Scott High School - Highlander Yearbook (North Braddock, PA)

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FELLOW STUDENTS: The theme of your Year Book for 1955 is “DIAMONDS.” I am reminded of the lecture given by Russell H. Conwell, the founder of Temple University, on “Acres of Diamonds.” In ancient Persia lived a man called Ali Ha-fed. He had vast orchards and gardens, and he loaned much money at interest. He was wealthy and contented. Then one day a Buddhist priest visited him. and he told Ali Hafed how the earth was created, and how silver, gold and diamonds were made. Said the old priest, “A diamond is a congealed drop of sunlight.” And that is true, for a diamond is an actual deposit of carbon from the sun. Then the priest said whoever has a mine of diamonds can put his children on thrones. THAT NIGHT ALI HAFED WENT TO BED A POOR MAN. WHY HAD SUCH A RICH MAN SUDDENLY BECOME POOR? HE WAS POOR BECAUSE HE WAS NO LONGER CONTENTED. Rising early the next morning, he sold all his lands to his neighbor and set out to find a mine of diamonds. First, he went to the mountains of the moon in Africa; from there he travelled throughout Asia and Europe. Finally, all his money gone, the wretched man. while standing on the shore at Barcelona, Spain, threw himself into the sea and sank beneath the waves. Meanwhile, the neighbor, who had bought Ali Hafed’s orchards, had noticed a curious flash of rainbow hues emanating from black rocks lying on the white sands of the stream flowing through the orchards. Upon examination the black rocks contained diamonds. And lo! here was the diamond mine of Golconda, the most magnificent mine in all the history of mankind, excelling the Kimberley itself. The Kohinoor and the Orloff, crown jewels of England and Russia, the largest on earth, came from that mine. Here were “acres of diamonds.” Then, more recently in Sacramento, California, in 1847 a man sold his ranch to Colonel Sutter, and then the man went away to another state to search for gold. The man wanted gold, and he could have secured it for the mere taking. Indeed, thirty-eight millions of dollars in gold had been taken from that ranch in the matter of days. Just as it was in Golconda and in Sacramento, so today in our own community — North Brad-dock — or anywhere else, we find opportunities worth “acres of diamonds,” and they are ours if we strive to attain them. If we are good citizens who will build a better community, whether we work in a factory, a mill, or behind a counter or desk, our opportunity for service is found right here at home — acres of diamonds in our own back yard. F. DeWitt Zuemer, Superintendent 9

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OkJl WJnSL DH. F. DeWITT ZUERNER Our Superintendent NOTHING IS SO DIFFICULT BUT THAT IT MAY BE FOUND OUT BY SEEKING - IBID 8

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Oflftai. oft. (Diamond. (WlinsL Mrs. Anna Gevaudan Miss Mary McNally Mrs. Grace Zoretich QunioA. Oftftk . (hAiAianiiu First Row: Barbara Riberich, Genevieve Milko, Mary Ann Rednak, Ann Evonieh. Second Row: Alice Thiem, Marcene Safran, Shirley Makatnra, Lucille Evanecky, Marjorie Kranik. 10