Mr. Standing clearly demonstrated that the biggest forest service problem in Utah is related to conservation and control of the grazing lands of the state. The relation of overgrazing to loss of irrigation and the danger of floods was brought out. The biology classes greatly appreciated these talks and wish to thank these gentlemen for their courtesy. BASKETBALL Whoopla! Let's go! The basketball season has started, at least, we think it has. Ogden has already successfully defeated several fishy teams. Although they were not league games, they furnished plenty of thrills and excitement. Fairly large crowds attended the games but not nearly as large as they should be. One hundred per cent of the students should attend these games and yell with all their might if we expect to bring forth a. banner year. There is no reason why we can't do it. We have the snappiest set of players one could wish for, and with the student body's support there should be little difficulty in overcoming all of Ogden's opponents. Nothing can hold us down. We're starting out with a bang and there is no doubt about Ogden's team having another banner year as they did last year. Ye team! Let's go! SPEECHES Why is it that we all live in mortal dread of speeches? Personally, I would rather take a beating than to stand before a class and deliver or rather endeavor to deliver a speech. I always regard the boy or girl with suspicion when he says he likes or "don't mind" giving talks. It seems that they are supreme beings and do not belong to this world. When the teacher announces that we must come prepared to give a speech on a certain day, the classroom becomes suddenly extremely quiet, the silence punctuated only now and then by a low groan. I have never been able to say that I ever gave a speech of which I was very proud. When the teacher calls my name and tells me to come up in front, I suddenly suffer a complete lapse of memory, and it seems as if the audience is more than usually critical. I believe that during the Spanish Inquisition the torturers left a rather important method of torture—that of speech-making.— Jack Quillinan, '26. THE PUNCH BOARD Have you ever noticed a fellow amble up to the punch board at the nearby drug store? He grabs the board and scans the names quickly. Ah, you guessed it! Of course her name must be lucky. No, sir, wasn't. Oh, well, she wasn't any good anyway. He tries another—not quite so smilingly this time. He punches hard and loses again. The thought of tomorrow's lunch money flashes through his head. Oh, well, maybe the next is lucky—third time, the charm, you know. Shuts his eyes and punches. Unlucky again. Dog-gone! Walks; dejectedly away muttering something about dirty hold-ups.— Dallas Gibbons. CHRISTMAS SPIRIT Only a few days until we shall again be celebrating the birth of the Christ child. Already the air has taken a sharp twinge for the cold spell, and the whole attitude of Christmas is permeating the atmosphere, giving us a reminder of the days we look forward to. This time of the year does not appeal to most of us as it did years ago, as we have grown from our childish dreams, and we realize that everybody is on the lookout for himself. We read every day in the papers of the murders and suicides that are committed because of the greed and hate that has taken such a hold on the world. Many statesmen say we are on the verge of corruption. If only our spirit was the same as the people of the world when this great feast was instituted, this old universe would indeed be a place to relieve our cares and sorrows.—Edward Dowling. Dec 25 OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL NOTES (Note—Seniors of the Ogden High school, at the request of the principal, have written their autobiographies. Here are a few excerpts, the names being omitted in most instances.) HUMOR CREEPS IN. I think it is rather a shame that the old home should have been razed, for fifty years hence I may be famous and what will people do to commemorate me if they cannot sell curios in the old house in which I was born? I think this word, autobiography, has a different meaning for most people. I thought, upon first hearing it, that it was some new; make of automobile.......My aim in life for a while was to become a schoolteacher. I have, however, changed my mind after seeing so much of school teachers. TEACHER PRAISED. The next fall my education was continued under the direction of the best teacher I ever had, Miss Helen Butterfield, now Mrs. Jean Case. CHILD OF DESTINY. The year 1908 was almost doomed. In this year there was a blizzard in the north, a typhoon in the south, a flood in the east, a drought in the west, and a cyclone in the middle west. It was a year of murder and crime, theft and divorce, blackmail and death, robbery and suicide, assassination and breach of promise, vice and crime. Almost irrevocably destined to fade into ignominy, this year redeemed itself by beginning its fall season with bringing bliss, relief, happiness, and me—especially me —into the world. When I grew old enough I went to school ever so often, and all through the grades I managed to keep by attendance records down. This regularity of absence was quickly repaired when I came to high school and was gathered into Mrs. Coolidge's benevolent and protective order of arms. My life ambitions vary with my moods. When I graduate from the Ogden High school I want to be anything but a school teacher, preferably a dancer, but probably a track walker for some air-line. So far my life has been marked by remarkably successful failures. GOOD COMPANY AT SCHOOL. The people found in school are they who are trying to progress, to attain new heights, to grasp something bigger and better. Every man reflects to a certain extent the environment with which he is surrounded. The boy or girl who is constantly surrounded by people who are trying to forge ahead will naturally absorb enough of this atmosphere to go ahead himself. A DIFFICULT TASK. As yet I have been unable to decide what vocation or business to follow. There are so many good features about all vocations that it is very hard to decide. I am hoping, however, that I may decide before I enter college, for a college is no place to make an error in the choosing of a subject of study. HONEST CONFESSION. My childhood was very uneventful, fraught with the usual stubbed toes and bloody noses. From the start I have shown criminal tendencies, but have been taken into custody but once. That was in 1921, when another boy and I were caught swimming in the North Ogden reservoir. I have confiscated my share of watermelons, grapes and other fruits during my childhood. MARRIAGE TABOO. As yet I am unmarried and never intend to be, never having been sociable with the girls. I am blissfully ignorant of social problems, commerce, biology, history, algebra, traffic conditions and the cost of moth balls in the Philippines. —Eugene Maher. KING PROMISED. On the shores of the rocky kingdom, otherwise known as Wales, lies the remnant of the once proud and mighty race of Celts, the original Englishmen. To these hardy people I owe my ancestry. Down through the ages have lived the Carters of Cove, keeping their blood pure and their hearts brave to crown some day the offspring of their race king over the loyal race of Celts. TO BE PHYSICIAN. My ambitions are many or I should say have been many. I have wanted to be everything from a cow puncher to a capitalist on Wall street, who clinks the beef iron. At one time I even had aspirations for, the kingly office of "traffic cop."' But my ideal and ambition now I seems to be to be able to sign "M, D." after my name, or perhaps just a mere B. A. SACRIFICING PARENTS AND FRIENDS. Mother and father have given up their pleasure, have gone without things—have sacrificed, I might; say, the better part of their lives to give us children an education. Jan 4 26 OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL NOTES Write it 1926, not 1925. Let the dead past go. Live in the glorious present, 1926. NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS. So much sport has been made of New Year resolutions, that young people are likely to overlook the splendid opportunity that comes with the bright new year to begin a new page of life by a firm and resolute endeavor to do something nobler, greater, better than was done in the irrevocable past. We hold that it is a good thing to take inventory at the close of a year—look our mistakes fairly, squarely in the face— and then firmly resolve that they shall not be repeated. Here's hoping that this thought has been fomenting in the mind of many a student during the past few days, and. that we are beginning School again today with a firm resolution and determination to do much better in many respects than we have done heretofore. The new year is a good time to begin to do new and better things. DID YOU NOTICE IT? We are not here to boost any particular firm, but as a matter of education, and especially of business and Christian education we wish to ask you if you noticed in last Friday's Standard-Examiner a large advertisement by one of our large business firms? This advertisement consisted of ten fine New Year resolutions that the management has made for 1926. We think that was as fine an "ad" as we have seen in many a day; it ought to bring increased business to the firm and it should make every employe of that firm a better workman, a better employe. OUR FINE BASKETEERS. You've all heard of the Three Musketeers, haven't you? Well, just watch Ogden High's whole squad of basketeers this season! Our stellar quint seems certain to repeat as intermountain champions this year. With four or five stars of last year's squad and a like number of junior high luminaries back in togs the outlook for another championship squad is indeed very rosy. In the games played thus far the first string men have had an easy time trouncing their opponents, and unless a decided upset occurs, they are favored to continue brilliantly the rest of the season. On to another championship, Ogden! ROBERT GWIN. THE NEW YEAR. Perhaps there is no better time in which man may profit by the past season's work and demand from Fate a new recognition than now. It is now that the new desires animate the souls of men and urge them to seek the higher aims in life. If the past has not been as it should, man may turn his back to it and look forward to the future. Whether "resolutions" are made or not matters little, but every man can do something better this year than he did last. The person who is satisfied with himself is a sorry failure, because if the past has been better or worse, he may consider it as experience and act accordingly. Man may now look at himself from his own moral code and see wherein he is lacking. Will humanity the better off in one year because of his living in the world? Will he have progressed and advanced? If not, then, why should the New Year come to him? WILBURN WEST. AFTER CHRISTMAS. Unknown to most of the students of Ogden High school, Christmas has passed. It sounds incredible but nevertheless it is true. The day is gone, and the outlook is dreary with a whole half year of school. The cheerful Christmas spirit is replaced by the regretful, after-Christmas atmosphere. The anticipation and the day itself have only made the common life more unbearable. The unusual joy has made us discontented and remorseful. An optimist would tell us to make the most of our joys while we have them and likewise our sorrows, but I can only think of the great happiness and contentment which would be ours if, instead of receiving all our joys in bunches, we could distribute it evenly throughout our lives. GERALD MCDONALD.