St Josephs College - Footprints Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

Page 26 text:

of a.ssociatii)ii was gradually linkcil with tliini;s iiKjre conducive to producing cultured and refined young women. Being thus changed for the better, the authorities decided that Locker Alley could now be put to some practical use. Carpenters, plumbers and masons worked long and hard while speculation ran high among the students as the Alley grad- ually lost all resemblance to itself except for the bare outline and the dumbwaiter. The basins, alas, are gone and in their places we now find a double desk with blotters, inkwells and all such useful secretarial things. In the corner near the door, for they have doors now at both ends, is written Registrar ' s Office. Use- ful it is now. But romantic and full of laughing faces? No, not unless you con- sider the arranging of programs a laughing matter. What it may become in future years no one knows. Perhaps in years to come some very famous member of ' 28 will have it restored to its original state, a lasting memory to that Freshman ' ear. Perhaps the miracle will happen. Who knows? KiinuA Macnok, ' ZR The Qhost Qarden An hundred years ago this street Had known wild laughter in the night From one old house, where candle-light Flung shining spears into the fleet Storm legions that went thundering by The shadowy lawn, with wind-shod feet. But now these cobwebbed windows stare like leering hags with wisjjy hair, And through the empty corridors creeps the mistral dank and cold. And in these rooms will always brood the hush of musty solitude, Where phantoms keep forever, a rendezvous of old. II. With gliding step and lips so mute to tune of flageolet and lute Wan spectres dance the courtly measures of a by-gone day. It is a fantastic thing the fabric of imagining, To see a ghostly company pirouette, and bow, and sway. Scent of musk and passion-flower. And white camelias and the golden glare Of flambeaux on brocades and hair, When Hesperus heralds the trysting hour. And from Sleep ' s counterfeit summons the Dead To a cjuaint mummery of life and power, HI. But in the garden ' s silent close — where now the thorny bramble grows — Echoes through its moss-grown ways the silken swishing of a dress. And the low sound of one who weeps, where the engulfing darkness keeps Hidden in its starry folds, the ghost of vanished loveliness. Adele McCade. ' 31 »§{ 22 .-

Page 25 text:

a Locker Alley IX my researches of alleys faiiious in history. Locker Alley stands out to me as the one least known except to those of the intellisentsia. Such being tne case. I take upon myself the task of alleviating- the ignorance of the world. As really great historians begin by giving general geographical features of the land wherein the events of human activity occur, I shall keep you in good com- pany. Locker Alley is situated in Brooklyn ' s only Catholic College for Women. Its exact locality in the institution is within shouting distance of the Dean ' s office with or without the intervening door. Now that 1 have given vou its chartlike description, I shall proceed with its storv. Archaeologists report that Locker Alley was once used by a i)reliistoric class of man, scientifically known as butlers. Here, I am given to understand, they used to gather the bones for the big chief to gnaw on. Many monumental re- mains and utensils are still visible to substantiate this assertion. In the course of the centuries when the College took over this ancient dwelling, the Faculty decided that this was an ideal spot to ht with lockers. This was done, and then tin soldiers not only stood against the wall of the alley, but also lined the recep- tion room which guarded the entrance. The room was well equipped with a telephone to receive calls, if possible, telephone books for general information and several useful closets. On the seventh day they rested and blessed their work by giving Locker Alley to each new Freshman Class, because of its pro.ximity to the office of unfailing symi)athy and aid. The situation continued in thi manner until the Class of 1928 decided to do big things and show a college how it should be run. Records show that sevent -five damsels a]Ji)lied td the otlice for ke ' s. Their ba hful demeanor was misinter])reted and those with the loudest voices were given the lockers nearest the office. In the I- reshman diary of one of us, is found, the following: Having come together from the Seven Seas, we spent the first hour in finding our bearings. Thenceforth, following good psychological prin- ciples, we launched with vigor ' into the general scheme of things, any a de- lightful hour was s|)ent sitting on the shelves discussing the latest dance, or basketball game, the merits or demerits of our profs., the handing in of home- work, so and so ' aufl her crowd, until we waxed so eloquent that the building labored with laughter. At this ])oint we were many times asked to be (|uiet l)e- cause classes were in session. .As soon as this blanket was put on us, some optim- istic student would try to telei)hone. In the space of time it took the operator to get the number, the pandemonium was loose again so that the message re- ceived was T ' U meet you at Forty-second Street ' instead of T won ' t be able to make it. Many a successful ])arty. class or theater, and rither social events for which our class has been famous were planned there. But it was not only a place of joy and good fun. Tear-stained faces were conim in, as well as the general airing of bad treatment received by the class in general. June came flnalh ' and the Class of 1928 said good-bye lo Locker .Mley. The summer flew c|uickly, ami ii]i(]n tlu-ir reluiii tin- snphoinorcs wrvv greatly -urprised to find the tin soldiers gone from the alley and ilu- reception room. The faculty had evidently sought to renew the ho])e of the college b ' removing the disjiaraging influence. It was no longer Locker . lley, but the name still stayed with it. The .Altar Society thought that by using it for the arranging and chang- ing of flowers and the lighting of the charcoal, the evil spirits that infested it might be driven to other pastimes. I ' Vjr two years it was so purged, although f)ccasii nally a destructive genius was seen there breaking u]i candles or playing with the censer. However, the jjlace did daily grow in irtne ,-nid b - ilie l.iws 2]

Page 27 text:

THE NEW YORK TIMES June, 1938. WAXTED: Some information concerning the nicmliers of the Class of 1928 of St. Joseph ' s College for Women. 1 am working for the missions in China, ami 1 am anxious to know something aliout those girl witli nlicmi 1 spent four very hap|)y years. (Signed) Jeaxette F.. rrell. I ' roUUnt of llw Coiifcderatioi, of Foreign Missions Qlcancd from Who ' s Who Y( )L ' are very fortunate U ha e l)een a memlier of that famous class. They are remarkable for tlieir versatility and for their powerful influence in all fields. It is due to them that St. Joseph ' s is now a university. Helen Allen, the Vicll-known lawyer, is establishing a precedent. She is probably the next candidate on the Women ' s Independent Ticket for the presidency of the United States. She is suported admirably by her campaign managers, Mary liird and Eugenie Cormier, who have toured the country and have held thousands of women spellliound by their eloquence. Genie ' s enthusiasm alone has won over many, while Mary, in her convincing manner, proves to them that the cause is just and should therefore be supjjorted. Elinor Woods is the Superintendent of Schools in New York City. She has aided greatly the progress of education not only by her own ability for manage- ment, but also by her very inclusive took, The Problem. At the International Forum, ' ' Mary Manning has the iiosition of introduc- ing the speakers. Last week she had the pleasure of announcing the famous sociologist and lecturer, Anne Campion. Agnes Comerford is the jirincipal of a kindergarten school. She has in- vented new devices for amusing children. Her invention greatly resembles the old cross-word puzzles. Huge throngs assemble every Sunday night at Carnegie Hal! to attend the piano recitals of Marian I ' ackert. Last week she gave a joint recital with the opera star, Mary Hennessey. The world ' s record in axiation was broken by Dorothea . ltn-phy, who com- pleted a tour of the world in eight - hours. Regina I ' e])pard is the editor of (iood Housekeeping magazine. She has done a great deal to advance the culinary art. The members of her own family are marytrs tf) the cause of decreasing the death rate among husbands. ISarnard College has just welcomed a new dean, Marie Kelley. On the faculty there are many members of her class. The Latin Department is fortunate in having Dorothy Ihmd and Grace llart, the most recent C(jmmentators on Horace. Elizabeth Corrigan also lectures there. In fact, she has instituted a new collegiate course which she calls facing college smilingly. ' ' The S])anish Academy of . rts :nid Letters has given an award to Evelyn roi)piani for her recently jniblished b l]l of poetry. .Mice . dams is the anibas.sador to I ' rance. Through her work, our rela- tions with that country have l)ecome more friendly than they ever were. Elizabeth Hebron is successfully managing a home for bnjken-down students on the verge of stiicide. She has cheered many liack to saner views of life and knowledge. ■ 23 -