Walton High School - Periwinkle Yearbook (Bronx, NY)

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Emerson in llwe Twenlielh Cenlurq A century ago, when our country was very new, our leading thinkers were greatly concerned about the philosophy of life and the materialistic trend which America seemed to be taking, Among those in the foremost ranks was a kindly and wise leader who was neither soldier, statesman, businessman, lawyer, nor pedagogue. l-le was far more gifted, far more skillful, far more individualistic, This philosopher and poet was Ralph Waldo Emerson, l-lis life was a beautiful, an inspiring saga of deeds well done and of words well said. Whether lending import and dignity to the anti-slavery move- ment, or condemning the corruption of post-Civil War politicians, or delivering lectures against infamous war, Emerson fought his battles with the fiery pen, not the besmirched sword. Whether exhorting the man of Cod and Nature to maintain his inherent posi- tion as lord of the earth, or lauding the doctrine of free-will and self-reliance, or disdaining the baseness of a gilded age in which the criterion was the tarnished dollar, Emerson was sincere, hopeful, and fervent. l-le was the prophet of his age, which heeded not his prophecies, but, in reckless haste, immersed itself into the turbid sea of industrialism, One century later, after he had shaken off all mortal care, we, the people, realize our error and the doom we face, Now that evil days have revealed the fallacy of materialism, the waxing shadow of the benign Emerson, democrat and individualist, has increased to majestic proportions. Now, after atoning for our unseen faith in the divinity of business and wealth, we turn to him for hope, for succor, for salvation. Remember that Waldo Emerson las he en- joyed being calledl believed human nature was inherently good, and that his theories are based upon the words, Trust to that prompting within you. All real good or evil that can befall man must be from himself, The purpose of life seems to be to acquaint a man with himself, the highest revelation is that Cod is in every man, With these sacred words, the world can lift itself out of the spiritual depression. By turning to Emerson and heeding his words, the harassed world may destroy those war-clouds that surround it, Regarding war, Emerson wrote, l do not like to see a sword at a man's side. lf it threatens man, it threatens me. A company of soldiers is an offensive spectacle. lt is only through returning to Emerson, who calls man back to Cod, who beseeches man to be a man, not a machine, that we can save ourselves from catastrophe. sat? O C 5 I 9 5 'T -O I U N l

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PSX O 1 as - , .I C I I The toil of war A pain that only seems to seek out danger ln the name of fame and honor With the death of Shakespeare, the loom stood idle, but soon the industry of other peace-weavers took it up. Long before world courts and arbitration were heard of Lord Alfred Tennyson described a glorious peace in a poem of prophecy called Locksley Hall. l-le says: For l dip't into the future, far as human eye could see, Saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be, l-leard the heavens filled with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue, Far along the world-wide whisper of the south-wind rushing warm With the standards of the peoples plunging thro' the thunder- storm, Till the war-drum throbbed no longer, and the battle-flags were furled ln the Parliment of man, the Federation of the world, Was Tennyson only a dreamer? And will his dreams never come to pass? Although Beethoven's work was in the field of music, it would not do to pass lightly over the sustained and noble dignity of his music which shames the violence of brutal warfare. l-lis Ninth Symphony, in particular, is a denunciation of battle, lt was said of Beethoven: 'll-le passes beyond the horizon of a mere singer and poet and touches upon the domain of the seer and the prophet, where, in unison with all genuine mystics, he delivers a message of religious love and resignation, identication with the suffering of all living creatures, deprecation of self, negation of personality, release from the world. And now, today, poets are still weaving, hoping to complete the tapestry with an inscription that shall read: 'lWrong ruled the years that were But lustice, guided by Pity, rules the new. . PEARL WEXLER. x

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6 9'! I Q C its -9 I That a catastrophe is approaching cannot be denied. Already black menacing clouds ot vvar pierce through the twilight. Several years ago, H. C. Wells wrote, lt is a neck and neck race between the torces ot education and catastrophe. The World War seriously undermined the virile strength of Europeg the next vvar, it it comes, vvill destroy the supremacy ot the vvhite race, it not the race itselt. Whom are vve to heed? lvlilitarists preaching the inevitability ot vvar? Leaders demonstrating the avvtul spectacle ot unlimited tyranny? Those mercenary men vvho caused the last vvar? Or will you turn to Emerson vvho urges international brotherhood, who deplores vvar and destruction, and loves all mankind, Will you turn to Emerson vvho glorities Peace, Learning, Nature and Beauty? l-le is the symbol representing all humanitarians vvho desire an end to misery. Will it be chaos, ruin and misery, or beatitude? The Cod vvho gives us lite does not give us the moral right ot persecution and destruction, Will you have posterity groan in agony, or vvill you have it tenderly respect your memory? Will it be militarists or Emerson? Today, vvhen the arch-enemy ot the world is tear, what better motto can vve, as graduates ot our Well-loved Alma lvlater take, as we journey into the world ot higher education and vvork, than those vvords ot Emerson: That man has not learned the lesson of lite vvho does not conquer a daily tear, DOROTHY LEVINE