Mercy High School - Gleam Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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363 L Q11 gleam J- Ciass Eiisitory OUR years ago we entered the portals of our Alma Mater, Our Lady of Mercy Academy. What a long time ago! But still, it seems like yesterday that we entered that building, uncertain, shy, and wide- eyed. What a. change has come over the girls who came with their best gingham dresses! We were the last class to enter Our Lady of Mercy Academy, wherei We spent our happy Freshman year. From the first we endeavored to show class spirit and loyalty. Glenore Dugan joined the orches- tra and always gave her services at a pro- gram. We gave a Latin playlette in which Louise Kurtz, Veronica Worner, Alice Kriege, Bertha Just, Margaret Shields, and Lorraine Ilorsch took part. We started to climb the ladder of recognition by going over the top with the Fish Pond. Soon June came around, and we enjoyed two months' vacation. And oh! what a grand and glorious feeling when we came as Sophomores, with our navy blue uni- forms, to our new school in September, 1925. llow filled with awe we were, almost as strange as the- Freshmen in our new sur- roundings, how delighted when we saw the beautiful floors and corridors, the well- equipped library, gymnas'ium, and cafeteria. We continued the work of the well-known Agnetian Club, whose object was to become better versed in the study of the short story. Our programs were very interesting because of their originality. The officers of the Club were: President, Bertha Just, Vice- President, Viola Stammg Secretary, Evelyn Bcckerg and Treasurer, Glenoro Dugan. Gymnasium was introduced and basketball took the school by storm. We wanted a school team that could play inter-scholastic games, and, due to the hard practice of the girls and the coaching of Miss Brock, we were granted our request. We again made a success of our part in the bazaar, the country store. On the first night of our retreat, our bee loved teacher and friend, Sister Mary Bor- romco, was suddenly called to her eternal reward. Our retreat exercises and the solem- nities of Holy Week helped us to bear this trial, aml Eastcr's message encouraged us to pick up our school work and activities again. Surely this sacred season will ever remind us of her and inspire us to live so that her pl'lly0l'S for us shall not be in vain. The next year we came back as Juniors. VVe elected Mary Ilarvey class president. Dra- matic A1't was introduced and several of the girls took up this stndyg a number of them have shown their ability in plays and programs. A school basketball team was organized which contained several Juniors. We won many games and were defeated in some, but that did not dishearten us. We intended to be fair winners and good losers. Summer vacation brought us an opportunity for serviceg we gladly gave our assistance in the work of organizing Mercy High School Library. As Seniors, despite all our dignity, we were the same class of three years ago- ready and willing to do anything for the benefit of our school. .VVork on the Gleam was started very early in the year and the rest of the student body were called upon to contribute to the annual. The following were elected class officers: President, Alice Mietusg Secretary, Louise Kurtz, and Treas- urer, Mary Harvey. Veronica Werner, Cecilia. Uhoinski, Ilelen Jack, and Gertrude Kozou- rek starred in the first play of the year. In the Christmas play Evelyn Becker was given a. wonderful part-that of being the Blessed Virgin Mary. So our life as high school students comes to tlll end, but our loyalty will remain. We hope to keep up our school spirit through alumnac activities and to let our whole lives show forth the ideals of Mercy lligh School. Let us remember this verse of Browning's: 't0nc who never turned back, but marched breast forward, Never doubted clouds would break, Never dreamed, tho' rights were uwrstczl, wrong would triumph, Held we fall to rise, are bcbfflcd to fight better, sleep to wake. Let us live so that when our last history is written this can truthfully be said of each. -MARY HARVEY, M.xx1r: Srsiriersz. Page Thirteen

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Elie gleam J-3? Albert, King oil: ttllie Bellgiiains !'1HS'l'lfR says: History is a series of events clustering about some center of interest, as an epoch, a nation, or a living being. The more noble thc character around whom this history is wovcn, the more inspiring and elevating is its study. Each nation produces its own national hero or heroes-figures which will symbolize not only their country but the ideals of hu- manity. lf l were to choose one as a hero who would symbolize a nation, its people, and its f'hristian and democratic ideals, a hero who lived with the people, shared their glory and their misfortunes, hardships, pri- vatiions, and sufferings, I would choose Albert, King of the Belgians. A tall, handsome, and outstanding figure among his officers and general staff, he was thc type of king that we read about in medieval history-a king who went with his army to fight for his nation's cause. He did not stay home, hundreds of miles from as most of the crowned the battlefields, heads of Europe did. He could be found in the trenches, in the front lines, among the consoling them, helping private soldiers, them, and sharing their su 'ngs. He was an inspiring figure, whose v y presence gave vigor to the soldier and courage to the desolate orphan and widow. Yet, he was a kingg a kingly kingg a king of a brave little nation that was willing to shed every drop of its blood for its principles. Belgium, as we all know, was not a party to the European intrigues, to Europe 's diplomacy-she was guaranteed her freedom by neighboring nations, including the na- tion of her invaders. She had but a small standing army, believing that she would not be called upon to use it. However, when invaded, she was determined to defend her freedom, her honor, and her independence- treasures worth dying for. Belgium is a Catholic country, and God His in His providence was watching over poopleg therefore, He had prepared for them in this their hour of need, a man who would prove himself a worthy instrument in his Creator's hands. All was turmoil and excitement, but out of this chaos there stepped the stately king, who doffed the purple and donned the soldier's garb. King Page Fourteen, Albert proved that he was a man who could lead his people, for they recognized him to be :1 man of conscience and firm princi- ples, courageous in spirit, forceful of char- acter, with a devotion to duty and a trust in God, which comes only from a Chi-istiar training. With utmost trust and confi- dence in him, therefore, the people gave their approval to his answer to the enemy 's ulti matum. But they were not prepared for the attack that began on the fourth day of August, only two days after they had been warned of coming danger. Their army was small, and their forts were not in condition to ward off the fierce firing from the German lines. They resisted to the utmost, and the hero- ism of these firmvhearted people aroused and astonished the world. So brave and fearless were they, that they kept back the enemy for two weeks, until they were borne down by sheer weight of numbers. So strongly did they contest every foot of their ground, that France was given time to get aid and otherwise prepare for war. At last, however, they were forced to retreat and see their homes destroyed and their loved ones murdered or deported. I They did not leave Belgium altogether to the mercy of the Germans for, by the time the army came to the Yser River, the French and English came to their aid and they were able to withhold the invaders. This strip of barren waste on the shore of the North Sea, which they were able to protect during the entire four years of war, they treasured as a fertile spot in a desert. Behind them in the land which the Bel- gian soldiers were forced to evacuate, the foe left destitution and famine, or, as one record reads: Belgium is a war-ravaged land, bleeding under heel of an invader. Belgium had nothing to gain from the war, but she had everything to lose. Every- thing? No. When William of Hohenzol- lern boasted of having conquered all, King Albert flung back at him, But not my soul, Sire! So it was with the entire little na- tion. They gave all, even their lives, and, like Fitzgerald of our day and the patriots of old, they died that their nation might be free. To Albert and his people noble defeat was worth more than ignoble victory.