Park University - Narva Yearbook (Parkville, MO)

Page 19 text:

We do not count ourselves judges. “The Narva” has omitted much worthy of honor, and has possibly presented facts better omitted. No at¬ tempt has been made to be fair according to exact merit. “The Narva” con¬ tains what interested us, no more. If you are here unnoticed perhaps next year your praises will be sung. Forgive, if we have abused some. Long live “The Narva.” The editor-in-chief wishes to take this occasion to express his delight at the enthusiastic co-operation of the members of the staff; especially is praise due to Mr. Bible for his tireless labors. Evidently the relations existing be¬ tween the members of “The Narva” staff have inspired our whole class with a feeling of generous good will, quite exceptional in senior classes. Again, mention should be made of the generous help received from persons not on the staff, artists and typewriters especially. To Messrs. McLeod ’02 and McMillan ’03 we owe some of our best sketches. Miss Bennett ’01 and Mr. Stewart and others rendered invaluable aid with their typewriters. We thank all. The staff is under special obligation to Mr. Teachenor of the Teachenor- Bartberger Engraving Co. and to The Burd Fletcher Printing Co. for many helpful suggestions, which have enhanced the appearance of this volume. Shall “The Narva” be published annually hereafter? Is it a wise move? Will Park people stand by it? How can it be improved? Mr. Elvin McLeod of the class of 1902 has already been elected editor-in-chief of the second volume of “The Narva,” with Mr. Archie Law as business manager. If you have answers for the above questions you will greatly favor the new editors by indicating such to them. THE NARVA BOARD, 1901. —9—

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EDITORIAL. “But ancient traditions and chronicles hoary, Embellish this hill by their lore : And mine be the duty to gather the legends, And faith in these records restore.” We have been glad ever since we first heard “The Narva suggested for our annual. The words fall like music on the ear, a welcome sound of melody. The more familiar it becomes to us the more grateful we feel to Chas. H. Crooks for proposing so happy a name. Those familiar with William Paxton’s “Vision of Narva” recognize the appropriateness of the title. This tradition concerning the early history of our college hills, the home of Narva, tinges not only of the mystic and beautiful, but also pictures the historical setting of our Alma Mater. Col. Paxton was an early friend of Col. Park and Dr. McAfee, and his enthusiasm for the college is still such that his aged hand was eager to add a blessing to our new labor which gladly pays tribute to the legend he has loved. We believe succeeding volumes will prove “The Narva a happy name. We have been pioneers but ask no pity. We have done our best. AVe shall mourn if you censure; rejoice if you pra ; se. We most regret because we did not warm up to the ever widening field of work sooner, so that we might have produced a better book. Succeeding years may profit by our experience. The purpose of the Narva has grown as our work has progressed. Instead of a picture book merely, “The Narva” has worthy purpose. If perfect it might be a picture of college life as the students on the campus see it. Of course many things must be taken for granted. A description of the routine life or class-room work would be sublimely dry. We have tried to present some of the facts of college life not found in the catalogue. The aim has been to show what individuals are doing, to praise wherever possible. Especially would “The Narva” pay tribute to those labors and victories which come through sources not under direct rule of the faculty, such as are usually termed “outside work.” To be sure we would not slight the valedictorian nor his merits, but the “all round best man is more truly the hero of the college annual than is the close student. We have no “grinds” at Park, and “The Narva” would hardly mention them with praise did they exist. Here is praise to the captain of the football team (?), the orators, the debaters, the musicians, and to the college in general. The attempt has been to picture Alma Mater thus for two purposes, first to give to the Alumni and friends of Park a new idea of our college enterprises, arousing in each a deeper loyalty and pride for the college; second, to put in tangible form those tlr ' ngs which we see here on the campus and which we will cherish through life. Thus “The Narva” will carry us back to college days when silvered locks give warning, to a lingering few, of life’s close end. Then by means of these two purposes it is hoped that a deeper college patrio¬ tism will develop, which will link man to man all of us who own Park’s name.

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Hon. Geo. S. Park Dr. John A. McAfee. PARASIA. Mrs. Park. Mrs. McAfee. COLLEGE. Hail, Alma Mater, Queen of Learning, hail. Parasia be thy name. Thou art the Grace That woos our waking soul, and lifts the veil Of narrow sense from Nature’s hidden face. Thy faith, Parasia, gave us faith: and taught Us in the tiny blade of grass to view The Ruler of the world, whose care hath wrought The atom and the boundless, starry blue. THE POUNDERS. McAfee, Park, Sherwood. Thy home is in his heart, who blessed thy head In holy consecration; all his days He loved and served thee and thy pathway led; His favor and design still bless thy ways. Thy name perpetuates his name, whose land Gave forth these rock-built walls; who loved thine aim To cause the humble youth to understand Their life and destiny; we laud his name. Thine almond, old by many a stormy day, Sends forth new buds, though shaken by each blast; Whose snow-white branches soon must pass away, But not the ripened fruit of seasons past. THE FUTURE. Parasia,—thy home is everywhere: From Sitka’s ice to Orient sun, the praise Of loyal hearts is thine. Unceasing prayer Is thine inheritance. Long be thy days. God grant thee riches and prosperity; Only obey His law; incline thine ears To hear; so will thy Lord be pleased with thee And give thee peace through all the changing years. —10—