Waltham High School - Mirror Yearbook (Waltham, MA)

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Valeclictor- ALTCE ARMSTRON G LADIES AND Cw1iN'1'LEM12NI RAYELERS who have been on the top of a mountain when the clouds were hanging low have described the view as like a turbulent ocean, with here and there the peaks of a few mountains ap- pearing above the clouds like islands. Of course, there are many less lofty hills, but these are submerged in the sea of clouds. So the student, who scans the pages of history, notices a few great names that stand out like the mountain peaks above the clouds. Yet he knows that there are untold multitudes of people who have helped make history, and without whose aid the few great men could not have attained their greatness. These masses may be compared with the scenery covered with clouds. VVhy is it that the few so outshine the rest? We. might ask with Cassius, when he was speaking to Brutus of Caesar, XVhy should that name be sounded more than yours F Caesar rose to prominence be- cause of his fitness for generalship and his remarkable ability as a statesman, and he has been remembered because of these qualities and because of his memoirs, while on the other hand, Brutus' name has come down through the centuries chieliy as the assassin of great Caesar. One article of our Declaration of Inde- pendence reads, All men are born free and equalfi, Politically speaking, this may be true, but it is what a brilliant orator once called a glittering generality. Viewed from an intellectual or any other standpoint c,1'ccfvt political, it is far from true. l.Vho in our times has been born the equal of Plato, or Bacon, or Shakespeare, or Milton? Great men and thousands of lesser note outshine the mass of men by reason of their genius, which someone has called an inborn endowment that enables one to accomplish with ease great tasks which the ordinary man could not do. Another, himself a genius, has said that genius is but the ability for close and perseverant application. A distinguished teacher and president of a college called it the power of making efforts. llutifon said of genius-it is patience. Not every genius becomes great. Gray in his beautiful Elegy says, Some mute, in- glorious Milton here may rest. lVhy mute? why inglorious? From lack of ambi- tion, of application, of perseverance, or of determination, perhaps. Fortune has often been blamed for her blindness, but fortune is not as blind as men are. Anyone who studies life carefully will Iind that fortune is almost always on the side of the diligent. Success usually attends every good effort. Though success is often overestimated to the extent of almost deify- ing it, still, in any worthy pursuit, it is meritorious. The qualities necessary to in- sure success are few, but they are not at all extraordinaryg the most important is deter- mination or perseverance. Genius is not necessary, but even genius of the highest sort does not despise the exercise of the most ordinary qualities, for the greatest re- sults in life are usually attained by very simple means. -X celebrated French author has made the remarks that no man ever pushed his capa- city as far as he was able. Even men of the greatest acquirements and ability can look backward and see many neglected op- portunities which they have let slip by: and there is hardly anyone, T fancy, but thinks that if he were to begin life over again, hc could make far better use of it. lin the ordinary course of life, persever- ance can do all that genius can do, and many things which it cannot do. Genius is often

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SA LU 'l'.X'l'OR Y never reach our shores, nor father nor always prevail and that this gala occasion larotliei' lie conipellecl to inect the passions may long he ieinemberecl with friendship and horrors of war. I hope that peace may and ioy. . . . . W Membersiof the Class of 1915 Bessie Oliye Anderson Jennie McMorrow Angus Arline Ruth Beardsley Lillian Margaret Beckwith Alice May Bennett Esther A. Bird Lillian Malona Brydges Laura Beckwith Chandler Mildred May Clifton Blanche Asbury Cooper Romanie Mary Cote Helen Macbain Dauncey Jennette Frances Davis Irene L. Dicks Louisa Merrill Eastman Mabel Inez Erwin Marjorie Cecelia Graves Ruth Beatrice Hartley Alice Hall Armstrong Aurelia Xilhitford Bates Mildred Elizabeth Dyer Dorothy Simpson Fuller Helen Luella Furbush Alice Pierce Gamage Dorothy Chapman Hill XYendell Parsons Barrows George Howe Carter Richard Horace Coombs COLLEGE PREPARATORY GENERAL COURSE Elizabeth Hawley Marion Alice Jones Helen Estelle Lang. Veronica Carmelita McDermott Helen H. Michiison Althea Doris Moore Blanche Etta Morse Ethel Marion C. Orner Annie May Orr Loretta H. J. Ryan Eula Jackman Simmons Marion Thayer Spencer Lois Stearns Mabel Frances Stearns Esther Anderson Stewart Geraldine Louise Stratton Ruby Fiile Studholme Dorothy Ethel Travis Ella Louise Vander YVyk Florence Marion Mackay Grace Evelyn Purves Marion Seelye Sanderson Mabel Edith Smith Marion Clark Smith Helen Adams Vlhiting Marion Mary Whitmore TECHNICAL COURSE George Chase Emery Harold Leon Homer Olin A. Jensen Carleton Harold Johnson Sally WVyman YVarren Helen W'all VVilson Earle Sumner Bond Carl L. Fleming Mason Dix Harris Ernest S. Hoelscher John Hoffman Roland Vincent Hollering Ralph Abercrombie Johnstone Ramon Sulloway Kelly Arthur G. Lanagan .Joseph J. McAuliffe Herbert Jewell Millen Frank Julian Olney Harold Gale Page J. Alfred Pepper Einar Gustaf Swanson Bradley Vilhittier W'orn1wood COURSE Charles Bacon Chauncey Edward Eaton Leonard Faber Hill Fairchilds L. B. MacCarthy Robert' Thomas Moore Elmer Joshua Morton Thomas VVorcester Leland Carlton Jones Horace David Stearns Harold R. Turner

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VALEDICTORY irritable, impatient of application, and scornful of the dullness of people who are not geniusesg it loves a short work, a large rcward, and a conspicuous place, it hates toil, and the cares and burdens of life. l'erseverance is of a hrmer weave. and is less annoyed by delays and repulses. What genius can do at a single stroke, persever- ance accomplishes by a succession of blows. Genius sees the statue in the rough block of marble, but only perseverance can bring it forth to the eyes of the world. This era is one of invention, and there have been many prominent geniuses in that line during the last few years. Take for example, Edison, Morse, or Bell. The pro- ducts of their genius would have been merely toys, curiositiesg but it has taken days and months and even years of per- sistent endeavor to produce the wonderful appliances without which it would now be impossible to carry on modern business. Gui' attention has recently been attracted AL' o, ' 9,7 bl 5 X R 0, 44 to another example of what determination can accomplish: namely, the efficiency which is one of the leading characteristics of the Germans. XYliichever way our sympathies lie in the present conflict, we have to admit that in this respect the Germans excel. Their efficiency is the result of many, many years of persistent effort directed to this one enidiand but for the perseverance and the thoroughness which has accompanied it, German efficiency would not have reached its present stage of perfection. 'And so, fellow-members of the Class of Nineteen Hundred and Fifteen, let us bear in mind, as we follow our various pursuits in life, that while we may not be geniuses, the way is always open to us to press for- ward in what we undertake with a deter- mination to succeed. lf we do this, it may resultuin greater benefit to the community in which we live than might be the case were we gifted with genius, yet lacking in the perseverance necessary for success. Q ., G K cs,-A 2 4 4 x 1 ! H1 2 I 44 be all M' ' 64 NTNQ gl' ea ivan at