Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

Page 18 text:

THE GOLDEN ROD. 'Act we il yoiir part, there all the honor ! WHO (i The mayor spoke of the past four hundred years of our country’s his- tory, and of the brilliant possibili- ties of the future, exhorting every pupil to do his part in life for his country and for humanity, thereby contributing his share to the ad- vancement and welfare of man- kind. k. A few days ago we heard the fol- lowing dialogue: “You wish Har- rison to be elected, do you not?” “Harrison ? Let’s see,—he’s the re- publican candidate, isn’t he ?” “Of course.” “Well then, he’s the man for me.” Is it not strange, and does it not show a lamentable lack of interest in the affairs of one’s country, that after General Harrison has occu- pied the presidential chair during four years, one of the citizens of the United States should be in doubt as to which party our president represents ? The person to whom the first question was addressed is evidently one who casts his vote, not for his country’s but for his party’s welfare. We do not say that in so doing he is not, in this instance at least, contributing to the welfare of the former as well, but if so, it is by no design on his part. He practically confesses that he has made no study of the char- acter and party principles of the man for whom he intends to vote. Is it then so light a matter, this election of a man to the highest official position of our government, that one is justified in blindly cast- ing his vote for a candidate simply because he is of “my party”? We have spoken only of the president's election, because the questions asked particularly men- tioned that official; but we wish to include the other principal officers of the government also. We have heard men say that they voted a “straight ticket,” and have heard them add that they did not approve of all the candidates, but they must support their party. Whenever we hear such a statement, this ques- tion presents itself to our mind: Which is of greater importance, “my party,” or the government of the United States and the prosper- ity of the people at large? You will at once give preference to the government and the general pros- perity, yet we fear many are great- ly influenced by party jealousy and will vote for a man of whom they may not entirely approve in order to prevent the election of an oppos- ing candidate. We do not intend this article to favor any particular party, and we have mentioned the republican par- ty only because the conversation which we first quoted happened to relate to it. We think the same result might be obtained by ques- tioning some of the members of the other political parties. Somewhere we have seen an article ridiculing woman’s suffrage, in which one woman is made to vote a certain ticket because the color of the ballot matched the color of her dress. We think that method of voting hardly less senseless than that of voting with a party, regardless of the merits or demerits of the can- didates. It has been said that all men are equal at the polls, and since this is so should not every man take suffi- cient interest in politics to know the worth of the candidates, and the principles advocated by them, and then vote, not for a special party, but for the men who will contrib- ute most to the advancement of our country? Shakespeare says:— ‘ Be just and fear not: Let all the ends thou ainvst at be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.” K. Owing to the benevolence of Mr. Corthel of Wollaston, prizes have been offered for declamation and composition. The competition is to take place on an appointed date in February of each year, with the understanding that as soon as the money derived from the enter- tainment given at that time accu- mulates sufficiently, the prizes are to be given from that. This is the result of long deliberation, it hav- ing been agitated some years ago.

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The Golden Rod. Vol. II. QUINCY, MASS., OCTOBER, 1892. No. 2 THE GOLDEN ROD Will be Published Monthly During the School Year in the interests of the QUINCY HIGH SCHOOL. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. For the Year, . 50cents | Single Copies, . 5 cents Foi sale at E B. Souther’s. Address all communications to 8 A RAH C. McGOVERN or JOS. J. CALLAHAN, BUSINESS MANAGERS. Entered at the Quincy (Mass.,) Post-Office as Second Class Matter. EDITORIAL. GENERAL EDITORS. Eva G. Reed, John W. Estabrooks. 'HP'H E Columbian exercises formed a very pleasant break in the monotony of school life. The remarks made by Mayor Fairbanks were especially appropriate to the occasion, giving the scholars many new ideas upon the plans and work of Columbus. “O Tell us, Merry Birds,” rendered by Misses Baker, Eaton, Oxford, and Souther, was very pleasing, and was loudly ap- plauded. Dr. Sheahan was called upon to speak, but said that his ideas were already well known and that all he could do was to indorse the mayor’s remarks. The room was well decorated with flags and autumnal flora, which gave it a very pretty effect. There was to have been a flag- raising, but on account of an unfor- tunate delay it was necessary to postpone it. The flag, which was presented by the editorial board of ’92, was used for interior decora- tion. e. In the course of the month we hope to have our flag floating over- head. Even if we are rather late in obtaining our flag, it will have closer associations for us than if it had been given by some person outside the school. The Golden Rod was started under many diffi- culties, and at first it was a ques- tion as to whether it could be pub- lished or not. The delight in the triumph which it achieved can only be understood by those who have labored long in great doubt as to the result. Then the possibility of obtaining the flag-pole was another question, but the readiness with which the pupils offered their aid was very gratifying. e. The pupils of the High School were much pleased when they learned that His Honor, Mayor Fairbanks, was to be with them on Columbus Day, and that he would address them at the close of the exercises. They were disap- pointed in regard to the flag-rais- ing, but in connection with the mayor there was no disappoint- ment ; he was present and he de- livered his address,—an address that was indeed a fitting conclu- sion to our entertainment. The thoughts expressed by Mayor Fair- banks might well be used as max- ims by which to guide one’s ac- tions. One sentence in particular has haunted the writer ever since— '‘Make life worth living.” A life lived for one’s self alone is indeed a life wasted. Mr. Fairbanks viv- idly set forth the truth that every one has a mission to perform. He spoke of the admiration we feel on beholding a grand and beautiful structure, and called our attention to the fact that every separate part of the building must be well con- structed in order to form the per- fect whole, equal credit therefore belonging to the humble mechanic who conscientiously performed his part of the work, and the great ar- chitect who designed the structure. Thus we see that great honor is due, not only for performing re- markable deeds, but also for care- fully doing whatever duty is near- est us.

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THE GOLDEN ROD. It will be of the greatest benefit to the competitors, as they will acquire considerable experience. Then again it will produce a great com- petition, enlivening the scholars and giving them a fresh interest in literary matters. Another series of prizes has been offered by Dr. J. M. Sheahan for French and Latin translations. These will be eagerly contested for. The subjects have not yet been assigned. e. PERSONAL. EDITED BY Jennie Griffin, Annie C. P. Eady, Herbert A. Thompson. John Lyons, ’94, is employed at Drake’s shoe factory. Miss Christianson, ’95, has gone to live at Hartford, Ct. Mary Duran, ’94, is learning typesetting at Roxbury. Rosa Bill, ’94, is bookkeeping at I. F. Shepherd’s, Quincy. We received a short visit this month from Marion Bailey, once of ’94. Bessie L. Drew and Josie Ger- rish, ’94, attended the Mechanics’ Fair this month. Miss Tabb, '95, has left the school, having removed to East Milton. We are pleased to hear that Mary Trask, ’95, has recovered from a severe attack of typhoid fever. Elizabeth Walsh, Helen Delory, ’94, Annie Walsh and Bertha Trepanier, ’96, sing in the choir of St. John’s church, Quincy. Among the few visitors we have had this month have been Marion Gurney, formerly of ’94, Arthur Curtis, ’93, and Mollie YVebb, ’93. Among the visitors we were glad to see on Columbus Day were Mayor- Fairbanks, Dr. Sheahan, our special committee man, and his wife ; Miss Pauline Wilkins, for- merly of ’94, Mr. Thomas, ’91, and others who were once students in this school. LOCALS. EDITED by Annie E. Burns, Daisy C. Bemis, Percy A. Hull. The sand-pile is fast disappear- ing. We notice that several of the boys use the blacking quite lavish- iy- The one satisfactory answer to many interesting scientific ques- tions : “That topic wasn’t in my book.” The English division of ’96 has been removed to a room in the Adams school, which is now styled the “Annex.” Pupil—When the sun cuts the ecliptic--- Teacher—Are not the sun and the ecliptic on good terms? Pupil—I could n’t find the nomi- native of lacte. Teacher—It must have been from lack (lac) of knowledge. The foot-ball has met with a mishap. It came down on the sharp spike of an iron fence, and the result was it“busted.” Surely, a frightful fate. English ’93 is keeping a daily re- cord of the class work. Visitors examining this journal may form an idea of what the class is doing in Literature. Latin ’93, is certain that the word ovation does not come from the Latin ovum meaning an egg, because occasions on which these articles are brought into use are seldom triumphal. It may not be generally known that the superintendent of schools and the principal ot the High School always “happen ’round” when the products of the cooking teacher’s skill are to be tasted. “THERE WERE GIANTS IN THOSE DAYS.” We did not realize the exact size of Joe’s foot until its plaster cast was left so indelibly for future gen- erations. We have heard before of autographs being written with the feet. Is this a “footprint in the sands ot time” ? s.