Smyrna times., 1922-06-28
MISS REBECCA HOBSON WINS
MEDAL FOR PATRIOTIC ESSAY
AWARDED BRONZE MEDAL AT
SMYRNA HIGH COMMENCEMENT
Prize Was Awarded by National So
ciety Colonial Daughters After a
Lively Comparative Contest

mencement, Wednesday night, won the
bronze medal offered by the National
Society Colonial Daughters for the
best essay on patriotism in COM
petative contest. Certificates award
ed Miss Margaret Hill, Miss Elizabeth
Thornley,, Miss Ruth DAILY, Miss Fran
ces Alexander and Miss Julian Hodg-
son were those coming out second,
third, fourth and fifth So excellent
was the first prize awarded to Miss
Hobson, we are publishing below by
request, the essay in full entitled
'How Can | Become Good Citizen:"
"How many ways there are in which
one may become a good citizen. SO
many in fact, that it is almost an i'm
possibility to name them all. To
show loyalty, respect, and love for our
country should be the ambition of
every true American. In our school
life we are taught to say in saluting
our flag, 81 pledge allegiance to my
flag and the republic for which it
stands, one nation, indivisible with
liberty and justice for ALL" Yet, how
seldom we stop to think of the ways
in which we can further the interests
of our country or how we can repay
her for the many services that she
has rendered to us.
Years and years ago there was a
time when the proudest man in all the
world was the one who could say 4
am a Persian Then as the years
rolled by and the Greeks distinguished
themselves by their strength, and
their works of art and literature, the
man who could say that he was a
Greek was very proud man indeed.
Next came Rome with all of its glory.
People were even willing to pay a for
tune in order to be called a Roman.
But to-day the proudest man, woman,
or child in all the world is the one who
can hold his head high and say with
Ijoy, 4 am an American
Always Let Your Country Come First
"Never let an opportunity pass
when there is the chance of doing
your country service. Do not ever be
influenced to do your flag an injustice,
however slight it may be. But al
ways let your country come first in
your thoughts rather than any other.
Never let your flag pass by without
saluting it, not only with your heart.
1t is dishonoring the flag to let it fly
: over the home of any one who i'll
treats any person; who underpays
| their clerks; who refuses to give
everybody a square deal; for our flag
stands for justice and liberty, and it is
our duty to live up to its highest
I ideals.
"We can become good citizens by
being of service to our community. II
\ matters little in what line. 1t may be
in the faithful preparations of Oul
\ lessons or in obedience to our parents
\ and all others who have authority
over US; or it may be in punctuality
truthfulness, honesty, and courtesy
Y that we may help our community anC
n become good citizens.
II "The protection of life and property
Y is one of the important duties of gov
ernment. We must learn always t.
h respect the rights and privileges o.
y our neighbors to be a worthy citizel
y of this great nation. When we per
Il nit ourselves wilfully or carelessly t.
Y aid in the destruction of the life o.
y property of any person, we are brand
ing ourselves as undesirable citizens.
Y "No good citizen will by any foolisl
y act place himself in danger of life o
h limb by carelessly dashing across th'
Y street without taking the precautiol
y to see if any vehicles are coming; b!
X playing in the streets or by walking
4 along railroads.
y "You may say that it is no one
X business if you are hurt; that it doe
4 not harm anyone but yourself. Tha
y is not true. An injured or cripple
X person is a drawback to any cOmmun
Y ity. 1t may be that the person is 81
N injured that he will be dependent upo
. others for the rest of his life. Thi
means that instead of another pro
ducer in the community there is de
pendent who becomes a burden in
stead of a helper.
< "In the majority of cases when w
e hear the fire bell ringing we ma
l. rightly feel that some one is an enem
to our community. For what goo
IS citizen would destroy a part of hi
IN country? Fire is the result of care
lessness and when the fire bell is ring
s. ing it is very often proclaiminN some
re ones carelessness and disregard fo
his and his neighbor's property. 1t
the duty of every good citizen to aC
quaint himself with the working o
the frealarm; the causes of fire an
the ways of extinguishing it. H
- should also know how to escape fror
q burning building. Presence of min
and quick action often save not onl
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