University of Maine at Portland - Reflection / Umpire Yearbook (Portland, ME)

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THE life itierely because he is commissioned to do so by the government? Why isn't he a murderer as well as his vic- tims? People say he is not. merely be- cause the government gives its sanc- tion: but why should the government have the right to order a person killed any more than one 1mm has a right to order the killing 01' another man? In olden times When one man could kill another for any minor thing that came up. they were governed by that oltl Mosaic law which said: An eye for an eye. and a tooth for a tooth? therefore they believed that ii a man killed another man. he. too. should he killed. In 1922. when we have all modern inventions. imprmrements, and every- thing conceivable. we are still clinging m that old law utterly disregarding all other laws and bnoks. People con- tend that it costs tan much to maintain state prisons for murderers. but why is that any- argument for killing a man? Statistics show that in states where capital punishment is enforced. there are more murders committed thin in states where :1 prison sentence is the penalty. Why. then. should we argue that mpital punishment reduces the numlier of murders? There have been cases where a man has been cnmricted on circumstantial evidence. found guilty. and either limited or electrocuted: and it was afternards discrweterl that he really was innocent. and the guilty man is later fmmtli The life of an innocent Iran has heen taken. and the person guilty cf Ill: crime is free. for the mar stitutiona! laws will not permit the kill- ing of two persons for the same crime. ls that fair tn the people? . PUYIAX 13 It would he much safer and better to eiiminate capital punishment in all states and have instead life imprison- ment for the penalty of a murder. This would insure the safety of all so that the stain of killing an innocent man for the crime someone else committed would forever be wiped off the records oi our country. X'mmtt J. ROBERTS, l25. SUCCESS. Of all the words that govern the ambitions and desires of mankind, the most misused and least understood is Success. What constitutes success? Whether the individual Finds himself a suceeSS as the best had carrier in the city. the heaviest plunger in Wall Street, or the largest pillar of his church. depends upon the viewpoint of the judge and the education given him by his people or by life in general. When a child. the-young idea is taught to look up to some great person whose accomplishments have over- shadowed his failings. This worship is transient and as the child grows older he finds hew heights of success. Until he reaches majority his opinibns and ambitions are. in most cases. guided and prompted by his parents and tt: chers. ' He learns to reason and think for himself but not in full power until he reaches his growth and com- pletes his education. Up to this stage he is very impressionable. and lasting quafities may be planted in his mind hy good teaching. But this works two ways. as a young mind' absorbs one tmching .15 well as another. - At this-time. parents and teachers should show to advantage the real value of the different qualities of man

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1'2 THE PL'YiAX he decided to go to his home. and no one could dissuade him. He went in disguise. and as he started to enter his imuse. an English soldier asked him what he wa5 doing there. He looked up at the soldier and said very calmly. Why. I'm Michael Collins. and I live here. The soidier walked off never even thinking that the Michael Collins there was the same Michael Ctillins fnr whom 50 great a reward would he paid. This shows how bravely and how calm- ly he could act under such conditions. Another time, as he was walking along a road. a party of hostile soldiers spied him and called upon him to surrender. Instead. he jumped' over a stone fence alongside of the road and disappeared. Iii 1921 England decided to make Ireland a free state. The Irish leader. De Valera. was against it. so he and Cnllins severed relations. Collins and Grifhth were chosen to be at the head of the Irish Free State. Things did not run along smoothly in Ireland. but Collins tried his best to settle all diffi- culties. De Valera and his followers tried their best to win the Irish nation over to their cause: when it was. found that this was impossible. a rebellion was started. Collins then took his place at the head of the Free State army and pre- pared to settle all matters as 50011 as pessible. Shortly after this Griihth died leaving Calling to do the work of both. It is probable that he would have sueeeeded but like our great patriot. Abraham Lincoln, his life was taken by some cowardly assassin in August. 1922. when it was most needed. His loss was mourned by all. . GLEAan P. QUIMIW, ,25. THE RECIPE. By Baum: Buusv. It's doing your job the best you can, And being fun: to your ieilaw man; It's making money-but holding friends And staying true to your aims and ends: It's hguring how and learning why. And looking forward and thinking high, And dreaming a little and doing much; it's keeping always in closest touch With what is finest in word and deed; It's hcing thorough. yet making speed: It's daring hiitheiy the field of chance W'hile making labor ll brave romance: Its going onward. despite defeat. And fighting staunchly. but keeping swant: It's being clean am! it's playing fair; 11': laughing lightly at Dame Despair; It's looking up at the stars above. And drinking deeply of life and love: It's struggling on with the will to win, But. taking loss with a cheerful grin; It's sharing sorrow and work and mirth. And making better this good old earth; It's serving, striving, through storm and stress, It's doing your Noblestethat's Success! CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. At the present time nearly all the states in the United States enforce capital punishment for murder in the First degree. In some states it takes the form of hanging. others the electric chair, while one state in .the West. Nevada. l'as instituted a new inrm in the use nf poisonous gases. The victim is placed in a cell anti is told that sometime dur- ing the next week. probably when he is aaleep. the gas. which is of such strength that it kills him instantly. will be turned on, A gTeat many peeple think this form should be eliminated because they claim it leaves the victim in suspense for that length of time and is more cruel than the other forms. Diiubtless that is so. But why has nne person the right to take anothet's

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1t THE PL'YIAX :md. above aIl. the idea'thztt there is on such thing 33 something for nothing, shnulll he planted hrmiy in his mind. If. in time. the young idea becomes a millionaire but wanted instead to he a poor minister. or a college professor. harely making both ends meet. that man. from the tips of the World. may he trailed a howling success. but in his uwn mind he will know that he had lost out somewhere. If he has been educated to believe that n'u'mej.r over- shadows good qualities. or that a con- tented state of mind can be gained by whatever he accompiishes,' he is. at least, a success' in the way he was taught. - Hfhen :1 man is so educated that good qualities are helpful in nhtaintng sue? cess and are not submerged in the ohtaihing at it. when the world knows him as a success and acknowledges it. when the man believes himself a sme- 0855 and is contented. then he must have arrived! CHRISTOPHER C. BOYLE, '21: ADDRESS GIVEN. Hy WALTER S. HANNA. l'. S. Vetermllf Ilhtrenlll. I Go to the Ant, thou sluggnrd. wrote Solomon. consider her ways and be wise, which having no' guide. overseer or ruler provideth her meat in the sum- mer and gatherest her food in the harvest. I believe in you men who are to be of the great.to-morrow. that whatso- ever you sow you shallireap. I believe in the efficiency of your training, in the dignity of teaching, and in the joy of serving others. I believe in the wisdom in lessons taught in ability to wotk with yout' hands. as wet! as to think with the minds. You should believe in the beauty of your school, your place of training, in your home, your boarding house. You should believe in the pres.- ent and its. opportunities. in the future and its progress and in the divine joy of living. Edhcation fays the foundation. self- edueation erects the building. Not one of you are so great in your training 01- skilled in your arts that you cannot af- ford to improve yourself. Life is a battle, the victors are those who not only advance to meet every opportunity but daily add fresh prac- tical knewledge. knowing that knowl- edge is not only power but prosperity. flne's education consists of two parts 7what one learns. by himself. and what one learns from others. both are valuable. Remember this, study requires at- tention. Interest is the key of atten- tion. understanding is necessary to'in- terest. Study to remember, study and pay attention to your training systemati- cally. and lastly study to apply your knowldege. Education is a valuable asset and without it to-day you are like a-';ship on the high seas without a rud- deLr. driven here and there by the winds and the tide and at last dashed upon a rocky Shore. Ever since there have been popular Governments in the world, citizens of such Governments have observed the custorn of coming together in times of great emergency to confer. and we are here for such a purpose. people have met in the' past throughout this broad land. to confer on the crisis which we have so recently passed through. to see that no harm came to the Republic in time of war.