University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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THE REDWOOD impressive and so dramatically efifective as to inspire in the beholder bewilder- ment and awe. It is a triumph of dra- matic ingenuity little short of pure in- spiration. How can I better conclude these notes than by quoting the author ' s ded- ication of his play — a play that is surely destined to be reproduced at intervals for many and many a year to come and to leave after it an aroma of incense as delicious to heart and soul as a memory of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at Christmas or Easter Day: DEDICATION To the Rev. Robert E. Kenna, S. J., gentle playmate of my boyhood, cher- ished memory of my youth, and rever- end friend of my riper years, this work is affectionately inscribed, in tender recol- lection of the sweet long ago in Santa Clara College, and to reverently assist, in my humble way, the celebration of its golden jubilee. Clay M. Greene, 1868-69. Chari es Warrkn Stoddard, Ph. D. ' 03. TO A SONG-BIRD Happy and gay, Happy and gay, Ever merry this long life-day: And thy cheery song Bears me along To a land far away — To a land that is dear — Sweet yesteryear. A. B. DiEPHNBROCK, ' 08,

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THE REDWOOD of love, a veritable act of donation. One could not help realizing this during the action of the Passion Play. It was as unstagey as possible. A student with his assistants managed the business; a student painted the scenery; one of the professors, the Rev. Richard H. Bell, S. J., and his pupil manipulated the switch- board and electric spot and flood lights, students were ushers, students were the scene-shifters, students were the actors — in fine, a student had the entire stage direction, his name — Martin V. Merle, ' 06 — has already become well known throughout America on account of the wonderful success of his sacred play The Light Eternal, which he wrote at the college during his Sopho- more year. Whatever proceeds were in excess of the enormous expenses of the produc- tion were this year handed over to the building fund of the new and greater Santa Clara College. Already six hun- dred acres of land have been purchased for this new site. This land extends from the suburbs of the town of Moun- tain View to the summit of the foothills bordering the western side of the Santa Clara valley. The college itself, which will cost at least a million dollars, will be erected on a beautiful knoll covering half a square mile in area. A more ideal spot for such an institution could hardly be imagined. In the rear, rises a pictures- que, well-wooded mountain range, abounding in shady walks and refresh- ing trout bearing streams. Here the students may take their daily ambula- tions even during the rainy season. An hour ' s climb from the college will bring you to Permanente Peak from which a sublime view of the Pacific may be had. Stretching out before the future college lies the fertile Santa Clara val- ley. The statelyibuildings of the neigh- boring Stanford University will be easily viewed from the front portico; to the north may be seen Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Mayfield and Redwood City, su- burban towns, among the live oaks, to the northeast stretches the bay of San Francisco, while Mount Diablo and the observatory-crested Hamilton frame a gorgeous panorama that will constantly delight the eye of all students and vis- itors to the famous college. A natural basin has been recently discovered in the neighborhood of this superb site, where it is the dream of the Jesuit Fathers to build an open amphi- theater for the future home of the Pas- sion Play which periodically, even as at Oberammergau, may attract thousands to the edifying spectacle. The play, with its four epochs and nine chapters, is highly original in con- struction. It is written with singular reverence and the delicate treatment of the theme is unlike that of any other Passion Play familiar to the stage. Though much of the action of the play takes place in the very presence of the Divine central figure. He is never for a moment visible, but His presence is made manifest by a nebulous light that seems to emanate from a spiritual body too exquisitely refined to be visible to a worldly eye. The effect is startlingly

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THE REDWOOD MUST ALL OUR TREASURES PERISH ? The flush of evening darkens into night Almost before the splendor of the sky — Its magic light Has fallen on the charmed watcher ' s eye And filled him with delight. The matin carol of the singing bird (Poured forth in glorious welconie to the dawn Has scarce been heard Echoing over meadow, grove and hill When on a sudden impulse he is gone And all is still. A fleeting hour Measures the span of life Of the most fragrant flower. And in the cruel strife, Waged by grim Time so ceaselessly on all Even the best r]iust fall. Friendships and loves must some day cease to be. (But shall they wholly perish ? J ot while the heart can cherish A tender memory. M. T. (Dooling, Jr., ' og.