All Saints Commercial High School - Excelsior Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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All Saints Commercial School A Retreat at the Cenaele QJGJQJQ CK D H 7 ' v - - - as f I ATS fine, girls. Im sure you will enjoy it, exclaimed one o our teachers when Peggy, Lucille and I told her of our intention of making a retreat at the Cenacle at Lake Ronkonkoma. We wrote for information, and received from the Sister in charge the very pleasing reply that on April ll a retreat for High School Girls would be held. Needless to say we counted the days, for we were eager to taste of the peace of the cloister. Then, too, our retreat would immediately precede Holy Week-we were indeed fortunate. At last the day of days arrived. Our principal very kindly gave us permission to leave early on Friday in order to prepare for our time of spiritual enjoyment, and in high spirits we boarded the Long Island train which carried us safe to Ronkonkoma with but one amusing incident-much to the enter- tainment of other girls on the train. In our haste to arrive at the Cenacle we attempted to alight at Central Islip UD, the station before our destination. We finally reached Ronkonkoma after an eight mile ride in a bus which, in the opinion of the passengers, must have been related to Leaping Lena . Upon our arrival we were cordially received by the Sisters of the Cenacle, and the retreatants were apportioned into small groups, over which were placed Mothers who gave us instructions as to the manner of making the retreat. We three with several companions were given rooms in the main building, while the remainder of the party of girls were placed in the guest house and bungalow. Reverend. Father Obering, S. J. opened the retreat at 8:00 o'clock that evening with a short talk on the purpose of the retreat. After that encouraging conference we retired for a well-earned rest. On Saturday morning, with only the birds as witnesses, we enjoyed a brisk walk around the beautiful grounds. We attended Mass, had our breakfast in silence , and then spent the rest of the day in prayer, meditation, and conferences. The most impressive of these was on Death . ln this sermon Father Obering vividly portrayed death as it really is, and how it should be faced by everyone. There was no doubt in the minds of the retreatants that these intimate talks would remain fixed in their minds and hearts for a long time. lf asked, however, many would confess that the hardest part of the retreat was the silence which had to be observed during meals. The schedule for Sunday was much the same as that for Saturday, with the exception of a very pretty and impressive procession held in honor of Our Lady of the Cenacle. ln the afternoon, as a beautiful conclusion to our retreat, Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, followed by the Papal Blessing, was given. Yes, it was enjoyed-every moment of it. We shall never forget our first retreat, and we look forward to other such times when we may turn aside, and with Christ, our Master, rest awhile. Helen Whooley, '30 Page 28 '

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All Saints Conimfereial School As soon as the job is done l'll give you half a bag of gold. It will be more than enough to take you out of the town and live comfortably for the rest of your life. At this point of the conversation, lem arose and said with the utmost dignity possible under the circumstances, I may gambleg I do drink, but l'm no murderer. So long, Dunstan Cass. Do your dirty work alone. Dunstan rose with a yell, You needn't think that you are going to back out now. Not with all that information. UNO? Who's going to stop me? I am , growled Dunstan. The two started to fightg neither winning, neither losing. They did not realize that they were so near the edge of the stone pit until Dunstan's foot slipped. I-le yelled and begged lem to keep him up, and lem, who was good at heart, tried to save Dunstan, but it was too late. The lately intoxicated man-now fully restored to his senses-heard a scream of agony, the sound of a human being go crashing down the bank, and a sickening splash. With a scream I awoke. I found myself slipping out of the bed, struggling with the bed sheet that had become wound around my neck. I thanked God that it was only a dream, and felt quite content to allow Dunstan to solve his own fate in the stone pit without my presence. Lucille Harrigan, '30 T7 7 5Spanlsl11? I like my typing, that is true, And my stenography I love to dog My bookkeeping I study with real zest, But it's English I think I like the best. There's one thing I just can't understand- Why do we study Spanish in this fair land? Elizabeth Delac, '32 Page 27

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All Saints fC30l1l111fil1lG1l Cl21l Selrool A Clever Appeal 6243043 Extract from secretary's report of April 3, 1930: The homework was checked, all students were prepared. The teacher gave the new day's assignment-to write a letter to a teacher of any subject claiming that the work in that subject for the term should justify exemption from midterm examination. Extract from secretary's report of April 5, 1930: After this, the work at the board was discussed. Then Sister called upon Dominga Durlacher to read her letter of claim. That letter delighted the girls. Here it is: Dear Sister, l want your special permission to do a favor for you. You know, only too well, the troubles of examination week and the toil of rating papers. I am offering not to take the English test, and you will have one paper less to rate. But, this is no way in which to address a teacher of English, is it? Well, l shall have to start over again. Seriously, I think I am justiiied in asking exemption from English. Have I not always done my homework? Am l not an attentive child during the lessons? Do I not use A effort in preparing various reports and talks? The answer must be yes , My spelling and quiz papers show an average of eighty percent CI hopel. l have laid the facts before you. My fate is in your hands. All that I ask is that your justice be tempered with mercy. Exemption from English means a free morning in the Spring. Ah, the Spring! That season of the year when all the forces of Nature unite to gratify man's senses and renew his faith in the Almighty. Golden sunbeams play hide-and-seek with the purple shadows on the hills. The newfgreen meadows are gay with dancing yellow dandelions, that nod their heads to the blue-birds and robins back from their Southern sojourn. There is a song in the very atmosphere-and my heart sings too. And while l'm tripping o'er the greensward, I shall murmur a liilting song of cheer into the ear of the South Wind, and she will carry it straight to you. May 1, Sister, look forward to this joy? Respectfully yours, Dominga Durlacher, P. S. The family physician says that l'm an easy victim for Old Spring Fever. April 3, 1930 Was Dominga exempted? She was! Page 29