbor. He judges he can get there just as easily, but of course, by taking a risking chance. Is this not adventure? Perhaps Americans have reasons for having exciting subways. As one probably knows, the English subways differ from ours. The Eng- lish are cautious and do not have faith enough to allow their trains to go under the surface of the earth more than two minutes. They are very conservative. But are not these subways cowardly and tame? What adventure is there if one has to pop his head out into the air every two minutes at a station? As soon as a passenger boards a train, he leaves behind the daylight, and instead, ac- quaints himself with the electric light. He seems to lose all conversation and thinks con- tinually until the train stops. Apparently the subway frightens him. The electric light bulb glares in his face and soon every one looks 9-O-0-9 alike. The famous lawyer and broker are on the same level with the bootblack. One per- haps finds himself sitting beside a drunkard, but what can he do? The train can not stop for him. The drunkard's nickel is as good as his, and so he has to bear anything. Our New York subway is indeed very brave and takes the mighty chance of carrying thou- sands of travellers to safety. After going un- derground for perhaps an hour, it brings its passengers to the surface at 116th street. Then, without pause, it rises so swiftly above the house tops and plunges into darkness again, not giving its people chance to wonder. What a strange feeling! It is a conspiracy and travels swiftly and conveniently, although not very comfortably. Every day man shuts himself in a dark room and refuses to talk to any one. He dislikes sociability. Cannot the subway be applied to man! It shuts itself up and then seems to think to itself, for it has a feeling that it can- not have talkative passengers-and it really does not. But it is easy to talk continuously as soon as we get off the train. We hurry home, but not so fast that naute and light are ad- mired. We have met faith and democracy, and it is impossible to forget it. Was it not a most thrilling adventure for a nickel? Where can one suggest one more thrilling? Gertrude Gauley, '31. ESSAY Simplicityg Sincerity and Service Among several mottos our class has chosen this one, as the motto which represents to us three most important goals for which to strive: Simplicity, sincerity and service. Simplicity is very important in all factors of life. First, simplicity should be in our thoughts, for as we think we act, and our acts make up our life. A person who lives a life of simplicity is generally happy, pleasant, and willing to help others. Those people who live a very active, complex life, are often petty and seek enjoyment for themselves only. That type of person hinders the progress of his countryg he does not aid it in the least. Upon reading brief biographies of several leading financiers, I find that the majority of them had led simple lives. Nevertheless. they are prominent leaders, because of the service they have given their country and the simple life they enjoy. Benjamin Franklin is a good example of sim- plicity. If one has ever read his autobiography. it is easy to recognize his simplicity of speech and mann-er. He tells the facts of his life in a straightforward, simple manner, and because of this simplicity the book is very interesting. Sincerity is important because it includes all elements of good character. And people of good character are the ones who aid most in the advancement of our nation and civilization as a whole. To be a success one has to be sincere in all he undertakes to do. A person leaving high school should realize that he must be sincere with himself, hrst and last. ln so doing he will then unquestionably he sincere with the people about him. One may make himself he- lieve that he is being sincere with others, hut he cannot make-believe being sincere with him- self. He cannot smooth things over in his O-0-OC-O-00000-QQO-00900-O-O-0000006-O-O90-OO-0000OO09-GOO0000OOOOOOOOGOOOOOOQOOOOOO090009-QCQQ