Ottumwa High School - Argus Yearbook (Ottumwa, IA)

Page 9 text:

“Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much Wisdom is humble that he knows no more” The City A CITE!” That mill of fortunes; that vital river of life. The dross is there, the scum on its surface, the petty priggishness, the blinded turmoil in the dark, the fighting, cursing, laughter that they call life. But there is gold in its volume, a soul, a personality that directs the walks of weaker minds. We would escape it, we would be sole directors of ourselves but we arc im- potent and it is best. We clutch with our weak arms as we fall and the city catches us up and brings us to her warm bosom. She teaches us to work and think; she guides us to success; she warns our wayward steps. We hold her hand now and gaze over the pulsating future. We hope, she hopes to treat us kindly and guard us from death and worse—oblivion. She helps us to launch our timid craft on the torrent and gives her wisdom of a hundred years and fills our hearts with fortitude for the struggles, the rapids ahead. The torrent crushes us, we go under. But her ever helping hand raises us up and again we start, not knowing our benefactor. We pass other rapids, our strength augments, we begin to appreciate that life. Finally the strong come out of the fight—victorious. We have conquered life and it, us. We are its slaves. That is the city—that is life. They came across snow-capped mountains from verdant hills and pine. They came from limpid stream and a glen where only nature and happiness reign. They came in canvas-covered wagons that toiled over rural roads and by the side of plodding beast the rugged, gun shouldered pioneer came. They reach the broad, untainted of man, plain. In the center of the prairie and by the river they built their city. They cared not for paltry adornment but laid the stones which ever way the use would be two-fold, three-fold. They erected representative institutions of human intelligence. A library, a court building, a high school, a post-office. They set up their law, following nature’s example. Their crops were successful, they prospered and attained eminence above forty-eight districts. And last—they were men. The scholar enters this commonwealth of excellent humanity. What is his but suc- cess as he leaves it for other communities? What is his but happiness, after the paternal city’s benediction? He will learn in the city’s school of life and apply it in greater cities, but will not forget the first university. Ottumwa! from life to life! 5