St Josephs College - Footprints Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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Valedictory Let fair do her : ' irsl, llicrc tire rclirs of joy. Bright dreams of the past, zchieli she eaiiuot destroy; And 7i. ' hieli eonie in tlie niijlitiuie of sornn ' and eare; And In-i}, ' . luielc the features that Joy used to ' ;cear : l.oii . l(nr he luv heart 7t ' i sueh memories filled; Like the I ' ase in lAiieh roses lun ' e onee been distilled. ) ' oii nnjy break, you may shatter the ' i ' ase if you :AII. Ihit the seent of the roses .vvV eliu; roumi it still. HI ) i -i(llv thesL- tender words recall the beginnings of precious friend- sliips ; how Ijeaiitifully thev resolve thenisel ' es into echoes of events long l)ast, how ade |uately thev render themselves the most expressive media for the translation of our innermost thoughts! In reviewing a series of years spent in the fortifying of a Christian faith. and in the pursuance of an education designed as a fitting supplement for that Heaven-bestowed faith, our thoughts turn most naturally to our dear ones. It is our parents who welcome with a silent prayer the crystallization of a hope nurtured so ' lovingly through anxious years. With reverence, with humility, with a keen sense of our imperfections do we approach that most sacred of subjects — the love of our parents ! It was that surpassing love which looked upon inevitable sacrifice with a fortitude which has ever characterized their devotion towards us. For the depth of their love evidenced a willingness, a fer ent desire to meet and overcome a condition that, in all too many cases, meant ultimate sacrifice for them. Sacrifice implies on one hand, a bitter experience, yet one cannot think of it but as a sub- lime gesture, born in a heart which has been divorced wdiolly from self. It is in the latter sense we prefer to visualize our parents ' love- — inspired efforts for the furtherance of our education and our ideals. Dear Parents — we breathe this with all the fervor of which our souls are capable — dear Parents, if no other thought shall ])revail, most earnestly do we desire that you should realize how grateful is our appreciation for what you have made possii)le for us. Mother and Father, we pray that your guiding souls may long be with us, to direct, to advise, and to inspire us. Since the beginning of time there have been few material things prized above precious stones and jewels. When we came here four years ago, we came bear- ing but the smallest jewel. As the years went by our jewel became larger ; its lustre heightened; its value increased in richness; it was a veritable pearl of great price. ' ' And that jewel is education. To you, revered Faculty, do we ow-e the preservation of that jewel ' s innate chastity, its stainless efifulgency. Lapidaries tell us that under the solicitude of a loving possession, a pearl blossoms, thrives, and flourishes with a health peculiar to itself and only under such conditions. You, dear Faculty, have nurtured that jewel, have anxiously kept vigil that its development might be the more perfect with a perseverance that could be found in no other group of persons so inter- ested in our welfare. Now, as the gleaming jewel reposes on a background of ideals and sound principles, it is but meet and just, that we acknowledge our debt to you who have labored so industriou-sly that we might be made fitter subjects for the adornment of that precious and most tenable jewel of a Catholic education. One hesitates when one would address those who are at this moment closest in each other ' s thoughts and in each other ' s hearts — Clas.smates! With the great- 4 28 }. -

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Connie Reynold ' s hair. Connie Rick s orchestra. Ella SchelsJel ' s manner. ' irginia Stack ' s name on the Freshman vol I ' eggy Sullivan ' s Spanish. Dot Thompson ' s Quaker Boy. Kay Walsh ' s Mary Walsh ' s ' irginia Walsh ' s Kay Wilson ' s armory. Fannie Winkler ' s scenery. Elinor Wood ' s presumption in writing this. :i ' 7jf»-

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est desire of iiiakint;- e iili. ' iit the l(i c we bear one amitlier, do 1 turn now anci ask your leave, dear fellow students, to speak a word to ou. There is a story told in the Land of Saints and Scholars, ' a story which happened in the heart of the high blue hills. An old shejiherd, tired after many years of guarding his flock, lay down to rest. It was early morn and the dew- was cool on the grass. The song of the skylarks soothed him. The sun had just risen and gleamed before his tired eyes. . single beam detached itself and seemed to lead directly to where he lay. I am an old man, he mused, I would like to climb u ) tli.il ra of light, and climb right up to heaven. . s he mused the l)eam of light seemed to shimmer more lirightK ' than before and he saw a form come floating down. It became more distinct and he saw that it was an angel. . nice morning, sir, said the angel, for this i a story of Ireland, where they say that angels speak to mortals if the mortals are very good. ' Tt is indeed, said the old man rising, . nd niav I ask vour business on earth? Whv I came to take you home u]) 1 this beam of light t- heaven. But! protected the old man. if you take me with 1 .■ou I will ha die. ... . h, ' ' said the angel, You are dying now. ' The old man was thoroughly frightened. Die? Why I have never lived — really, he saiil. Then. ' said the angel, what have you done in your time on earth? ' W ell, I have learned a little, played a little and worked a little. ' .Stop right there, said the angel sternly. That is life. Come with me. . nd the angel took the old man ' s hand and led him up the beam of light and when they disappeared in the distance, the sun seemed brighter than ever and tlie thrushes and skylarks sang even more joyously. Xow we, in the time we have so far spent on earth, have |)layed a little. We have learned a little. I ' .ut we ha e not worked even a little. ( )tbers have worked for us, and have heljjed us to play and to learn. ! ' ow we in turn mu t work a little to help someone else. We are leaving St. Joseph ' s after four years preparation for the duties and jirofessions which we shall assume after graduation. W ' e go clad in the armor of our knowledge, strong in our profession of faith. . wide field oH:ers itself 10 us for our exi)loitation. Pedagogical and legal professions are ]5articularl attractive spheres, while journalism and writing will gather their assignment of ambitious young authors from our class. Success, we hope, will eventually be attained by many of us. .And in this ideal combination of a recognized profes- sion and ultimate success, do we ])erceive an opportunity for utilizing to the full the principles of altruism and charity to which our Catholic education has so largely contriliutcd. Obviously, tlie jiosition in which ine could accomplish this purpose, would be that of a career as a Catholic laywoman. There is no social service (|uite .so elevating as this career — for such it really is. It will demand time away from our regular ])rofession, but it will be time well spent in God ' s service. Let us give to it then, as much of our effort and endeavor as our duties will ])ermit. 1 f the activity in which we engage must of necessity be of an hunil)le service, that, in (iod ' s sight and in the eyes of the Church, will suffice. I f the influence gained through distinction in our station will allow of greater accom|)lishmeuts, then the more blessed will be our atten- tion to the aft ' airs oi secular life. Caliiolic women before us have shown us the way; may we. in like manner, see our dmy anil gi c our ;iid in wiiatever way it can be manifested. iH )K( )Tin ' i;. TiK ).Mrs()N. ■4 29 }■(►-