Rangeley High School - Tattler Yearbook (Rangeley, ME)

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20 THE T fatal to success and that some of those who have started life with the worst handicaps have accomplished the most. He faced nothing but discouragement, but the life he now leads enables him by example and effort to contribute in his own way to the progress of the Republic and its citizens. The life of this man serves fittingly as an example of the motto, WE BUILD THE LADDER BY WHICH WE CLIMBY' VVe know that in order to reach a success- ful point in life, there are many steps which have to be taken. These steps rep- resent a ladder leading upward. Character is the main foundation of this ladder. Character determines the only true value of people and their workg character has a great iniiuence upon a nation, there- fore it is a power. So in building, we must see to it that character is strong and firm enough to bear the weighty burdens which will be placed upon it. VVith a firm foundation completed, we shall begin to shape the rounds by which we shall reach the top. These will be made of the knowledge we acquire, hence it be- hooves us to gain all we can. Grit, vision, and the ability to overcome obstacles are qualities which carry the climber upward. Let us be careful that there are no broken rounds, for these signify failure. Still this ought not to hinder progress. We should strive to make the ones above stronger, for there must not be too many broken rounds. If failure comes, find the difficulty, remedy it and strive on. Many have not reached the top of the ladder for they have been confronted by obstacles which seemed impossible to over- come, although did Youth only realize this, the things which seem to oppose are, in truth, not so great as they appear. History furnishes us with thousands of examples of men who have accomplished the seem- ingly impossible and attained greatest re- sults. We must not wait for the extraordinary opportunities but must grasp the lesser ones and build upon them. Every life is full of them and it is the idle man, not the am- A TTLER bitious one, who is always complaining that he is given no opportunity. Every circum- stance may be made into material for suc- cess, and nie may learn from others who have pushed their way upward and now stand, self-poised, upon the topmost round. With all the opportunities of today, by keeping one single aim we, too. should endeavor to overcome all obstacles, for reward is waiting for every person of energy and ability. To have a delinite aim is the important essential in our lives. Nature intended us to have a life purpose and it is through keeping that in view that the highest .round of our ladder is reached. We should aim high, but at the same time aim at that which we have the ability to reach. Shakespeare said: Lowliness is young Ambition's ladder, NVhereto the climber upward turns his face. We should not overestimate our talents or mislead ourselves in regard to them. Neither should we wait for a greater op- portunity. Now is the time to build our ladder. The present day holds tl1e material from which we may build as fast as we will. Can it be put to a better use than for self- improvement ? worth while are'usually placed Providence and all effort must reach out for them. We are called upon to climb to great All things by a Divine be made to some times heights to secure the prize we seek, but after we have gained it, we realize that our efforts are well rewarded. The climbing may be slow and tedious, but we should make each lesson we learn serve as a step upward and onward. And'when we have scaled the ladder of success we will dis- cover that there are still loftier heights beyond. To live that we each day may be, As time goes swiftly by, A little further from the earth And -nearer to the skyf' May we be given the insight to choose wisely the heights to which we shall aspire, remembering always that NVE BUILD THE LADDER BY 'WHICH WE CLIMBY Lucille Huntoon, 121.

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T H E 'r see its practical application. The com- mercial course prepares girls and boys not only to earn, but to save money. Domestic science is a very important study in the education of girls. So many mothers have not the time to teach the daughter the elliciency of housekeeping. It is false reasoning to say' that because a girl marries she knows how to make a home, or that because a young wife has a child that she knows how to care for it. Instincts are strong, but trained, eflicient habits are safer. Nine-tenths of our girls marry. Most of them have spent twelve years in business training, some more, while they have prepared little, if any for tl1e fifty years or more of home-making which they are to follow. Domestic science teaches these girls sewing, cooking, and all things that will make their home lives easier, neater and happier. In many High schools music is taught, glee clubs are formed and an orchestra. A music teacher is procured who is capable and who will teach the use of all instru- nients. ln niany cases histrunients are fur- nished those who are not able to purchase one of their own. Manual training is a term used in teach- ing pupils the use of simple tools. It is a training of the eye, hand, mind, and as a part of their general education. In many progressive schools manual training has become as much recognized as history or geography. In addition to imparting man- ual skill and accuracy, it is especially valu- able in cultivating the observation, in developing self-reliance, and resource. Carefully graded exercises in drawing, paper-cutting, plaiting, and weaving, wire- work, clay, and cardboard modeling and woodwork. Many beautiful and useful articles have been made, at little expense, by the girls and boys of the schools. Be- sides this boys become skillful in repairing around the house. One of the chief functions of the High school is to train girls and boys to become A TTLER N leaders, thinkers and doers. If a person has no education he cannot take part in the affairs of the town or country in which he lives. Such a person is of no benefit to the country. So education is the one thing that is absolutely indispensable in the new Democ- racy. And it must be as new as the new democracy itself. It must not only keep pace with the Ere department, the street department, the health department, but it must lead them all in public attention, in public support, in public appreciation, in finance and in statesmanship. Then, too, one must have good education to become a good citizen. It is beyond human imagination to conceive of any way to make national or international democ- racy, safe without the best possible educa- tion of all the children of all the people. Nothing but education adequately deep and broad and high can promote and protect domestic, industrial, commercial, social, civic, and religious conditions, without which Democracy is as impossible as pure water in a stagnant pool. And this is the chief function of the American High School. Marian Nile, JZI. ESSAY FROM THE VALEDICTORY HARLES LEE COOK of Louisville, Kentucky, is a genius, though he has never walked a step in his life. His schooling was ended after only three years because his parents felt sure he would not live to reap the benefits of a proper educa- tion. However, at the age of eight years, he built a steam engine and although he received no encouragement at home, he worked on until he became successful in many ambitious achievements. It took him twelve years to establish a modest factory which was destined to play an important part in carrying out some of the greatest construction and engineering projects in America. This formed the basis of the large manufacturing business he now con'- ducts. Mr. Cook declares that self-pity is

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THE TA A BOY'S NATURE N a little schoolhouse in the little town of XNoodville, New Hampshire, as the session was about to close, the teacher said to a boy, VVilliam, you may stay a little while with me, after school, and do that arithmetic, not do this morningf' Yes, ma'am, replied VVilliam, with a that you pretended you could grin on his freckled face. The bell sounded and all the boys marched out except William. The teacher looked at him with a gleam of malice in her eye. Now, William, she said, take that and do those examples. If you book out, do not, l'll tell your father and mother, and .Lord knows who else, and then I guess you'll set up and take notice. VVilliam still sat there with a grin on his face. Suddenly the teiacher said, Xkfilliam, take your book and we will go up to your father's house and sec him. All right, replied VVilliam, and taking his arithmetic, they started. V VVhen she had stated the facts of the case to his father, Mr. Brown turned to W'illiam and said. 'flt seems to me that you are awful lazy. Lazy. snapped the teacher, why, land sakes, there is no name for it. - Well, lf cannot do those old things, anyway, whined NVillian1. His father thought for a moment and then he said smilingly. Well, I am going to put up a prize of a five-pound box of chocolates for the best set of arithmetic examples done for hve days, and the smart- est -boy will get that box. And at the end of the term, I shall give a live-dollar gold piece to the boy who has done the best work for the term. VVilliam said nothing but the next day the teacher had no trouble in getting him to do the work in mathematics. At the end of the term no one could call William lazy, for he had won a live-dollar gold piece. R. G., 24. TTLER M TI-IE MAINE WOODS AVE you ever considered what treas- ures lie in an uncut forest? The different kinds of trees may be compared to various kinds of jewels. There are the different species of maple, with pretty grainsg bird's-eye maple is a beautiful wood. There are birches, spruce, fir, cedar, ash, and oak trees-all different, but all valuable. And what is being done with those grand, tall trees which grow in the Maine woods? The maple is cut a11d used to make veneer wood for expensive cabinets and other fur- niture. The birch is also used for veneer. The fir and spruce are cut in large quanti- ties to supply the paper mills. All kinds and varieties of trees are being taken from the Maine forests every year, and prac- tically nmze are being replaced. Many bare cleariligs are appearing on the mountains, which, a few years ago, were wooded to the top! The lumbermen are pushing farther and farther in search of timber-and what will be the outcome? There is only one outcome to follow: If something is not done to stop the inroads or to restock the land with trees, Maine will be devastated of her forests, and be- fore many years have passed! PROTECT THE FORESTS ! E. P., 2I. THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM N interesting problem in this country is that of accommodating the thou- sands of aliens who wish to enter our ter- ritory. Ships are arriving every day, with passenger lists ranging from tive hundred to two thousand. These are practically all aliens or people who have gone from this country to visit their native land, and who are now returning. . Many of the foreigners who are entering our ports are infested with vermin and disease. This is, of course, because of the poor conditions in Europe-sanitary con- ditions especially. Great care must be take11 in admitting unhealthy immigrants, but they aI'e arriv- o