Towle High School - Spirit Yearbook (Newport, NH)

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PAGE 28 THE SPIRIT OF TOWLE It is not in every nation that the citizens are able to uphold freely their own religion or to own private property inviolate against the depreda- tions of special interests. VVould you, the citizens of a democratic country surrender the individual liberties with which you are possessed? As we Jmick up the daily newspaper, we get from .the glaring headlines a general idea of that which is going on in the world about us. As we peruse more closely we read more detailed ac- counts, a majority of which are colored by skillful propagandists, distorting facts and otherwise, exposing us to numerous misconceptions. Are we, as yet, qualified to read and weigh these things intelligently? In our government, it is not tolerable for any man, however high, or for any group of men, however large, to prescribe what subjects may or may not be expounded in the press. We know that all measures designed to promote our welfare must depend for their success, in this country, upon the hearty support of public opinion. It is only by en- lightening and concentrating that opinion, that desirable results can be obtained. This is most effectively done by continuous appeals to the understanding of the people, by presenting the subject in every form of argument and persua- sion before the public mind an-d by giving the facts to the people. Are we, the free-thinking people of this nation willing to relinquish the opportunities set forth here, in regard to a free uncensored press? On one of those oft-recurring days, when the fate of the State or the Union is to be decided at the polls-is it not enough to make a patriot turn pale, to reficct upon the motives under which they may be given, and the consequences which they may lead? By the votes of prejudiced men, honorable men may be hurled from office and wicked men elevated to their places, useful offices abolished and sinecures created, the public wealth which has supported industries, squandered upon mercenaries, enterprise crippled-and thus capital -which has been honestly and laboriously ac- cumulated, turned into refuse-thus we see the whole policy of the government may be reversed and the social condition of millions changed-to gratify one man's grudge, or prejudice or lust to rule. From these examples we see the responsi- bilities which are placed in our hands when we receive the privilege of democratic citizenship. We see the importance of education in govern- mental self-determination, by means of the ballot. Are you ready to give up the right of determining how and by whom you are to be governed? These liberties, with w-hich we are provided show 'the need of a good education. Ignorance, in a republic is a crime. From one of Horace Mann's essays I quote: The obect of the common school system is to give every child a free, straight, solid pathway by which he can walk directly up from the ignorance of an infant to the knowledge of the primary duties of man. Education has genuine and indestructible merits. The very ignorance and selfishness which obstruct its path are the strongest arguments for its promotion- for education furnishes the only suitable means for the removal of them. The schools, which we maintain today, teach the proper use of the ballot -and help qualify each citizen for the civil and social duties he will be called upon to meet. Since these liberties are ours, does not our duty lie in properly upholding them and preparing others to intelligently use them? Let me quote a phrase written one hundred years ago, but still applicable today: In our country and in our times, no man is worthy the honored name of statesman, who does not include the highest practicable education of the people in all his plans of administration. Classmates-after 'tonight our paths will lead toward different goals. Such is the plan of life. Our successes will be attained in many diderent ways but no matter how this is done-we have all been together at the starting point, in our school. It is my sincerest hope that each of you will succeed in whatsoever you undertake, as we leave this last assembly. Parents, Friends and Classmates-as our commencement exercises come to a close, I beseech you to treasure up in y.our hearts, as my parting words, those of Horace Mann, Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity. Class Essay I would like to have you think back with me to the days of the pioneer, who toiled unceasingly from sunrise to sunset clearing the fields and tilling the soil with his musket always near at

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THE SPIRIT OF TOWLE PAGE 27 History Class of Nineteen Thirty-Seven In 'the Fall of 1932, our class numbering 105, entered Towle High S.chool. We were reminded the first thing that we were Freshmen, and would have to obey t-he 'rules prescribed by the Sopho- mores. We were socially accepted at the Fresh- man Reception and were ready in a few weeks to enter into the various activities of the school. Our class was well represented in all athletics throughout the year. By a popular election Richard Purinort was chosen President of the class with Ar'thur Brault and Wanda Zekos as vice-president and secretary- treasurer respectively. We sponsored several socials that year all of which were very successful, financially as well as otherwise. Our Sophomore year started off with a bang, by the initiating of the new Freshmen. This proved 'to be a great deal of fun, and set our class up a notch in high school life. The leaders for the year were: President, Joanne Condon, vice-president Arthur Brault, and secretary-treasurer, Wanda Zekos. The big event in our sophomore year was the Winter Carnival followed by the Carnival Ball. This was the 3rd annual carnival and brought out a variety of talen't on the part of certain members of our class. Our Junior year opened with Richard Purmort at 'the helm, and Arthur Brault, Beatrice Rowe an-d Robert Hurd vice-president, secretary and treasurer in the order named. The big social event of the year was the Junior Prom. All the various committees did good jobs and everything went off smoothly. The Annual Junior Prize Speaking Contest was won by Merton Sayles, who did such an excellent piece of work that he was sent to Durham, New Hampshire, the next year and came home with iii-st prize, winning over contestants throughout the whole state. At the Senior year elections Richard Purmort was chosen president again, with Harl0w Nelson as vice-president, Beatrice Rowe as secretary, and Robert Hurd as treasurer. Harlow Nelson was chosen editor-in-chief of our school paper with a capable staff of assistants. For the annual senior play our class chose Streamline Sue, a comedy in three acts. It was presented before a large audience and proved to be a huge success. The class was mush grieved at losing one of our quieter classmatesf Vesley Chamberlain, as the result of an automobile accident. At the annual scholarship day in Keene, the Chemistry team took first place in their division and the history team took second in theirs. This ranked Towle as third place in the high schools throughout the state. The class is 357.8 feet or 4294 inches or 10,906 cm. tall. A person composed of such proportions would weigh 8966 lbs. or 4075 hg. He would wear a size 48.5 shoe and would be 1135 years old. Loui Bonaccorsi has the larges't head in the class and Muriel Bell, the Valedictorian the smallest. The largest shoe, size 13, is worn by John Stubbe. Our class father is Walter Wirkkala, who is 24, and our son is Richard Smith, who is 16. After having enjoyed the various exercises connected with graduation, we will move on out into the world and leave a place for the class of 1938. - - , Ignorance or Light? I VA LEDICTORY I I have come to the conclusion that at long last, our only hope of preserving democracy is to ban- ish ignorance through education. The democracy, which we hope to preserve, implies the right of every individual to have a fair and equal opp.or- tunity. Democracy, as we understand it today is even more than representation of the people in government-it is political and social equalitq. Without public education is there not a possible consequence that our country would soon become a prey of anarchists? The individual liberties, which we are fortunate in possessing, today, enable us -to be free-'thinking people, who have the riht of self determination.

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THE SPIRIT or TOWLE PAGE 29 hand. He had to overcome the elements of na- ture, the wild life, and the savagery of the time that menaced his live stock, crops and even his very life. This was a hard life and only t-he fittest could survive. Now let us return to the present days. We have not left the pioneer behind us. Heris still with us, although he has abandoned his musket' an-d uses in its place,-knowledge. Civilization has advanced and life has been made easier, but he still has his great problems and oppositions to overcome. He is embodied in the explorer, the inventor, the laboratory worker and the highly- trained technician. Each uses his scientiiic train- ing to cope with things-to delve into and to solve .the mysteries of our modern frontiers. These frontiers were at first very small and lim- ited, but the pioneer blazed his trails beyon-d them. They were broadened and extended to where they are today. They will be broadened even farther tomorrow. It is inevitable. Consider, for example the world of medical science. To visualize more clearly our advance- ment in this field, let us return if we may to the early days of mankind. Man's ills and afflictions were treated by a witch doctor who knew very little about his applications. If a patient recover- ed from a serious illness, it was really a miracle, for blood letting was prescribed to cure all ills. Today we no longer consider it a miracle to recover from our ills. Thanks to 'the advance of medical science and to the men who made it possible, it is a common occurrence. The doctor of today knows his profession largely through the accumulated knowledge of the pioneers of the past, and thus it is with the explorer, 'the inventor and others. Man is never satisfied with the pre- sent. He is always trying to better it and heighten his understanding of it. The frontier of knowledge is ever broadening, ever advancing 3 -never stationary. The pioneer, by solitary effort, cannot make his work benefit mankind. He must have the people behind him. They, too, will have to possess a general knowledge of his discoveries in order to understand them and carry them out to the best advantage. We must help extend the frontier of knowledge. These retiections which I have asked you to share, were suggested to me by the following thoughtful paragraph written by Horace Mann. Men were not created to live in wigwams nor stiesg but to rise up and to lie down in dwellings of comfort and elegance. Men were not created for alms-houses and the gallows, but for com- Defence, an-d freedom, and virtue, not for thoughtless puerilities and vanities, but for dignity and honor, for joy unspeakable and full of glory. JOHN SNAPE ..l.. .. CGMMENCEMENT WEEK June 12-Class Day June 13-Baccalaureate June -Class Picnic June 16-Graduation June 17-Alumni Banquet X June 18-Senior Reception IN CLASS: Look here, young man, you can't fall asleep in my class! PURMORT: I could if you didn't yell so loud! AIRPLANE PASSENGER: Oh, we're going to crash! What'l1 we do? PILOT: Don't get excited-that's only a rub- ber plantation below us!