Santa Rosa High School - Echo Yearbook (Santa Rosa, CA)

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THE ECHO 25 uous looking man, jumping from his seat, ‘there shall be no sacri- fice! We'll put our Yankees across to France, and if they don't lick the Huns in one year they’re not worthy of their country! We're going to win, and win soon. I tell you, General Pershing is a real fighting man, with a real fighting man’s blood, and he'll defeat them within sever months after he gets a real army of Amer- i can fighters. Jh, I hate those—’ “ Mr. Jackson, vou forget. Leave hate to our enemies,’ said Vashington. He sat down, seemingly rather abashed by his leader's rebuke, for even men of as strong will and mind as Andrew Jackson were ruled by the simple dignity of Washington’s character, “Then Harrison spoke, also about armies and military things. He treated especially the new weapons of warfare, and plead a mighty aerial force. nd many others talked that evening. Everything they said I do not remember, but never shall I forget the speech of the most beloved of our Presidents, but one. “ This national sacrifice of which you spoke, Sir,’ said Lincoln, addiessing Washington, ‘is a vital thing to me. Guiding the nation through four years of civil warfare, ! realize as truly as anybody the suffering which it involves for those who fight and those who remain at home. Yet i see, even as do you, Sir, the mighty forces which come from Him who plans all human evolution. I see merica as the instrument of the divine powers. ‘To me has been shown the plan of a United States of the world, of the Parliament of the nations, the federation of men. ‘I perceive that among the mighty plans which dwell in the Creator’s all embracing mind, is the thought of one world-wide republic. Well may America make sacrifice for the world, and shed her life’s blood for the good of humanity ! The sacrifice is the greatest which mortal man can offer. Yet he who gives is he who gains, and they who sacrifice themselves find themselves. All is raled by the principle of divine, universal LOVEY’ The old man paused in his story. “I do not remember more after this, I do not recall leaving the capitol building The only thing I now recollect is the cool breath of morning felt upon my brow, and a morning-time mist before my eyes. TEvidently I stole homeward in the early hours, and gained my rooms before anyone else arose. Martha found me lying on my bed in a stupor, which lasted for several days. “Tow the plans of the supreme war council were conveyed to the President I do not know, but I do know that soon after this America’s great leader, Woodrow Wilson, brought forward the plan for the nation’s league. None guessed the high source whence it came.

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THE ECHO But who was that man but three seats to the right? Did I not recognize those earnest features? Surely his lineaments were like unto those of McKinley! But Mckinley was dead! “The figure at the end of the table raised his head, and I saw, as iruly as mortal eyes bear witness to the truth, the divine face of America’s first President, George Washington. What did it all mean, | wondered? How could these living dead be so plainly be- neath my vision? How “And then the whote meaning of this strangest of scenes burst with a mighty blow upon my bewildered consciousness. I un- derstood. These were the Presidents of America, and, even after their death, they were gathered together to conspire for her greater weal. Even in thts day of her peril they were near at hand; even now they would guide the great ship of state to the happier shore. nd to me was granted the inestimable privilege of knowing this; to me had been given the Vision! The swift rushing current of my precipitous thoughts was interrupted. The honored one spoke. “ My broithers, it has been told me by One whose name is high ¢ndeed in Christian lands, that America is to play a part in the drama of nations, similar to that which He plaved in the story of Jndea. America shall be the savior of the nations of the world, as He was the redeemer of the hearts of men. America, with her youthful ideas, with the incessant vitality of youth, with the mighty physical forces of her vast domain, with the greater spiritual might of her highest ideals, shall rejuvenate the globe, shall bring new light to the nations of humanity. It must he so. This is a time of great change. This titanic strugele of frantic warfare is cer- tainly the closing scene of an oid era, the opening one of a new. “ Yet I fear the gtrugle will be dark and long. I fear that the clouds of human hate will obscure our yet untainted ideals; I fear that America must play in part that sad drama of sacrifice which another endured; I fear that America must of herself be a martyr ror the final weal of the peoples of the earth, in the death of het { youngest and fairest, robbing her of strength, bathing her in sorrow for the blood of her own citizens.’ “He paused for a moment, then continued in a voice whose caluaness and sweetness pierced my very soul with its majestic strength. ““Though during years of warfare our beloved land may be Iriven to the supreme height of sacrifice: though it seems that our enemies prevail over all forces, I doubt not that even the greatest of so1rows will leave her in higher and stronger spirit at the end of her endeavors. I doubt not that the supreme sacrifice of repulsive war fare will lead to eventual good, and America will indeed be born again. It is for the best.‘ I tell you, Sir, there will be little sacrifice, cried an impet-

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Arne By Gero) “Today whenever | see a likeness of our country’s President, I see, not only him, but the mighty concourse behind him of the rulers of America. Forever they are there, I know, and in time of our country’s peril and danger, stil! will they step forth to her succor. They ever keep watch over the loved land, and ever does their 1ma- jestic presence rest as a light of love over old Glory.” Dear old Mr. Norton is dead now, but still I remember his ear- nest words to me, when we parted that day never to meet again on this side of the grave—‘Old Glory, their shades brood o’er it, for they love it still.” Lawrence Hart, ’20. DEATH Death, thou blessed and eternal rest, Essence of sleep with dreams enduring ever; And an unknown reward used but to sever, The sufferings of the aged and opprest. The one unfailing goal of Life’s Great Quest, To mortal sense thou seemest but the lever, Designed to raise our life-worn souls, forever Gone—here no more, but onward—West. Death! What is death? Comes now the fevered question; Ask we what we will dream ere we may sleep? Thou of Morpheus a mute relation, A dream for Every Man to silent reap. O Death! Of mortal life the culmination: ‘Tis but for joy of infinite rest we weep! Alex Trachman.