Shields High School - Patriot Yearbook (Seymour, IN)

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ternational jealousies and short sightedness fail to realize and utilize the pe- culiar advantages of each country, there will be wider and more altruistic policies which will bring about more healthful conditions socially, economic- ally and politically. Now, as in the eleventh century, the century of the Crusades, we are in an age of intense excitement, an excitement which has seized equally upon those who stay and those who go into the turmoil of this terrible war. It is a time when all men are being stirred with deep enthusiasm, and all ranks of society are being profoundlj ' moved. The ferment of unrest and dissatisfaction with existent conditions which long before the war was threatening to make itself felt in many countries, has today broken through the hard crust of Russian aristocracy and cruelty and is threatening Prussian military despotism. Slowly but surely through the years of the past the people have been gaining influence and today voices heretofore silent are beginning to make themselves heard, and new forces that have been silently and slowly gathering strength are beginning to be felt in the new era that wUl dawn on this night of war. Not the few, but the many, will be the effective forces of the future, and a universal democracy, By the people, for the people, and of the people, ' ' will be more of a reality than ever before. Page Twenty-five]

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- hope, it is the winter of despair, we have everything before us, we have noth- ing before us, in short, we can describe this age in the superlative degree only. The question naturally arises, what will be the logical outcome of such conditions? In considering the answer to this important question, we should never forget, that in this war or in this chaotic condition of affairs, are in volved constitutional crises, that out of it many new problems will come up for solution and many others that have appeared earlier, will have gathered force and urgency that will demand many changes and a new order along many lines. The new era which is bound to grow out of this crisis in world history will see a complete revolution in many social, religious and economic conditions. I do not mean to say that all the results of this war must be good, far from it. The immediate material effects cannot be other than disastrous. The death of millions of the strongest and best cannot possibly improve the living stock ; the heavy war debts which the nations have heaped up, will necessitate the placing of a heavy tax upon the lower class of people; the devastations which this war has wrought, means a shortage of the food supply. Many of the immediate effects will unquestionably be most deplorable. As in Cicero ' s time, when the conspiracy of Catiline threatened the life of the state, the equites and senatorial or aristocratic parties joined forces to protect their fatherland, so in Germany and other warring nations today, we see the different classes of men forgetting their religions, social and po- litical differences, and joining forces to save their country. This unity, en- forced by a tremendous common danger, will have great results. Results that will express a greater industrial life, a more widespread prosperity, and a greater vitality among all classes of people. Again the devastation which this war has brought will unquestionably strengthen the arguments and policies of peace for the future. As the weeks, months and years of war have passed, men and women have seen with the bitterness of heartbreaking experiences, homes bereft of loved ones, and nations drained of their best blood. It is such vital experiences as these that make us realize the real evil of war and the meaning and value of peace. When the smoke of the battle has cleared away and the nobler motives of men assert themselves in victory, it will be found in many lands and in many institutions, that the old order has changed and given place to the new. When the days of war are over there will dawn a better day. Man ' s vision will be clearer, his sympathy broader, and his grasp upon the vital things of life stronger and fii-mer. Precious blood will not have been shed in vain if the world is a better place and man is nobler. There will be a newer vision and instead of policies that through selfishness and false patriotism, through in- [Page Twenty-four

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The Kiiijri f a Neiij ?) iy FRANK WELLER I STARTED to make the world over, To cast out the evil and wrong, The load of the weak to make lighter, Every heart-cry to change into song. I started to lead to the kingdom. The weary who knew not the way. To tear down the false and misleading. To bring into dawn a new day. And when thou hast entered thy closet, I found meant to shut every door Of my life, to the world and its clamor, To still the loud waves and pass o ' er. Then out of the silence came wisdom, The stillness spoke plainer than words. Cast from thy own life all evil, ' ' These words of true wisdom I heard. I forgave the whole world of unkindness, No malice nor envy I held; And breathed out a song on the heart-cry, My heart from the false I compelled. The weak I released from his burden, I saw but the good and the pure ; And behold I had made the world over, The Kingdom had come to endure. [Page Twenty-six