Boston Latin School - Liber Actorum Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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Glass Oration Mr. President, most distinguished visitor, learned members of the faculty, my fellow classmates: it was almost six years ago that I sat here in this hallowed hall for the first time, and filled with various sentiments of awe, timidity, and determination, listened to those immortal Biblical words that are read each year by our headmaster at the opening Latin School exercises: Wisdom is the prin- cipal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding.” Our presence today gives proof that to some small extent we have taken wisdom in the ways of books ; the years ahead will be stern and impartial judges of the measure of understanding and wisdom in the ways of men we have also attained. And as we sat here then, I wonder how many could foresee that the world surrounding us was shortly to crumble into the fiery abyss of bitter and bloody world war — a war from which, try as we did, America could not remain aloof? How many could see that an age deteriorated through misdirection and misuse of the gifts of life by the selfish and atheistic, was fast approaching its inexorable conclusion under the leadership of those nations which epito- mized then, and epitomize today, of that dis- graceful era, its every blindness, its every folly and cruelty, its consummate greed? It is pathetic and pitiful to reflect that there are youths of our age in every corner of the earth who would almost have given their right to Heaven to share the happiness and fun we have known here these past years. For us there was never any real fear that the walls protecting us from the elements might suddenly topple upon us; here we have known security of mind under the tender hands of our alma mater; no generation in the past in any country has known the com- plete freedom from fear, from want, from oppression, and freedom of religion that we have enjoyed. But posterity and mankind will demand its price: humanity will accept no excuses, if falling into the footsteps of our fathers, we accept not and fulfill not the duties which this titanic struggle has posed for us. War in all its deadly fury has crushed the spirit of that selfish, tyrannical, cynical world we knew six years ago, but it cannot crush the spirit that builds worlds anew; and it is given to our generation, to America’s youth, to be the architects and builders of a world so virile and so Chris- tianized that our sons may never have the triumph of their Class Days marred by fore- boding thoughts of the future that lie un- spoken in the darkest recesses of our hearts this afternoon. Sad but inevitable thoughts that make mockery of the youthful mirth of this our Class Day: that in the far regions of the universe, many of our number, in- cluding our distinguished Class President, have already joined the fray which most of us are shortly to enter. Ah, it is indeed pain- ful to consider that one of them or one of us seated here now, may never return to this life and land we all love so dearly — for which we w ' ill give our lives if duty so demands. And as the glad but sad day of Gradua- tion draws nigh, it gives us infinite pleasure, as it will so many times in later life, to un- lock the gates of our hearts and be engulfed in the veritable flood of happy memories that pour forth: Meminisse iuvat” - — how joyful it is to remember. In our ears still ring thunderous cheers of Thanksgiving Day crowds ; the voice of some would-be Demos- thenes at Public Dec”; soft music of prom orchestras ; the coach ' s whistle on the prac- tice field; the din of the lunchroom and the ear-splitting silence of the office; the flag flapping in the breeze at Prize Drill and the heavy tramp of marching feet at Street Pa- rade. And above all else, the sweet remem- brance of friendship among ourselves, the mutual experiences we have weathered and shared. These and many, many more will be our fond recollections conjured up whenever in the future we see some familiar face or hear some friendly voice hailing us — recol- lections of Latin School. The name of this school will ever remain for us a symbol and a link: a symbol of all that we cherished, en- joyed and strived to achieve in our youth, and a link that bridges the chasm between childhood and manhood. It is Latin School that has trained our minds for sound judgment; given to us a proper set of values and the secret of living and learning. The future alone is able to apply the test and discover whether or not we are good craftsmen and use to best ad- vantage these priceless tools with which Latin School has rewarded us in return for our all-too-small payment of industry and perseverance. It is no mean bargain we have attained, gentlemen. Let our gratitude to her be amply expressed in the living of clean wholesome lives with eternal Paradise as our ultimate goal ; let us live as good citi- zens in the nation so many of our older friends and brothers have already died to protect and preserve ; let us live forever faith- ful to the ideals of our nation, with charity Page Twenty-six

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Trayers Concentrates Mass Formation Piano Duet A Few of the Boys

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for all peoples less fortunate than ourselves and with malice toward none; let us live, in short, as Latin School men have always lived: leaders in their community and country — whatever be their chosen field of endeavor or profession. For the world we live in, and the world we build for our offspring to grow up in, will only be as good or as bad as we are in personal life; it can be no better, and it will be no worse. It is no easily attained goal that is set for the Class Orator to leave his classmates with an ideal burning in their hearts; an in- spiration never to be forgotten. With this in mind, I would humbly reiterate the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes: And whether a man accepts from Fortune her spade and looking downward, will dig, or whether he accepts from Aspiration her axe and cord and looking upward, will scale the lofty ice, the one, the only success which it is his to command is to bring to his work a mighty heart.’’ And so it is, my fellow classmates, gone forever are the joyful, careless days of boy- hood and high school and in their place only We, the members of the Class of 1945, in the act of bursting our educational shackles, having been adjudged of sound body and mind, do hereby declare this docu- ment to be our last will and testament and herewith bestow these bequests upon the fol- lowing, whether they be willing or unwilling recipients: To our Alma Mater, now in her three hun- dred and tenth year, we leave the exalted in- signia of Supreme Marshal to be perpetually bestowed on those found worthy. To our learned Headmaster, Mr. Powers, we leave a new Class I, that should cause him less worry and trouble than we did, but will be, no doubt, far below the high standard we have set. To our esteemed classmate, Mr. Pike, sin- cere wishes for a long and happy life, un- marred by atrocious French translations and pronunciations. To Mr. Dunn, our genial librarian and adviser, we bequeath a portable loudspeaker system to broadcast his whereabouts. To Mr. Rosenthal, an air ventilation sys- tem. a world torn by death and destruction, na- tions clawing at each other’s throat, man’s incomparable inhumanity to man. The path before us is a long, long path and the way weary. Nevertheless, in such a world our works, though many and difficult, are mani- fest and clear: to conduct our daily lives so as to be worthy of everlasting life when the last breath of this one will have at long last escaped from our breasts; to carry on the war to final and unconditional victory ; to achieve and maintain a just and lasting peace with all nations; and last of all, to reach those pin- nacles of happiness, fame, and success to which we all aspire in the weaknesses of human nature. These then are OUR works, and the one, the only success which it is ours to command is to bring to these our works mighty, mighty hearts — the hearts of America’s proud youth wherein lies her only hope. Aye, mighty hearts; hearts refined with wisdom and tempered by understand- ing. Mighty hearts, minds, and souls, sol- emnly, fervently, sincerely dedicated now and forever, Deo et patriae’’ — to God and to country. Peter Francis Hines ’45 WtU To Mr. Carroll, a detective outfit — com- plete with badge, magnifying glass, and fin- gerprint set. To Mr. Marson, English themes and Reg- ister contributions which need no correc- tions. To Mr. Shea, a book on How To Cure Hams,” and a lock for the Assembly Hall. To Mr. Canned, a new knife with which to peel his apples. To Mr. Lucey, Burns’ brother. To Mr. Levine, a quiet, peaceful home- room period graced with the presence of thirty-six Seniors. To Mr. Gardner, an entire Class I taking Latin and Greek. To Mr. Wilbur, a new set of farm tools. To those who have been yet unable to break their shackles and are thus forced to remain, we l eave the following: To Class II, the status of Seniors, in 1945, raised to such glorious heights, and our com- missions as Marshals, in Commander Car- roll’s Culinary Cadets. To Class III, the art of going to every football game on one ticket. Page Twenty-seven