Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades - Mechanic Yearbook (Media, PA)

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WILLIAIVISONSCHOOL 17 glory and fame? What has the man who saw nothing wortwhile but his own personal gain? Alas! Life to them seems hard and disappointing. But on the other hand, how does the man whose life has been one of service to others view thisi obstacle? It is by laboring for the benefit of others in order that they, too, may be better fitted to face the problems of life, that service reaches its highest excellence. And this man, though facing possible failure, has comfort and satisfaction in the fact that he has helped his fellow-man. The thought of service which I have endeavored to 'bring to you, I find has been adequately expressed by some unknown author in these words: An old man, going a lone highway, Came at evening, cold and gray, To a chasm vast and deep and wide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim, The sullen sltream had no fear for him. But he turned when safe on the other side And built a bridge to span the tide. Old man, said a fellow pilgrim near, You are wasting your strength by building here. Your journey will end with the ending day. You never again will pass this way. You've crossed the chasm deep and wide, Why build you this 'bridge at evening tide? The builder lifted his old gray head, . Good friend, in the path I've come, he said, There followeth after me today A youth whose feet must pass this way. This chasm which has been as naught to me, To thatfair haired youth a pitfall may be, He, too, must cross in the twilight dim- Good friend, I'm building this bridge for him! -GHARLEIS S. GROSSMAN. . 'lareinell Sung, Clllaas '21 QTune Old Black Joe. J I. Past are those times to every heart so dear, Past are the joys and pleasures of each year, Past are the days when we worked and studied here, Oh Willie, we are lea ring, farewell to thee. Chorus. - We're leaving, we're leaving, You, dear Old W. S., But still we hear you wishing Each one Success. II. No more we'll crowd and throng your happy hallsg No more We'll answer when your class bell calls, For now we're leaving your protecting walls, Oh Willie, we are leaving, farewell to thee. -By Elwood K. McFarlin.

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16 p THE MECHANIC 4- 1Hreaiheni'a hhreaa Today we are standing on the threshold of manhood. We have been watched and guarded and guided for a score of years as we have passed from infancy to child- hood, from childhood to youth. and from youth to this present day. You, our parents, have loved and provided for us since we, as babes, nestled in your arms and gave you visions of that ideal which you have ever hoped and prayed that we would fulfill. If we have been fortunate enough to attain either your or our own ideal, every sacrifice or self-denial which you have made now seems worthwhile. But others have had some part in aiding us to reach the satisfactory place where we stand today. During the past three years our instructors, teachers, and matrons have been tireless in their efforts to urge us to keep our standards high. To you I should like to say that we count it a privilege to have known you and to be able to con- sider you our friends. You have helped us to change our dreams- into realities, and your unselfish service and devotion to our interests will be a constant inspiration to us when we, in turn, have an opportunity to serve others. During our three years' sojourn at this school, we have learned to honor and revere its founder, Isaiah V. Williamson. We can never fully appreciate what he has done in shaping and moulding our lives. And although we can never actually repay him, yet we can pay homlage to his memory and to his great generosity and unselfish interest in making of us better and more useful men, by performing all our duties faithfully, and when the opportunity offers, by serving others in the same magnani- mous spirit in which he has served us. Just now, we, the members of this class, have awakened to the dawn of a new day in our lives, a day in which we shall be expected to assume some of the numerous responsibilities which in the past have been borne by others. As we face this new day, it behooves us to consider thoughtfully and diligently how we are going to meet them, and how we may in some small measure repay our parents, teachers, and friends for their efforts in preparing us to shoulder these responsibilities. Today we are starting on the untravelled road which twists and winds its irreg- ular way up the mountain side of success to the peak which is' our goal, the reaching of which means the fullest realization of our dreams. To each of us this distant goal which we are striving to reach has a different appearance. To some it appears as a position which means power and honor, and possibly fame, to the man who holds it. To others, it is a mass of wealth which means ease and comfiort for the rest of their lives. But there may be some who see neither power nor great wealth as they gaze, but instead they see a life of service in which they will continue to give to others that which has been given to them. Throughout our entire life until the present moment, we have been preparing for this great day when we should be compelled to stand out alone, and boldly face the hardships and trials of those who are making the ascent toward that which means suc- cess. Just now we appear as ia group moving along the road together toward the goal, but gradually some will forge ahead, and others will fall behind until later we shall appear as a long train of pilgrims winding their way up the mountain. With each turn in the road, with each step nearer the goal, we shall receive new responsibilities with greater opportunity to serve our fellow men. Those who will forge ahead most rapidly are the ones who realize that these new services which they must render are only stepping-stones to the fulfillment of their ambitions. But in our eagerness' to realize these ambitions, let us not forget the invaluable example of un- selfish service which has surrounded us as we have been in training. The progress to our goal will most likely be hindered at times by barriers which we must surmount, by landslides that will bring us suffering and disappointment, and perhaps some of us may eventually stand face to face with the yawning chasm which, for the time, will cause us to dispair of ever reaching the go-al. This is the time when we shall learn whether or not our aim was worth while. What has 'the man who has hitherto labored with the sole idea of honor and

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