St Simon High School - Corolla Yearbook (Ludington, MI)

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SALUTATOR Y CPerseverantia Omnia V incitv Four short years ago our class entered upon high school life with light hearts and high ambitions. Of the number who entered, all but a few have now reached the goal to which we looked forward with such eagerness. W'hile striving to attain this end, many of our ambitions have been realized and, in their realizations, have given place to broader hopes and desires. In the name of the class of 1916, I have the pleasure and honor of ex- tending to all, through the pages of the Corolla, most hearty greetings- greetings to our pastor, parents, faculty, and friends. To our pastor, who by his loving care has been ever ready to aid us in achieving the highest points in both spiritual and temporal affairs. To- our parents, whom we thank for the opportunities which they have given us, because whatever success we may attain, is due chiefly to their love, care and sacrifice. ' To the faculty, whose earnest efforts we appreciate and who by their kindly advice and teachings have instilled in us true principles of knowledge. To our friends, who have in any Way been interested in our welfare since we have entered dear old St. Simon 's. Now that the closing days of our high school life are approaching, and we are soon to receive the reward of our efforts, it is but natural that we should think of the lives of many of the great men whom we have studied. Prominent among these, to my mind, is the great genius Michael Angelo. who spent seven long years in decorating the Sistine Chapel with his immortal 'fLast Judgment and The Story of the Creation, plodding away until the muscles and cords of his neck had become so rigid that he could not look down without bending his body. Think of this man, whom the world calls one of its greatest geniuses, with a block of marble, chisel and mallet ever ready to obey the call of a new thought. Yet I am learning, he said after he was seventy years old and had immortalized himself in sculpture, architecture and painting. What a lesson is his life for the youth who thinks his educa- tio11 finished when he receives his diploma at school. lt is not finished but it has just begun, the real education which we shall receive in life's school is now at hand, to be taught by the sterner teacher, Experience. The lessons which she teaches are difficult and trying, and many times the results of our work will be discouraging failures. But no education, no skill of any kind van be gained without a prolonged struggle to overcome obstacles. It is only by the discipline of tireless plodding, culture from perpetual drill that enables us to build up a grand symmetrical character. Witli firm and abiding faith in Him by whose strengthening power we can do all things, together with a strong will, a settled purpose, and invincible determination we can accomplish almost anything, for it is not always the quickest intellect that achieves the greatest results, for some one has said, and said wisely, that 'tSuceess is one per cent inspiration, a11d ninety-nine per cent perspiration. Circumstances have rarely favored great men: they fought their way over the road of difficulty a11d through all sorts of opposition. Even the man with small ability will often succeed if he has the quality of persistence, for, Genius, that power which dazzles mortal eyes, Is oft but perserverance in disguise. ELIZABETH NEHS.

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REV. JOSEPH BROGGER REV. W. F. SIMON

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Cpresidentis ef4da'res's PA 'TRIO'TISM llil- Patriotism. - - - Wliat is patriotism? This question is often asked of us, and in defining it we say that it is the love which one bears for one 's country. Yes, it is love, and yet more than love,-it is that noble feeling which surges to our hearts when our country faces some crisis, when she stands up before the world and maintains that the policy she has been following is right and is willing to uphold this right even if it costs her hundreds or thousands of her faithful sons. Witliout patriotism this country would still be under the dominating power of England, which held sway in America until the children of this land rebelled and attempted to throw off the yoke which bound them to their mother- land. Yes, it was patriotism and patriotism alone that filled the hearts of the officers and men with hope and assurance of victory, when, during the dreadful winter of '76 and '77, they met defeat at the hands of their enemies and when their little army lay starved and broken in the camp at Valley Forge. lt was this spirit that inspired Sherman to make the march which rivaled the great achievements of history. Even in the future when coniiict between nations shall cease, this love will remain in the hearts of all loyal Americans from the baby in its mother 's arms-its little eyes sparkling when the music of the regiment band is borne to its earsg from the boy whose only ambition is to be a soldier, to the grand old man whose little gold button on the lapel of his coat gives to all passersby the information that he fought and risked his life for his country. A striking example of this great and glorious love is portrayed in the present conflict. Men who have left their native land and settled in the far off corners of the globe, leave their work and life's ambition to return to their land once more to demonstrate that their devotion to their fatherland has never faltered, although they see the picture of their life 's hope blasted and they know that they themselves will lie broken upon the battlefield for this word called patriotism. They give up their lives though they may know that if they lived they might have fulfilled some great mission in this life, and brought honors and rewards to the feet of those whom they loved. So, dear classmates, let us guard and cherish this God-given spirit of loyalty and patriotism. As we stand for the rights of our country, so also let Us stand for the rights of our school and teachers. Let us be loyal to our motto, Climb tho' the rocks be rugged. Then in after years as we look back and view the thorny path that we have followed, we will rejoice that we have striven to maintain our loyalty to our school, our country, our God. PERCY GALLIE.