Boston College - Sub Turri Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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It was in Junior also that, besides a reform in textbooks, another reform was instituted in the matter of late-comers. One of the prime conspirators in this matter was Mr. Deasy, the class beadle, and things long to be remembered are his cold, vigilant stare when anyone stealthily opened the door after nine o ' clock, and the condescending grace with which he accepted the numerous stogies with which we all paid tribute to him. In the latter part of January, Murray, Sullivan, and Quirk were chosen in the Fulton trials to represent the seniordebating societyin its intercollegiatedebates. The next thing to claim our attention was the Junior Prom. In an interest- ing election, Brennan, Cogan, Desmond, Murray, and Quirk were selected as the committee to take charge of this important function. After extensive preparations it was held on the evening of January 30th, and resulted in the greatest social success of our college life, and still retains a cherished place in our memories. In the prize debate of the Fulton two of our members appeared, Messrs. Sullivan and Murray, and the latter was awarded the medal. Later both appeared in the victories against Georgetown and Fordham, the team in the latter debate consisting entirely of Juniors, INIr. Barry being the third repre- sentative. ' ' During Junior we were represented in the literary field by Sullivan, Mac- Kenzie, Higgins, and Taylor. At the annual Home Night we enjoyed a delightful entertainment with all the fun and jollity that the alumni and undergraduates could crowd into a few fleeting hours. In the Oratorical Contest we were represented by Quirk, Sullivan, Young, and Fitzgerald. On May 29th, we again gathered for our class banquet, this time at the Quincy House. While in many respects this banquet was like previous ones it was in many other respects the most notable one we had ever held. We were again delighted by the prophetic vision of Taylor, and the singing of Lynch, while Quirk, McDonald, and Brennan offered everything possible in the line of entertainment. The election of class officers for our last year in college resulted in a spirited contest for presidency and the election of Murray. Boston College Night at the Pops came as a fitting social climax to a year that had been from the start a preeminent success both in the social and academic worlds; and amid the light and music at Symphony Hall we renewed our pledge of mutual loyalty for the last year of our collegiate life. Senior opened with an inspiring talk by our new professor, Father Brett,

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that we were to spend much extra time in the laboratory. But the time was destined to pass quickly, for besides chemical actions and reactions we found that many other things could be enjoyed in the laboratory. The commonplace test-tube proved to be a magical wand that could work wonders. Some of our members became so learned in the science of chemistry that they wrote whole pages about experiments that they had never performed, while others produced fireworks of every description. Our second dance at Catholic Union Hall was a very gratifying success in every way. In the literary field we were again represented by McGrail, Sullivan, and Taylor, all of whom had now become regular contributors of the Stylus, and who were considered among the literary lights of the college. At the trials of the Marquette Debating Society held in January, Murray and Sullivan were chosen to represent the society in the intercollegiate debates. At the beginning of the second term the latter was also chosen president of the Marquette, Barry having held the ofiice during the first term. And soon after, both again secured a place on the Oratorical Contest, in which contest Murray was the victor for the second time, thus establishing a college record. On the fifteenth of May we banned all study and gathered at the Hotel Lenox for one of the most enjoyable banquets of our college career. It was this afl air that brought out much of the latent talent of the class, and notably the poetic talent of McDonald. Many had for a long time suspected that Mac was a poet, but when his poem appeared on the menu all doubts were settled and we were sure that he was not. . About the middle of June books were again laid aside and the halfway mark of our college course was successfully passed. Junior year found us all together in one happy family instead of divided into two branches as we had been in Freshman and Sophomore. Many familiar faces were missing, seven members having cast their future lot at Brighton. Father Barrett, S. J., was to be our new guide, but we had become barely acquainted when he was called away and in his place came Father Fortier, S. J., under whose guidance we courageously approached our first philosophical studies. And for the third time we chose Dawson as class president. Philosophy proved vastly difl erent from Latin and Greek authors although our proficiency in the former tongue became a cherished possession with us when we learned from Father Fortier that our textbooks were to be entirely in Latin. Another formidable thing that confronted us was the circles, not mathematical but philosophical, which consisted in passing through a third degree conducted exclusively in Latin and with the unfortunate subjec t seated in an isolated chair and facing an icy examiner.

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who outlined the duties that confronted us and exhorted us to make Senior our banner year in every way. All of the old members were present with the exception of McGrail who had gone to shine in the social and academic circles of Washington, D. C. Under Murray ' s energetic leadership we prepared to meet the most strenuous I stage in the four years of our journey. Our first public appearance was on j Columbus Day when, at the suggestion of Father Brock, the entire college turned out in the parade, the Seniors riding at the front in caps and gowns. Early in Xo ember a meeting was called to launch the Year Book on its way, and the editors and committee were chosen who were to take charge of it. On January 11th came the sad announcement that, because of his impaired health, Father Gasson was to retire from the presidency of the college. The announcement caused universal regret, and the entire student body gathered to draw up a set of resolutions to express their heartfelt sorrow at his departure. Father Gasson was succeeded by Father Lyons whose eminent quality of leader- ship and inspiring nobility of character immediately won for him the affection and esteem of every Boston College man. In the debating world our class still retained its prominence. In the prize debate of the Fulton we were represented by Barry, Higgins, and Sullivan; the last gentleman winning the medal. And in the intercollegiate debate against Fordham we were represented by Murray and Sullivan. As the guests of the Junior class we attended the Prom and were given a glorious reception, and we may take the present occasion to express our sincere thanks to them. The Senior class in common with the whole school was plunged into grief when Father Brett died on February 15 after a brief illness. As a final tribute to a professor that had endeared himself to all of his pupils the Senior class attended the funeral and accomp anied the body to its resting place in Worcester. In this way they endeavored to express their sorrow for the loss of one who in so short a time had won the love and admiration of all who had studied under him. At the present writing our history can go no farther. In conclusion let us make mention of those other members of the class who, though perhaps not named explicitly in the foregoing history, have been remembered neverthe- less in every line, and whose inspiring efforts form an integral part of the hi ' tory of the class of 1914. And to Alma Mater and all of our professors who ha e given us those things that we now cherish most highly, let us express our sincere gratitude. John R. Taylor