Sparta High School - Spartan Yearbook (Sparta, WI)

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Y' l SALUTATORY. 1 Delivered by MARCUS HANSON. N a recent study of History I saw a new phase of that rather old subject. It was, that history has been made by a com- paratively small number of individuals. In fact history is but the united biographies of the great men of their times. We have no history in the days when every man lived alone and worked for himself. History does not develop until the race has developed sufficiently to produce an individual capable of changing the condition of the people. He may be a great warrior ora wise counsellor, but he must impress himself upon succeed- ing generations. We know nothing of Egypt except through the biographies of her great kings written on obelisks and tombs. Greece is famous through her great men, her artists, orators and statesmen. In the biographies of a few men like Cicero, Caesar and Emperor Augustus, we see tl1e growing power of Rome. Charlemagne unites tVestern Europe under his rule and lays the foundations of government. William the Conqueror, by his coatluest of Engl ini conlmletely ch tnges English history and found many of the principles of modern government. Luther inhis life revolutionized the church and changed the beliefs of the world. Queen Isabella makes our Western Republic possible by her support of the apparently wild scheme of Columbus. Her act paved the way to Spanish glory in the 16th Century. ln following this idea of the individual as a moulder of his- tory we must not forget that a great leader must have a good fol- lowing to accomplish great deeds. The difference between good leaders with a good following and poor, dissipated leaders with an ignorant following is graphically shown in the history of the last quarter of the Eighteenth Century. In 1776, the American colonies rose in just rebellion against the tyrannical rule of Great Britain. The leaders, as you all know, were brave, patriotic men like Washington, Adams, Pat- rick Henry. They were backed by an intelligent people ---the descendents of men who had braved the wilderness for conscience sake. The result of the revolution was the founding of the United States of America. Having glanced at the American Revolution, let us turn to France. By the avaricious rule of a line dissipated and despotic monarchs anda small privileged class,the Commons of France had been ground down to the condition and nature of brutes. Such a condition could not lastg the worm turns and overthrows the hated monarchy. What is the result here of success? Having been reduced to the nature of brutes, they act as such, and the guillotine is the main factor of success, having as attendantsa frenzied mob, fairly reeking with blood. The people were not intelligentg they still needed the direction of a powerful leader, an individual. He came, and his name was Napoleon. - Let us now return to American history and see why the American revolution was not a failure even after the success at arms. It was because the people were intelligent and possessed the ability to choose the best leaders and pursue the courses which would be of permanent benefit to the nation. Although the people were to be the sovereign power the individual was still needed, both to hx the responsibility and to direct tl1eir business as a na- tion with other governments. For this purpose the ccntral gov- ernment was formed with the president as executive. The growth of our nation from thirteen weak, debt-ridden states to the powerful nation of today, progressive and wealthy, ranked among tl1e great powers, is largely due to the selection of those individuals as presidents who were fearless in doing their duty and capable of directing the policy of the nation. We have many instances of the truest patriotism and self sacrifice on the part of our executives. Personal interests were set aside when the good of the nation was at stake. jefferson opposed personal and party policy in his purchase of Louisana. jackson opposed his personal sympathies in opposing the Nulli- tication Act of South Carolina. Washington was truly wise in avoiding war with England by declining relations with France through their minister, Genet. It was far better than a successful war for the country was poor, her resources having been drained by the long Revolution. All thro' the Century and a quarter of our history we Find instances of the courage, wisdom, and sterling qualities of our presidents. Yet these men who have served the country so ad- mirably have been but,citizens -citizens, yet raised to the most honorable position in the gift of the Western Republic. Our presidents raised up from among the people have equalled and surpassed the diplomacy of older nations and by their sterling qualities have become the ideals of American citizenship. The progress of the nation is directed, as itwere, by the pre- sident, but it is the advancement of the people that makes a na- tion truly progressive. VVe have seen how nations have risen and fallen with the character of their leaders. Our country is doubly secure against a fall, for we have chosen good leaders and the people progress with the times. The day of one man gov- ernment is gone, every individual must feel that he is a respon- sible part of the government. The demands upon the individual, however, are not made by the nation, alone, but the progress of the times demands that each one make something of himself. This occasion, for which we are assembled is significant not only to us who are about to graduate but to all those here present, for that reason alone. W'e have taken the first step toward individual growth to power and usefulness. The presence of this audience shows how ser- iously, how genuinely all good citizens value the struggles of youth for intellectual power. He who truly values education ap- preciates the hopes and fears, the struggles and failures that are incident to its attainment. We appreciate your presence and as I greet you on behalf of the Class of 1901, I know I may bespeak forits members, patience with our shortcomings and sympathy for our failures. In behalf of the Class of Nineteen Hundred and One, I thank you.

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x, ' ,Q 1 GIRLS of C Ass of 1901. ? , ,, S , +4 IH-ssw I1-ull. JUIIIIII'JHHIIHIUII. lim-lm!Williams. Imr:nSIn-rwmrl. Ilntlif-llutsmu. l.u!:uX1-lsun. IClsi1'4':lnl-lwul. PHOTO sv FOSTKR a. SHIDELL f'!Ill'!l Kumlsuu I- vru S1-nrt. lil:lm-lm lhuyfh-11. 4'ill'l'il' lfilmun. I-It In lIulm:1'. 4I1:ll'lwII1- .lulms nn. Xlvtrn Smith. XIill V l1:uln'm-IQ. I1l:l f'I:lrlk, BOYS of CLASS of 1901- PHOTO sv MCMARDSON BROS. livvrvtt Willimma, ldrnont Brooks. l-Edwin Ilivh. f'h:w. Roy. lhmsn-Il Ruth. Isuzu' lmwin, Z1-llh' S, Rice. llsxy VV1-bntvr. NUI! Ilutlvdgu, Marcus Ilunrmn 1':nrrul Ayn-ru. Ruin-rt Rllfll'llK'lF,

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SPARTA-REEDSBURG DEBATE. january 18th, 1901. The Exposition of the Income Tax. N THR summer of Nineteen Hundred arrangements were Armory in due time. Our opponents were Shoepheustcr, Heub- made for a joint debate between the High Schools of Sparta illg ?lHCl BVZFIIC- and Rcgdghurgy to take place about 'lhgmkggiving time, Excitement now took the place of nervousness and we were The team was selected but the question did not arrive until ?ll1Xl0llS re get UP H115 tell llll' P00tllC what a poor thing the ln- about the middle of Septe-mber. come Tax was. The members of tht- team were Mai-C115 Hgmgtm, Zgllig Rice Of course the debate was not without its little points of inter- :md Frank Newton, and the question was, Resolved, that an Income Tax is a Desirable l'art ofa Scheme of State Taxation. As September is in the season when youth is full of the delights of the gridiron, debate work was barely given the attention that should have been paid it. The date was changed to some time in ml est. Hanson soared off on a flight of orator and forgot his line just as he got tothe climax Newton, in one place, was to illustrate in tangible property by showing a five dollar bill land. He neglected to procure the bill and when he said. l hold here in my hand a livt dollar bill, the people saw that he had nont and he added, but I dont -o lanuary. As football was finished in Novem- ber we devoted our time to debate work. january eighteenth, the date fixed upon dawned cold and clear, and there were three Rice rather played upon Miss lluebing's nervousness by scrutinizing her every act very minutely, putting her rather ill at ease when- ever he happened to catch her eye, hearts, at least, that hesitated a little to go After the relmttals, with their hasty sum- through with the day. The arrival of the two mill! Ulh lllc illflgfs l'l'tll'4'fl lwlvilu: UIC 1lffil'I11- o'clock train, however, found the three at the 1lYlVUi5lllllllllJl'lll l'C'l'V UF, illlfl UIC llC?.CilllVl', depot, accompanied by an escort of three. laughing and confident. The many tunnels on tht- road hccnnjc When the judges retm'ned with their de. places for rehearsals and the occupants of the cision for the negatiVC, llYl' lltlys, with lungs train wereboth edified and amused to hear the lncome Tax raved at and abused. livery journey has its little incidents and our journey certainly comes under this class. PHOTO BV RICHARDSON BROS tli When we had made the occupants of the car M,t1tt'tfs H atwsox, sufficiently tired we tried to change for anothertrain, but as we were still some fifteen or twenty miles from Elrov we decided Io wait until we reached the changing point. 1 On the way there the little town of Glendale we found, some- what to our surprise, and certainly to our amusement, that our worthy principal was not above telling fish stories. lt is suttic' ient to say that as re- venge on the trout they could not catch they pulled bullhcads out of the pond as fast as they could take them off the hooks. XYe ll we finally arrived in Reedsburg and were met by a large and enthusiastic crowd. But we were glad to find that a del- egation of ourold foot- ball opponents were up from Baraboo to encourage us. VVe en- joyed some exciting times in the hotel but space does not permit their recital. Right o'clock would come around and we arrived at the PHQTO BV FOSTER A SHIDELL. ZIQLLIE Rica. Stl Cll 'engthened by football, rose and made noise ough for a much larger delegation, Then Baraboo answered with a good loud yell, ant e debate was over. The liecdsburg students and debaters took the defeat pliilosohically and showed the properspirit by providing entertainment forthe Sparta boys during the remftin der of their stay there. The story o fthe good time at the hall alter the debate and the story of Professors Rossman and Uoty on their knees looking forcheese are too llillg to tell, but they will always be remember- ed as pleasing inci- dents of the visit. News of the victory was Hashed overthe wire to the scholars at the scenes home and enacted in Sparta up- on receipt ofthe mes- be better sage can imagined than de- scribed. The follow- ing Monday all of the boys who made the trip were called upon to tell their griefs to the school. Ofcourse we laid greater stress on the funnyincidents of the trip. We all look back to the l?'4th t PHOY0 BV FOSTER I FR AN smostt. K x X. Nicwrox. if january as a very bright spot in ourlives lt may be said that no team was ever extended a more friendly welcome or entertained so royally.