Safety First: As before the war the United States, because of a prevailing sense of security, neglected national prepared-ness, so now in order to lessen our financial burdens, an attempt will be made to neglect a rea-onable policy for protection. The League of Nations, and eventually the elimination of huge military expenditures, will come the more certainly if we prepare ourselves to support our principles with the bulwark of efficient power. Universal military training can now be easily established, through a very moderate use of the training and experience of those young men, in every corner of the country, who will have returned from a period of intensive drill and instruction.

Faculty Number: The Oracle respectfully devotes this number to the Faculty of Bangor High School. Through the good work of the Oracle Board and the co-operation of the Faculty it is possible to have in this issue the individual pictures of most of the teachers and also a few words about the schools from which they graduated. The modesty of some of the Faculty prevented the picture list from being complete but all have been mentioned in the brief sketches.

The Balance of Power: At a recent meeting of the French Assembly, Premier Clemenceau declared among other points of his policy an advocacy of the conditions of world politics known as a balance of power. After listening to his speech the Assembly by a large majority gave him a vote of confidence. This balance of power is the admirable system which enabled the two groups of European nations to line up so evenly in the World War and which only failed to bring about an indecisive termination because the United States had not been considered in the balancing. In one of his English speeches Pres. Wilson openly declared himself opposed to any such relation of powers. He said he would not make himself "a party to any combination of nations that is not a combination of us all." Here again he has made himself the spokesman of the opinion of all Americans.

The Peace Conference: Sometime in January President Wilson will join Clemenceau, Lloyd George and the other Allied leaders in the great Peace Conference. Surely it will be an imposing assemblage, bringing together as it does the greatest statesmen of the age and representing all the major powers of today. And the best is none too good, for theirs is a mighty task, a great responsibility. Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey await their judgment. Dozens of communities clamor for independence. The second act of the world drama is at hand.

Football: We have become accustomed to measure everything in proportion to its value in carrying on war. From standpoint, football seems to this deserve an even more prominent place than we have usually accorded it. In the element of roughing it football has given many of our men lessons that must have proved priceless in the hand to hand conflicts on the other side. The changing scenes of the gridiron duplicate those of the battlefield to a wonderful degree. In both, a short interval of time often separates success from defeat a supply train moves over an exposed route in a brief hour or a pigskin rolls aimlessly about for a few seconds. In each, the right thing at the right time settles the question.

Welcome New Students: Bangor High School extends a cordial welcome to her largest entering class. May this class prove to be not only her largest but also her best! You are beginning your four years' course with the lightheartedness which you bring fresh from the grades, you will complete the course sobered by the responsibilities that you are sure to face in B. H. S.

Graduation: Another year has swiftly sped and Bangor High is about to send another class from her halls out into the world. During the past year we have felt the "spirit of '76" rise within us. We have been wide awake to the affairs of the world, especially to those of the World War because our fatherland is a participant in the universal struggle for freedom. Some of Bangor High's undergraduates have answered the call to arms and are now serving their country in foreign lands. We all know what it means to "Hooverize," and economize, and we will continue to do so cheerfully. These are days of self-sacrifice, of courage, and resolution; days which call for the best there is in the men and women of our country. The war has exerted a sobering influence upon most people. It has made them realize the insignificance of self in life. Selfishness is being overcome by the common feeling of responsibility to each other.

Our Boys: Each name on the Honor Roll of men in the service of their country from Bangor High School brings back the memo ries that cling to that name and causes us to murmur a prayer that our own comrades may return in safety when Right shall have triumphed over Might. Our brave boys are ready to give their lives for their country. They do what they are told, regardless of their own desire. They are loyal to their comrades and to their leaders. They fight to win, regardless of dangers to themselves. We also who stay at home can do similar things if we wish. We can be good soldiers and obey the government whenever it says we must do this or that. Our loyal support is needed to back up the work we are trying to do.

Russia: Russia's military history for two hundred years has been of a peculiar character. The Russian armies have almost Russia invariably been beaten. They have been beaten by the Poles, the Swedes, and the Turks, by the Germans, the French, and the British, by the Japanese, and finally by the Central Powers. But still the fact remains that they have never been crushed.

America at the Front: Now, at last, during the fourth year of the great World War, the greatest of all the combatants, in potential strength, has met the enemy face to face. Just three and a half years after the Kaiser brought the era of war-honor upon the world, a new phase of the war begins. On February 1, the American troops were definitely in the trenches and under enemy gun-fire. Few will care to predict the duration of the struggle after the alternating hopes and disappointments of the last three and a half years.

President Wilson: America must win the war and there is not a day, nor an hour, nor a moment to be lost in useless arguing. We have at the helm of our nation a wonderful man, Woodrow Wilson. There can no longer be any doubt that he is the leader in the struggle for democracy against autocracy. He sought peace as long as he thought best, but when it became apparent that war was inevitable he bravely shouldered its burdens and proved that he was the real leader of his people in war as well as in peace and that he could act with coolness and unparalleled judgment in times of strife.

The Railway Situation: The United States government has taken over the railroads of the nation in order to unify the network of systems and thereby to secure the bestpossible results in war management. Secretary McAdoo in connection with Congress is hard at work devising the best ways and means for operating these roads. This government move has caused much discussion as to whether or not the government is capable of operating the railroads with better results than private owners have been able to bring about. Government inefficiency as shown in war-work is the charge on which some observers oppose government operation.

Christmas: The Christmas of 1917 approaches. As the past year is reviewed it seems only a very short time since last Yuletide yet this space has been anextremely momentous one in our country's history. Into this brief period are crowded numerous important events. Our nation as a whole has experienced a radical change. From a nation at peace we have emerged into a nation at war. Military affairs are the topics of the day and everywhere the spirit of self-sacrifice and patriotism is prevalent. Most citizens realize the need of each person's help and co-operation and are endeavoring to do all they can. These individuals represent America's greatness and are the pillars of our fatherland.

Football: Clean football is a man's game. It is a game which runs parallel to the game of life: a game which calls for the very best in order to obtain the best results. A single, evenly matched football game may be compared with the course of a whole lifetime. Two teams line up against each other and battle for four long periods in order to prove which group is superior. The men who never lose courage, no matter how hard they fall, are the real players, and these are the ones who bring victory to their team in every instance. The others who lose their grit just because the opposite side makes a gain are the quitters and you will find them constantly carrying the burdens of defeat. Sometimes inevitable defeat faces a football team when they meet an opponent on the gridiron, but, if they do their utmost, and lose, they can still hold their heads high, for they know they have given their very best.

The Entering Class: Again Bangor High School throws wide her portals to an entering class, the largest in her history. To these first year students she extends a hearty welcome! She desires them to take an active interest in school life and expects them to begin now and support her in every manner possible. She wishes to remind them that there are many ways they can be of benefit to her and to her institutions. She wants them to remember, above all, that they now form a very important part of Bangor High School and that their work and progress, whether good or bad, reflects back eventually upon her.

A Toast to B. H. S.: Here's to you, old Bangor High School, How majestic now you stand. In devotion to thy precepts Shall thy children always band. They shall win you fame and honor Your alumni will be true. God bless you Bangor High School--Here's a student's toast to you!

What Do You Read? All of us find it pleasant now and then, to spend an alternoon or evening in reading fiction. We read as a general thing, merely for the sake of the story, and we do not consider the literary value of the reading matter. Yet if the book is of the right sort we get material benefit from reading it.

A High School Commercial Course: Why one should spend four years in high school getting a commercial course when practically the same business training may be had in other schools is a question often asked. To some our answer to the question may not be satisfactory, but if youshould ask a commercial student what he thinks he would probably agree with the following answer. The advantages of the high school business course are increased by training which is given in other subjects which must have a bearing on the person's work after he has graduated from school and is putting his training into actual practice.

Co-Operation Between High School and Library: Aside from the building which is one of the most up-to-date and best equipped in New England, aside from even the splendid faculty of thirty-nine members, many of whom are not excelled by college instructors, the students of Bangor High School have another advantage as great as either of the others, and which depends upon themselves to profit by, or to neglect--the Bangor Public Library, next door to the High School building.

World Peace:Twenty years ago World Peace was an Euthopian dream. At the beginning of the present war the wise ones said "I told you so." Today some of the ablest men and women in the country are not only giving this movement their intellectual support, but they are actually preaching it and taking steps to secure it.

New Year's Resolutions: How often do we make a resolution, especially at New Year's, only to take this brand new resolution which has not even had a chance to show itself to the world and hurl it into oblivion with one relaxation of our will. Indeed the practice is so common as to need no comment. It is not of that kind of resolution that we would speak.

The Need of Spanish: In this country every high school of any size includes in its curriculum French or German, or both. This is well; at least one of these languages should be studied by every high school student. Undoubtedly these languages benefit the person who studies them even though he may perhaps never have occasion to speak them after leaving school. The school authorities realize the importance of these languages; they include them among the high school studies. But a language that might be of much more value to an American boy is omitted from the language group. Spanish, which in this country stands next in importance to English, finds no place in the majority of American High schools, although it is spoken as commonly as English in some of our western states.

The Thanksgiving of 1916: Thanksgiving Day is now drawing near. As we think of the true meaning of this day we smile at the contrast it makes with the notion of the Thanksgiving Season that we held in our childhood. When we were children we used to look ahead with joy to the Thanksgiving feast and the two days of vacation given us to recover from its effects. Then Thanksgiving Day meant to us merely a day of feasting and of freedom from school. But now it means to us a day on which we can give thanks for the blessings we have received, the difficulties we have overcome, and the misfortunes we have escaped. With this meaning of the day in mind, surely we have many things for which to be thankful.

To the Class of 1920: Bangor High School bids you welcome! She desires that you become interested, and instrumental in keeping her in the high position she now occupies. It is yours to participate in all school activities and to feel the responsibilities which belong to you as members of Bangor High School. That the various branches of our school life shall become successful is dependent upon you. The school spirit in Bangor High makes us all one; all one in the aims and pursuits of those things which go to make the school what it ought to be. May you in word and deed uphold the name of Bangor High School!