Perry Township High School - Petonian Yearbook (Perryopolis, PA)

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THE PETONIAN 47 I HEROES OF OBSCURITY The Original Oration That Won The County Contest ' r Walter I.arson 1 .N f, if: f-.ti r Too long have honor and glory been paid to the outstanding .figures in civilization without any recognition whatever of those obscure influ- ences which made it possible for renowned tigures to 'play great :roles in the drama of life. Too long have we blinded ourselves to the fundamental importance of the cause of things rather than the result. A stream can rise no higher than its source, a tree can be no better than its seed, a great mind likewise must have an origin which has been laid with care, fed with sacrifice, and clothed in noble thoughts. VVithout the untiring efforts of those who were willing to give unrecognized efforts in order that our country could rise from the depths of obscurity and take an equal stand with other peoples and nations, we could never have been the Ameiiea which we are today. These heroes of obscurity were visionaries and dreamersr. ,They had dreams of possibilities never heard of before. 'It a sacred thing to be a visionary but it is a more sacred thing toyibe able to solve arising problems, to win life's battle and to be able to 'say at the end of all, My dream is true even though others have receivedlthe praise which was built upon the foundation which I have laid. The test' is not-who receives the praise, but is humanity made happier. Itis toivsucli obscure heroes as these that I reverently payi my tribute which is all that I can do. Well, who are these heroes of obscurity?' lf you will open your vol- ume of History and examine your legends and traditions' you will find although few names are mentioned that they are partly the little group of sincere men and women who played a vital part in spiritualizing ourrciviliza- ti'on. The rock on which we were built, rests on the motive religion. ' . VVhen in England the power of the Puritans had been crushed' and the Stewarts had returned to the throne with a thirst for vengeance, when laws had been enacted that everybody must attend the established church offEngland and heretics or breakers of tradition and custom must bepun- ished, the Pilgrims left the old world and searched for a new becausethey wanted freedom of worship. In Plymouth they laid the foundation upon Which' modern America rests. Everything worthwhile which 'is .ours to: day, .we can trace hack to them. Their clergynien, 'macle'tthe'f1rSt.fat'te1npt atzeducationein ourcountry. The first GOllLCg'C''XVHSWU52f6l2lglOl1S'.COlflCgE.

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THE PETONIAN Res PHILO-THESEUS LITERARY CONTEST Perry 'Township High School Auditorium The Confessional' Readings The Man Without a Country Orations The Message to Garcia' Abraham Lincoln Debate olvzd: That the Phillipines should now be Affirmative Leland Keffer Agnes Lynch Newspaper The Searchlighti The Star Essays The Courage of Fear' Fireside Memories Margaret Stickle Elizabeth Beamer Walter Larson Primus Rankie given their independence Negativetk Gladys Coldren james VVilson Rhoda Sisley Thelma Grant Isabelle Adams Alma Rankie YEARS EACH SOCIETY HAS XVON THE CUP PHILO THESIANS 1906 1907 1910 1908 1916 1909 1920 1915 1921 1918 1922 1923 'Winning contestants.

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48 THE PETONIAN The famous Harvard University was founded by the church. Through their system of education and their religious ideals they inspired future generations to accept their motto and attempt to live free from sin. Goad- ed on by their teachings each generation contributed something new to our civilization. To-day in the light of a new age with new facts discov- ered and new revelations given we cannot accept all that our forefathers believed, but to them we owe a silent tribute because our greater knowl- edge is simply an outgrowth of their lesser. If they could for just one moment rend the veil that separates the living from the dead and look out upon our great institutions of learning, our hospitals and asylums, I im- agine I can hear them say, f'Think of us, our names have long ago been forgotten. Our lives have sometimes been stormy and often tragic, but it was our bodies that made the bridge over which you are treading. You are most brave, but yet your light-it was the light we gave. VVe come now to the second step in our development. just as We were unable to do without the religious influence in our country, just so we were unable to do without those who pitted their physical strength against the barriers of an unknown continentgthe pioneers. To the present day student the word pioneer fascinates and enchants but I wonder how many of us if we could be given the chance to relive their lives would give up the case and comfort which they made possible for us to enjoy and endure the hardships, sufferings and death which the simple little word pioneer calls up to mind. I see them, their families and their possessions which consist of little more than a team of oxen, a covered wagon, and a few articles of household necessities, bidding a final farewell to their friends and leaving forever the line of civilization which stretched along the Atlantic coast. A little later I see them creeping slowly up the rough slopes of the Alleghenies, cutting a path as they go, crossing the plains, fording a river, clearing a forest, and at last, facing a desert. Now comes the temptation to turn back but standing on the edge of the desert they heard the tramp, tramp of a million feet following in their footsteps. They heard the cry of their children's children saying, t'Make room for us. They got a vision of another nation with unlimited possibilities and the development of a new type of civilization. A final choice was made. They faced the desert knowing at the same time that it must end disastrously to some of them. I cannot tell you what they suffered. Their whitened bones lying along the trail will tell you that. But to-day in place of a desert there is a paradise. In place of an impassable mountain, there are untold riches, and in place of a wilderness, the Golden State of California. But there are others whose work entitles them to hold an equal place in our estimation besides pioneers. The group of men whose courageous fighting all through our development protected the honor of our country is just as important. The Indians had to be pushed back to make room for the oncoming of the white man. The French had to be overcome so Amer- ica could be preserved for English customs and common law. Later a