Good Counsel College - Vestigia Yearbook (White Plains, NY)

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hidden within the limits of this Campus. Oh, Oracle Dean, you who have been placed to help the seekers of this mysterious sheepskin have you any words of wisdom which will lead me to it? My sire has promised me half his kingdom if I obtain it within a space of four years. The oracle answered, '34 we are forbidden to give you the sheepskin for the mere asking. There are many others seeking the same thing. I will bring you to the other oracles and if you listen closely to their words of wisdom, by the time four years have passed you will have learned where to find the sacred sheepskin. And so for many months '34 dailylistened to the wise words of the oracles. They told her of the many conflicts in which she would take part. They prophesied what form such attacks would take and gave her various directions so that she might come forth victorious. Afterseveral months the first big battle began, just as the oracle predicted. The formidable, invisible army of Examination marched on to the Cam- pus. All was confusion among the seekers for the sheepskin. There were several divisions of this vast army, each part using different weapons, each more terrible than the other. One legion used for weapons sines, cosines and parallelepipeds, another phonetics, another enclitics and proclitics, and still a fourth zeugma and aposiopesis. Some of her companions were killed in the fray, but '34 with her ban- ners Hying succeeded in routing the enemy. i In order to make '34 as invulnerable as possible against the advancing enemy, the oracles provided her with a uniform-a long black tunic and a white shield so con- structed as to protect her neck for there was the enemy most likely to strike. Her helmet was also of black, from which hung a tassel. With this tassel she was to mark off her victories over the enemy, moving it after each great victory. The struggle which '34 had to wage was a hard and long one. Sometimes she seemed to despair of victory but the wise oracles-wise in many other ways than prophecy-made her take a rest. Sometimes they sent her back to her fatherlandg other times, instead of coaching her in the ways of the enemy, they would take her off on a campaign-not a warring campaign but one that would develop her powers of endurance. Such campaigns would end on a mount like unto Olympus where they would feed her the magic food called canis calidus. Thus would her powers be strengthened and refreshed. Each year during her search for the magic sheepskin '34 was the guest of the oracles at an ambrosial feast. A few days before the feast on which their King had come to earth in the form of a Babe, the oracles called all the searchers together and bid them feast in His honor. After such feasts '34 with other seekers of the sheepskin taking lighted tapers would form a victory line around the Campus praising and glorifying their King. After three years of battle and well-earned victory, a day dawned for '34 when the elements all laughed and cried. The battleield seemed deserted and even within the interior of her camp, Preston Hall-there was only quiet. '34 realized the terrible truth. She alone was left to look for the magic sheepskin. The older seekers had gone. Still clothed in her black armor, with her tassel now in the highest position, '34 64 VESTIGIA 1934

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THE EPIC OF '34 The tales of Odysseus of Greece and Aeneas of Italy have been related and revised by scholars and students of many centuries. Their adventures and trials were marvelous feats and accomplishments-performed only through genius. The greatest epics of history and literature they are acclaimed-the noblest heroes this world has ever known, Ah! if these poor mortals only knew of the heroic episodes of the heroine of this epic-she who has performed Herculean tasks without the help of magic potions,-if they only knew her they would say her deeds far outshine those of Odysseus and Aeneas. This wonderful maid for various reasons, none of them very apparent, was always called '34, Her story is not a tale of bloodshed on the fields of Troy or in the Campus Martius, but a tale of heroic conflict and final victory after four years of struggle on the Campus Boni Consilii. This child of wisdom began the conHict in the month of September, 1930. Clad in a dark blue tunic with broad bands of shiny white around the neck and wrists which former invaders had advised her were used as reflecting mirrors to blind the approaching enemy, '34 entered the field of battle through a small iron gateway and started up a narrow walk which was lined with stately trees. Ah! poor Freshman! if she had only known that the walk was guarded by sacred pines, not lined with stately trees! The pines shook and moaned at the desecration. '34 thought they said, Keep off ! Keep off ! but her ear was not yet attuned to the magic talk of the Campus Boni Consilii. Her refusal to listen to the pines' warning precipitated her into her first combat. With waving arms and waving legs, with cries and shouts the demon descended on the Freshman. '34 used her white cuffs to blind the monster-no avail, she turned and ran, and the demon came flying after her shouting, Only Seniors, only Seniors! What can it be saying and what does it mean? thought poor '34 as she ran through the gateway. When the pursuing fury reached the gate it stopped and when the arms and legs quieted down '34 dis- covered it was only another girl but a fierce one. With glaring eye, head thrust back and in a deep voice she spoke: You a Freshman, have desecrated one of the sacred sanctuaries of G. C. C. For ten years none has dared place foot on these sacred stones but the girls who have reached their Senior year. It is the saddest treasure which the last class gave us-but it is our most precious, for true sorrow is always sweet. It is ours, ours alone, other things we share- the Pine Walk never! Oh Freshman '34 keep off! and the girl turned and went Hying back calling Seniors! Seniors! Seniors Z '34 had heard tell of the oracles who were reported to be wondrous wise, greater even than the Oracle of Delphi. These oracles lived here on the Campus and to their presence '34 made her way. When ushered into the presence of the chief oracle, sometimes called the Dean, '34 said, My grandsire has told me the tale of Jason and his undaunted courage in obtaining the Golden Fleece. My task is a difficult one-I fear more dangerous-but I must obtain that sheepskin which legend says is 63 VESTlGIA1934

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roamed the Campus searching-seeking for the sheepskin. Because of her former victorious battle with the invading army of the General Examination, she was per- mitted to go certain places which were denied her before. She was now permitted to use the front entrance of the camp, she could now stroll beneath the sacred pines and they smiled and nodded to her as she passed. Two tasks the oracles told her she would have to do in this, her final year, before she found the magic sheepskin: She must Write an account of her st1'uggles on the Campus Boni Consilii and once again she must conquer the army of Examination. With the glowing eloquence of Cicero and the living vividness of Homer, ,34 wrote an account of her four years of battle, with Herculean strength she once again de- feated the hostile army. And now-day of doom! The oracles had told her her four years were passed and she, too, must cease her searching for the sheepskin. On her last day there, while surrounded by her friends, the oracles, ,34 was sad. She not only had not found the sheepskin, but even the thought of leaving forever this beautiful Campus-her home for four years-was unbearable. When she knelt to say goodbye to the priest of God who had watched with loving care her desperate struggle, her tears were turned to joy for he was holding out to her the sheepskin for which she had searched all these years. With tears of joy and sadness, she heard him say: '34, you have done your work nobly. The wise oracles have told me that you above ALL others deserve this prize. I give you this magic sheepskin which will be your protection against all the evils which you will meet in this world. - -ALICE M. 0,ROURKE 65 VESTIGIA 1934