Mercy High School - Mercian Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 11 text:

Changeless have been cafeteria customs. Daily the same six sit around the same table tif they can get itj to enjoy the plate lunch of 25 yearsi fame. or maybe. a hamburger and coke. Teen- age spirit bubbles over with noonday chatter and laughter. ln- variably this is followed by a trip to the candy store where Hliahe Ruth and O Henry have given place in popularity to the newer 'Heathii and Suchard bars. In the recreation room a julie-box now stands where once a much-hanged piano provided rhythm for the tango and Charleston. With the jitterbug of more recent years giving way to the waltz and square dance. time un- folds an evolution in dancing. Returning for a stage performance. a Mercy graduate dreams of other plays in other days. of music recitals. a variety of assemblies: she recalls four inspiring retreats. The auditorium has become Alumnae Hall whose upkeep she. as an alumna. is proud to help maintain. The parade of stage performances recorded through the years show that every age has had its talent. its gifted students. and that Mercy has contributed much to the arts. Dear. dear memories. all a manifestation of Cod-with-us. for it is the beautiful chapel that has been and is the heart of all Mercyis blessings. No inventory of the years can estimate the graces that have come from the Divine Presence there. Open to students at all times. the chapel has been the source of a beautiful intimacy between them and the Tabernacle Presence. From that Great Love they have carried to their tasks and their activities the inspiration and strength they have needed. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Mercy has maintained always. oliicially and otherwise. a peak rating. Perhaps it is because Mercy girls. though busy about many thingsi' find time daily to sit at the Feet of Christ in their beloved chapel. O Lord. I love the beauty of Thy housef' l Dedicated to Divine favor at the hands of His Eminencxr George Car- dinal lllundelein. of dear memory, Mercy pursues uvitlz confidence its Dirine purpose. The memory of its first chaplain. the Reverend Denis Hayes. is still a clzallxfnge to the courtesy, industry, friendliness. and quietness that are traditionally tlze aims of Mercy girls.

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llcroicully Il'l1S Ihr' zrorlr begun. lllrul Qllolfwr .llary Sophia. K.S..W.. .wir as ll Vision is non' a sun' record of IZUIIIS fzfcssilig. l l,llIIlS llllldl' by .flrcliitecl foscpfi .llcffurllzy lwcznnc ilu' nuzssire slruc- l lurc llzuf has been fllfllllgl .LJ years. Il lmrlmr of failli. lzopc. and progress. Looking upon their beautiful school stretching restfully across its terraced campus. Mercy students of 1950 sec what was once but a vision in foreseeing minds. This vision rose from what was then a block of wild prairie land. liven while it was still in construction. the New Mercy High School became the interest ol' all south side Chicago. Seven hundred students planned to enter what was to be the cen- tral high school for girls ol' the south side. In September. 192-l-. the building completed. these seven hundred registered and became the pioneer juniors. sophomores. and freshmen of the new school. Returning. these girls measure the gap between then and now. Physically the change that time has made is slight. True. the pioneers can tell stories of surroundings ol' mud and debris that slowly developed into the garden terrace that it is. They can tell of a daily trek down the middle of Prairie from street car or bus. There were no sidewalks. They can talk about a farm across the street on Eighty-second. But the building is the same. looking quite new as it did then. Classrooms and the well- equipped laboratories were almost exactly as they are now. In books and curriculum there have been just enough changes to meet the needs of progress and a larger enrollment. Alumnae coming back for a visit. look with affection into the familiar classrooms. They recall a periodic antipathy for the hardwood seats, and even for the beautiful volumes of English. science. history. etc. Loved though are the memories of achieve- ments that were the reward of endurance.-the successful recita- tions. passing grades after exams. promotion. honors for scholastic rank.f-all leading finally to happy careers and vocations. A peek into the spacious gymnasium tugs at heartstrings as it reminds those who have been here. of lively games. exciting competition. especially in basketball and volleyball. They re- member years when Mercy had a monopoly on championships. E5 YE H5

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'GGUD MADE ME TO KNOW HIM We study because we know the noble purpose of our work. To know the arts and sciences is to know Cod, to know the goodness and great- ness of Cod. In this we have the groundwork of the Christian principles by which we live, by which we find our goal-eternal happiness. SEHUUL Eight - J . -4 s.g.L4.u..fJ..m.......,.,.-., .,. .....,4.- Y-.. ...n,:4.r.44.u,.-u.,.m.i.1-. AQ. . .gr nu m....i..i.. 1