Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-20
GLASS DAY AT HIGH SCHOOL
THE vALEDICTORY. By Marian Weinstein,

JOYS ana sorrows. Here we HHu sun- shine, there shadow; but time has shed it's balmy mist over all.
 What the yelled future will mean to us no one can tell. But of this we are certain, that it lies solely within our power to make or mar it. This is a turning point in our lives and new duties await us. We all have our own fair hopes and lofty ambitions. We have each fully determined to make our lives sublime But undoubtedly and most naturally the thought that lies deepest in our minds is by what hath we may reach that coveted hut delusive goal-happiness.
 Our imagination pictures 1t in glowing colors. We fancy it a prec- ious jewel that adorns but wealth. knowledge, glory, or dominion; rare flower that blooms only on the heights of life under ideal condi- tions But this is mere illusion; for happiness is of humble origin, unselfish love and noble effort and flourishes for us all if we but learn to seek it in our own actual sur roundings.
 'tThe world has nothing to bestow; From our own selves our joys must
 flow.
 And that dear hut,-our home x This innate longing for happiness is noble emotion with a divine pur- pose; for it i3 the subtle motive that underlies and inlpels all our highest aims and greatest efforts. But if this natural desire is distorted into sell fish craving, 1t loses all its beauty, nobility and gradeur.
 The great enemy of happiness is discontent But we need never know its meaning if we strive to appreciate our blessings; to uproot the baneful weeds of envy and discord in our hearts. and to SOW the fruitful seeds of love and charity instead. For
 "If solid happiness we prize,
 Within our hearts this jewel lies.
 If we journey through life, satis- lied that we are trying our utmost to perform our duty to ourselves and mankind, infinite happiness will spring from this satisfaction. To feel that we are bravely bearing our own burdens, that we are doing our hum- ble best to make our lives count for something, this consciousness will of itself bring happiness.
 But we must not delude ourselves into thinking that true happiness can only be derived from the serious side of life; that we must frown on innocent pleasures and continually wear an expression of thought and care. We should rather strive to per form our tasks cheerily, to enjoy the good things of life, and to radiate sunshine wherever we go. For there is more virtue in one sunbeam than in whole hemisphere of cloud and gloom"
 Our education also ought to be a great source of happiness to us. For it gives us better understanding of this wonderful world, It's treasures in nature, mankind and books. It de- velops our minds and indirectly our hearts. We gain froh-n q tfuer con- ception of our mission in life. We rise above all petty meanness; we learn to search for the best traits in others, to overlook their human faults, and to love them for their nobler natures. We realize that "What looks to our dim eyes stain, In Gods pure light may be
 A scar brought from some well-won
 field
 Where we would only faint and
 yield" s..,a --. ..a...
 After all there is no such thing as ideal earthly happiness. For into each life some rain must fall, some days must be dark and dreary." But as the sun, when it breaks through the dark clouds. seems brighter and more pleasing. so the happiness that comes in the wake of sorrow seems greater and more welcome.
 We who stand here to-day where the brook and river meet" should take these simple truths to heart. The time has come when we must part. each to travel in his or her own path in the wide, wide world. Soon other cares and other events will fill our lives. But yet, at times. tender memory of the past will steal over us and touch our hearts. Our little trials. our little triumphs, all like a sweet strain of music will fit back to our minds.
 It will seem but yesterday when. with enduring patience, our kind teachers were guiding our minds in the paths of knowledge and hopeful ly beholding in the distant future the result of their labor.
 Dear teachers, we trust the com ing years will find us still clinging to the lessons you have so faithfully endeavored to teach us and that your untiring efforts will prove to have been not vainly spent.
 My friends and classmates. soon we must leave these halls; but let us enter upon our new duties full of hope and trust. For our little world will be what we make 1t. If we fol- low the noble teaching of our motto. we shall never feel the pang of vain regret. -.-
 Only a few. perhaps none of us. will be called upon to do great deeds: but we each have our own sacred mission to fulfill. we cannot all be heroes and heroines in the eyes of the world, but we can in the eyes of eur Maker. For great deeds are not confined 10 the battlefield and forum. and many an act of true heroism is performed in the humble cottage. its glory unhsralded. its doer unknown. There's always noble service for -obie souls to do"
 Gear classmates. let it then be eur constant aim to make this world q better place for our brief stay: to ~r~ssa~ Rorwo-u aTnru sha r.a.h -a