Windsor Locks High School - Herald Yearbook (Windsor Locks, CT)

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28 THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD GRADUATION EXERCISES. SALUTATORY AND ESSAY. Members of th e Board of Education, Teachers, Undergraduates, Parents and Friends:— This evening we must turn our thoughts to a more serious occasion in our High School Life—our Graduation. We are standing at the beginning of a new era in our lives in which many of us enter higher institutions of learning or take our places in the business world. We, the Class of 1924, welcome you and hope that you will enjoy the closing exer¬ cises of our High School Career. The Japanese Problem. The kind of Americans that will inhabit this country in the future depends largely upon the character of the immigrants we aunnt to-day. The hrst interest of every American is to keep his country a decent place to live in. One of the problems be- iore this country to-day is that of restricted immigration with respect especially to the Japanese, We may, on the whole, admire the intelli¬ gence of the Japanese, but we must admit in the end, that all eltorts to combine two different races, in the history of the world, has showed unfavorable results. It cannot be done satisfactorily. The Americans cannot compete with the Japanese. The latter works long hours, he has his wife and children work for him. He eats rice and sleeps but lilttle. He saves his mcney because he doesn’t spend much. And with his savings he buys land in Cali¬ fornia, known as the Japanese Farming Community, and lives there, but he keeps on saving. That’s more than some of us can do. We cannot live as the Japanese do. We would die in a short time, because we would not have the proper kind of food, or because our strength would be overtaxed. For these reasons and others a new Im¬ migration Bill was passed by Congress and was signed by President Coolidge the 26th of last montn. This bill contains a pro¬ vision for the exclusion of the Japanese, effective on the first day of July of this year. The six provisions pertaining to exclusion are:— First—No Japanese resident will be allow¬ ed to bring his family here. Second—Japanese who seek to enter the United States because they wish to study the ministry, will be allowed to come in. Third—The Oriental student is admissible to America if he is over fifteen years of age and “seeks to enter” the United States for tne purpose of studying at a college, seminary, or university designated by him and approved by the secretary of Labor. Fourth—The new Immigration measure is nostile to international understanding. Fifth—The Japanese, who have been liv¬ ing in this country, may return here from a temporary visit to Japan, provided the visit does not exceed one year. Sixth—Japanese officials, tourists and merchants who come to America for a tem¬ porary visit will be admitted. The Japanese do not wish to settle per¬ manently in the countries where they go to earn a livelihood. “If they wish to settle in a foreign land, they should learn to love it as deany as their original home.” The Japanese have been coming in so rapidly that they would soon be dictating to us, and would put many American farm¬ ers and merchants out of business. Last year the California Birth Rate Statistics showed that the Japanese birth rate was 69.4 while the white rate was only 18.1. 1 he Japanese would soon be outnumbering us, if methods were not taken to restrict their entrance to this country. Someone has said “America must not be thrown open as the home for the opprest of all nations, good and bad alike.” We must keep America a decent place to live in ' and the time to act is now! Mildred Orvis, ’24.

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 27 Mary Byrne-Mirror In our dressing room there is a mirror, Mary loves its pretty reflection Every year it grows dearer and dearer Here ' s one— ' twdl increase your affection! Mary Chesnalevich Medal Mary here’s a medal You kept your hair the longest We hope it will settle Your will power as the strongest. Joseph Conroy-Dress and Ribbon Joe has always admired Dresses and ribbon to match To wear them, he couldn’t be hired And these are easily attached. Clara Blodgett-String of Beads Clara, we heard the other day That you were buying a dress of gray. A string you have for every dress So what’s another more or less ? Agnes Flanagan Automobile Aggie, here’s a little fliver When it’s cranked oh, how ’twill quiver! You’ll be on time when ’ere you want Tho’ it’s far from u “Red Durant!’’ George Lashway Road Directory When’ere we go over to the Point We see George hanging around that joint. George if ever you should go astray This directory will find your way. Mary Titus A Cook Book Here’s a recipe for “Johnnie”—cake When you prepare to cook and bake. We hope you’ll always use it Mary Then Johnnie won’t be so contrary Lester Davies-Kellogg’s Breakfast Food Lester, do you like Kellogg’s Breakfast Food ? Of course we have always known you do. We do not wish to be at all rude But, the “Kellogg” part is meant for you. Mary Caffrey Golf Sticks Here is a little gift so rare A couple of golf sticks, to play. We hope they’ll match the socks you wear When you go on the course some day. Robert Pickles “Woodbury’s” Soap As “Woodbury” means a lot to you We have selected Woodbury Soap It s daintily wrapped in blue Of sweet dreams ’twill remind you we hope. Mary Chesnalevich, ’24. Ethel Goldfarb, ’24. Mary Titus, ’24. -(o)- CLASS POEM. We leave the plain of ease and play, And climb the hill of success. Tho’ rocks and boulders bar the way, We’ll never strive the less. For with this aim, we strive through life, “To be, rather than to seem.” And in this world of storm and strife, To work and not to dream. Sometimes we may fall by the way, Or by chance our feet may slip. But we shall rise and struggle on, With a true and firmer grip. Each step brings us nearer our goal, Each fall is only a test. Tho’ time and tide shall by us roll, Till the top we’ve reac hed, we ne’er rest. For success is the only victory, Of perseverance and will. And the rays of its shining light, Are only seen from the hill. And let us ever remember, As we our talents ply The spirit that prompts us onward, Is that of Windsor Locks High. But although we may find trouble. And fail in the world’s esteem. We shall remember our motto, “To be, rather than to seem.” George Lashway, ’24.

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 29 CLEAN GOVERNMENT. For two years the old, hardened news edi¬ tor of the most sensational newspaper has received sufficient scandal copy to satisfy his most covetous desires. A crisis, unpre¬ cedented but once or twice in the annals of our history, during which the very founda¬ tion of the government were shaken, has been met and let us hope successfully passed. Now we nave reached a point at which we can, with some degree of accuracy, study the causes and circumstances of such a situation and pledge our strength and influence toward making its recurrence impossible. In such a consideration the first question that enters our minds is what effect will be produced upon the average citizen when he learns that his leaders, the men highest ip the councils of his government have not kept their faith. First let us consider the causes attendant upon such a situation. A prolonged period of prosperity tends to breed indifference and to corrupt moral soundness. During the World Wxr men and women forgot their political differences, their dissatisfactions and their stations in life and served with but one purpose in mind—to win the war. Fortunes were made over night; unskilled labor received wages at par with those of skilled and professional men: vast amounts of monev were appro¬ priated with but little regard for their ex¬ penditures and many men whose character and ability were ouestionable obtained po¬ sitions of responsibility in the government. In such an unstable period the drifting awav from the highest ideals of American poli¬ tics is the natural result. About two years ago the two Houses of Congress began « systematic investigation of the executive branch of the government. While the larger number of these investi¬ gations were started in perfectly good faith, nevertheless a good per cent, were merely for political purposes. But we cannot get awav from the fact that in this short space one cabinet officer has been exposed as un¬ worthy to maintain h s country’s honor, two others have been forced to resign because of their connection with this traitor, one Senator has been impeached because of cor¬ ruption in his election campaign and three Congressmen have been arrested on crim¬ inal charges. It may be interesting to note that one of these was the representative of a Kentucky mountain district where hon¬ or is prized more highly than life. Yet this man was accused and tried on the charge of attempting to bribe the prohibition en¬ forcement officer of his state, was found guiltv and sentenced to serve two years in the Federal penitentiary at Atlanta. There are in this country at the present time a large group of people with radicalis- tic communistic ideas biding their time but patiently waiting for an opportunity to make a show of their strength. This fact should inspire every red-blooded American cit ' zen with due consideration of the effects of Bolshevism in Russia, of Communism in Germany, to pledge his whole-hearted sun- port toward the removal of whatever evils may appear in our present form of gov¬ ernment. No truer statement has ever been made than that of Thomas Jefferson when he said that “the whole are of government is the art of being honest.” Our greatest need to-day is for public officials of incor¬ ruptible integrity, unwavering lovaltv and enduring faithfulness to dutv, ready and willing to follow the ideals of such men as W ashington, Lincoln and Roosevelt. Robert Jackson, ’24. (o) AMERICA’S GREATEST HISTORICAL COLLECTION. America’s greatest historical collection may be seen on disnlay at the Smithsonian Institution at Washington. This Institu¬ tion was started in a strange wav. James Smithson, the son of an English Duke, was born n France. He died in Italy in 1829, and willed his fortune, amounting to over half a million dollars, to the United States government to be used in the “in¬ crease and diffusion of knowledge among men.” Thus the Smithsonian Institut ; on was founded, and its first aenuisition was one of Smithson’s own collections, for he was a mineralogist. These collections have been ncreased by gifts, hv purchases, and by expeditions to out-of-the-way places, unt’l the National Museum, in which they are stored, has be¬ come a veritable treasure house. The collections that may be seen there are of various kinds, such as botanical exhibits, mineralogical exhibits, and relics of war. Many articles which remind us of the life and ' career of George Washington may be seen. His christening robe, which was used