Ursuline Academy - Yearbook (Cumberland, MD)

Page 39 text:

Why Some Books Never Die Have you ever stopped to think what has become of all the books that have been written during the thousands ol' years since people learned to read and write? The Assyr- ians and liabylonians wrote thousands of books on baked clay cylinders and tablets. The Egyptians and their neighbors wrote libraries of hooks on papyrus. A few of these are kept as curiosities in museums, but no one reads them now. Out of all the literature of the past. only a handful has suriivedfbut that handful has been read by an increasing number of people as the centuries come and go. This is the Literature that never grows old. NVhat is there about it that gives it such long life? More people are reading Davids Psalms today than erer sang them when he was alive. The Proverbs ol' Solomon are more used today than they were three thousand years ago. Shakespeare's plays are still read and played in the theatre, while the work ol' most dramatists of his day no longer interest us. l,incoln's Gettysburg Address is remem- hered, while the long and flowery speech which lidward Exerett delivered the same dav is forgotten. Many things combine to produce great literature, but the one quality it must always possess is that of sincerity, which is only another name for truth. ln other words it must portray or reveal truthfully the emotions, the hopes, the doubts and the iaith that have always existed in the heart of man.

Page 38 text:

Making Friends With Books All great literature is touched with inspiration. For this reason it has the power to inspire others. Next to the inspiration that comes from our association one with another. from lrienclship, the greatest source oli inspiration is lounrl in great literature. ln hooks are preserved the minds of men long since tleacl. From hetwecn the covers of a hook the great Shakespeare speaks to us again. Rohert Hurns has heen cleacl many years, hut open a volume of his wonderful love lyrics ancl he will sing his songs for us as he sang them ol oltl. livery lihrary is lull of thousands of hooks that are so permeated with the spirit ancl life ol' the authors that they have the power to teach the art ol living and inspire us to nohle tleecls. Many hooks on the other hantl are written for a rlay's pleasure. They entertain, they give relaxation from the hurtlens ol' life, they serve a temporary purpose. hut they are soon forgotten. ln choosing our rcacling, we shoultl choose those hooks that have the power to teach us the icleals ol' life, the secrets of success, ancl how to get on in the worlcl anal how to live forever in heaven. The way we choose our friends among hooks is just as important as the way we choose our human friends. They may he an inspiration or a waste of time-friends to go with tis through life, or merely passing acquaintances. To have made frienels with many good hooks is to have enriehecl your lilie heyoncl the wealth of Croesus.

Page 40 text:

Ev? 'isis Basketball Achievement Senior Class Officers lielcgincs to Mission Convention at limmitslnurg Ieancttc Raphcl-CJraioriczal Contestant lclzi Santoru- Delegate to National Mission Convention, Rochester, New York. Class ol '41