Worcester High School of Commerce - Caduceus Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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CLASS ORATION W A R ? JAMES FRANCIS MCGUINNESS, Jr. Q HE workings of nature have sometimes been likened unto the doings of a. giant. Eaiwliqiiakes and the eruptions of volcanoes are often charged to the restless moves nv ,Nm of an unseen spirit. If we were to hark back to the songs of Grecian Mythology countless legends of Giants If! ' would lead us to believe that the spirits of ancient fable really existed. Homer would have us know that Jupiter was a spirit inoarnate. Colossal works of nature constructions are said to be the abodes of the gods. The hurricane is sometimes pictured as being the passing of the windl god. while the tornado was believed by the Greeks to be the handi- work of Neptune. And so down through the space of time. the imaginations of some fertile brain have spiced the literature of centuries. 1 am going to tell you about the doings of another giant. This one has not passed into the opaqueness of elapsing years. but, on the contrary. has been clothed. fed. harbored and even stimulated into activity' by the hand of man. In ancient times. this giant made a few foolish mortals believe he favored them, and history sums up their eareers in a few brief lines. The brother giants of the one I have in mind have all passed away being annihilated at the hands of Education and Religion. This last one. however. was not to be caught so easily. and being a, cunning and farsighted individual. he allied himself with his henchmen. Ambition a11d Lust. Ambition was not so easily won over as might be expected. and for some years was inideeided whether or not he should array him- self with this titanic monster. By mutual agreement our giant and his henchmen. were to meet upon the banks of the sea of Ages. Let me pieture the scene to you. Ambition. tall and stately. clothed in robes of purple silk, paced to and fro awaiting the coming of his strange fellow beings. His limbs were neither large or muscular 17

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'Syn rw , SJ!!! 164 xx x W!! I 3 992. 'gag Q v 3-f : 155915 H5-Y' 'E' :- iZA?:S,'3? lsr. fu .Cf .gee-Jar. VV e X Velo CLASS DAY ADDRESS BENJAMIN BULLOCK .JAQUES ARENTS.'l'ea.el1ers. lUllQlGl'g'l'ELtlU2lf0S. and Friends z-The Class of 1915 extends to you a, hearty welcome to its Class Day exercises. , Altliough we have looked 1iO1'XV?l.1'Cl with great longing to this day since we were freshnien. at its a1'1'iva.l our joy is not unniixed with sorrow as we realize that this is the last. time that we shall some together as the Class of 1915. ome you. our parents. 1l1l,'011g'll whose untiring ettorts and patience we have enjoyed the advantages of a high school course. Oni' greeting is no less cordial. to our kind and helpful teaczliers through whose guidance we have been able to Complete the Work of the last four years. VVe welcome the undergraduates to our closing exercises with many good wishes and hope that they will ever uphold the honor of this school. Last but not least. we cordially weleonie you, our friends. who honor 'us today with your presenceg for without our i'I'iends, Class Day would be incomplete. I again lieartily welcome you all a11d hope you will ever bear i11 mind the motto of the Class of 1915:- VIRTUE CONQUER-S ALL.

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and a slight stoop in his shoulders almost took away his stately poise. His head was the distinguished member of his physique. A high, noble brow. about which curled tasseled rings of raven hair. offset a long straight nose. Deep set eyes which bore traces of neither color 1101' expression fiickered unceasingly. while thick lowering eyebrows almost hid them from sight. His mouth and ehin with one accord seemed to cry out. Do not try to command me. Lust arrived. and standing to one side of Ambition. resembled the bent form of a half man. half boy. Clad in a close fitting gown of crimson. he was not unlike the reflection of a small bonfire in the woods at dusk. His rat-like eyes never removed themselves from the face of Ambition. A thin yellow band of silk held his shaggy. red hair in place. while large bony hands twined and untwined them- selves as a smile played about the corners of a weak mouth. The rat-like eyes suddenly lost their glittering as they became iixed on something behind Ambition's shoulder. The claw-like hands forgot to perform their endless twining. Ambition turned to follow his gaze. which remained steadily fixed on the approaching individual. A half man, half giant shuliled along the beach. His limbs were bare except for the skin of some animal wrapped about his body. Long ape-like arms reached from shoulder to knee. and. even while yet afar, the knarled and knotted muscles that spoke of untold strength could plainly be seen. His broad shoulders carried a head that seemed ridiculously small for such a large body. and as he shuffled along, he struck here and there with the huge club he held in his hand. Suddenly he became aware of their presence, and turned to meet them. He stopped a few paces away and silently regarded them. Each studied in this monster the characteristics that would best beget his end. Ambition became aware of the small features. the narrow brow, huge mouth, yellow tusks. and the short black hair that barely reached to his eyes. Lust noticed the huge limbs. the large ears. and last of all the idiotic expression of the small eyes. Their conversation would have but little meaning to us. but safe it is to say that only too often have they agreed to help each other as far as possible in their work. In order to appreciate the heineousness of this giant., it may be well to go back to his origin in history. His first appearance. so far 18