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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1925)
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN PAGE 4 OPPORTUNITIES (Continued from page 1) final victories; the stories of men and women who seized common situations and made them great, or those of average ability who have succeeded by reason of indomitable will and inflexible purpose. “No Chance” has ever been the excuse of those who fail. Talk to the greatest army of failures, and most of them will tell you that they never had an op portunity like others; that there was no one to help them and that no one would give them a boost; that there was no chance for them and that all the good opportunities were gone before they had a chance. Students with the right stuff in them do not make ex cuses; they work, they do not whine; they keep forg ing ahead; they do not wait for somebody to help them, they help themselves; they do not wait for opportun ities, they make them. What would the complaining students think of their chances in life if they were obliged to change places with young “Abe” Lincoln, the child of the back - woods? What if they found themselves in a rude log cabin, without windows or doors, in the heart of the wilderness far remote from schools, churches, railroads; without newspapers, books or money; without the very ordinary comforts? What would they think of having to walk nine miles a day to attend a rude school in a neighbor’s cabin? What would they think of their chances for self-culture if they were obliged to scour the country on foot for fifty miles to borrow a few books, and after a hard day’s work to read them by the light of a log fire? Yet out of such iron con ditions arose a great president. We affirm, students, that there is a grand success awaiting every one under the American flag who has the grit to seize his chance and fight his way. The good opportunity is in yourself. Your opportunity is wrapped up right within your own personality and efforts. Get to work and prove your metal and stay with the job of securing an education and thus be loyal to yourselves, your government, and your school. COMMENDATORY Words of praise and appreciation are always wel come, but thrice so when we feel they express the truth of the matter. A week or more ago the baseball team of the Portland High School of Commerce jour neyed to Chemawa and played us. Ben W. Carpenter, coach, was greatly impressed with various features of our school. On his return to Portland he wrote the following letter to Mr. Downie: “On behalf of the High School of Commerce base ball squad I have been asked to express appreciation for the hospitality extended in our visit with Chemawa. “The dining-room part of our trip was looked for ward to, and no one was disappointed. For the atten tion and splendid menu please tell ‘the girls’ their work was particularly in favor as the main topic of conver sation during our ride back to Portland. “Personally I am new at Commerce, but I have been most favorably impressed with the high-class playing and sportsmanship of Chemawa. It is for future exchange of this relationship that I am happy to write this letter. “Your flag salute was most impressive. Be sure to visit me at the Multnomah Club sometime. Keep us in mind when you make your football schedule.” INDUSTRIAL ITEMS The farm and garden details are working on the lake land at present. The painters have been working on the shops’ ad dition recently, but are now finishing the new garage and painting lattices for interior decoration at the gym. The yard detail are the proud owners of a fine new red wagon for hauling wood. The only difficulty now is to keep a sufficient supply of wood on hand for the boys to haul. The tailors are busy at present with the costumes for the operetta. If the tailors of the days of Paul Revere were as busy as our tailors are the manufacture of fifteen costumes would not have been so very long a job. Through the efforts of our farmers the past fall and winter a number of acres of valuable land have been added to the school farm. This land is now in crop and from the appearance of the ground a fine crop may be expected. The carpentry department has a multitude of work aside from their problems for demonstration. Twelve colony houses are under construction for the poultry yard, a base for the marine motor the machinists are rebuilding, screens, flower boxes, furniture, etc., without number, and all are moving forward at a good rate. This department built a three-car garage in a little less than two and one-half days’ actual working time recently. So far as fruit-bearing trees are concerned “blossom time” will soon be over. From reports to reach us indications are favorable for a good crop of strawberries in our section this year. Well, we’ll be ready for it. Carl Muller and Frank Baga have been practicing the semophore code lately. Frank Baga is becoming pretty expert at it now; he is a very industrious scout. Hans Jack, one of the scouts, has been in the hos pital on acount of illness.
