Vandergrift High School - Spectator Yearbook (Vandergrift, PA)

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THE SPECTATOR 11 PATRIOTISM Soldier, rest; thy warfare o’er, Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking; Dream of battled fields no more, Days of danger, nights of waking. In our isles enchanted hall. Hands unseen thy couch are strewing, Fairy strains of music fall, Every sense in slumber dewing. Soldier, rest! thy welfare o’er, Dream of fighting fields no more; Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking Mom of toil, nor night of waking. —Scott’s “Soldier, Rest!” - . .| HAT is patriotism—It is that natur-W al sentiment that prompts us to gserg-j love our country, be devoted to its welfare and support its authority and interests. It is actuated by a zealous desire, a passion inspiring us to serve our country. Patriotism is universal, for— “Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land.” Patriotism is inspirational, for it inspires a whole people’s confidence, a whole people’s love and the whole world’s respect. Patriotism knows no obstacles nor does it shx-ink at a seeming impossibility. It was patriotism that inspired the great men of our history to record their deeds of valor in the face of almost certain defeat. It was patriotism, that undying love for their country that gave our meager, poorly supplied forces the needed courage to make a last, fearless stand against almost insurmountable odds—against the well drilled troops of the British during the dark days of the Revolution when everything seemed hopelessly lost. It was patriotism that enabled our men to live through that dreary dismal winter at Valley Forge and still have faith that their sacrifices for the noble

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10 THE SPECTATOR February 14—St. Valentine’s Day. February 19—Basketball game—Kittanning at Vandergrift. February 22—Basketball game — Vander- grift at Leechburg. February 22—George Washington’s Birthday—Born 1732. MARCH Stone—Bloodstone. Flower—Violet. Sign of the Zodiac—Pisces, (the fishes.) Horoscope—(From February 19 to March 21.) Timidity, sensitiveness, and the lack of self-confidence are the principal weaknesses of those whose birth sign is the fishes. They never boast of their achievements and are that kind who hide their light under a bushel. From their ranks have risen great poets, writers and actors. They make especially good farmers and mechanics, but are fond of responsibility, and are capable of holding positions of trust. They have the faculty of absorbing knowledge, but lack the ability of imparting it to others. They are unselfish, placid, and honorable in their dealings with their fellow men. They neither ask nor expect favors and seldom run into debt. In their desire to do right they are often foolish, spending both themselves and their money recklessly If they would be less self-sacrificing; if they would lean less on others for support; if they would remember that the world usually accepts one at his own valuation; they would get more out of life. People of this sign should learn to overcome petty anxieties and worries and to be less modest. As it is, their faults are mostly negative, though they are good at heart. For their life partners they should look under Capricorn, Cancer, or Virgo. March 5—Ash Wednesday. March 17—St. Patrick’s Day. March 20—Spring begins. “In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” —Winona Love, ’24.

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12 THE SPECTATOR principles they were struggling for would not be in vain, that they would ultimately obtain those principles. It was patriotism that prompted the men in the blue to battle against their countrymen in the Civil war. In that case, patriotism, the desire to preserve the Union at all cost was greater than brotherly love. This act of patriotism, the desire to rid the world of the unholy ambition of one man and make the world “safe for Democracy,” that aroused our men who broke through the almost impregnable defense of Hindenburg’s line and made history laud their exploits in the battles of St. Mihiel, Chateau Thierry and the Argonne Forest. The position of those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of their country is so secure in the hearts of men that no monument however imposing can add to their renown. They were great in heart, in purpose and in sacrifice, in endeavor and in achievement. The tragedy of their death only added to the glory of their life and the passing years have es- tablished their high positions on the world’s roll of honor. Patriotism is intimately blended with whatever belongs most essentially to the prosperity, the liberty, the free institutions and the renown of our country. Patriotism was a power to rally a nation in an hour of thick-thronging public disasters and calamities. Patriotism was a power that shone amid the storm of war, a beacon light to cheer and guide the country’s friends. That is why our thoughts should center on higher things, on love of country, gratitude to our nations defenders, including those who died that this country might be free, those who gave the supreme sacrifice that the Union might live, and those who sleep beneath the lilies of France—who brought on the conclusion of the greatest war that ever convulsed this planet, the starting point of a new epoch in history, destined to bless all mankind. —Joseph Lazier, ’24. HIGH SCHOOL FAILURES (Published by Request) HE movement on the part of the principal and faculty of the Norwood High School to reduce the number of failures among the students is a noteworthy one. In the first place it is constructive. It is hitting a problem at the source and before it has grown to larger proportions. A failure attacked and overcome in November is a slight skirmish in comparison with the heavy fighting that would ensue in May. In instructing the students on methods of studying the faculty will be doing its share. However, that is only one-third of the battle. The real issue is clearly up to the students themselves. Of course some wall put up a smoke barrage—employment outside of school hours, helping the parents, etc., etc. But, school records will prove that very often the busy students, the ones who work after school, who are leaders in the various school activities, are the ones who rate high in scholarship. In order to accomplish their ends they must of necessity schedule their time carefully. This results in close application to the task in hand. No frittering away of precious time with such students. Surely the boy or girl with only lessons to get and a minimum of helping to do in the home, can keep a high grade if he or she wall. It all simmers down to the WILL to study. Sometimes a student may have a natural desire to study but home conditions do not tend to make study an accepted fact or factor in home-life. Parents are the ones on wrhom the issue ultimately rests. It is unquestionably their duty to provide the proper environment for concentrated study, to encourage it and if needs be to enforce it. A good table, a good light and as far as possible general quiet should be provided. Lessons learned, then pleasure should be the sequence and not, as so often happens, the opposite order. An ideal environment of study includes dictionary and encyclopedia and a few current periodicals. Sad to relate, there are homes where every luxury is indulged in, but where one searches, as for a needle in a haystack to find a plain ordinary dictionary. The real settling then of the whole matter of High School failures is co-operation