Girard College - Corinthian Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 9 text:

January 194II 7 PROGRESS In 1929 some of our classmates entered Girard and went to old Number 7. Every Sunday morning crackers and milk filled the ever-empty newbies. When West End was built in 1930, they were trans¬ ferred to modern apartments. At Easter, after vacation, fondest pleasures came as daily rations of candy. Junior School, the construction of which was completed in 1931, to replace old Number 7, was the next step in our seemingly endless journey foward to that far-distant goal. Spread from sections A to K, there was little of the so-called “class consciousness” among us. The never-to-be-forgotten day came, however, when from the modern sections we were transferred to Good Friends. With this move came the much-cherished Saturday privilege assumed by those of us who lived in Philadelphia. Remember, before this time, we saw home and friends only on vacations and holidays. Good Friends, an old friend to many, will for¬ ever stand out with its rugged decora¬ tions and winding stairs. Progress through this building meant a change of governesses, sections, and numbers. Lafayette was a real, rough-and-ready challenge then—a house of stone in con¬ struction but a house of golden experi¬ ences in reality. More than any coming before it, Lafayette was like a junior hall, preparing one for an independent exist¬ ence yet carried on with thirty-nine other fellows. Some fortunate fellows went from Lafayette to Section I. These were indeed lucky for Section I was soon to be renovated into Allen Hall. It was a change to have “dorms” of five to ten occupants instead of forty. The walks to the playgrounds were always antici¬ pated as a long hike from one end of the grounds to the other. Our stay here was also the beginning of real class recogni¬ tion for our “esprit de corps” really grew as we lived, played, and ate with our group. The hall life in the four upper houses came as a surprise. Banker, Merchant, Mariner, Bordeaux ! What memories ! Ushered into long, seemingly inhospit¬ able rooms, upper classmen asked the questions, “Have you had your waiter’s test?” “What is the hum yell?” “Can you give the definition of leather?” Those were the days! When we, through gradual stages, ripened into seniors, what a joy to “dish out”the food, get the extras, and not be bothered by the “fezzes.” After living for three years in a place that was just like home, again we were treated to new experiences in Allen Hall. What is it that draws us to our old homes: Old number 7, West End, Jun¬ ior School, Good Friends, Lafayette, Section I, and the upper houses? With regret and a secret pang of deep affection we leave you, but never shall we forget our pleasant experiences, our helpful friends, our patient instructors.

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B (Efir (Elarimt “Hum” Slang In almost every school of long standing a campus vernacular is instituted and grows with the school. Below is listed a brief vocabulary of slang which is used every day about the College Campus. and —auditorium batty —crazy or referring to the Battalion booky —knocking a boy’s books from his arms canal boats —large shoes dial-master —boy who controls the radio dope —coffee dorm —dormitory ennies —first claim floaters—boys who have to take the Waiters ' seats in the dining room frogs ' eggs —tapioca pudding Gobi Desert —the west playground ginny, mud —ginger cakes gypping —selling candy for profit guvvy —governess hop —dance horn off— keep quiet horsed —cheated hum chariot —College automobile kicked —expelled from the College lodgeman says no —you are speaking too loud Main Road jazz —music played by the College band mocky —a lucky achievement in a game monkey slew —lamb stew outfit —collection of clothes not permitted in College regulations packer —boy with a huge appetite peppy —reprimand rec —recreation sad case —one who does “dumb” things Schuylkill punch —drinking water Ridge Avenue spesh —a suit of chothes in loud colors shorty, weaky —a trick on a sleeper Smitly —an ice cream dish at Schmidt’s store snared —caught in the act Steamy —trousers pressed by the tailor stony —hard of hearing stormy —felt hat seccy —section room tcchcr —member of the Intermediate High School twerp —silly person

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Seven captains, nine lieutenants, and a host of sergeants and corporals were au¬ tomatically dismissed by the final com¬ mand, “Dismiss the company!” We shall not be so egotistical as to pretend that we are indispensable to the Girard Battalion and that it will be reduced to a mere shell of its former self after we pass on. However, whether one is militaris- tically or otherwise inclined, he will read¬ ily admit that sixteen commissioned offi¬ cers in one class is an enviable record. While we have contributed a large quota of officers to the Battalion, we have not been slow to gain our share of laurels in it. Included in these is a saber won by Captain James R. Todd of A Company in June of 1939; a silver medal by Captain William Snyder of B Company in that same drill. One other silver medal and two bronze ones have been awarded for excellent performance in single competi¬ tive drill. Thomas Braber, a sergeant of D Company, captured the silver medal in June, 1939; Stephen Podgorski, also a Ser¬ geant of D Company, and Charles Mieloch, Private of A Company, were the bronze medal winners. During this past term Captain Harold I. Rosenbaum ably commanded A Com¬ pany; Captain William Snyder retained his captaincy of B Company from the pre¬ vious term; C Company was under the leadership of James R. Jones; and Captain Norbert Haber commanded D Company. James R. Todd and Richard Lambert served as staff captains. Since 1868, when an enterprising young housemaster who had been a major in the United States Army organized and drilled a group of forty recruits, our Bat¬ talion has grown to be an organization that Girard College may be proud of. As we were whipped into line by the company officers, most of us could not detect any valuable training that we were told the Battalion furnished. As the months rolled by, the dawn began to break on the more attentive fellows be¬ cause of General Brookfield’s patient labor, and they began to realize that they were missing something in not taking ad¬ vantage of their opportunity. Yes, we now see the training values offered by the Battalion. We have de¬ veloped qualities of obedience, leadership, posture, and discipline that are so valu¬ able in later life.