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.