4. Do you think that Hubbard is too harsh in his suggestion that few men and women are "finishers"? Give reasons. 5. What American shortcoming mentioned by Hubbard is also discussed by Edward Bok in his "Dangers and Privileges in America"? Read again the selection on p. 382. Do the two men agree? What paragraphs in the two articles can you cite to prove your opinion? 6. What features of your life in school lead to "a stiffening of the backbone"? 7. Who are the Garcias of your class in mathematics? 8. What is the idea of "finding Garcia" when Hubbard applies it to clerks, pupils, and others? 9. What does this sketch suggest about "Making the Best of One's Self"? 7. PROMOTED JOHN OXENHAM In the North Sea Battle, May 31, 1916, John Travers Cornwell First-Class Boy, H. M. S. "Chester" A report from the commanding officer of the Chester gives a splendid instance of devotion to duty. "Boy (First-Class) John Travers Cornwell, of Chester, was mortally wounded early in the action. He nevertheless remained standing alone at a most exposed post, quietly awaiting orders till the end of the action, with the gun's crew dead and wounded all around him. His age was under 161⁄2 years. I regret that he has since died, but I recommend his case for special recognition in justice to his memory, and as an acknowledgment of the high example set by him." There was his duty to be done And he did it. No thought of glory to be won; Wounded when scarce the fight begun, Standing for ever to his gun; Let every soul in all the land Britain shall all unconquered stand While she can breed such sons as he. His brave, short life was nobly planned On lines of perfect fealty, His death fulfilled his KING'S command, "Aye ready be to come to ME." And he did it. 8. FIND A WAY JOHN G. SAXE It was a noble Roman, In Rome's imperial day, "They're safe in such a fortress; There is no way to shake it!" "On! ON!" exclaimed the hero, "I'll find a way, or make it!" Is Fame your aspiration? Her path is steep and high; Is Learning your ambition? Are Riches worth the getting? They must be bravely sought; To all the prize is open, But only he can take it, Who says, with Roman courage, "I'LL FIND A WAY, OR MAKE IT!" CLASS ACTIVITIES 1. Why are the last lines in certain stanzas printed in italics? Why is the second word of each of the last three stanzas capitalized? 2. Does the poem indicate that fame, learning, and riches are the supreme goals of success? Explain. 3. What two rewards can every one win, even if he fails of fame, learning, or riches? 4. How do "The Message to Garcia" and "Find a Way" illustrate the two differences between prose and poetry discussed on p. 219? ADDITIONAL READINGS. 1. "The Story of Doctor Grenfell," M. R. Parkman, in St. Nicholas, 44: 404–409. 2. "Overcoming Handicaps," H. Keller, Story of My Life, 96-104. 3. "Struggle in Young Womanhood," in Louisa M. Alcott, 56-70. 4. "Try Again," E. Cook, in Children's Literature, 402–403. 5. "The Ballad of Nathan Hale," Anonymous, ibid., 425-426. 6. "Jackanapes," J. H. Ewing, ibid., 478-496. 7. "The Pass of Thermopylae," C. M. Yonge, ibid., 671-676. 9. THE BEST NELSON ROBBINS One of the sprinters on the track team of an eastern college was very swift; he could run the hundred-yard dash in ten seconds. But he neglected his school work, failed in his studies, and was kept out of the most important meet in which his college competed. The final score of the meet was H. College 59; Y. College 60%; his college was beaten because it lost the hundred-yard dash, which he would have won if he had been allowed to take part. This young man would have resented the charge that he was a "quitter" in a race! Robbins is talking about a very different type of athlete. Is the poem in keeping with the experiences of boys in your grade? Did you fail in the race? Did you faint in the spurt Where the hot dust choked and burned? Did you breast the tape 'midst the flying dirt That the leader's spikes had spurned? Did you do your best Oh, I know you lost. I know that your time was bad. The best of it since the beginning, lad, Is in taking your licking and grinning, lad If you gave them the best you had. Did your tackle fall short? Did the runner flash by With the score that won the game? Did it break your heart when you missed the try? Did you choke with the hurt and shame? If you did your best Oh, I know the score; I followed you all the way through. And that is why I am saying, lad, That the best of the fight is the staying, lad, And the best of all games is the playing, lad, CLASS ACTIVITIES 1. Why are the last lines in each verse important? 2. Are the last lines in the other poems of "Carrying Hard Tasks Through" equally important in their stanzas? What may you conclude about last lines? Consider also the last sentences in some of the prose selections. 3. Is Robbins really talking about races and games? Explain. 4. Read again Miss Mitchell's poem, "Revelation," on p. 136. Might the poem have been placed in this unit? POEMS TO BE READ ALOUD. Alfred Tennyson, "The Revenge"; Alfred Tennyson, "The Charge of the Light Brigade"; Robert Browning, "An Incident of the French Camp"; Alfred Noyes, "The Highwayman"; Alfred Noyes, "Kilmeny"; Thomas B. Macaulay, "Horatius at the Bridge." CLASS-LIBRARY READINGS CARRYING HARD TASKS THROUGH 1. "How Columbus Got His Ships," E. S. Brooks, in Children's Literature, 635-642. 2. "Try Again," Eliza Cook, ibid., 402-403. 3. "Invictus," W. E. Henley, ibid., 429. 4. "The Chances for Success," A Dutch Boy Fifty Years After, 91–96. 5. "Meeting a Reverse or Two," ibid., 124-133. 6. "Overcoming Handicaps," The Story of My Life, 96-104. 7. "Doers of Daring," The Van Dyke Book, 74-78. 8. "The Story of Theodore Roosevelt," World Book, 7: 5068-5071. 9. "A Little Dutch Hero," ibid., 7: 5570-5572. 10. "The Revenge," Alfred Tennyson, Book of Knowledge, 13:4205 4206. II. "Torchbearer of the Dark Continent" (David Livingstone), More Than Conquerors, 199–221. 12. "America's Most Strenuous President," Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia, 7: 3059-3063. 13. "The Value of Time," ibid., 8: 3503. |