St Johnsbury Academy - Lamp Yearbook (St Johnsbury, VT)

Page 9 text:

THE ACADEMY STUDENT 7 It is small wonder that the period in which we are living is one of extreme cynicism, pessimism, and confus:on, with crime waves sweeping the country and with personal gain and material pleasure the predominating motives. Veterans are clamoring for money, who never saw the battlefield. Millionaires are trying to evade income taxes. Lawmakers are serving expediency rather than principle. Private citizens, too indolent to inform themselves concerning the issues of the day are neglecting even the privilege of voting at the polls. Many Americans are feeling that the government owes them a living. In challenging contrast to this clamor for getting comes the quiet voice of a gentleman bequeathing the ‘‘residue of his fortune” — as lie had given his life — “to the United States of America.” Concerning this bequest one editor has written as follows: ‘‘Would that this gift could be earmarked or set up in a visbile form to be thrust before the eyes of every congressman about to authorize a new splurge of spending, and of every federal employee forgetful of where the money comes from which seems so easy to pass out. Would that it could be offered as a first instalment to shame every bloc that comes begging for a special hand-out, with the words, ‘Here, take this; this is the kind of money you are asking for!.... May this symbol remind other Americans of their own obligation to support their government in every way.” And now the time has come for the Class of 1935 to say farewell to this Academy where it has known such happy years. We are grateful, Trustees, Principal, and Faculty, for your guidance, which has helped us when the way was hard and has better prepared us for the task of life before us. As we go out into the world, may we be stronger and more loyal citizens for the shining example set by the great jurist, Oliver Wendell Holmes. —Claudia Goodrich

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6 THE ACADEMY STUDENT After graduation, forced to decide between teaching and the bench, he hesitated only to decide in which place he could render the greater service. Upon the advice of a friend, he accepted a professorship in the Law School with the provision that he would be free to resign if the position of Associate Justice should be offered him. He left Harvard to enter the Massachusetts court, where he served for twenty years before taking his place in the Supreme Court of the United States. Speaking of the satisfaction he derived from this great opportunity, the Justice said. “To have the chance to do one’s share in shaping the laws of the whole country spreads over one the hush that one used to feel when one was awaiting the beginning of battle. . . .” Justice Holmes’s ideas in regard to the Constitution were frequently considered radical; actually they were liberal and forward-looking. He always strove to obey the spirit of the law rather than its letter. With rare sanity and vision he kept his mind open to orderly change. Never afraid to express his views, he once said, “When, twenty years ago, a vague terror went over the earth and the word socialism began to be heard, I thought and still think that fear was translated into doctrines that had no proper place in the Constitution or the common law. Judges are apt to be naif, simple-minded men, and the}' need something of Mephistopheles. We too need education in the obvious — to learn to transcend our own convictions and to leave room for much that we hold dear to be done away with, short of revolution, by the orderly change of law.” A more aristocratic gentleman than Mr. Holmes could not be found, nor a more truly democratic. He was aloof and refused to be interviewed, but he always considered the best good of the people. When the whole nation was plunged into mourning at the death of the beloved jurist, President Roosevelt made the following statement: “We cannot minimize the grief of his passing, but we can find a solace in the thought that he was with us for so long. His was a life of rare distinction: soldier, scholar, author, teacher, jurist, and gallant gentleman, he personified throughout his long career the finest American tradition.”

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8 THE ACADEMY STUDENT SALUTATORY ESSAY THE FIFTH ESTATE In behalf of the class of 1935, I am glad to welcome you to these graduation exercises. We are about to enter our life’s work, each in his own chosen field. There are many avenues of service open for our consideration; hut since we are living in a scientific age. there is none more timely or important than that of scientific research. In the scientific world there are two recognized divisions: — practical, or applied science and theoretical science or research. It is this second branch of scientific work, which has been called the Fifth Estate. The English Parliament consists of the lords spiritual, the lords temporal, and the Commons, which have long been known as the First, Second, and Third Estates. The hourth Estate is the press, which has gained this distinction because of its far-reaching power and influence. Concerning constructive scientists, Mr. Arthur D. Little has written as follows: “Members of the Fifth Estate are those men having the simplicity to wonder, the ability to question, the power to generalize, and the capacity to apply.” These are the ones who advance and improve the scientific discoveries of the past by their research and analysis. One who merely uses for material profit the product of another’s genius is not a recognized member of this select group, who gain their respected position through their own ingenuity and effort. Only those who have some contribution to make to the general well-being of the world are acceptable as members. Consequently the membership of the Fifth Estate is numerically very low. In the whole world, it is reasonable to estimate, not more than 100,000 persons have been responsible for the progress of science. The total membership of the Fifth Estate could be housed in a third rate city. No politician seeks support from its scattered and ineffective vote. Its members rarely sit in Congress; when they do they sit in the