Quincy High School - Oriole Yearbook (Quincy, MI)

Page 28 text:

Vet how often this port is forgotten in the mad struggle for the Wealth or Fame port or some other equally guiltless of true happiness. Who can destroy the fact in a neighbor’s eyes that we have helped him, if we have done so? We all wish to be remembered, and looking backward we remember the moments and the people, who by an encouraging word or act, have made our shipbuilding easier. Likewise, will we not be remembered for little deeds of kindness if we perform them daily? It should be the duty of everyone to make the practice of trying to help some¬ one each day until it may become second nature to inspire and encourage those around us. ’Tis true we all desire a comfortable livelihood, but if by chance we should become wealthy, there is much good we may do with our wealth. Then let us lead this helpful life that at the close of each day we may hear the soft “well done” of the inner voice, and, as we grow older, enjoy the confidence and trust of those about us. We will meet many other ships on onr journeys, some going our ways and some in others, and let us remember that a joyful hail from a passing vessel often bright¬ ens a whole day’s journey. So in whatever direction we may sail, we hope to be a credit to our friends and a success in life; and wherever we steer, let us be upright and honest, strong to grasp opportunity, pure in heart and true to ourselves in motive and in deed, for it has been said that “he who is true to himself cannot be false to any man.” So, as the horizon, as far as we can see, bounds our opportunities now, let us not be content with the lower deck, but climb to the bridge so that the view may be bro adened and that we may catch a glimpse of undreamed of lands. Then let us keep the harbor light in view and steer straight for the port of our ambitions.

Page 27 text:

Today we launch our ship and our friends are with us to break on the prow of our vessel the champagne bottle of their love and good wishes. We leave port with sun shining, a smooth sea and our friends waving us “God speed.” Tomorrow we will be 1 ‘Like ships far off at sea , Outward and onward bound are we; Before , behind and all around , Bloats and swings the horizon ' s bouna. Today the last cable which binds us to our high school days is severed. But we carry with us our charts, compasses and our wireless and we know there are lighthouses to help us on our way. Then too, all around us are other crafts that will quickly respond to signals of distress. Tomorrow we shall go beyond the harbor bar and more will be expected of us as morrow by morrow the time sweeps by, and more must we do to make ourselves worthy of the esteem of others. A ship which has never sailed for the first time knows only of the land which it is leaving. We know only the experiences of the Past; the Future is the unknown land toward which we journey. As we leave the harbor and pass out into the sea of life, we will notice at first only tiny waves, but the longer we sail we will see the troughs become deeper and the crests higher. The troughs must come in order that we may meet and appreciate the following crests; yet we must all steer with a steady purpose, else in some storm our bark go under. It is not the ripple on the surface that tries the make and material of a ship; it is the storm, the high winds and the waves which show them best of all. We are not all bound for the same harbor, but there are many toward which we may direct our course. One may steer his ship toward the port of Wealth and at last gain it, but often with long deprivations and friends forsaken or betrayed, for the greed for wealth causes man, in many instances, to infringe upon the rights of his fellows, and, as age advances, he enjoys no confidence and sometimes no respect from them except the respect which wealth alone brings. He may have many com¬ forts which are denied the poorer, but what are these compared to the love and trust of many friends? We recognize the fact that one may become wealthy thru honest labor and so use his wealth that the general interests of mankind may be furthered. He who acquires wealth under such conditions will prove himself a ben¬ efactor in whatever society his lot may be cast. But let us consider another harbor. It may be that of Fame. To become fam¬ ous is the aim and desire of not a few in the present age. Fame may be compared to a bubble which is soon to burst and fade away in mist. Fame is that by which others know us; it may be one thing today, and the opposite tomorrow. A man may become as famous through an ignoble deed as by one which is virtuous. And for the sake of fame a man is oftentimes willing to sacrifice the principles of manhood on its altar. We must even confess that politics and literature, even religion and philantrophy are used as a means by which they may attract public attention. There is still another port which many seek. It is the port of Usefulness. Each day’s journey, if we steer aright, may bring us nearer this port, and it should be the duty of everyone to lead this simple, helpful life and extend the glad hand wherever it is needed; or in the words of Sam Walter Foss, If you see a man in woe , walk right up and sav ' Hello '

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• • • • The Juniors Irene Buckley • • • • I was interested recently in reading Ridpath’s “History of the World,” but was disappointed to find that it made no mention of the members of the il- 2oi lustrions Class of 1911. I concluded, therefore, to write a chapter of Mod- ern History with the suggestion that it be appended. “During the spring of 1906, with jealous and envious eyes, they (the present Juniors) watched the Seniors as they carelessly wandered up the stairs, grown sacred as the dividing line between the grades and the High School, but in the fall of the same year, they themselves ascended those same steps with palpitating hearts, filled with an awe of something, they knew not what. But realization came when their ears are assailed by scathing and sarcastic remarks on their infantile actions. They soon settled down to the work in the eighth grade. In the fall of 1907, we saw the girls with dresses lengthened several inches, the boys with long trousers, no doubt in an endeavor to suit external appearance to the dignity of real high school students. They resumed their places in the as¬ sembly room with many more added to their number. Dike all bashful freshmen, they hardly dared to move from their seats for fear of making some mistake which would call forth a smothered snicker from some of the other pupils who seemed to have nothing to do but watch them. The next year, like all Sophomore years, proved uneventful with the exception of the pleasure which, in remembrance of the year just past, they took in the dis¬ comfiture of the new Freshmen. At the beginning of the next year the Juniors, with the Seniors, acquired the dignity of being separated from the Sophs and Freshies and the levity of the under-classmen in a room devoted entirely to them¬ selves. When the Senior class began to choose their class colors, they likewise awoke to the fact that they should have some way of distinguishing themselves from their under-classmen, and took, as colors, red and white, so striking a combination that it took the solid Freshman some time to decide which were really Senior colors. Owing to the preference shown to the high dignitaries, who call themselves Seniors, their pennant has held second place, nevertheless, they are eagerly looking forward to the vear 1911, when they will be the Seniors of the Quincy Hioji School. Six of the sixteen Juniors take German, and all of these bid fair to become prominent linguists, but the boys, with the exception of two, thought that if one tongue was enough for a woman surely it was for a man. It is impossible to say too much in their praise as a class; as individual members, it being equally hard, I shall not endeavor to eulogize, but merely name the various members of the class. The class president, Fern Moore, has passed the greater part of her life, as have a majority of her class, on the farm. Fern is ever steady and looks straight ahead as she continues to do each day’s task as it doth appear. “She is a quiet maiden and studious withal.”