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the direction of the things that
make for a sound mind in a
sound body. The result is physi
cal and intellectual culture. As
a people, we should aim to cul
tivate the arts and sciences so
that no longer we shall have to
say to ourselves, ‘‘yes, we do
not have national culture.”
But what kind of pleasure
do we acquire and derive from
the arts? Clearly not the same
as we take in having a good
dinner or possessing a fine auto
mobile. It is not a matter of
physical well-being or of materi
al success. Here is a picture, a
cathedral, a drama or a fine
opera. This particular kind of
pleasure results from the fact
that men find works of art
beautiful and expressive. The
meaning of life is revealed to
us through art and in that sense
it helps us to find ourselves.
"Living does not consist in bare
ly meeting the necessities of our
material existence; to live is to
feel vibrantly throughout our
being the inner significance of
things, their appeal and welcome
to the spirit.”
We who are amateurs, we
who are going to be teachers,
lawyers, stenographers, doctors,
salesmen, housewives, what
shall we gain from studying the
arts in school?
I shall discuss the art in which
I have been most completely in
terested during my high school
days—the study of dramatics. In
the production of a play the
other departments of the school
invariably have a chance to par
ticipate. For example, the art
department makes the scenery,
the glee clubs and school orches
tra furnish the music and often
the dancing classes are called
upon to o^fer their talept,
The value of dramatics and
amateur acting, contrary to
popular belief, lies in the ed
ucational value to the student
and not in the pleasure it gives
the audience. No matter what
your sphere of life may be, you
will need the following qualifi
cations, and these, participation
in dramatic activity may give
you:
1. Poise—The ability to en
ter a room and re
main in it without
feeling that your
arms and legs are
insecurely fasten
ed and that your
clothes are wrong.
This is a valuable
asset in any walk
of life.
2. Voice Training—Everyone
realizes the value
of a pleasant, well
modulated voice.
3. Spirit of Co-operation—The
production of a
play does not de
pend upon any one
person, but upon
everyone concern
ed.
4. A Knowledge of Human
Nature—There is no job
where ■ a know
ledge of people is
not of vital impor
tance. The relation
between employer
- and employee, be
tween teacher and
student, between
parents and child
ren depend on it,
and one of the best
ways to acquire it
is by the study of
character, motives,
and emotion,
which is the foun
dation of all act
ing. To put your
self into Juliet’s
place, to think her
thoughts, to ex
perience through
imagination her
motives is to un
derstand Juliet,
and to understand
Juliet on the stage
is to understand
many Julietish
qualities off stage.
5. Acting with its Character
Study Enriches the Life—Near
est to life of all
of the arts, it gives
one a sense of the
pageant of human
affairs, of the tra
gedy and comedy
of human exist
ence. Life can
never be drab or
uninteresting t o
the actor who can
bridge the space
from the play to
the real world,
for he has around
him always cha
racters in that
greatest of plays,
the drama of hu
man existence we
call life. Thus, we
can truly say, “the
play’s the thing.’’
Likewise, various other stu
dents in this class might give a
detailed account of the value
and necessity o£ toaohing tho
correlated arts of music, danc
ing, language, and painting; but
as each supplants the other, we
will generalize by saying that
an appreciation, a love and un
derstanding of the arts develops
the individual’s taste for better
things which cannot be derived
from the three R’s of the Old
fashion district school.
For, after all, of what use is
education, if it does not point
the way to happiness and con
tentment of it?
We, the members of the grad
uating class of 1953 wish to ex
press our sincere gratitude and
appreciation to our parents for
their sacrifice, to the faculty for
their co-operation with us, and
to the Board of Education, for
making possible the completion
of our new addition. We know
that you have all done this
through the realization and fore
sight that “it is from the vision
of youth that comes the inspir
ation to make tomorrow better
than today.” And so you all
helped us to fulfill Plato’s defi
nition in our education begin
nings, and today, at this com
mencement event, we pledge
ourselves to justify these in
vestments.
To the members of my class
of 1953—Naturally, I would
say that I wish you success in
life, but I should like to tell
you how you will find the sec
ret of success. Behold it for
yourselves. “And he pointed to
the door on the inner side of
which was labeled pull.
“To strive to go adventuring
along unknown paths; to seek to
make real a dream; to find the
meaning of that wonderously
patterned thing called life, these
are desires which ever live in
the heart of man. Ages ago, great
souls felt its urge and went forth
on pilgrimages, each to the
shrine of his ideal.
And today, aTl over'the world,
those in whom the vision dwells,
go forth in like manner, giving
to the guest the added joy of
fellowship. There may be diffi
culties to surmont to make the
Pilgrim strong, but if he keeps
burning, clear and bright, his
soul’s fire his faith and hopes
shall be undimmed.’’
You have begun your pilgri- i
mages to the shrines which you i
have chosen. And. now as you |
go forward, may the spirit of j
our High School go with you, j
that you may cherish it, and'
that it may guide you to your
goal.
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