Boston College - Sub Turri Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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On Friday, December 20, 1935, the new class began to make history by sponsoring the first under the Tower social with music furnished by the Burke Brothers ' Grey Towers orchestra. Parallel to this was the inception of intra-mural football and baseball — an innovation for the indulgence of practically anyone who cared to defend the escutcheon of the class. Even surpassing the usual financial worries of college life, the dread mid- years arrived in January and effected many strange phenom.ena. Cofl ' ee sales rose to new heights. S.R.O. signs hung outside the library and chapel; and beards were allowed to flourish until they approximated the braiding stage. As a soothing aftermath to this intellectual baptism, a sports night and smoker was held in the Senior Assembly Hall. Movies, speakers, reporters and numerous other attractions helped to leave a lasting impression on the eager audience. When that seemingly endless stretch from Christmas to Easter had been covered with the addition of a few gray hairs, we began a series of eventful expansion. In April, our Communion breakfast was held off the campus for the first time in the College ' s history — at the Hotel Continental, Cam- bridge. On May 8th at the Louis XIV ballroom at the Hotel Somerset, the class rallied to the contest in terpischorean art which very nearly rivaled the light fantastic as portrayed two years later by the mad chorines in Father Bonn ' s version of Antigone. With monetary hesitation for the inbibation of the atmosphere so gladly expended at the dance, the class inaugurated a Mother ' s Day program for the maternal inspection of the buildings, which were lodging the external expression of their every hope. With the passage of time we progressed in collegiate wisdom; soon we observed the futility of many things in life, such as the impossibility of the end justifying the means, the termination of the Billy Frazier-Jonesy feud, a house date with an Emmanuel girl, prompt service in the librarj etc. opi)omore With only a happy memory of the previous year, the men rallied to the call of education in September to find that newer and more difficult con- quests were j et to be made. The same four leaders were supported for re- election and with a nearly perfect reunion, the famed class of ' 39 began its second scholastic year. Smiling faces were saddened suddenly when Father Leo J. Gilleran, S.J., died. His smile often replaced darkness with the brightest light, even for those with whom he was not formally acquainted. He left an empty place in our midst and an indestructible character in our memories and our hearts. Early fall brought forth loud cheers both for a successfid football team and the visit of Cardinal Pacelli, who became an Ail-American in the eyes of loyal rooters by declaring a two-day holiday. This reason terminated with the annual banquet held at the Continental where Fathers Gallagher, Max- well, Judge Swift and Brother Gilbert contended in offering congratulations for past deeds and advice for future needs.

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(Elass l tstory AR BACK in the September of ' 35, there converged on the Heights { from hill and dale, from harbor and hamlet, from tent and tene- W ment, from peach fuzz to five o ' clock shadow, a frosh class that m- ( augurated a new scholastic system, new social events, a new dean and a new spirit. ,. r, i We met amidst gothic splendor, beneath the soundmg Tower where our boyish laughter was suppressed with a gulp at the approach of some lofty looking senior. Weighed down with books including that portable library m one volume, the Snyder and Martin , we began our year m real freshman style with a further purchase of a bow tie, a battered hat and turned up white shoes, after the fashion of Joe College . Recovering from the surprising shock of being addressed as Mister, we bought up the razor blade market and proceeded to weather the rigors ot the new A.B. Honors Course, mind you, with Greek. . tt- i c i i Father Archdeacon, S.J., had just dropped in from Regis High School, New York and to him was entrusted the fate of so gallant and so promising a band of almost 500. Early in the fall, the greatest freshman day program in the historv of Boston College or of any college was begun. An undeteated football team met Holy Cross frosh and was deadlocked to a 6 to 6 tie. Un the same evening Cambridge officials were startled by an advancing horde of iubilant B.C. frosh, who were crossing the boundaries m perfect attend- ance to a dinner at the Hotel Commander. With the announcement of our new commanding officers and with speeches of encouragement and new hope, a perfect day was concluded. [26]

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When the faU had passed slowly into winter and quizzes had passed into mid-year examinations, sober faces sought textbooks as the only defense against intellectual casualty. However they proved to be a Winchell set of exams — over in a flash — and thoughts were turned to our second Under- the-Tower dance. Lou Sacco kept the time and the class kept the receipts. On May 7, 1937, the Staffer was surrounded by a multitude of city guards, and questions from the curious who had gathered there brought this reply, Don ' t you know? B.C. Sophs are promenading to Hudson-Delange ' s music to-night! What a crowd and what a dance! With the eager anticipation of a healthy summer ' s tan and the scrupu- lous scanning of the help-wanted ads, we wrote farewell to the classics and arrived at the half-way mark of our college career. Sunior The shrill clarion call of philosophy welcomed us back. With one eye on the social calendar and the other on logic, we endeavored to retain a socia- bility of notes whilst grimly preparing for the onslaught of Kant and his cohorts. In October the bells of the Tower called us forth to dance under so inspiring a structure to the Hallowe ' en tunes of Don Fabien ' s orchestra. The same month revealed the brethren ' s heads buried deep in minor logic bluebooks, with the strains of Maryland, My Maryland beckoning them to the south. Immediately following this trip, a travel worn honors sec- tion adjourned to the committee room of the library to render an oral encore in the form of a minor logic specimen. Diamond Jubilee W eek celebrated the founding of our alma mater, featured by many festivities and crowned by the Dramatic Society ' s produc- tion, The Music Makers, an achievement of untold labor and never-to-be- forgotten fame. Following this presentation came the lightly tripping Greek chorines who were destined for fame admixed with notoriety in direct con- trast to the original tripsters of Antigone ' s days. Well fortified by Mass and Communion on Sunday, the lads blew the lid off for a week of unforeseen joys; Monday saw the Assembly Hall clouded with smoke, cut only by the cheerful words from Bill Cunningham, Jimmy Foxx, Tom Thorpe and others; Tuesday rolled into view with a wealth of fun at the Kenmore gardens — as we skated (or slid) over the floor to the favorite swing tunes of the day. Although we were still only partially re- covered from such dazzling speed, splinters and bruises, Wednesday found us standing in the Blue Room wielding a demi-tasse of orange pekoe and a delightful teaser of cake. Still in the groove from this tea dance, the Tim- ilty School was graced that same evening by a series of one act plays followed by dancing. Thursday was set aside by tradition to prepare for the greatest prom in the history of the College. Our happiness was short-lived, however, for the gloom spreaders an- nounced the advent of that philosophical interview formally called the orals. [28]