Girard College - Corinthian Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 9 text:

To the boys of January, 1942: In a few days you young men will be standing on the Chapel plat¬ form singing The Farewell Song.” You will all be happy at the consum¬ mation of your years of study; many of you are eagerly looking forward to a job, to further study, to a greater degree of self-direction; most of you will sing dear temple on the hill” with a lump in your throats and a nostalgic sigh of regret as the signif¬ icance of the word “farewell” takes on new meaning. Yes, it is a farewell to certain ma¬ terial realities—buildings, centers of group activities, members of the staff, and as¬ sociates. But, in a larger sense, I wonder whether you really ever do say farewell to Girard College! I wonder whether you can ever disassociate yourselves from this school and this home by saying “farewell” or by any other means! Girard College has become a part of you, and you just can’t say “goodbye” to a part of your very selves. Your health habits, your speech, your hobby interests, your appreciations, your ideas about social, religious, economic, and political standards, your recrea¬ tional activities have their origins here; and, though you may modify them consid¬ erably in the years to come, you never entirely say farewell to Girard College. When you need a job, want a change of position, or seek advice and judgment in the days ahead, you will come back to the College; when you find yourself in a dif¬ ficult situation, need help, or are discouraged, you’ll turn once more to the “temple on the hill”; when you win promotion and success or achieve distinction and pub¬ lic recognition, you’ll see to it that the College knows of it; when you marry, one of the first places you’ll show your bride is the old home at Girard; when you proudly lead your own son by the hand, you’ll bring him to this school and regale him with tales of your youthful exploits and schoolboy pranks. Do you not think, then, that your “farewell” is just a goodbye to the tangible, the material, the visible Girard College rather than the Girard College that is truly a part of it? Likewise, young men, we say “farewell” to you as eighteen year old youths —you of curly black hair or of soft blond hair; you of six feet three or five feet six; you of quiet, reitiring disposition, or you of strong, aggressive personality but we do not say goodbye” to you completely. We follow you with our faith, our trust, our confidence —truly we believe that a part of ourselves leaves this school with you. We just can’t let you go willy-nilly. With keen interest, with jealous and watchful eye and with affectionate solicitude we follow you into office or factory or college, and into your communities and homes and churches. With a tear-dimmed eye, as you leave the College, then, you will say“farewell” — but you will add, with a smile, I’ll be seeing you.” Affectionately and sincerely yours, D. MONTFORT MELCHIOR 1942 0 Ijr fflmintljiatt [ 5 ]

Page 8 text:

THE FACULTY OF THE HIGH SCHOOL Appreciation No words could possibly express just what we want to say to all of you who have helped us on our way through this first great adventure of our lives. It is just one of those things that we alone can understand; it is our own sacred feeling. We are content to leave with you these few lines of verse in an attempt partially to convey to you the high regard in which we hold you. Each golden hour of the past Has built for itself a nest Woven with twigs of memories Which we know will always last. Lodged in our minds securely And in the great depths of the heart, Your faces and deeds well done Will live long after we part. Karmtf|tan January [ 4 ]

Page 10 text:

‘My deeds must be my life, when I am dead my actions must speak for me.” 5 Uj? (Hartttllnan [ 6 ] 3Januarg