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

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 25 duty should stand foremost in his mind. Un der no circumstances should a person sacri¬ fice the glory of his country for his own personal reputation, or in any way betray the trust that his country has placed in him. Furthermore, a person must have a sense of obedience to duty and constituted authority, for lack of law and order in a nation brings about a gradual decline in morality and in the conduct of a government. One of the greatest responsibilities resting upon every American citizen is that of exercising the right to vote in an earnest, intelligent manner. The individual who shirks his duty to cast an intelligent ballot for good government is a traitor to the cause for which his ancestors laid down their lives many years ago—the right of self-government in contrast to the divine right” of kings. Since constituted authority rests, in this country, upon the freely cast votes of freemen, there ought never to arise a situation where opposition to existing authority should be made by force of arms. Unlike many European states, government, as we know it in our daily lives, is just what we have made it. The ballot gives us a legitimate chance to change it if it does not suit us. Not even the Constitution can perpetuate a kind of administration which the people do not want. This fact carries both a promise and a threat which every thinking man and woman should seriously consider. The promise is the safeguarding of our vested rights against rash or sudden changes in public opinions. The process of changing the Constitution must necessarily be a slow one, for constant innovations upon it may lead to habitual changes which in time would lead to a form of despotism. However, since the framing of our Constitution there have been only twenty amendments; this practice of making few alterations forms an excellent precedent to follow. The threat lies in the danger that the incoming hordes of alien people bearing with them foreign ideals, may unless they become educated in American ideals and customs gradually work a great change in our form of government. At present, this threat is very remote; the power of American ideals to change the hearts and minds of its new citizens is one of the greatest marvels of the age. It may be that the appeal of self- government to those who have labored under the rule of kings is far greater than we can estimate. Whatever the truth, it behooves Americans to look well to their ballots and to watch jealously the fortunes of their country. CLASSMATES, our school days are now drawing to an end, and they will soon be a thing of the past; but the future is calling us into a much broader field, where we shall be able to practice the many things which we have acquired in our years at school. Let us strive to show by our careers in life, our appreciation for the education that has so liberally been extended us. M. Ellen Root, 40. CLASS SONG Tune: To You, Sweetheart, Aloha To you, classmates, a fond farewell, farewell from the bottom of our hearts. With a smile on our face and a tear in our eyes. Now comes the time to break each sweet tender tie; To you, dear pals forever, though we journey oh so very far, We must pray for the day when we all will meet again Until then, classmates, farewell. Katherine DeBella, ’40, Ellen Root, 40. CM Page

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD For instance, during our high school days we were made to read pieces of literature such as Ivanhoe and The Tale of Tu o Cities. It never dawned on us then to see the advantage of this, but now during our leisure moments we have more time and inclina¬ tion to continue this vast and worth-while reading program because we realize that there are many good books to read besides the rather cheap and showy type of novels which after awhile grow tiresome to even the most avid reader. Even in science or other similar studies, the love for research, or photography, or agriculture can be developed from what first started as a simple hobby. Many people have become prominently known as a result of some hobby which became essential in their life. ,, , Thus, if people are fortunate enough to be interested in some hobby, they may become so absorbed that they will actually consider it as a life work. Composing music, writing, painting, and gardening have often proved to be more than mere hobbies for individuals who have started them simply as leisure-time interests. What often makes one first interested in such hobbies? Education is the answer. Perhaps way back in school at sometime the spark of interest for stamp collecting was kindled, or for photography, or writing, or sports. Then after school days and formal education had stopped, that interest continued until one individual through the pursuit of some hobby has become an authority on antiques, or photography, or ancient coins. Thus as we have indicated in our class motto. Non Confectus sed Initus, commence¬ ment is not the end but the beginning of our education. It is just the start of our prepa¬ ration for the numerous interests of life. Rose Marie Massaro, ' 40. VALEDICTORY ACCEPTING OUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES Four years’ work well done—but just how well. This is one of the many questions coming into our minds this evening. To answer it, we must examine both the past and the future. We may well be proud of the knowledge which we have acquired, but the great question, after all, is not so much wh at we possess but how we are going to use what we have. The young man or woman graduating from school today faces conditions entirely new; ones which a few years ago would have seemed impossible. All over the world there is an undercurrent of restlessness, of suspicion, and of willingness to take advan¬ tage of the weak. A state of war exists in practically every part of the world, except in the Western Hemisphere; our only hope, at present, is that in the future our beloved land can remain apart from any entangling alliances. With these frightful conditions facing the graduate of today, his chief concern is to do all that he possibly can to pro¬ mote peace and good-will in this war-torn world. These young people sense this discord lying all around them; they know that there is something basically wrong—but what is wrong? That is the question that confronts them. Can it be that people are losing sight of one of the fundamental duties in life that of owing allegiance to their country and of being unprejudiced citizens, anxious to further world fellowship? If that is the case, undoubtedly the underlying cause is that people, in general, do not fully realize the requirements of a good citizen. First of all, a good citizen must be self reliant and trustworthy, for it is upon the principle of self reliance that the impulse to establish the relations of men upon a broader and better civic foundation springs. A citizen must also be loyal to his country ; this CN Page

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26 THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD Class Musician CLASS BALLOT David Perotti Class Typist Doris Sfreddo Class Athlete . .Chester McComb [oiliest Girl .Justine Ferrari Quietest Boy .Kenneth Hancock Most Petite Girl .Rose Antonacci Class Blusher . George Hammond Best Singer . .Wanda Bednarz Boy Most Likely to Succeed .Joseph Molinari Most Attentive Girl. Best Dancer .Katherine DeBella ..Francis Ciparelli Quietest Girl. Most Mischievous Boy Jean Bermani . Michael Paluch Most Bashful Girl .... Sophie Danyluk Class Actor Alfred Gragnolati Most Industrious. Elizabeth Bellingeri Girl Most Likely to Succeed .Ellen Root Class Co-ed ... .Delma Vandomo Best Boy Bluff er. Joseph Bardani Best Mixer Most Thoughtful. . Bette McCloskey .Adele Sturino Hardest Worker. Bashful Boy of the Class. Most Talkative Girl. Most Pleasing Personality Class Artist.. Most Carefree.. .Marion Holmes Harold Falls .Rose Massaro .Jean Sheridan Geraldine Bruni .Lena Bologna Man About Town. Most Dignified Most Sophisticated Best Sport. Albert Calsetta Marion Harvey .Bernice Meade Louise Penserasa The Stay-at-Home Girl. .Wanda Ostrowski Most Serious Elida Draghi Page