Wilmington High School - Blue Chick Yearbook (Wilmington, DE)

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I Q HA1 Be always displeased at what thou art, if thou desire to attain to what thou art not, for where thou hast pleased thyself, there thou abidestf' -Quarles Be always displeased at what thou art. If you were pleased with your present circumstance, if you were contented to struggle no more, if you were happy as you are, would you strive to progress, to accomplish something greater? No, you would probably say! Such an answer would show that that vital spark which distinguishes the human race is extinct in your heart. Truly, the progress of humanity depends almost solely upon the. ambition of the people to better their conditions, no matter how well they may be situated. Ambition serves to instil a spirit of rivalry, ambition brings about progress-for the better and higher things of life, both materialistic and spiritualg it fires men to do the original, the unprecedented. But-ambition must be of the right kind, there is ambition for fame and notoriety, for Wealth and power, and for service. The desire for fame and notoriety lies deep in the hearts of most people. How many of us do not love praise and glory? How many would not Wish to be some famous personality in the day,s news. Few, I fear. Fame is the magnet that draws multitudes to its polesg that causes men to attempt and to accomplish great thingsg that sends men across mighty barriers to discover new poles. Although a large portion of illustrious people are actuated only by a thirst for notoriety, yet many accomplish useful and worthwhile things. What matters, we might ask, if one did aim at fame, providing he has actually done some lasting good for humanity? Little! Yet it does matter, for certainly the 'value of the prize is enhanced, if pure and noble emotions won it. Power and wealth have instigated men to do infinite good and to cause great suffering, destruction, and harm, they bring out the best and the worst in their characters. Some men, driven by the lust for power and riches, have caused terrible ruing others of more stable character have used their ability and power as an instrument of service and inspiration. Of the former type history has many examples. Who does not know that Napoleon, inflamed by a mad purpose to subjugate the World, drove through Europe with his fiery legions and nearly conquered it, that the pain and destruction he precipitated will forever brand him? He was, indeed, a genius, but the havoc he wrought clearly testifies to the misdirection of his talents. We can well see that ambition is not a commendable thing, if it is not directed along the right channels. An honorable purpose alone justifies our existence. The other kind of ambition, that for service, I feel, is the basic principle that makes the successful man. In the last analysis, we can only justify our existence by that point, for what is the use of living if we are going to be human parasites? Were We created to be leeches? Does ought else besides ambition cause men to progress, to create, organize, and carry out projects? The lives of illustrious men, of famous men, will move us to realize the extent that service cO0Illl'l1i1l9d on Page 2462 tit 7 lil?

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Ll ' VVILLIAM RICKEI Editor-in-Chief